Elisabeth woke when she felt a cold spot where her husband should have been. Slipping into her robe, she walked the halls until she came across him.

Bradley had his arms braced against the sink, breathing hard.

His eye patch was off. And instead of an empty eye socket, she saw it.

He looked like he was in pain. He may have the top brass fooled by acting so mature, but Bradley was young. The agony on his face made him look half his age.

That eye darted towards her.

"I never asked for it."

His voice shook violently. Bradley's gaze returned to the mirror. "I never wanted it!"

He squeezed his eyes shut and gripped the sink harder.

"They just forced it on me. I never asked for this. Not this." The last word came out as a dry sob.

Elisabeth might not have known exactly where that eye came from or who forced it upon him, but she did know one thing.

It was a heavy burden on him.

"Come back to bed when you're ready." Elisabeth said softly.

She felt the anger emanating from him and while she felt confident he wouldn't strike her, she recognized the cornered look in his eyes and gave him space.

It was a good ten minutes before he returned, looking exhausted. Bradley collapsed on his side of the bed and rolled over to face her.

The eye patch was back on.

'Oh no. I'm not having any of that.' Elisabeth thought.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "You shouldn't have seen me like that."

She reached out and gently placed her hand against his face, sliding off the eye patch.

He looked surprised and shocked and most of all, scared.

"When I married you, I married all of you. We all have our burdens. You don't have to carry them alone anymore."

He leaned into her palm, a tear from the left eye sliding down his cheek.

"So you're willing to accept this?"

She brushed it away. "All of you as you are. Flaws and all."

Bradley gave a dry chuckle that came out more broken than he intended. "This is a pretty big flaw."

"It's a little strange. But I'll get used to it." She admitted. Bradley shut his eyes.

"You're the first."

"The first what?" She asked.

"The first person not to ask questions about it." he was looking at her again.

Elisabeth smiled reassuringly at Bradley. "If it's important and when you're ready, you'll tell me. Just don't feel like you have to hide from me."

He sighed. "Okay." He said solemnly.