The Messenger AU

Opie, overcome with so much love, held her tight for awhile until he noticed the bump. His worst fears caught up with him, "Oh god...I'm too late...who is he? Does he treat you well? Oh god...I wanted it to be me you married..."

She laughed at him gently, "Opie, it's yours. The baby, is yours."

Opie looked at her in surprise, slowly resting his hands on her belly. "Really? Why didn't you tell me?"

She flushed, " I didn't want you to.worry. i wanted you tofocus on coming back alive."
she sttoked his hair.

Opie held her close, "Let's get married."

She smiled, "Why do you think I've been living this life of sin," she giggled, "Shunned by my peers, love only by my parents? I've been waiting for you."

She unbuttoned his jacket and placed it on the hook that had been empty since he left.

Opie frowned, "Shunned?"

She sighed, "Ope, I'm six months pregnant, unmarried, and I live alone. Yes, I was shunned. I sit alone in class and any other function I go to."

Opie kissed her neck, "You should have told me, love."

She sighed, leaning into his kiss.

"I was fine. I needed you to stay safe," she let her hands wind into his hair.

Opie smiled, "You are a brave lady. When can I marry you?"

"As soon as possible. I missed you so much," she eyed the cane again, "What happened to you?"

Opie sighed, "Shot in the back twice...young kid named Ortiz saved my life."

She stared in shock. Her love had almost died. Suddenly, she had the overwhelming need to vomit. She ran to the bathroom, sinking to her knees in front of the toilet, and puked.

Opie pulled her hair back and sank down beside her, "Hey...I'm here. It's okay now."

She pulled a towel from the rack and wiped her face. Without asking, she undid the buttons of his uniform and scooted around to his back. Slowly, she pulled the shirt and found two angry looking red wounds. Though they were pretty much healed, she couldn't bring herself to touch them. One was in his shoulder, which she doubted would have killed him, one was on the right side of his lower back, close enough to his spine that it made her gasp.

Opie sighed, "Baby, I'm okay...no worries."

She shook her head and stood, rinsing her mouth out with water. Maybe he was fine, but she was not. What if he had died? this whole time she was sure he would come back whole and he had, but it was so close, so very close. As she often did in times where her mind was troubled, she went into her music room and sat at the baby grand piano her doting father had bought her. If Opie had died, her parents would have taken care of her. They were completely supportive ina time where this was taboo. She was thankful. Her hands began to play a familiar tune as her thoughts flowed. Moonlight Sonata filled the room as her thoughts wondered to the place Opie must have been shot. She though of how scared he must have been and she said a silent prayer for Ortiz. She would thank him when he got home. She closed her eyes and just played.

Opie sat down next to her, soothed by the music. He kissed her neck gently as he listened.

His kiss brought her back to the moment and the keys clamored out a hideous note. She stared at him, still unsure he was really there. Her hands felt his face, his arms, his lips.

"You're really home," she whispered.

He smiled, softly kissing her palms. "Yeah...I am. I'm not going anywhere now."

She kissed his lips, "There were nights I was sure I would never see you again. I am so glad I was wrong. When do you want to get married. I don't think I could belong to anyone but you."

She loved his smile. When her phone rang, reluctantly, she rose to answer it.

"Oh, hi Daddy, what's wrong?"


Happy tried to break the news to her gently, but he was just as upset as she was going to be, "Baby, it's Bram. He, well, he's gone, Cor."

Corrie dropped the phone and sat down in a chair. Both her brothers? Both of them gone?

Opie saw her frantic face and pulled her in his arms, "Corrine? What's wrong?? What happened?!"

She looked down, brow furrowed, "My other brother, he died. Both of them are gone."

It was like a cloud of confusion hit her. She was the youngest. Now, she was the only child.

Unable to speak, Opie just held her tight in his arms, stroking her soft hair.