Fading Away [A Next to Normal fanfic]

Chapter 8: What You'd Call A Dream

And I'm sorta scared

And I'm sorta proud

And I'm stronger than I seem

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Goodman Household, Unknown Time, Rose POV.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"...Rosie?" he said softly, eyes wide as saucers.

I blinked at him. We stood staring at each other, saying nothing. What was to be said? It was like every word I wanted to say got stuck in my throat and I just was frozen in time.

"...Rose?" I walked over to him and watched him, "You can see me?" He looked at me like I was crazy but nodded. I sighed in relief and hugged him. He didn't do anything and I stepped back.

"How can I see you? You're dead." I watched him and shook my head, "Not if you think I'm here. Well, yes, technically I am, but you can see me if you think I'm here." he looked at me like I'm nuts, "What?! You're crazy, this is something-I don't even know."

"I know. I know. Though...you said Gabe wasn't either." his eyes widened, "What? You've seen him?" I nod, "He's okay." I nod again. "He's perfect."

In like every way but you don't need to know that, okay? okay.

He sighed with relief, "Good. Good. Are you okay?"

What kind of question is that? Are you okay? Well I died, but other than that I'm just peachy.

I look at him like, 'think about what you're saying'. He nodded, "I got it. Though What's Heaven like..if there is a heaven?" I couldn't help but giggle, "Of course there's a heaven. I've only seen one part of it, otherwise, it's pretty much gorgeous." He smiled. "Good."

I was about to tell him about Gabriel and Diana but in a blink, I was sitting back where I was in the meadow.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Children of the Meadow, Heaven, Unknown Time, still Rose POV.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I looked around, seeing the children playing and wondered why I was whisked away from Dan. Was it because I was going to tell him about Gabe and Diana? Was he supposed to not know yet? A child came up to me and sat beside me.

"He can't know...not yet." I looked at the boy, "How did you..?" He smiled, "I have my ways. He says it's not time."

"Who says it's not time?"

"God, of course, silly." My eyes widened, God? God didn't want Dan to know yet about Diana and Gabriel? Why not?

Like the child read my mind, he spat out the answer. "He can't know yet because there are things he has to learn himself before clarity can form. It's His plan. Trust him." I blinked and nodded.

I guess I have to wait to tell Dan, though I wish he would understand so he could know he was wrong to think his wife was crazy. I know he didn't want to but I could see that it was his only conclusion on how she was acting. Supernatural things are complex.

I sat talking with the boy about his life before he came to heaven. His name was Jacob. He told me his baby sister buried him with his favorite toy car and that he watched over his family with his grandparents in another part of heaven.

"I go when I miss 'em. Gabe takes me to meet with my grandpa and grandma sometimes. Maybe you could one day?" He asked softly, I couldn't help but smile. "Of course, I'd love to." He grinned and looked over beside him. I saw Gabriel surrounded by little girls. I giggled watching them.

"Gabe! Gabe! Gabe!"

"Gabe, play with my baby doll with me?"

"Gabe, you said we could hula hoop!"

"Gabriel, I thought you said we could hopscotch?"

He chuckled and bent down to their level, "Now, girls. I can play with you all, we have enough time to do everything here, remember? Though, I have to see Rose." The girls giggled, looking over at me. Gabriel followed their eyes and smiled softly at me.

"Do you love Rosie, Gabe?" I bit my lip and he looked down at the girl, blushing softly. "Maybe one day?" They giggled and hugged him, bouncing off to go play. Jacob had gotten up and went to play with the girls as Gabriel made his way over to me.

I stood up and leaned against the tree, smiling at him, "Hello there." He chuckled and pulled something from behind his back, "I think you might have dropped this." I saw the red rose in his hand and twirled it between his fingertips. I giggled, "Oops." He chuckled and offered it to me, our fingers brushing as I took it. "Thank you." He smiled and nodded.

"Want to walk? I shouldn't be taken away this time." He winked and I smiled, "Sure. I'd love to." He smiled and offered his hand. I took it, feeling our hands fit perfectly, making me blush softly. I took the rose and brought it to my nose, smelling the sweet scent. I looked at him and saw him smiling at me.

"What?"

"You're beautiful."

I blushed and looked away from him, looking around the meadow. He lead me through the nearby forest and I giggled, "Where are you taking me?" He looked back at me grinning, "You'll see."

He lead me through the trees to a garden and I gasped, "Woah.." He chuckled beside me and lead me through the garden.

We spent a while talking and spending time together, I'm sure for hours. He stopped and pointed ahead of us. He moved close to me and whispered in my ear, "That's Caroline. She's special." I looked at him, "She's apart of the future. He said she's very important." I raised an eyebrow. "She lives to be an old woman but when she came here, she liked to be a child and be in the garden." I smiled and Caroline looked over at us.

"Rose! You're here!" She giggled and ran over to us, hugging my leg. I bent down, hugging the girl. I looked up at Gabe, "She said a girl named Rose would come along." "And I was right!" I looked at her, "I'm always right, mommy says so." I smile.

"Rose, Gabe? Will you catch butterflies with me?" I looked at Gabe, "We'd love to, wouldn't we Rose?" "We would." She giggled. So, we spent hours running around catching butterflies with little Caroline. Laughing, smiling, happily content.