Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to Tamora Pierce
Set Immediately after Bloodhound.
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She's coming home today. Rosto smiled despite himself, happy at the idea of seeing her even if he was more than a little afraid of what he would learn when she returned. He paused at the flower stall as he walked through the market. Should he get her flowers? He left her flowers all the time. It was one of the few things he knew she loved and that she wouldn't return. But what if she was getting flowers from someone else now? That Dale was supposed to be a heartbreaker, but it was possible he'd really fallen for Beka. Who wouldn't? He'd kill the boy if he had hurt her. He'd also kill the boy if he was still with her. The only way the boy would survive is if Beka had decided she was through with him. That would be best. His man said Dale had visited her but once in the hospital and only briefly. Chances were things were over, so he asked for the usual. The woman nodded and pulled out a bouquet of red gillyweed flowers. Rosto handed her some coins and walked purposefully back to their boarding house. He left the bouquet outside her door, then walked across the street to the Dancing Dove.
As he walked in, he waved to the men who were putting the finishing touches on it. In truth, he could have moved in weeks ago, but he was dragging it out, hoping to get her to agree to move in as well. He knew it probably wouldn't happen, but he wanted a definitive no before he gave up on the reassurance of always knowing when she came back at the end of her shift, when she was sleeping safely a floor below him, and that he could be there within an instance if one of her enemies or his came to take her away.
He walked up to the second floor to where Aniki's room would be. He opened up the shutters on her front window and dragged a chair over, sitting down and looking out at the busy street. Eventually, through the mass of rushers, doxies and their targets, she came down the street. Eskren was carrying one of her trunks, and she had another. She looked like she was alright, though he thought he could detect a slight limp. Her head was high as ever, and he watched her see the young scamp of a purse snatcher dip his fingers into a heavy purse and decide not to pursue him. It was unlike her to let even a minor thieving go with no punishment, but she tended to be easier on the little one's and he could see the weariness on her face; his lass clearly needed and wanted rest in her own bed. She disappeared into the house, then reappeared before her window a few mom3n5w later. She chatted with Eskren for a bit, holding his flowers under her arm as though they meant nothing. Eskren left, and as soon as the door was firmly closed, she moved towards the window and buried her face in the flowers. He smiled. Yes, he still had a chance with her. And that's all that mattered. He closed the shutters and began whistling, strolling out of the Dove casually, a bounce in his step for the first time since she had left for her Port Caynn.
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So, I finally managed to read Bloodhound, and immediately had to write this. It's silly, I know. I'm fairly ambivalent as to whether I leave it as is or make it a series of slightly connected one shots about B/R and how I think they get together. Don't worry I'll finish my other story/write the promised sequel....I just had to finish reading Bloodhound first....and write this. Review please! Let me know if you are interested in more.