Missed you.

[Zsadist Aghony]

Made sure the soft blankets that Nalla still loved so much were arranged as she liked them. Of course that was after billowing the blanket over her then letting it float down at least ten times. Ended up sitting down next to her, head resting on his knuckle, just watching her sleep.

The kind of time when he didn't think, no bad went through his mind, past horrors disintegrated and peace seemed to fall over everything. Maybe this was the why of Bella's struggle through carrying her, the reason for his struggle at being a father. As he sat, curled in on himself, one finger carefully replacing a stray curl from her cherubic face. Strange but even with everything that had been going on, somehow the peace in her room erased it. If only for moments.

[Bella Aghony]

It was getting to be that time of year again. Time for the fall festival which meant time for her to begin pulling together a list of those to contact to start planning. She had made a few phone calls to try and get the planning started then headed upstairs to check on Nalla.

As she headed down the hall, she noticed the lights were out in her room. So she peeked in then smiled. Quietly leaning against the doorway, she watched them both for a moment, just enjoying the peaceful sight.

"Is she asleep?"

[Zsadist Aghony]

Didn't start or even take his hand away from her hair, just gave a nod. Though in his mind this was the peace he'd been looking for all his life. Couldn't have known it, especially back when things had been so much different he didn't even remember most of it. Still, it was. That calm, perfect, quiet, safe and happy sleep. Fighting for the race had nothing on this.

Turned his head enough that he could see her shining blue eyes.

"Did you somehow know?" Seemed like she had all along now that he really thought about it. "Did I ever thank you?"

[Bella Aghony]

She looked at him curiously then pushed off from the door to walk over and sit down on the edge of Nalla's princess bed. She smiled a little at the stuffed owl that she had just got that her little arms were wrapped around.

Turned her gaze back over to Zsadist. "Did I know what?"

[Zsadist Aghony]

"That this.. you.." The floor seemed good to look at about now. "...everyone marked me for gone. Wrote me off. Knew that a long time ago, soulless and void. Ruined not broken. Bella don't think for a moment I didn't know what they, even Wrath, thought. So.. did you know you could save me?"

Finally focused on her, after letting his eyes go anywhere but. His chest tightened with what he'd said, even if it was truer than any of the things they had all seen and heard. Before her, he'd been a dog... in a kennel...on his way out one way or another.

[Bella Aghony]

Looking at him a bit concerned, she took his hand. "Where is this comming from? Nallum, I didn't save you. You saved yourself. Only you could do it. I only believed you could."

[Zsadist Aghony]

"No. Scribe your so wrong Bella."

Quietly stood, then just looked at her for a long moment. Started waking out of Nalla's room but paused, catching her profile in his pariferal.

"There wasn't any coming back. I still feel it you know, the empty place, that thing I put away when I actually saw you. It's there, just finally caged. At last that's put away instead of me." Managed a small smile, really just enough to not worry her as there wasn't any reason. "Need to shower, patrol was.. yeah be back."

Leaned in and kissed her forhead softly before going into the bathroom to clean up.

[Bella Aghony]

Unsure what to make of that, she watched as he left the room then turned back to look at the peacefully sleeping Nalla, wishing that there would come a day where Zsadist would no longer be haunted by his past. Sighing a little, she brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Slowly standing, she quietly left her room, closing the door behind her, to return to her mated room for the night.