~ One Year Later ~

Ara put down her book and looked into the cold, clear water of one of the fountains in Trafalgar Square, a stranger staring her back in the face. A stranger with a healthy complexion, green eyes and red cheeks. So much of her had changed in the year since the war. Time had left her features lonely, no scars marking the torment and destruction she had endured, wounds healed and blood trapped behind the skin. The memories only stayed as a reminder of what she went through. Nothing remained. 

The sun crept from behind the buildings, the clouds still pink and orange from the light. Ara faced the colours and smiled, picturing Jack watching them behind the daylight and gleaming down at them. In her mind she waved at the sunshine. Gradually the sun raised up into the sky, the clouds slowly losing their colour and turning into the dull white-grey that London seems to see every day of its ever-lasting life. At this time there were a few people walking around in business suits holding suitcases, clearly on their way to work. Soon enough London will come back to life; builders repairing the architecture, buses driving around blocks, taxis dropping people to work, obviously people were not the same around each other, but they were getting there. 

A muffled snore came from next to her. Ara looked over to see little James sleeping in his buggy, tucked up in his woolly blanket and hat, safe and sound from the dangers and trials of the world. His blue eyes were hidden away from the sky, his oceans protected from the pollution. He had his father's eyes, but they did not possess the moments his had, which Ara hoped James' would never have.

"He's so beautiful." She looked up to see Jack looking down fondly at the sleeping baby. 

"I mean, he looks just like me!" Ara chuckled.

"Alright, you cocky bastard!" she said. Jack gave off his laugh, a playful sound lightening the silence of the square. He was wearing his uniform, but it was made up and the medals were shining in the sunrise, his hair was in place and his eyes were luminous. Looking back at the child in the buggy, Ara's eyes began to water a little, one tear spilling down to her chin. 

"I wish you were here, with me to look after him." She reached with a hand to tuck a wisp of his dark hair under his hat, being careful not to wake him up with her cold hands. He stirred but didn't wake. 

"Although it may not seem like it, I am with you. I will never leave your side." The spilling light was blocked as he stood in front of her. Glancing down at him, he was smiling sadly up at her, his warm hands reaching up towards her to cup her face, kneeling down onto the pavement. The warmth on her cheeks radiated throughout her whole body, the bitter cold of the air completely leaving her. 

"Is that a promise?" 

"It is." He planted a kiss onto her forehead before getting up again, making his way to the sun. His footsteps made no echo, no sound. She watched as the rays took him away from the grounds of London, his image swallowed up by the radiation, the golden glow slowly covering his figure. The warmth slowly leaving her again, leaving her to accompany Jack. 

"Look after our boy!" he called behind his shoulder.

In that moment she had never missed anyone so much, knowing that she would probably never see her bright bulb in a dark room ever again. Knowing that she would never meet another one like him, another man who smiled like he did, or who's eyes glinted whenever looking at her. No lips as perfect or hands as caring. How with few words he could make her smile like no-one else, how he could love her like no other man. 

It was not how he made her feel, it was more how he made her exist.