Hi Honey, I'm home.

[Velveteen]

Her eyes snapped open and for the longest time she simply lay there in the darkness staring into the void. What was this? The Shadow Realm? Another dream: Either of her own making or one she had somehow been dragged into? And what was that deep rumbling? The longer she lay there the more the rumbling subsided and very slowly her eyes, that had not been used in however long adjusted. Eventually she was able to make out certain things in the darkness, things that were familiar. Did this mean she was awake or still dreaming? No. Something was different but in the dark she couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

Velveteen blinked as she struggled to regain some clarity. The pupils of her silver eyes widened unnaturally allowing even the smallest amount of light to be enough for her to see clearly in the pitch black that surrounded her. Immediately she began to pull herself upwards but atrophied muscles screamed with resistance, forcing her to slow her movements as fragments of memories came flooding back. The moment her feet felt the floor she knew this was no dream. She was awake and very much alive, in her own bed in the treehouse. She rolled her head on her shoulders. Bones creaked and cracked with the movements and unused muscle and tendons were slowly imbued with a long unfelt life.

Ever so slowly she worked along her body. Wiggling toes and fingers and stretching limbs until each moved somewhat normally. She reached out by memory to turn on the lamp that she remembered being on the nightstand but instead misjudged and sent it crashing to the floor. “****.” She hissed though the sound that came forth was more akin to nails on a chalkboard as her unused throat constricted around the word that was forcibly dragged along her enfeebled vocal chords. Velveteen waited and listened for the sound of footsteps but heard nothing. Was she truly here alone? Not even Scott or Bunny were within hearing distance and what of Micah? Where was everyone? She then reached for her phone which was flat and wouldn’t even turn on. No surprise there she supposed leaving it there, black and lifeless.

Her hand brushed over something cold and familiar and she instantly recognised it. Her fingers fumbled with Zippo for a moment before she was able to spark it to life and she held up her free hand. She had expected to see a grey wrinkly husk but instead she saw the pale, almost translucent skin that was her. Her nails were longer but otherwise she looked fine. She lifted her arm higher and as she did there was a vague recollection. Her husband had been blood boosting her. That would explain why she wasn’t doubling over from hunger. The warm, flickering glow from the flame highlighted something else that drew her attention.

No wonder it was so dark in here. Where there once heavy drapes that blocked out the sun, metal shutters had at some point been installed to cover the windows. Velveteen pulled herself to her feet and took several unsteady steps towards the metal covered windows. Her fingers brushed lightly over the cool steel as she looked it like a curious animal might when they encounter something knew that they don’t understand. When, how, who and why, were just some of the questions that ran through her mind as she looked for a way to open them.

Something tickled at her senses and Velveteen sniffed at the air. Something was burning and it smelled like...Her eyes widened as she watched the skin on her finger blister and blacken. Not everything was quite working properly yet so it seemed. No sooner had she had the thought than the signal reached her mind and the pain finally caught up with her. She squeaked and drop lighter causing the room to descend into that total darkness once more though panic had start to settle over her. Had she been locked in. Had her haven become a tomb in her sleep? Her fingers searched for even the smallest crack as she worked away along the walls finally coming to the door. She twisted the handle but nothing happened. It was locked but unlock the windows it was still very much wood. Velveteen took a step back and kicked at the door, splintering the wood and tearing the hinges from the door frame before the entire door fell forward and crashed against the floor. Her silver gaze narrowed slightly as she noticed the key sitting in the lock on her side of the door. “That would have been easier.” She murmured to herself realising the door had been locked from the inside. But now there was light!

Light flooded the bedroom and Velveteen returned, now able to see the details so much better. Everything, for the most part was exactly as she remembered it, except for the part of being so totally alone. Soon she located the switch to activate the steel shutters and as they slid back on themselves to reveal the world outside. She opened the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony. Her body trembled as if against the cold drawing her attention to the fact that she was completely naked though that wasn’t the reason that she shivered. Being asleep for so long had dulled her senses and the acute awareness came rushing back. The breeze, the smells, the sounds of the night and city bombarded her with sensation.

Tendrils of thought stretched through the ether as she looked to touch upon minds of the familiar but for the most part she found only emptiness. The city itself seemed less bright as it appeared as whole parts that used to be lit up lay in darkness. Something had changed. She could feel it in the air but she did not know what. Not yet. “What have you all been up to?”

With every passing second she felt her strength returning and along with it came a longing. A longing for the one person she had missed the most. A smile spread across her naked lips and she stretched her arms towards the sky as large black, feathery wings seemed to spring from nowhere. Vel looked over her shoulder and started laughing, a sound that was one of genuine amusement though it carried with it something more sinister in nature. “Hi Honey, I’m home.” She said quietly to the night, projecting the sentiment onward into the mind of her husband, wherever he may be.

[Micah]

Micah wasn’t quite sure when everything went straight to ****. If her were to be honest, everything had been going downhill for a really long time and they were all powerless to stop it. Bleeding hearts feeling sympathetic towards humans. Befriending them. Interacting with them. Blending in with them. It was disgusting. Humans weren’t meant to be integrated into their society, but he was in the minority there. Regardless, the damage was down and now there was no going back from it. His wife had retreated long ago, and he’d tried to stick around. Tried to remain a presence for those he had sired but they didn’t need him now. So, eventually, he retreated too, only venturing out every so often to train but even that didn’t hold his attention.

He wasn’t sure when the metal shutters had gone up over the Eyrie windows, but he knew who was responsible for it. Bunny and Scott, in an attempt to protect Micah and Vel from outside threats, had taken it upon themselves to add an extra layer of protection. Vel couldn’t be budged during the daylight hours, but Micah could be should the need for it arise. So far, nothing and no one had bothered them but that didn’t mean that it would continue to remain that way. He thanks the human thralls for their thoughtfulness. He cringed when he saw Bunny’s face light up in a smile. ****, he was becoming soft.

It wasn’t all bad. Every was awake and running around the city. Mal was, too, and he was sure he’d saw a couple of other familiar faces. Every had gotten herself into a pot of boiling hot water about a year or so back and the consequences of her actions at that point in time were still following her. She’d fucked up, big time. He knew, she knew, the entire city knew it but what was done now was done. Micah truly didn’t see the point in continuing to persecute her for it. She’d died for it, was constantly getting shot at because of it and had lost a ton of people she’d called friend. Besides, she wasn’t the only guilty one so was she was the only one targeted? That human chick...Amalea? She’d been there, too but if she was being targeted again, too, he hadn’t heard about it.

He’d tried to talk to her about her choices not long ago. She’d brushed him off about it but he’d be a liar if he said that every time he saw Caligrace he didn’t want to give her a few bullets just because her face pissed him off. Her brief acceptance into the Andras family did not endear her to him whatsoever. He found her abrasive, and more than once he had told Eve that the girl was a bad influence. Eve disagreed, and continued to spend her time with the woman. But then again, Even had found Jesse tolerable so her decision making skills were questionable.

It was actually Every that had brought him out on this particular night. She’d been poking round in his head, telling him that once again she was being shot at. It had died down for a little while but it started back up again. He’d seen some kind of ******** on Crownet a few weeks back where Every’s past deeds were again being thrown in her face, so he figured that had something to do with it. But he figured that maybe it was time he quit sticking to the shadows and started coming around more often to at least keep up with current events.

He was prowling about the basement in the sunken cathedral when he felt it. It started with a tickle in the back of his mind. Micah paused. A shiver ran down the length of his spine and a slightly wicked smirk had his lip curling. Only one person could make him feel even a flicker of emotion. And then her voice lightly, gently filtered into his mind. His beloved was awake. On instinct, his mind reached out for hers, replying in kind. “Hello, my eternity. It’s about time you joined me.”

[Velveteen]

Cool air rushed around her naked form as she hung suspended in the air high above the Eyrie. Large, black wings made a deep ‘whoosh’ sound with every downward movement that held her in place. Her head canted to the side and a dark smile graced her pale lips as his words entered her mind. “Indeed.” Was her reply as her head whipped to the west. Velveteen furrowed her bro as she sensed him to be in that in direction but there was nothing but wilderness for miles as far as she was aware. Why was her husband in the wilderness?

She was a mere shadow against the sky as she westward, unconcerned about being seen, especially out here where few dared venture though it wasn’t long before she saw a cluster of lights nestled between the trees. There was not a single doubt in her mind that he was there and when she focused on her husband’s surroundings which looked oddly familiar but foreign to her waking mind all the same. Wait. There was that one time. Her wings folded back and she dove downwards as the ground came rushing up to meet her. Just before hitting the ground her wings snapped out to their full span halting her speedy descent so that she almost floated the rest way until her toes finally found the ground.

Velveteen looked around at the unfamiliar town not so much taking in the sights as she was sensing her husband. Her eyes narrowed as she honed on him and took off running. Long. raven coloured locks fanned out behind her and danced on the air in her wake. She ran through a vaguely familiar building, the interior nothing but a blur as she found the stairs and took them several at a time. Every step closer had her feeling stronger and more alive than ever and the emotion that filled her was no less than it had been so many years ago. “Catch.” The single word sent from her mind to his and in that moment the familiar figure turned and held out his arms as she launched herself at him.

Arms and legs curled about his large frame as she clung to him tightly. Before single word could be uttered her lips locked on his and she drunk deeply from his life giving kiss, soaking up even the smallest sensation until she was full to overflowing with the overwhelming emotions. Time stood still in that moment and eventually, reluctantly, the kiss drew to an end as she opened her eyes and lifted the mirrored lenses to focus on the purple hues that she knew so well. “Hello, my love. Did you miss me?” The corners of her pale, slightly cracked lips turned upwards and her head canted to the side, completely unaware of who else might be witnessing the reunion.

[Micah]

The closer she got to him, the more aware of her presence. It had been so long since he’d felt anything like it. Micah didn’t do emotion. He never really had, and certainly not while his wife was asleep. He couldn’t care less about what other people said or did. It was why he was so indifferent to the mess that his childe had found herself in. But Vel? That was a whole different story. That woman made him crazy in the best and the worst of ways. When it came to her he was overprotective and fiercely possessive and woe betide you if you got on his bad side where she was concerned.

He remained where he was, leaning up against a wall. Eternity hung loosely from his fingertips and his feet were crossed at the ankle. His usual mirrored aviators were in place. He looked just like he usually did but now there was a sense of impatience radiating off of him. She was close. Growing closer with each second that ticked by, but time just couldn’t move fast enough when he was waiting on her. The second she entered the cathedral, he knew. He could feel her with every fiber of his being.

She appeared in front of him in a blur of long, black hair and black wings that sprouted from her back. Her scent enveloped him as he reached for her before her feet even touched the ground. He pushed off of the wall as she flew at him with a force that would knock anyone off of their feet but not Micah. He was as sturdy as a cement statue, catching her as she threw herself into his arms. Her body molded to his and he allowed himself a second to appreciate the way she felt with her arms and her legs wrapped around him.

Her kiss was everything he needed and more, and when it was over he was quite reluctant to let her go, but his hands had met nothing but skin as his fingertips danced over her flesh. One dark eyebrow raised. She’d been in such a hurry that she’d forgotten something vital. Luckily, no one was around to see her in such a state of undress. “You seem to have lost your clothes, my love,” he said with much amusement as he untangled himself from her. He pulled his shirt up and over his head, handing it over so she could put it on. “You just woke up. I’d hate to have to kill someone for seeing something that is only for my eyes to see.”

[Velveteen]

Velveteen smirked and looked down at herself. “Lost them? Nah. I wasn’t wearing any. No wonder it was...breezy.” She lifted her gaze to his once more and after taking the offered shirt reached up to put his aviators back in place. He didn’t verbally answer her question but he didn’t need to. She already knew the answer. Velveteen pulled the oversized t-shirt over her head and swept a hand beneath her hair to pull it out and loose as the soft cloth covered her frame. “I also came without my gun. Can I borrow one? You know...just in case.” Her grin had mischief written all over it though he handed over a spare none the less.

“This place looks vaguely familiar.” She said looking around before canting her head curiously. “Where are Scott and Bunny? The tree house seems deserted. I tried to find...others. Is everybody gone? And Eve. Did I dream that?” Vel frowned and then closed her eyes as she tried to recall something forgotten that she was sure she remembered. “She fucked up huh?” There had been short periods when Vel had woken over the last few years but reality had become a rather fluid thing since her turning. Sometimes what was real seemed like a dream and others dreams could be so real. It was going to take a little time for her to work out which was what. Micah simply nodded at her last question and she knew that whatever it was she recalled had happened and was very real. Vel had a really bad feeling about that one.

Her mouth opened again giving him barely anytime to answer her last lot of questions before throwing more at him. “The city looks...different. And what is this place? This...town!” She exclaimed waving her gun around casually as Micah ducked to the side a little to avoid an accidental wounding. “Where did it come from? Was it always here? And where are all the people? It looked deserted.” Velveteen spun on the spot giving her surroundings more attention. “You have been here often. Sometimes I would seek you out.” She said, tapping lightly at her temple. “And I saw this place. I think it was this place. Anyway….come Husband. It’s a beautiful night and I have been inside for too long.” She took his hand and dragged him towards the stairs. “We can walk and you can answer all my questions. And I can look at you. I almost forgot how hot you are.” She grinned over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs.

Once outside she stopped in the middle of the street to face him. “I can only assume that the fact that neither of us are currently ghosting it up in the fade that the humans have either decided not to kill us or don’t yet know how. Have they all become Twilighters?” She chuckled and held her arms out as she spun on the spot soaking up the cool night air before stopping suddenly and reaching out to press a long unpolished bail against his chest. “And what of you, Hot stuff? You havent gone out and replaced me….have you?” She asked pouting a little around her grin making her looking nothing short of devilishly wicked though her expression changed almost instantly. Her silver eyes narrowed and her upper lip curled into a vicious snarl. “Speaking of, is my sister dead yet? Please tell me she is.”

[Micah]

His small wife swam in his shirt. Given the considerable difference they had in size, it was no wonder that the material swallowed her up. It always amused him but he didn’t dare tell her that. Micah doubted that Vel would appreciate his thoughts. “Breezy,” he echoed. “I know you’ve been asleep for a really long time, but please, next time do get dressed before you come to find me. I knew you were awake, baby. I felt you the second your eyes snapped open. I can be patient. Sometimes.” He got it, though. She was always the first thing on his mind when he woke, and the last when he went to sleep.

He handed her another gun. Equilibrium, a rifle that she had made for him years ago. He liked it, but Eternity was his preference. Small and compact, it fit perfectly in his hand and it always felt like an old friend. It had been his Christmas gift from her the year they’d been bound, and he was attached to it. “You really weren’t at all about yourself, were you? It’s not safe to go anywhere unarmed. Especially now days.” The blade she’d given him was strapped to his back, and both of his boots concealed razor sharp knives. These days, Micah took no chances. Some of these bleeding hearts might trust the humans, but he sure as **** didn’t.

Vel was full of questions, and Micah did his best to answer them all. “Scott and Bunny are around. I don’t let them stray too far. Scott will be pleased to see you. He’s been worried.” Of course Micah had told the thrall over and over that Vel was fine, but Scott didn’t like him much and to be honest Micah wasn’t too fond of him either. Bunny was kind of stuck in the middle because she and Scott sort of had a thing. Whatever. If that was her choice in men, who was he to judge.

He paused as they left the cathedral before nodding. “Every fucked up. She fucked up so bad that there is nothing that I can, or will, do to save her. This is her mess, and the consequences of her actions are continuing to come back and bite her in the ***.” This was why he insisted his childe make better choices. Amalea was her friend. See what happened when you consorted with allurists and humans? A shitstorm of epic proportions, that’s what. He didn’t bother to tell Vel she already knew about that. She’d heard it straight from not only Every, but Amalea. Maybe when she was thinking a bit more clearly, she’d remember.

“I don’t know how long this place has been here. Someone told me about it a couple of years ago and I’ve been coming here to do my training since then. “ She’d also been here with him in person, but again, her thoughts were scattered and she was clearly struggling to piece things together. Hopefully it would come in time, but if it didn’t it was no big deal. He’d just do his best to fill in all of the blanks for her, but since he really hadn’t been paying much attention he probably wasn’t the best person for her to turn to in regards to current events.

Her next words brought his steps to a halt. While he knew she was teasing, and he knew that she certainly didn’t think that he had, Micah hated to hear that question roll off of her tongue. “Replace you?” He turned on his heel, large hands wrapping around her upper arms as he jerked her against him. “You are irreplaceable,” he said in a low tone, a touch of anger coloring his words. “If you died permanently, I would follow you. If you tried to run, I would hunt you down. You are so ingrained in me that I have no idea where you end and I begin. You are my life. My death. My entire ******* world and I love you so much that it ******* hurts. Do not ever joke about that again. I mean that.”

Micah released her and took a step back. He knew she hadn’t meant it seriously, but his obsession with her, the depth of his feelings for her made him more than a little crazy. After being without her for so long, he really wasn’t in the mood for her to joke about something so ludicrous. There was no Micah without Vel. “As for your sister, I don’t know. I can still feel her, so she’s out there somewhere. Not dead. Sorry, baby.”

[Velveteen]

The one single thing that Velveteen was certain of in this god forsaken world was her marriage. The day the pair had bound there in the Eyrie was one that intricately bonded the couple to each other in so many ways creating a connection that even if they wanted to they would never be able to undo. Not that wanting to was ever something that crossed either of their minds. She had been teasing but the intensity of his reaction had caught her slightly off guard. The tightness of his grip and that barely held back anger only served to magnify the passion of his words. It stirred something dark and very familiar in her.

Once he released her her hand reached up of its own accord to dance her fingertips lightly against his cheek. “I wont.” She whispered, her voice laden with the the desire she felt for him. Not even the news of her sister still existing could curtail the overwhelming sensations and even though he had removed his hands she could still feel the aftermath of his touch. “Well that is disappointing.”

While Velveteen had always understood his reasoning for turning her identical twin it was always going to be a situation that she struggled with. She simply hated the fact that Satine had and would always have that connection with Micah. She was his childe and when it came to those he turned he couldn’t help the strong sense of responsibility that came with that. He may be able to take a step back but when push came to shove he felt the breaking of those bonds keenly. As much as Vel despised the situation and as much as she would love to be the one to wipe her sister from the face of the earth she would never do that to Micah.

Things were beginning to become a little clearer and it was becoming a little easier for her to distinguish those things that were real and what had been dreams. She narrowed her silver gaze recalling a more recent moment in time when she had stirred. The Crownet had been quiet but there was a recent post that she had responded to before drifting off again. For the briefest of moments her expression became a blank mask as she scanned the forum for any recent updates. “The douchebag Administrator is still at it I see. I have been gone for what feels like forever and already I am over that guy. Like, who the **** is he even?” The question itself was rhetoric, she knew that Micah had no more an idea on that front than she did.

The rifle she had been holding at her side was hefted upwards and metal slapped against skin as her fingers curled around the body of the gun. “They wanted to be left alone to do things their way and it seems they fucked it all up to hell. It may well be too late but I think it’s about time we take our town back. Vampires have lived within the shadows for eons. As soon as the powers that be find a way to eradicate us permanently, they will. I have no doubts. And if we can’t put the ***** back in the box then...I don’t know.”

Velveteen shrugged and looked around. “Perhaps we will build our own little town in the middle of nowhere and get tha **** out of this cesspool of ******** and bleeding hearts. What ya say, baby? Shall we shake things up a little?” Velveteen grinned and looked up at him, visions of them fighting side by side once more for everything they stood for playing out in her mind.

[Micah]

Her touch had always been able to tame the raging beast that he kept locked away inside of him. Even now, the cool brush of her fingers against his cheek was enough to beat back the rage that her words had brought to the surface. He exhaled a long, slow breath. Eyes fluttered closed at the sensations that flooded him with that simple touch. Sometimes, Micah wasn’t sure she understood just how far he would go for her. To protect her, to love her, to defend her. For her he would burn the city down to and spit on the ashes. She only had to give the word. “I know,” he said quietly, though she already knew that.

Micah didn’t say anything in response to her reaction about her sister. It was a touchy subject. Vel hated Satine with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. Their beginning had been rocky, and that was when Satine had still been human. After she had been turned, the fights had been downright explosive. They had this freaky twin thing going where they could feel each other’s pain. He’d never forget the night that Satine had been run over by Doc in his car. Or the night that they’d purposely hurt themselves just to hurt the other. Turning her had been a mistake, but there was no going back. He had a duty. A responsibility to Satine and as long as she bore the name Andras he would protect her and watch over her like any of the others.

“I understand that you aren’t happy about her continued existence,” he began after a long silence. “But I haven’t seen her in months. Haven’t heard from her in years, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. So take some comfort in that. She’s probably crawled back under a rock to join her loser husband.” Those two deserved each other. So long as they stayed the **** out his way he wouldn’t give them another thought.

He shrugged. “You know I never paid much attention to the CrowNet. I only ever looked because the way those idiots fight amused me. And I liked to read what you had to say to egg them on. You’re such an instigator, my beloved wife.” He smirked at her. “I don’t think anyone knows who he is and if they do, I sure haven’t heard about it. I think someone said he was a thrall? Or maybe I’m confusing that. I’m not the best one to talk to about current events because I just didn’t give enough fucks to keep up with them. Not with you sleeping.” Nothing really mattered to him without his wife at his side.

The way she spoke made him think that she had something in mind. He smiled, a slow wicked smile that spelled trouble. “I say let’s do it. What did you have in mind?”

[Velveteen]

The sound of his voice was like a cool drink of water after being in the desert for far too long. It both soothed and excited her. Vel nodded as he spoke of Satine and remembered the fights they had over that situation. She winced a little memory and in that moment decided none of it mattered anymore. It was history and not one she particularly wanted to revisit unless forced to. Any further conversation of her sister was shrugged off for bigger and better things.

Her mind was racing as he spoke and small smile of amusement touched her lips when he called her an instigator. She had so loved riling the masses into a frenzy and then stepping back to watch the chaos play out. Some loved her and many hated her and Velveteen never rightly gave a damn. They had set themselves a mission and as futile it had been in the grand scheme of things they never really lost sight of that. But she remembered getting tired. Tired of fighting and uphill battle against the neverending horde of dumb and the bottomless pit of stupid they sprung from.

“You are right.” She said, touching her finger to her lower lip in thought. Though Micah hadn’t come right out and said it, they needed to get their information from someone or several someones who had been paying attention. Before they could they could make decisions on anything they needed to know their choices. “I have an idea, maybe. But first...I probably need to get some clothes on. I don’t imagine I look too scary right now.” She chuckled tugging at the t-shirt that almost reached her knees. “And then I think we need to see what the hell has been going on.” Vel tucked the rifle under one arm and patted herself down though gave up quickly. “Seems I forgot my tome as well.” She said, grinning sheepishly. There once was a time she never left home without it but then she had never left home without pants before either.

“I think I shall put a notice on Crownet. Perhaps they are out there and just laying low. Or perhaps not but if I could arrange some sort of ...Oh I don’t know, open meeting? At the morgue perhaps? People can come and share their….Version of things. Are the sewers even safe these days?” The last question was more of an offhanded thought than I direct need to know but she shrugged anyway. “I can always send Stephen out and about to have a look for me. That is the numbskull hasn’t gone and got himself banished again. Alright my Babe, I remember the Co-ords I will meet ya back at the Eyrie. There is…Something I need to do before getting clothes on.” She flashed that mischievous grin once more before canting her head to the side. “Race ya!”

[Micah]

Micah wasn’t sure what she needed to do, but he managed to make it back to the Eyrie before she did. When she appeared, he was lounging on one of the couches on their private floor of the treehouse. He smirked when she appeared before him by way of the elevator, minus the shirt he had given her when she’d discovered him in the sunken cathedral. “If you’re going to keep losing your clothes, then we’re going to have to have a serious talk about that.” But he understood the urgency of her actions.

Quite some time later, they decided to venture out of their safe haven. Both were using Alter Ego. No one noticed them as they traveled the streets that used to be so familiar to them. Things had changed. Micah saw zombies all over the place, and he didn’t fail to notice the presence of soldiers. His lips thinned as he started to truly understand the consequences of his childe’s actions. No wonder she was hated and getting shot at everywhere she went. There were a lot of pissed off vampires in the city now, all thanks to her and her friends. But if he was honest, the blame didn’t all rest with her. The city had been going to **** for a long time, she just happened to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

They ended up on the steps of the morgue. Vel started up the stairs but as usual, Micah’s feet refused to even take that first step. A paralyzing fear took over him freezing him where he stood. He hated the morgue. He couldn’t take a single step inside of it. The various scents that clung to the very walls of that place took him back to a time that he would much rather forget. She turned around when she realized he wasn’t coming, one elegant brow raised. “I can’t. Just….” he exhaled and shook his head. His irrational fear of her building was well known, but she was still trying to piece thing together and seperate her thoughts from her reality. “I’ll meet you down in the basement.” For some reason, that was a tolerable alternative.

His wait wasn’t too terribly long. She came in with an apology on her lips. An apology that he waved off. “It’s fine.” And it was. She was already well on her way to being the woman he’d known for so many years. Micah would give her all of the time in the world that she needed to adjust, and if that meant having to remind her of a few things that he would much rather forget, then that was quite alright with him.

He started to disarm. “Bunny and Scott use this place sometimes to do some training of their own. It’s dawned on me that you’re out of practice.” His weapons were placed on the counter of the empty bar. “What do you say we have some good old fashioned sparring practice, just like the good old days?”