Subject: My Father's House (1/1) Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 15:07:57 -0700 From: April French To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU My Father's House--a Forever Knight story By April French Author's Note: Another one inspired by a Bruce Springsteen song, this one "My Father's House." Fair warning: I wrote this one because I was inspired by the lyrics, not the music; I've actually never heard the song. Takes place concurrently with my songfic "October," but that's all the timeline I can give you. If you like it, lemme know. If not, don't tell me. Will be archived with all the other myriad songfics at my site http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/fkficindex.html. Permission to archive is given to the FTP site. Anyone else wishing to archive must first bribe me with salami-and-Swiss on rye. ~~~ My Father's House (1/1) Toronto, 1993 Last night I dreamed that I was a child Out where the pines grow wild and tall I was trying to make it home through the forest Before the darkness falls Thorns ripping at his skin, Nick stumbled through the darkened woods, trying desperately to get back to his home and his father before the unnamable fears could catch him. Sweat dripped from the little boy's face. His breathing was labored, and caught in his chest until Nick was certain his heart would burst. I heard the wind rustling through the trees And ghostly voices rose from the fields Harsh, guttural laughter followed the boy as he ran, freezing his breath in his throat. He could not, he would not look behind him, else the creatures pursuing him overtake him forever. If only he could get to his father. His father would protect him. I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path With the devil snappin' at my heels His father would drive away his fears of the dark, take all his bad dreams and make them nothing. Deep, rough barks and howls sounded behind Nick, and icy teeth bit at his tired feet. What if his father wasn't there? Hot tears streamed down Nick's cheeks. What if his father had left him alone? I broke through the trees, and there in the night My father's house stood shining hard and bright "Father!" Nick screamed. "Father! Father!" The front door was thrown open, spilling light into the yard. A tall figure stood in the middle of the doorway, light streaming around his broad shoulders. "Nicholas!" With one last burst of strength, Nick sprinted up the front steps and threw himself into his father's embrace. The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms "Father!" Nick gabbled, burying his face in his father's shirt, breathing in his heady, comforting scent. "I thought I'd lost you... I thought you'd left me!" "It's all right, Nicholas," LaCroix soothed, stroking his son's soft blond curls. "I'm here. I have always been here. I won't leave you..." I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts Nick's eyes opened slowly, his limbs still half-wrapped in sleep and immobilized. The only sound in his ears was that of his own slow breathing. He blinked, and bit his lower lip. And when he could control his body again, he got out of bed and padded barefoot to his bedroom window. I got dressed, and to that house I did ride From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light Over the city of Toronto, the multitude of colored lights shined back at him, some harsh, some soft, some brighter than others. But in them all, a guide for the lost. Lights for weary wanderers. I walked up the steps and stood on the porch A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door Though it was nearly time for Nick to start getting ready for work, he turned away from the window, and slowly walked back to his bed. He slipped under the covers, pulled them carefully up to his chin, and then turned over on his stomach and hugged a pillow against his face. I told her my story, and who I'd come for She said I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore Nick clutched at his black satin sheets, and sobbed. My father's house shines hard and bright It stands like a beacon calling me in the night Calling and calling, so cold and alone Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned ~Finis--September 27th, 2003~ April French daomir_darkfell@yahoo.com ===== ~Knightwalker: Forever Knight Fan Fiction -- http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/fkficindex.html ~The Corvina: Original Fiction, Poetry and Fan Fiction -- http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/index.html "The Devil and I had a chat this morning..." -- Charles Baudelaire __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com