*EDITED*

Grace awoke to the echoing sound of crashing thunder rippling through the dark skies as they released droplets of water to beat harshly down upon the ground and rattled against her window. The thunder startled her into sending a scream. She was sweating and panting like she had just woken from the most monstrous dream. Then, another flash shocked the air followed closely by another clap of thunder so loud she could feel the echo of it rippling in her chest. Her hands went to her ears trying to muffle the banging as it continued. Tear pricked her eyes and rolled down her cheeks; this was the first time she has been in a storm by herself. Normally she would fall asleep or sit with her mother. But being alone seemed to make it all the more scary.

" Grace?" John called out as he pushed opened the door to her room harshly and saw her holding her head while rocking herself back and forth on her bed. The terrified look that her eyes and face held pushed John to move next to her. He sat down on the bed and placed a hand onto her shoulder lightly so as not to scare her any further. But just as he place his hand onto her shoulder, another flash and crash sounded. Grace jumped and launched herself into his arms shaking like a leaf in the harshest of winds.

" It's alright. I am here, sh sh. I am here." John whispered to her softly, calming her down with a gentle rock. Grace gripped onto his  white cotton shirt as tightly as her hands would allow her while John had his right hand keeping her head to his chest and the other around her side; moving slowly up and down her side to sooth Grace further.

" You're going to be just fine. Forget about everything and listen to me." John hummed gently to her as he held her head to his chest.

" Listen too my voice; my heart beating. Hear nothing else but me." He whispered to her as she calmed down almost instantly. The thunder cracks seemed to be moving away as they grow quieter; Grace's shivering and breathing slowed down. Her grip seemed to loosen slowly as her eyes dropped shut as exhaustion slowly began to take over her small frame. Before she knew anything, she drifted into a relaxing sleep in John's arms. John shuffled and moved her so that she was now laying back down on the bed and he pulled up the sheets to make sure she was covered away from the cold; placing a gently kiss on her forehead he turned and stood up. But he was brought to an abrupt stop as a hand wrapped around his wrist stopping him from moving any further towards the door. John turned to look to see Grace holding his wrist looking down to the sheets as if embarrassed by her actions.

" Please... don't leave me." She asked in a high pitched whispered to him with a shaky tone to it, one that made his heart sink as the fear dripped from the words she spoke. John turned and lifted the covers and lay down next to her. Grace was instantly pulling herself into his warmth as he covered them both with the blanket, John then wrapped his strong arms safely around her.

" I will never leave you, my Angel of Red." He whispered to her as they held each other and drifted off into a gentle sleep within each others arms and the rain continued to now gently tap against the glass window, lulling to them like a sweet lullaby. Grace was the first to wake the next morning, her face was looking out onto the window; which was still being gently hit by the rain that showed no signs of coming to stop. She felt strong arms wrapped around her small waist and a chest moving softly against her back. She took in a deep breath and smiled gently as she remembered last night and how John held her when she was scared.

" Good morning, my angel." John whispered to her as he kissed the back of her neck by moving her hair away from the skin, he kissed her twice more before Grace chuckled at his actions.

" Good morning." Grace whispered and rolled over on the bed having her back flush against it with John's head hovering over her own on her right side. John reached up with his right hand and held her chin as he placed a placid kiss on her lips pulling back and kissing again and again. Grace chuckled and smiled into his kissing spree.

" What was that for?" She asked him as his eyes continuously watched her own.

" Do I need a reason to kiss my betrothed?" John asked kissing her again gently and longer this time around.

" I guess not." Grace muttered against his lips as they both chuckled to each other. Grace sighed as John fell back against the pillows and Grace placed her head against his chest as he propped his right hand behind his head and his left wrapped around Grace. They lay in content with each other as the rain pattered against the windows. Then a harsh quick knocked echoed from her door cracking the peaceful silence in the room.

" My lady! Please I need your help!" A voice cried in distress and Grace bounced up quickly off her bed. Her bare feet rushed over to the door patting  loudly against the wooden ground. She opened the door to see a woman who worked in John's house; she was dripping wet and distraught as she took deep breaths. She tears were no doubt mixed in with the rain.

" Here, calm down. What is the matter?" Grace asked trying to calm the hysterical lady down with a hand on her right shoulder.

" My baby. He is ill, I fear he will not last much longer." The woman cried as Grace looked down to the ground and if to think something over in her head before nodded looking back up to her and nodding.

" Right." She whispered as she pushed past John who was now standing next to her with a worried look. John watched as she grabbed a dress and rushed behind the changing screen where it only took her a few minutes to change and appear in her old blue dress. She rushed over to her wardrobe and opened it to pull out a leather bag she slung it over her shoulder and rushed back to the door. John stood next to her as she looked at the woman.

" Take me to him." Grace told the lady as she rushed out behind her. John grabbed her wrist and Grace looked to him, knowing what he was thinking. He did not want her to go out without him and risk her life with her healing. But Grace only smiled softly and placed her right hand onto the side of his face.

" I will be back soon." She whispered pulling him to a quick kiss on the lips.

" I love you." She whispered to him as she turned and ran after the woman down the hall away from him.

" Be safe, please." John whispered as he watched her form turn around a corner. Grace rushed to the front door and grabbed her blue cloak from the coat hangers, she wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling the hood up; she rushed out the house and followed closely behind the woman. The rain hit them hard, and it only seemed to intensify as they ran down the driveway; instantly drenching them to the bone as they ran over the mud and stones. They soon rushed through the town as the muddy roads splashed and sprayed under their feet. The town seemed to be a dull blue colour from the rain and wind.

" In here." The woman yelled over the pounding rain as she pushed opened a rotten door. They walked into a small house that had stone flooring and wooden walls. The small house was dark due to the dull weather and was lit mostly by the fire place along with several candles scattered around. A plain wooden table stood next to a small fire place with a few things upon it. The woman lead Grace up over to a bed that was on the far side of the room. A boy no older than ten was laying with pale skin and shallow breathing. His skin was coated in a layer of sweat.

" Get me some water and a clean cloth." Grace called as she sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand onto the boy's forehead.

" He has a high fever and his breathing is loud and shallow." Grace muttered to herself as she turned to the maid.

" Did he eat anything? Where was he before he fell ill?" She asked the maid as she took the bowl of water and cloth.

" 'e was out with his friends. By, by the- the um. The - the river a few days back. He 'nd his friends eat some wild garlic." She told her as Grace sighed looking to the boy as she wrung the cloth and tapped his forehead.

" I see. He has been poisoned." Grace told her her as she ordered the maid to keep his brow cold.

" Down by the river there is lilies-of-the-vally. Not a native plant but it looked very similar to the of wild garlic's and easy to mix up. The lilies-of-the-vally are poisonous to us if eaten." Grace told her as she rumaged through her small leather bag. Moving glass bottles and many other things out the road so she could see the one bottle she needed.

" Can you help him?" The boy's mother asked her.

" If I am right about this, then this..." Grace started holding a bottle up that held a clear liquid in it.

" Will help him and he will regain consciousness instantly. But if I am wrong." Grace said looking to the woman asking for her permission with a worried look. "It will kill him faster." Grace warned her as the mother looked down to her boy.

" Do it." She muttered as Grace looked to her as if to say are you sure. "Even if we don't try this he will die. But if you are wrong then it will end his suffering quickly." She told her, Grace nodded tipping back to boys head and pulling the cork out with her teeth. She pried open his mouth and spat the cork away onto the covers of the bed.

" Hold his nose." The mother followed her order and pinched her sons nose and Grace poured the liquid into the his mouth. The next few seconds were long and tense as they watched the boy. His shallow breathing evened out into a normal paced intake as his skin slowly regained its colour. Grace smiled and patted the boys stomach; she stood up and pushed the cork back into the bottle before returning it to it's place the in bag.

" He will be fine and back on his feet by tomorrow lunch." Grace smiled to the maid as she walked over to the door. The maid stopped her and handed her a coin as to pay her for her treatment. Had this been before she met John, she would have taken it. But she no longer need money; Grace shook her head and placed the coin back into the maids hand and curled her fingers back around the coin.

" I do not need this anymore, save it and buy your son something proper to eat." Grace smiled to her as the maid nodded and smiled to Grace.

" Bless ya and yir kind heart." The maid spoke in a cracking voice as Grace opened the door to the rain that still relentlessly pounded down over Bellstone. Many of the towns people were at the mills working away to make cotton.

" Go and be with him." Grace smiled to her as the maid turned and walked over to her baby boy. Grace smiled and turned closing the door behind her as she exited the house. She then turned and began walking back up the streets the way she came. Little did she know that a tall man was stalking her from the shadows of the darkened town; watching her every move.