Some Memories Arent Designed to Fade

                                    Christmas Fic

25^th December 2052

"Oh Grandma, do you know what happened last night? He told me that he loves me!"

I relaxed back in the chair as I listened to Michelle, my eldest granddaughter, chat away about her newest boyfriend. It was nice to see her in love, especially at Christmas.

Her words seemed to wash over me and I lost concentration. The Christmas tree lights looked so exciting. Reds, oranges, blues, yellows, greens, all glowing together and making the tinsel glisten. The fire seemed so warm. The house was so cosy and the air smelled of pine and burning wood.

The chair felt soft and velvet, not unlike the sort of furniture that my own grandmother used to own. It always amazes me how things come back into fashion.

A smile crept its way across my face as I sat contentedly, with a full stomach. The Christmas dinner but a sweet memory. Turkey, wine, vegetables, Christmas pudding a truly traditional lunch.

I snuggled down and could feel the room begin to spin. It were as though I was on one of the fairground rides that I rode as a child.

Round and around and around. The spinning grew faster and faster. I wanted to scream, but I was too tired.

Suddenly, the spinning began to slow down. I felt a wave of relaxation lap over my body as the spinning came to a slow and gradual halt.

But when I moved, I was no longer within the confines of the soft velvet armchair. I was somewhere else. A damp, musty hallway with drenched wallpaper hanging from the walls. I recognised the place, but it took a while to remember where from.

It all came flooding back the instant that I saw him. The man of my dreams, my own prince charming, leaning against the battered wooden door.

I took in his handsome form. He was taller than me and had sandy blonde hair and sun kissed skin. Stubble adorned his cheeks and his eyes were of a cool, hypnotic blue. You could get lost in those eyes.

I stared at my seventeen year old prince charming expectantly. It was like a movie that Id watched so many times before that I waited for the next scene. Rachel and Darren a match made in heaven.

The thoughts were immediately halted by the way he was looking at me. There was a loving softness that filled his gaze.

"You look beautiful, Rachel." He said softly. It was the sort of way you would speak to a timid animal so as not to frighten it.

I allowed my gaze to gently move back to Darren. He looked so divine in his battered denim jeans and an un-tucked navy blue shirt. That man truly was candy for the eyes. Dessert in a world filled with cold starters. And I wanted him for dessert. Better still, breakfast the next morning.

He could obviously see the hungry way that I was looking at him, but he didnt seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.

He took my hand and squeezed it slightly as he unlocked the door with his other hand.

"Ive got to warn you," He said, in the same soft tone, as before, "It isnt much of a flat."

I smiled and kissed his cheek, then giggled at how strange his stubble felt beneath my lips.

"Darren, we've discussed this. Im not interested in what you have, Im interested in who you are." I answered and he smiled awkwardly as the door creaked open.

The flat was a single room with a sink and a gas hob in one corner. Next to that was a door with white paint that had begun to peel a little. I presumed that it lead into a bathroom.

He led me inside and gently closed the door. I caught sight of a double bed covered with beautiful white sheets. It looked instantly inviting, but I tried to banish such thoughts from my mind.

There were two windows, both looking out onto the tangled wilderness of a garden that belonged to someone on the ground floor. I crossed the room to look at the bookshelf that was filled with old, battered novels and CDs that had been copied. I stared out of the window at the snow that had begun an intricate dance in mid air before plummeting to the ground.

"I know its not a lot." Darren nervously muttered as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

"Its enough." I replied instantly.

"When Im famous..." He began.

I smiled; I could repeat those words like the lines of my favourite song. Our Dream. I decided to join in.

"We'll have a big house, with lots of furniture and room for a family and pets. We'll have marble floors and thick, cosy carpets," We said in unison.

"And well have each other, well always have each other to enjoy it with." I finished for him as he laughed.

He kissed my cheek.

"It will happen, you know." He sighed.

"I know." I agreed.

I shivered slightly. The room was cold and I was wearing a white, cotton dress. It was in a gypsy style and Id bought it in the summer. Sadly, I hadnt had the money to buy a new outfit for Christmas so I had settled for the girly, summery item.

I felt Darren begin to stroke my arms up and down.