By: Spoonvonstup

Rated: PG (brief descriptions of violence/death)

Disclaimer: I own everything.. except Los Angeles.

Summary/Explanation: Oki dokey.. this is a bit corny but I don't really care. My roommate, Busayo, asked me to create a character for the story she's been writing, starring people we know and us. But after I created Vaskra, I felt sorry for her. She had no history! Well.. not any more. I do have a few more chapters planned out but am having another meeting with my old friend, Mr. Writersblock. I figured a few R/R might help me along the way and rid me of my unwelcome houseguest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Aerin sat on her roof, studying a night sky be-speckled with the jewels of the heavens. Her house was far from the lights of civilization, far from the noise, smells, and presence of the rest of humanity. She smiled into the wind playing with her hair, enjoying the feel of it whipping across her face. It reminded her of another home, a home far away in time, space, and memory.
A taste of salt and she realized she was crying. She shook her head and turned away from the playful zephyr. It has been so long. She thought she had gotten over this...
When she thought about it, her situation seemed absurdly corny, straight out of a soap opera. But life was life, and those LA writers had to get their ideas from somewhere. Like a typical woman in love, Aerin could not get over her last relationship. The few months it had lasted stood out in her mind as one of the happiest times of her life and the one she had shared it with would not leave her thoughts. Even though she knew Erik Mari could never have shared her life, it hurt to remember what little they had had together. Eventually, the two had broken the relationship off. Both were moving in opposite directions in their lives, to different parts of the country, and both agreed it would have been foolish to give up on their dreams and individual lives.
Sighing, she opened roof door, turning to look up one last time. A star shot across the sky and she smiled wistfully. "I wish I could let him go," she whispered to the wind, then shook her head as she descended the stairs. Wishes didn't come true.

Aerin sat tense in the car, mentally urging the light to turn. She was late for an audition. Finally, she had scored a meeting with a recording studio. After listening to a few demos, they were willing to meet and discuss actually making a recording. The extra time she'd allowed herself had been eaten up by an hour delight on her arriving flight. A stop at the Rent-a-Car had gone quickly enough and traffic had been thankfully light, but she would never get anywhere if this light didn't...
She smiled and the car slid forward and allowed her self a sigh of relief as she crossed the road. Maybe she would actually get there on time. And if she did, maybe they would like her. Maybe she could actually do something with that voice of hers, and then she could even...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a screaming horn and squeal of breaks to her left, then the door window shattered.

A young man across the street stopped to look at the newspapers on sale. Nothing but gossip and unbelievable rumors. He scowled and straightened. He, too, had an important interview today. A fresh graduate of the school of business, he had an appointment with a prominent banking firm today. But as it was in the late afternoon, he had decided to give himself a tour while he while he was in town. But his thoughts were interrupted as his glance swept over the waiting cars. It couldn't be; she had said she was going east. Could it really be her? He started to walk to the edge of the sidewalk, when the light changed and traffic moved on. A little crestfallen, he would have turned and walked away if not for the sound of a panicked horn. He turned, then stood rooted to the spot. Time slowed down as he watched the car run into Aerin. Once, his Aerin. Then, the sound came back and he couldn't get to her fast enough.
He pushed his way through a thickening crowd to the edge of the intersection, offering silent prayers to whatever deity was listening. A clear view showed the hit car almost completely destroyed, its occupant throw from the wreckage and lying in the asphalt. Before his next breath he was at her side.
"Aerin? Aerin, are you there?" he asked, his voice a strangled whisper. "Please Aerin, open your eyes .."

When Aerin came to her sense, she was only aware of the mind numbing pain. It took a few moments for her eyes to focus, and the blurry sight before her made her wonder if she was alive at all.
As the encroaching blackness claimed her senses, she whispered a name. "Erik?"

Erik Mari sat in the hospital hallway on one of those hard plastic chairs: waiting. Aerin's parents had been called and were talking to the doctors now. And he was outside waiting. Waiting and remembering.
How long had it been? Seven months, a year? However long it was, he realized now that it had been too long. She was more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. The most surprising thing he had discovered, sitting in the blindingly sterile hallway, was that he still had feelings for her. He laughed at himself. Had feelings? She had been the first person he had loved since senior prom and sorority parties. He ran a hand through his hair. And things hadn't changed. The distance, the time, and he still loved her. He put his head in his hands. Now she was at Death's door. How cruel Fate was! To show him his mistake then take his hope away. Would they ever have another chance? Her parents came into the hall and he rose to greet them. Her mother was crying, her father's countenance stony. All three sat together in silence, the mother or father taking turns to sit with Aerin. After an hour and a half, Erik had his turn.

Nothing, everything. Black, white, all color, no color. She was alone, yet completely enveloped in something she had never felt before.
"Aerin," came a whisper, a tickling summons in the back of her mind. "Aerin."
She reached out in vain for whatever was calling her, only to discover she had nothing to reach out with. No arms, no body. She tried to cry out, but lacked the lungs and vocal chords to do so.
"Do not be afraid little one," said the voice again. "There is no reason to fear when you are with me. You are home."
"Home?" she thought with wonder.
"Yes, child. You have come back to me."
Understanding dawned in Aerin's mind. "Am I dead?" she asked, again fearful.
The reply was quiet and sad. "No child. Not yet at least. But soon."
Disbelief, anger, fear, all flashed through her mind, then slowly, acceptance and understanding. "So it's over?"
This time, the tone seemed laced with mirth. "Over? Hardly child. For you, things have just begun."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Watch and listen."
Before she had a chance to question again, a scene lit up before her. A young man sat in a chair by a hospital bed, watching over the reclining figure. Dark curly hair hung above similar brows framing brilliant green eyes. An elegant aquiline nose rested over a mouth more used to careless smiles than the worried frown now in its place. He was tall, his strong shoulders hunched over as large hands gently held a smaller, frailer one. In the bed, a woman, pale and sickly, lay hooked to the machines around the room. The only indication of life was the slight rise and fall of her chest and the continuous BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP of the heart monitor.
"Is that me?" she asked the entity.
"No, dear. This is you, here with me. That is your old home."
She nodded, understanding, but still feeling distant sorrow for the familiar vessel. "But who is that beside me? I do not recognize him."
"You don't know who he is?" responded the voice, again amused. "Look closer."
She was about to protest uncomprehendingly, but something caught her eye. A flicker, a quicksilver glow inside his body beckoned. And she reached out. Memories, sensations, feelings: all assaulted her. And her mind reeled at the familiarity. "Eric," she whispered in awe.
"Yes."
The view faded. "Am I to be taken away from him again?" Her voice was wistfully caring, though tinged with irony. "And what will become of him?"
The comforting presence grew stronger around her. "Again, do not fear little one. As I said before, I have plans for you. Do not think of it as an end, merely a beginning."
"What things? I do not understand."
"You have unfinished business that could never be accomplished in your previous form."
Comprehension dawned. "You mean I'm going back?"
She sensed laughter all round. "In time, yes. You have much to learn. Come."
Without fear, Aerin followed.

BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP..BEEP..BEEP...BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEEEEEEEEE EEP.
"Aerin? Aerin?!? AERIN?!? Oh my Go-. Someone get a doctor! Please, God, don't let this happen! Please... please... someone help..."

The sun set. A strangely shaped statue in Aerin's yard, bought years ago as a reminder of a childhood fantasy, began to crack.
"RRRRRRROOOOAAAAAARRR!!!!!!"