A Kind Heart

Author's note: This is a sequel to my DWA. I might be doing a whole series if i have the time. This is also in the same text style as my DWA. Enjoy.

Later that night, Rose had fallen asleep on her couch reading "Dead Men tell no Lies". Most of the candles in her small living room had been blown out, but slumber overcame the woman before she could safely put them out. At almost the same time Eridan arrived at the house and started to turn away but he smelled smoke coming from inside the house. Rose Lalonde stayed sound asleep, until she felt a searing pain in her left hand. She jolted awake to find that her book was on fire, and so were her curtains. The flame traveled at light speed around, and sealed off her only exit. Rose was trapped. Eridan was just about to knock on the door when he saw a fire through the window in the door. He grabbed the closest rock and smashed the window to unlock the door. Rose stood and panicked, sweat dripping down her brow. The loud crash made her scream uncharacteristically and cover her head, unable to see the man through the thick smoke. Eridan had the door opened and saw the girl cowering in the room. He quickly picked her up and carried her out of the house and then tried to coerce her into saying if there was anyone else in the house. Rose shook her head no, eyes wide and brimming with tears. She gazed at her house and a single tear trickled down her cheek. All that was left of her memory of her mother was in that very house. She had just lost everything she knew.

Eridan quickly started to pick up snow and throw it at the house in order to put the fire out. He was able to retrieve only a few items before it start to collapse."Are you okay?" "I-I'm fine..." she managed to sputter.

Rose's eyes were wide, full of tears, but now had a dead sense to them. She just lost her home; her mother's memories, her childhood memories, and everything she had. Of course she wasn't okay. Eridan looked at her and then started to root through the rubble for anything that had survived the fire. The blond, her once clean hair covered in ash that spread over her face as well, stood with shaking legs and buckling knees. If she couldn't stay calm, she would burst out into loud wails. It would be the first time she would have cried since the day her mother died, five years ago, and she didn't want to do that in front of a stranger. But she did. Rose Lalonde cried like she had never before and dropped to her knees, wiping her eyes with her wrists and smearing soot over her cheeks. Eridan turned to look at the blond and as he did he tripped over something. When he picked it up he found that it was a chest of sorts. He saw that the fire had burned through the lock and now it was unlocked. He opened the chest and saw a few scrapbooks among other things as well as a beautiful pendant and scarf. He brought both items to the women and put them on her. When he was putting on the pendant it opened to reveal a different women and a very small folded note.

 Lalonde ceased her sobs and looked down at the scarf and pendant, then back up to this man. "What...What is your name?" she asked her purple eyes wide.

 "Eridan Ampora. And may I ask wwhat yours is?"

 Before she could answer his question, she mumbled, "Thank you, Eridan Ampora. Thank you so much..." Rose gripped the scarf in one hand and the pendant in the other, sealing away the picture and note, until her knuckles went white. She began to sob some more, but quieter and with a brighter intention.

 Eridan saw the burn mark on her hand. "I am going to havve take you to the hospital to get your hand looked at."

 The sear was red compared to her pale hand, and she nodded. It hurt alone, and Rose believed that she made it worse by clutching it. "Thank you..."

 Eridan gently picked her up wedding style and started to hurry to the hospital. "May I ask once more wwhat your name is?"

 "R-Rose Lalonde...” she stuttered. Her leg was hurting some too; was that also burned?

Eridan looked down on the beauty and saw that there were a few bruises on her leg. "Wwell Ms. Lalonde I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Did you knoww you havve some bruises on your leg." Rose looked at her leg best she could, what with Eridan's arm in the crook of her knee, but could indeed see some discoloration.

 "I guess that explains the pain.” she said, trying to force a smile.

Eridan couldn't take his eyes off her beautiful face. He was truly transfixed. All of a sudden he remembered the picture he had in his back pocket. "Wwho wwas the wwoman in the picture?"

 Miss Lalonde's eyes grew sad, and she frowned once more. "That...was my mother. S-She died when I was thirteen...”

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you sad" Eridan was very nervous because he seemed to be starting to like this girl more and more.

"No, you didn't. I can assure you, she was never a good mother. She was a heavy drinker and...Wait, I'm sorry, where have my manners gone? Here you are carrying me and I'm telling you about my dead mother." Rose apologized and had a pained smile on her face. Eridan was very much a gentleman, though he did cut himself. Was there such a thing as a gentle machinist? Apparently, this man was living proof.  Eridan saw Rose strain a smile and he thought what she would look like with an actual smile full of happiness. From that moment on he felt as though he wanted to protect her, help her, and no matter what the cost make her happy. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Rose saw the hospital coming into view, and realized just how far Eridan ran.

"Please, you don't have to do this, I can walk. Really...this is too much trouble." she said quietly.

 "It's okay, really it is. If you need any help I wwill help you." Eridan knew he meant it. When he got to the hospital he turned and pushed with his back through the door and proceeded to try and get the help of a nurse. When he did he explained everything about the fire. When he made sure she was okay and safe he ran back to the house to get the chest and bring it to her.