The chilly summer rain was unexpected but understandable today of all days. The drizzle rested softly on the overturned ground before the cold gray headstone. The residents of Harmony watched as the tiny coffin was lowered into the ground. Sorrowful faces watched the rain fall gently against the grave where he would eternally be; even those that didn’t know him well there to say goodbye to one of the youngest residents in Harmony with one of the kindest, sweetest souls. The boy who had helped save Charity was gone but would never ever be forgotten.

Grace clung to Sam as she watched a shaky Tabitha Lenox drop one single red rose into the hole where Timmy rested, salty tears rolling down her pale cheeks. The only thing she had ever loved in all her lifetimes was Timmy, the doll she created as a companion in the darkest and direst of times. She didn’t know what she would do without her little Tim-Tim, the doll that had been her conscience for the last three hundred or so years. Timmy had been the reason she made it through the harder times, the cause of her smiles and sometimes even her tears. She told him being a real boy caused trouble. Not only did you have to grow up but eventually you had to pass on too.

“I love you, lad,” Tabby whispered, throwing a handful of dirt onto the wooden box below. “I will miss you, Tim-Tim. No one can ever replace you in my heart,” she started sobbing, her body quivering with each tear.

“Poor Tabitha,” Grace whispered to her husband, resting her head against his strong chest. “She must be devastated to lose her nephew this way. I should make a tomato soup cake for her in his memory.”

“Darling, shouldn’t you wait just a little while before bringing her dessert? She probably won’t feel much like eating at all, forget tomato soup cake,” Sam tried to take at least one extra worry off of Tabby’s plate.

“I never thought of that. I’ll wait until she’s feeling a bit better,” Grace nodded, wiping away some tears.

Kay rolled her eyes, earning a bump in the ribs from Jessica, who was crying in Reese’s arms. Beside them were Miguel with Charity, who rested tiredly in a wheelchair as she looked at the grave of the little boy that was the reason she survived.

“Miguel,” she whispered tearfully. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“He saved you,” Miguel replied thankfully. “I never got to express my gratitude for that.”

“Nor I,” Charity sobbed. “Poor Tabitha, to lose her closest relative! I can’t even begin to know her pain or help her through it. I’m sure it hurts as much as losing my mother.”

Slowly the rain began to fall harder and the mourners began to head for their cars. Only Tabby remained, watching as the workers filled the hole with the muddy dirt from the pile. She didn’t want to stay; in fact her head constantly sent signals to her feet to move and start leaving the cemetery. Still, her body refused to cooperate as her heart shattered into tiny pieces that would never be mended. For the first time in her entire life, Tabby knew what it felt like to be in love and she couldn’t believe that for years she had worked against that powerful force.

“For you, Timmy, I will unite the lovers that have been torn apart. Rest in peace my little friend. I’ll miss you.”

Timmy watched from his place in the clouds, tiny tears on his cheeks. His princess and all the others in Harmony, even his Charity, were suffering terribly over his death. He sighed when the calming hands of the angel girl rested against his shoulders, her touch warm to his skin.

“Come, Timmy, it’s time to go,” she murmured, turning him gently.

Timmy’s sad brown eyes met hers, tears continuing to cascade down his cheeks. “Timmy doesn’t understand why Timmy must leave. Timmy’s Princess needs him; Charity needs him.”

The angel girl sighed, knowing this was the hardest part of her work. “Timmy,” she touched his cheek, brushing away tears. “You were chosen to become the guardian angel of all that live in Harmony. Through your love and dedication to them here, you will spare them from a worse fate in the future. You are going to be missed, it’s true, and Tabitha’s love for you will only grow through her pain, but I promise you, Timmy, they will never forget and you will always be able to shine on them from above.”

“Timmy doesn’t want to live Harmony. Timmy loves his Princess,” his head fell sadly. “Please don’t make Timmy leave.”

“I’m sorry, Timmy,” she put an arm around his shoulder and led him towards Heaven. “I promise that the pain they feel will lesson in time and that all of you will manage to be happy some day.”

Timmy looked back once more at Harmony, watching as his Princess slowly left the place his body would rest. “Timmy loves you all,” he whispered, looking ahead once more. “Timmy will watch over you from Heaven. Don’t be sad for Timmy; Timmy can’t hurt anymore and will be protecting all Timmy’s friends. Just don’t forget to feed Toto,” he followed the angel through the gates of Heaven and then was gone.

The town would never forget Timmy, though they tried to replace the pain with happy memories of the boy that had changed their lives. In Heaven he would watch everything that happened and rejoice over their pleasures and cry along with their troubles. Though the suffering lessened and Tabby was able to smile once more, she always had a place in her heart for her Tim-Tim and a picture on the mantle of the doll that changed her world.

And every so often someone would leave flowers in front of his headstone, which read:

To Our Living Doll

Timmy

May he eternally rest in peace.

The End



Disclaimer: This story in is in no way meant to infringe upon the rights belonging to , NBC, or any entity thereof. All rights to Passions and any related content, including characters used, belong to "Outpost Farms Production Inc", James E. Reilly, and NBC.
This story is the property of the author. Copyright 2002. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission of the author.
Guardian Angel © 2002 - All Rights Reserved.