There's No Address in the Stars

Angel sighed softly as she wiped a tear from her eyes and walked toward Chris' grave. Today was his birthday, or at least, it would have been. In her right hand she carried twenty deep red roses, in her left a letter. Her black dress stopped just under her kness and her black open toed sandals showed off her deep red toenails. Sitting down next to the headstone she sighed and broke down..

Randy could hear the sobs long before he reached the grave where his girlfriend lay crying. He'd never had the pleasure of meeting Chris, but from all he'd heard, he'd been everything Angel had ever wanted...that he'd been taken away was a monumental injustice, more than that, it was a crime...

"Angel?" Randy called softly when he caught sight of the young woman leaning against the headstone "Sweetheart? Is it okay if I'm here?"

Angel nodded, dragging herself off the ground and instantly latching onto Randy.

"It's alright Angel, I've got you." Randy whispered soothingly "Just let it all out, you've been holding it in for far too long."

"It's not fair!" Angel sobbed. "It's not fair."

"I know sweetheart, I know." Randy was fighting hard not to cry himself. Were it in his power, he'd turn back time, keep Angel and Chris together, even if it meant he'd never see his Angel again. But how could he help a wound like this heal?

Angel reached up and took off the necklace around her neck containing a small key. She bent down to the headstone and pullled a steel box out from the ground beside it and unlocked it, placing her letter inside.

Randy could see the massive stack of letters inside, she'd been writing letters for years.

"I...I'm sure he's still watching you..." he mumbled lamely, how was he supposed to help?

"I know he is," Angel said. "I can see him here, he's standing right next to you."

Randy could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up on end. This wasn't the first time Angel had seen Chris standing next to them. And though he subtly glanced behind him, he saw nothing.

"What..." he licked his lips nervously "Is...he saying anything?"

Angel nodded. "He said you better take good care of me," Angel said.

"I will Chris" Randy spoke aloud "You have my word on that, she's safe with me."

Angel sat the roses one by one down on the ground in front of the headstone

Randy took Angel's hand and rubbed it gently "Do you want to be alone for a while?" he whispered softly

Angel shook her head.

"I need you here, or I'll do something stupid," Angel said.

Without a word, the Viper wrapped Angel in a gentle hug "Sweetheart, you know he wouldn't want you to do that" his voice was firm and gentle "And...I don't know how I'd live without you."

Angel nodded.

Randy sat with Angel for quite some time, gently holding her in his arms.

"I love you" he whispered every now and again "And I know Chris will always love you too."

and I'll never forget him, never," Angel whispered.

Looking over Angel's shoulder, Randy could've sworn he saw Chris watching them with a smile

"I know you won't" he murmured, gently kissing her on the cheek "I know."