(Get out your tissues if this was your ship. Heed_Not_The_Rabble is a very cruel person for making me write this. I was crying like a baby the whole time.Rated T for Too many feels!)

Toc sat on their bed with her chin resting on her hands, brow furrowed and feeling strange. Feeling very strange indeed, an odd mixture of terror and serenity. When one knows that they have an hour and a half to live, give or take a few moments, what are they supposed to do? Well, obviously, she wanted to spend what was left with Prinston but she didn't want to be all teary. So she resolved for the rest of her life she wouldn't cry, not once. Panic and stress were fine but no crying. Tugging at the chain of her clock heart she stared at it neutrally. The basic thing that stated all this, she and that clock had and love-hate relationship. Now, Toc supposed, they had better be neutral.

The carved mahogany door opened and closed slowly as Prinston limped inside relying on his cane carrying a relatively small box. The walk had been needed to clear his mind and let everything out as best he could so he didn't taint Wiler's last moments. He had more than most people, knowing what was to come and how much time was left. He approached her with a smile, dark messy wavy hair, boyish smile, lanky frame, and warm brown eyes he'd always had. There were a grey hairs now and the natural wrinkles from smiling that didn't disappear once the smiling stopped. He was Prinston albeit with less strings than he'd met her with. Sitting on the bed beside his wife still wild as anything, "How's the old ticker?"

Wiler gazed at the clock for a moment more, before have a fit of furious blinking. "I don't know," she answered eventually slumping and looking to him. "It'll go off soon, probably for the last time. Strange to think about huh?" Wiler would have been scratching her hand if she wasn't holding her heart with an awful lot of care. She managed to give him a smile, the best way to make a mood better she believed. "I suppose I'll actually want to hear the sound this time. Wonder if it'll be comforting? I dunno, its never been that way before, but it's different now, and..." Toc trailed off, knowing she was rambling badly. It was a habit she never grew out of. She never grew out of a lot of things. Except those boots she used to wear, she grew out of those.

'The last time...' He'd be able to finally get a full nights rest after all these years, not that he'd allow himself to. Prinston lifted the small box in his hand up for Wiler to see. "I got back from the inventors workshop, he managed to finish it on time." Opening the box, he pulled out a clock in the image of her heart out. Though there were internal differences the outside was nearly identical except for this clock being new and Wiler's heart showing it's age. It had yet to be started, poised to begin the second hers stopped. Prinston turned it over carefully in his hands recalling the conversation with Wiler years ago about what he'd do in this situation. He hadn't been exaggerating back then.

Toc gazed at him with complete adoration. 'He actually really did it.' Tucking her heart away as quick as she could, she threw her arms around Prinston. "You're the best person who has ever walked the earth," she murmured. "You won't forget me, will you? That's what probably scares me most about all this, being forgotten." Wiler pulled away from him slightly her face holding a sad smile. "But get this I get this, my mother, I'll see her again. Bet she's going to be waiting for me." Wiler can't even believe Prinston did it for her. Even if she wasn't going to be really alive when it took its affect, it still gave her that warm and fuzzy feeling. The same one she got whenever she's around Prinston.

Prinston held her closer, wanting to tell Wiler to make the woman wait longer but the words wouldn't make it past his lips. Instead he turned his thoughts to the mother who waited so many years to see Wiler again. Prinston hoped he wouldn't have to wait as long as she did. "The new clock, though not as beautiful as yours, will remind me of you every hour on the hour. You won't be forgotten Wiler. Think of it as a counter, adding up all the time I have til I see you again." Wiler isn't a very forgettable person, even if she was, he wouldn't forget. Even if he lived long enough to start losing his memory he would have a reminder. "Your mom is looking forward to seeing you I'm sure. You'll have the best stories to tell her while you wait for me. Unless you forget about me; you won't forget about me will you?"

Wiler shook her head, seeming to be hesitating an awful lot. "With all the stories I'll be telling about you, I won't be able to even if I tried, which I wouldn't try." She closed her eyes for a moment feeling tired but she wouldn't sleep yet. "On the subject of stories..." Wiler started, opening one eye slowly and then the other, "I was wondering if you'd maybe tell me a story. It doesn't matter what it's about. I just want to listen to you." Humming quietly to herself, Wiler listened to the ticking clock filling the room. It had only just begun to sink in recently that she wasn't going to be here forever.

Prinston tried to think of a story but she was the one who always had a good one ready. He'd much rather hear Wiler talk before she... Once she- the clock stopped she wouldn't be able to hear him anymore either. They never had children so there were no mini Wilers to cling onto her memory with. He wanted to say everything he'd said over the span of their life together and try to fit it into these last moments. There wasn't enough time for everything, and he wouldn't be able to get through it all and keep a smile on. If she wanted a story she's have it. "There is this silly nursery story thing Grayson told me a long time ago. There's a crafty mouse with a tuba who's usually quite shy. He's never seen but usually heard. When he works up the courage to play for people it's always at the most inconvenient times. Frankly he stinks as a tuba player and scurries out of sight before people can judge him. There is one way to coax him out, all you have to do is cut the cheese." Prinston finished the story nearly as soon as it started. It really was that short. "I can think of another story if you'd like, one that isn't from Grayson.

Wiler was giving him a faraway smile, as though most of her wasn't actually in the room. Her voice was in the same state when she spoke next. "I liked it, but I'd also like another story if it's not too much. I like to listen to you." Eyes shifted from gazing into nothingness for a moment, to her hands, and then back at Prinston. Mind a bit clouded, with one strong thought standing out; Toc was awfully lucky to have someone willing to tell a dying woman stories. Make that two thoughts, she loved him. Among a few thoughts she could think of as well. She wished she could tell him this, but the words didn't seem to work at the moment so she stayed quiet. Not silent as she would mumble something unintelligible to no one in particular. Wiler didn't like this new state she was in, but she couldn't complain. Neither physically or mentally as she was still alive, for a bit at least.

Anyone could see what was happening to her. It was the beginning of the end just like with his parents. Wiler is older than him. Under the best circumstances, if it wasn't right now, far down the line she would still be going first almost certainly. Reality didn't keep Prinston from lying to himself about it. Her heart just needed a tune up, some oiling, and more love to keep it going. They already tried all of those solutions and Prinston had already given her all his love. As thoughts darkened he had to remind himself more adamantly to keep his features from betraying his inward turmoil. 'Smile for her, even if you don't want to. Lie to yourself long enough to make everything seem okay.' Fighting against his strings to loosen his own grip long enough to kiss her before holding her close once again. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he allowed himself to let out the the words he most wanted to say most. He needed to get them out again before she was to far gone to understand them, even if he had repeated them countless time over the years. "I like listening to you too... I love you Wiler." Struggling to stay calm, the words still managed to stray from coming out somber. A long pause filled the air as he listened to tickling of her clock. One, two, three, four, again and again, he savored the sound. "...How about the story of us, it's the only good one I know."

Wiler found herself slipping away ever so slightly and it terrified her. Toc didn't want to accept the fact that she was going to be gone, somewhere where no one alive could reach her. Prinston... she didn't want to cause him any pain at all. She didn't want him to miss her too greatly. Leaning against him, her eyes closed and breathing steadied as she mumbled "I love you too Prinston." She found herself listening to the ticking of her heart as well; it seemed to be crying because she refused to. She was bawling her eyes out, on the inside. It was very violent in there but now she had to be a bit stronger than that for Prinston's sake. "That's the best story anyone can tell." Toc nodded to him whilst giving him a weak smile. "It's especially great because it's you who'll be telling it." She, for a moment, just sat there relaxed. Before being startled into awareness suddenly by her clock going off. The minute of being purely awake quickly faded away as she grimaced at the resounding chime. She'd been wrong, even if it was the last time it'd go off, she still hated that sound with a burning passion.

Prinston treasured her expression more than the sound of the chiming clock. A sad reality that even near death she couldn't find any solace in it. "I'll start at the beginning the first time I saw you in the meeting room barefoot." Prinston recounted all their life together as best he could. Not exact, as the sands of time shifted and covered the footprints of the past. As he continued retelling it he grew more  somber knowing there was no way to relive it. Wiler was a story all her own and he was just glad to be part of it. The thought of someone else filling his role in her life was unthinkable. Nearing the end of their story he found himself increasingly grateful. Their story does not end perfectly but that made it no less beautiful. Prinston choked up by the end and trembled trying to regain composure. "Now we're at the part where I say how much I'm going to miss you. The truth is, it's not these strings that keep me going it's you. You're the only thing tying me to this world Wiler and once your clock stops, my world stops with it."

Wiler opened her eyes to look at Prinston, her eyes glassy, like she was going to cry. "The world will keep on turning, promise." She muttered, her voice slightly more aware than it had been. Well she wasn't exactly one hundred percent sure about this, but it was close. Wiler would miss him immeasurably as well, she wasn't even gone yet and she was already grieving about the fact that he wouldn't be where she was going. "I can tell you one last story, if you want." She said to him, her voice hesitant. She didn't know what she'd tell, but she'd tell something. It usually worked out that way, she just started talking and something came out. She wanted to tell him something he'd never heard before, some great secret, or something that would make him smile; she wanted dearly to make him smile. She worried also that her time would run out before she finished the story, before she got the chance to tell him how it worked out. Nothing was more terrible than an unfinished story. While her mind was waging war against itself, Toc was breathtaking deeply, her arms sort of limp.

Maybe in a literal sense, the world would turn. They stood on a spinning planet but how often could they tell honestly? The world goes through its course, but without Wiler, Prinston doesn't notice. Life has no meaningful progression and it's a matter of going through the motions. He doubted she'd finish it, this story she planned to tell him. The last thing he wanted was to forced her to labor, working to breathe just to amuse him in her last moments. "Is that what you want Wiler? Wouldn't you rather save it until we meet again?" It was an accuse so he wouldn't have to watch her struggle.

She paused for a moment, gazing up at him with those brown eyes of hers. Even after years they hadn't lost their excitement, though now it was almost dulled. "Whatever you want. Whatever you want that I can give you is yours, it's always been that way." She closed her eyes in a slight resignation. "I'm sorry I can't stay for long Prinston. I want to be here with you forever, I love you. I guess right now we'll have to put forever on hold for a bit until later." Wiler had around twenty minutes left, it was apparent by the increased laboring of her heart's ticking. Mixed with the utter fear;it was quite a dreary sound to behold.

That would be the straw that broke the camels back, if there was a camel involved in this. There were no camels though, just Prinston and his aching breaking heart, or heartstrings more accurately. His heartstrings weren't meant for the kind of strain they were withstanding right now. The red threads seemed to be twisting themselves into tight cords like they were trying to turn themselves into harp strings. Prinston's breath became more labored as Wiler's voice seemed to get farther away. Cinderella's count down had come to a close, time for her to rush off and out the princes reach. Despite having only just held her in his arms the princes would fail to keep her in his grasp and she would escape. Wiler was Prinston's Cinderella, and they'd both ran out of time. "I love you more Wiler."

Wiler laughed a strained laugh, trying to keep him smiling and happy. "Nah, I dunno if that's possible. I love you the most anyone could ever love someone." She seemed to struggle saying this, like every word itself was painful to speak. She needed to say a million things, but she didn't have enough time to tell everyone what she wanted to. "Prinston?" She suddenly asked, her voice perking up slightly. "Will you tell everyone all of the things I've always been too afraid to say? Like tell Grayson that I hope he's forgiven me after all this time, tell Myron that he's a jerk but I love him." She paused, trying to think up what else to say. "Have him tell his wife, you know, Marietta, I've always been kind of afraid of her. George needs to know that I've always wanted to punch him." She seemed to mumble a bit more, but it wasn't anything clear enough to make out.

Prinston gave a soft chuckle, only Wiler would say such things on her death bed. "Of course it's the least I could do after insisting I have you to myself today. I know a few people who were pining to weep over you the whole day. I'll try and remember to relay the messages after you've left." It would be difficult given he's struggling to remember how to keep his heart beating. The strings were growing too tight to bear, it's like they're trying to spill his feelings as well as his guts.

Wiler glanced at her clock, her brow furrowing and her eyes suddenly downcast. "I've got a few more minutes. Is there anything you want? Anything at all?" Wiler was, at this point, more than willing to give him anything. She wasn't actually capable of much of this. you could see it in the fact that she was so awfully pale and a bit shaky hear it in the way her voice was too high and far away. "I'll give it to you, promise." It was really all she could seem to think about; making Prinston happy.

'Stay, just stay with me Wiler,' it's the only thing he wanted. That wasn't something she had control over. No matter how much he wished he could ask her to stay, she wouldn't be able to anyway. Wiler isn't a thing he can ask for and her love isn't a thing he can hold. There is only one thing she could offer that would make this situation more bearable; cutting his heartstrings. However it would make him a real puppet prince, without emotions. Deep down he didn't want that, knowing it wouldn't bring him relief- just emptiness. "You've given me all you can Wiler. You can rest now."

Wiler knew her time was up, but she didn't want to say goodbye. Goodbye meant that she was never going to see him again; she sincerely hoped that wasn't going to end up happening. Toc subconsciously wondered if it would hurt, dying, but didn't have mush time to dwell on the topic. She'd find out soon enough. "I suppose I'll see you later then," she managed to squeak out her eyes already closing fast. "I love you. Don't be sad, I'm not going too far." With that, he clock ticked twice and stopped.

The new clock began a second too late after Wiler's had stopped. That one second was enough for him to expierience that horrid thing all must face from there loved ones, silence. Worse than any yelling or screaming is complete silence. Silence meant life was unmoving, stilled to a halt like Wiler's clock. That second of silence was all it took for Prinston's heartstrings to finally begin to snap. He wished he could have saved them but he hands were full with the very limp body of a once person. Many fell limply like cut veins from his chest. A haze of pain and panic fogged his mind and the too high pitched ticking went on counting the seconds of his agony until they turned to dull aching pain.

Time passed and eventually the people came. Grayson was the most helpful person through it all in a strange way. He never told him to move on. He told him to keep up with the clock. Grayson knew when to stay and leave as he needed to. Prinston did forget to deliver Wiler's message to him, some things slip the mind. Surely they'd both forgive him for it.

In the end Prinston managed to keep up with the clock. Not letting the passage of time become meaningless life pass without notice. He found solace or at least distraction. The biggest help was the clock, admittedly he'd grown to regret and even loath it over the years. He loved Wilers clock because it was hers. This was his clock and he hated it as much as she hated hers. Still... cleaning it, watching it, listening to it, reminded him of the promise he made to her.

Somedays he thought he saw her reflection in the glass of the clocks face. One day he didn't have to look at the clock to know his time had come. He closed his eyes and opened them to see Wiler again, and not a moment to soon...