"Be careful, there's a bit of a-"

"James! Will you please stop."

"But I promised to protect you," James said in pretend hurt voice.

I sighed. Ever since we had set off towards the meadow, James had been a, well to put it simply, a pain. Ali, careful with that stone. Hey, don't jump over that. Let me open the gate.

"James, I'm not that weak. I mean, I highly doubt that a little stone will fatally wound me."

"Well, it could. Plus, I promised to protect you."

"James, I'm not a damsel in distress. I can take care of myself."

"Alison, just let me keep joking, please."

I looked closely at him. Maybe joking around was his way to keep away the scary thoughts of what was about to happen from his mind. I knew that I had been singing nice, cheerful songs in my head all the way to block any darker thoughts from making an appearance.

"Ok, James, ok."

We finally reached the meadow, but stopped before going any closer to the tree. I mean, it had a dark history of hangings and death. Anybody would be creeped out.

I took a deep breath. "Come on."

We walked slowly to the centre. However, all too soon we were standing over its long branches that blocked most of the sunlight.

"Ok," I said, shivering a little bit, "let's get this over with."

James looked at me. "You don't have to do this."

"I do. I need to know," I said, giving him a pleading glance.

He looked at me for a few seconds, then sighed. "Ok, do it if you must. But remember, I'm here by your side, ok? You are not alone."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Is just singing, I reminded myself. I imagined the tune in my mead and began singing:

"Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
They strung a man
They say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we'd met at midnight
In the hanging tree."

I waited. And waited. I waited a bit more. And waited.

"Nothing's happening," I said.

"Maybe," James said," is because you are scared."

I turned to him. "So?"

"So is impacting your voice. Is not sweet and calm like it was yesterday."

I turned back around and concentrated on calming my heart rate.

"Are you, are you
Coming to the tree-
I can't do it James. I just can't!" I began crying silently.

Warm arms rapped around me from the back. I froze.

"Ali," James said, his warm breath blowing into my ear. "Take your time. Calm down."

I leaned back into him and concentrated on his warmth. After some deep breaths, I found that I was calm and peaceful. Concentrating on James only and closing my eyes, I began to sing once again.

"Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
They strung a man
They say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we'd met at midnight
In the hanging tree."

****
I felt the breeze blow into my face, the warmth of his arms around me. I opened my eyes.

"Is so nice up here, isn't it?" a sweet voice whispered into my ears. Not breaking the embrace, I slowly turned around and smiled at him. He smiled back. Within a second we were kissing.

Afterwards, we sat down in the grass and just talked.

"And that's what happened," Finch finished a funny story he had been telling me.

I laughed. "Oh dear, poor man!"

"Yeah, he's scared that with a surname like that he won't ever marry."

"Oh well, at least his name doesn't chain him."

Finch raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, not the name Sapphire! I mean the name Pearl. Is ironic how I'm named Pearl, when my father's business is jewellery making! At least Sapphire makes sense!"

Finch took my hand. "Pearl is not such a bad name. You are after all the pearl in my life, my shining reason."

I smiled. "Thank you Finch. But someday, I will change my name," I looked up shyly at him, "hopefully to Mrs Sapphire Blair."

Finch smiled sadly. "I hope so too," he said, hugging me.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I cannot wait till I can stop being Pearl and finally become Sapphire."

"To me, you will always be Sapphire," he leaned in closer and whispered, "but I promise to make you Mrs Blair someday."

We stood up and kissed. We then turned around and looked at the Finches leave the tree. I felt Finch's wrap around me. I leaned into him.

I promised then and there that one day Pearl Hammond would cease to exist, to be replaced by Sapphire Blair.

I closed my eyes.

****

When I opened my eyes, I saw that the finches had already left. Finch's arms were still around me, so I turned my head around to look at him. I blinked.

"You're back," not Finch, but James said.

"Oh! I remember now. You're not Finch." Oops. I blushed.

James raised his eyebrows. "Was the vision that real?"

I nodded. "It was so strange. How did it look from here?"

"You began shaking and mumbling, which I couldn't understand." His arms tightened around me. Protectively?

"How long for?

"A couple of minutes."

"And you stayed like this?"

James immediately let go off me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted you to know that I was here with you and that I wasn't going to let go off you." He said quickly. Was it my imagination, or was he blushing?

"Thank you," I said, overcome with emotion and nearly in tears.

He smiled. "No need to thank me. Anyway, did you find out anything useful?"

I nodded. "I know who Sapphire really is and Finch's surname. Sapphire is really called Pearl Hammond and Finch is really Finch Blair. Also-" I stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I found out that they are lovers. I got the feeling that they wanted to marry but couldn't for some reason."

"Ok, he said, maybe blushing? I know I certainly was,"so here's the plan. First, we find out the history of this tree in Victorian ages. Then, we do some research into Finch and Pearl. Finally, we find out why the couldn't be together."

"Ok. Let's go."

We began walking away, but I couldn't help myself and so I turned around for one last glimpse of the willow tree. Then my eyes widened. I thought all of them had left. But this one stayed, and was it looking at me?

"Ali?"

"I'm coming," I turned around and started walking. All the way I thought of what I had seen:

One lonely Finch bird sitting on one of the branches of the willow tree...

Staring at me?

(Hey! So I know this was a long chapter, but I think it was very sweet. So I just want to say that I'm so happy that I now have 43 views! Yes! So please, if you are liking my story could you comment and vote? Please? Anyway, thanks again for reading and enjoy!

Oh, also could you comment if you would like to see more Ali+James moments and Pearl/Sapphire+Finch moments? Thanks!)