La vie en rose

        I could not get up. All I felt was pressure in my skull, behind the eyes, but it didn't hurt anymore. Sally was with me. She looked at me with fearful and confused eyes, but she was not sad. I smiled and reachd out to her. She was safe now, they all were.  

 

        She reached out to me slowly and touched my hand. I could see a glimpse of it again, the man on the plane, the girls, the bathysphere rising up. It was strange, but I felt no regret. She smiled back and looked driectly into my eyes, but then I couldn't see her anymore.

 

 

***

 

        "AH!"

 

        "Whoah, are you alright?"

 

        The darkness dissipated and my heart skipped a beat as I woke up. It was bright and after a moment of adjusting to the light I could see the Seine riverbank and a busy street above it.

 

        "Oh... where am I?"

 

        "At Pierre's, sleepyhead, we always come here."

 

        "Booker?"

 

        I turned to see him, seated at the table with me. I nearly turned it over as I jumped to my feet and wrapped my arms around him.

 

        "Hey, its nice to see you too."

 

        "Oh, Booker, you are here, we are here..." My face grew warm and I could feel stinging in my eyes, but I didn't care.

 

        "Easy there girl, I need to breath too. What happened?" he asked me with a warm caring voice, his hand on my back now. I could not let go of him.

 

        "It was horrible, you were gone and I was alone and I had to find Sally..."

 

        "Who is Sally?" I pulled away from him a bit, my arms still around his neck. "And why are you crying?" he brought his hand to my cheek and wiped off a tear from it.

 

        "I'm just happy to be here, with you. Its so good to be here." I felt my hands shake a bit as I slowly pulled away form him and he gave me a grin.

 

        "Sounds like yo shouldn't be eating cheese before bed."

 

        I sat back down and took a deep breath, looking around. The street at the riverbank was full of people and easels, with men drawing and painting. Suddenly a gramophone came to live and a slow, soft song begun to play. I looked and saw a garcon with a platter in his hand, setting up the the instrument before he approached us.

 

        "Monsieur, mademoiselle, votre petit-déjeuner." He set the tray on the iron-wrought table and put out coffee and pastries.

 

        "I don't know about you, but why can't they serve bacon here... what?"

 

        I barely stifled a laugh, covering my mouth and wiping away the last of tears.

 

        "Nothing, I'm just relieved. I think you are right, I can skip on dinner tonight." I reached for the cup of coffee and heard a clink as something touched the porcelain. My thimble was still there.

        The cup was almost at my mouth when I suddenly froze. Was this a dream? Was I tricking myself again? I looked over to Booker who was in the middle of buttering his roll. I could feel the warmth of the black liquid under my nose, I could feel the weight of the cup in my hand. It was real as anything.

 

        I took a sip of coffee. It was warm, the aroma swirling in my mouth. It was the best coffee I've had in my life. I shuddered and sighed in delight as I swallowed it. Booker raised his eyebrow as he saw me enjoying the drink in this strange way.

 

        "I was thinking, maybe we should get you out of this dress and get you something more... comfortable."

 

        As he said that, I noticed I was still wearing Lady Comstock's dress.

 

        "I'm fine, better save the money for hotel." The fabric felt just right against my skin.  

 

        "Hotel? We have an apartment a block away."

 

        "Where did we take the money?"

 

        "Do you think I could keep the airship in the attic? And silver eagles don't have much of an exchange rate, but they are certainly worth their weight in silver. Daisy left two whole bags on board for us in return for the guns."

 

        I was speechless. Airship? Daisy? That is how we were here? I took another sip of coffee. I was reeling but things felt right. Thats all that mattered. I sat back and relaxed, but didn't close my eyes.

 

        "Elizabeth, is something wrong? You're asking me things like you've never been here." I smiled, seeing him so concerned. His brow furrowed, his green eyes looking at me with mixture of worry and warmth. I reached over the table and took his hand, squeezing it. I was finally at home.