In Heaven's Forest
by Christine Leigh

Summary: Emily POV.  Set during Christmas time.
Rating: G
Category: V
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: All characters are the products of Chris Carter.
They also belong to Ten-Thirteen Productions and the Fox
Network. No copyright infringement intended.
Archiving: If you would like to archive anywhere, I'd 
appreciate a quick note first.
Email: Feedback is always welcome, leighchristine@hotmail.com


The vista before the girl sparkles.  Purple snow and black pines, or
maybe it's the sky that is purple.  Whatever its composition, she is
reveling in it.  She wants to stay still for a moment, and her tired
body is in agreement, but she shouldn't stop walking.  There are
people waiting for her, and she wants to get home before dark.
The sky isn't exactly light, but she thinks it is still day.  How much
longer until Christmas?  It was two days the last time she
remembers looking at the calendar, but here in the vastness of her
surroundings she isn't sure.  Maybe there is more time.  Now the
snow is white.  It is a purple sky.  Brilliantly so.  She decides to
give in to her weariness, and sits down under one of the pines.  The
temperature must be sub-zero, but she is warm. The beauty of the
scene before her is spellbinding.  She has been walking for a long
time, and sometimes she is confused about where it is that she is
supposed to be.  She thinks that there are people waiting for her,
but she knows that she might be remembering something from
before.  She then closes her eyes and waits.  Soon she sees.

The scene is as clear as if she were in the room with them. Before
her is her mother and the friendly man who once made her smile.
They are sitting at a table in a small room.  They're talking about
him.  About the little boy who would have been her brother, and
who is now gone.  His name is William.  She has only heard them
speak of him once before and it was such a sad conversation that
she had wanted to run away, but she had stayed.  The conversation
taking place now is even sadder.  It is nearly Christmas and they
are without their child.  The little boy isn't like Emily; he is just the
opposite.  Meant to be in every way possible.  Emily doesn't
understand why he is gone, but she wants so to lend comfort.  Now
her mother has gotten up and gone over to look out the window,
but Emily knows that's not really what she's doing.  Her mother
doesn't want him to see her cry.  Emily doesn't want to see her cry
either, but she knows that sometimes you can't help it.  Sometimes
it is all there is.  She reaches out and slips her small hand into her
mother's.  She wants her to know that she would make it better, if
only she knew how.  She speaks softly.

"I know how much you miss him.  I know that you think you'll
never see him again, but I don't believe that."  Emily paused.  This
was very hard for her.  She didn't want to let go of her mother's
hand, ever.

"I've seen him.  He's so cute, and he hasn't forgotten you.  He
knows that you want to find him.  And I believe that you will."  She
paused again.  "I miss you.  I wish that I could be here, too."  With
that, she squeezed the hand, tight as she could, and then let go of it.
The scene soon faded away.

Emily opens her eyes. The sun is still hovering on the horizon.  And
now there are stars as well - big, silver stars.  Some of them have
faces, and they are friendly.  They are waiting to shine fully, but
perhaps night will never come.  She is thinking that there really is no
one waiting for her, but she gets up and starts to walk anyway.
There is a pull in her chest, and now she wants to cry, but she will
not.  Not this time.  She is a brave girl, and she wants to think her
mother would be proud of her.  Her short life hadn't been much,
but in its wane she had learned to love from this woman, and that
has carried her through eternity.

As she walks, she hears the low melody of her mother's voice.  It is
beautiful.  One day William will hear it again too.  There on earth.


- end  -