Always Be My baby || By Aire J

July 6, 2002 -- New layout, story completed.

"We were as one, babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I'll let you fly
'Cause I know in my heart, babe
Our love will never die"

"Criss...I have to talk to you..." he said, his eyes looking down at her.

They gave him away every time....someone was terribly wrong.

"Yeah? Are you alright? You look a little pale..." Criss said as she put her hand on his cheek and looked at him with love in her eyes.

"Criss...don't....this is hard enough for me as it is..." He said as he gently took his hand off of his cheek and kissed the top of it.

Criss could feel herself get nervous...something was terribly wrong....out of all the years they had been married, he never acted this way "Honey...tell me what's wrong..." Criss said as she looked up at him.

"Gosh..I dont even know how to say this..." he said, as he stood their holding her hands close to his chest.

Criss could feel the tears stinging her eyes... 'Oh gosh...it's over...' she thought to herself over and over again. "Just say it...please...your scaring me" Criss said as she looked at him, her eyes begging for an answer.

"I went to the doctor today...to see about that biopsy they did...about that lump in my neck.." he said as he faded off.

Criss looked at him intently, her eyes telling him to go on. He began to fidget with his hands as Criss grinned.

One of the many reasons she fell for him.

She saw a tear slide down his cheek as he looked up from his hands. "What is it?!" she asked, her voice frantic at this point.

"Criss...they said that it's throat cancer....they can't stop it..." he said as the couple fell into a heap on the floor in a potpourri of cries of despairs and tears.

"You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby"

"I'm so sorry to do this to you...I don't even know what else to say..." he said as he cradled his weeping wife in his arms.

Criss sobbed as she tried to speak...but a mere squeak came from her mouth. "I love you" she said quietly as she hugged him closer to her.

"I love you too...always" he said with a smile as he kissed her forehead. He could never get enough of her telling him she loved him and she felt the same way about him. They were hopelessly in love...and not even death could change that.

"I ain't gonna cry, no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave boy
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably, you'll be back again
'Cause you know in your heart, babe
Our love will never end"

*One year later*

"Baby? Are you home? Caroline has a surprise for you!" Criss yelled as she entered the couple, now a family's, new home. Criss smiled as she carried their 3 month old little girl into the kitchen. "Baby?...where are ya? Caroline and I bought you a little gift!" Criss said as she held up a small gift back with her free hand. "Hello?" she said loudly as she walked through the house, Caroline now sleeping peacefully on her shoulder. She heard a crash from upstairs as she jumped, startled from the loud noise. She quickly walked upstairs and into the bedroom that her and her husband shared. She walked in slowly as she looked around to find the culprit of the noise. She heard a groan from Caroline's room as she rushed across the hall.

"Criss" a weak voice muttered from the corner.

Criss gasped as she saw her husband, in a crumpled heap, on the floor. The recent months of chemotherapy had done a number on him...but he had never acted like this.

"Ok...hold on baby..." Criss said quickly, as she laid Caroline in her crib, and ran over to her husband. "Come on...let's get you to bed" she said as she kissed him lightly and helped him to the bedroom. "Lay down" she said as she gently assisted him in getting onto the bed. He was so weak...so fragile now. Her heart ached as she watched his chest rise and fall slowly with every breath he took. She sobbed loudly as she wiped a tear from her eyes.

"Oh...sweetie...come here" he said as he held his arm out to her.

She walked over to him, tears threatening to fall.

"Don't worry...I'll always be yours...I'll always be here with you and Caroline, and I will always love you," he said as he gently squeezed her hand. This was it...his fight was over. Criss laid next to him as she silently sobbed and whispered quiet 'I love you's into his ears. He died that day in her arms...in the arms of an angel....in the arms of love.

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby"

*One year later*

"Bye Caroline...have fun sweetie! Thank you Mrs. Croft!" Criss yelled out the door as she watched her neighbor take Caroline next door. Finally...a night to herself. The past year had been so lonely with out him in her life...holding her, telling her how much he loved her. She hadn't dated since his death...she knew that she would never love again. Something in her heard told her to hold on...to never let go of that grasp of hope and that love that she felt so strongly for him. Then she saw it...as if a shimmering mass had floated past her. She stared after it in awe...her eyes twinkling...her mind racing. She followed it...almost on instinct. "Oh my gosh..." she whispered as she felt tears well up in her eyes. It was him...he had come back. She smiled slightly as she walked into the bedroom. There he was....looking the same as he did when they first met.

"Hey baby.." he said as he embraced her.

"You came back..." Criss said, barely a whisper as her eyes glistened.

"I could never leave you.." he said, wiping her tears away.

"I love you" she whispered into his shoulder as she hugged him close...never wanting to let go.

"I love you too...always," he whispered into her ear before disappearing.

Criss's sadness was soon overcome with happiness as she stood in the bedroom, now alone...he kept his promise...he would always be her baby.