Author's Notes: This is a sequel to Sonnet. This chapter is perhaps not complete, but in any case it is where the sequel shall start even if it is on the short side. It will be rather unpredictable when I will be able to update next, I am very busy with university. Please read and review.

Chapter 1

It seemed that the outside, topside world was calming down. Finch and Stone at Scotland Yard still couldn't quite believe the chain of events that led to the chaos… and their eventual recovery of a moderate amount of control once all ties to corrupt Fingermen had been cut, police seen quite separate from the Norsefire blasphemy that was Sutler's rule. Almost miraculous really, oh of course there were still lots to do and it had been more than bumpy, Finch's twenty-seven years with the Party didn't disappear. But of all the Party members, he had the least nefarious character; in fact he had a rather positive reputation for the most part. The people did look upon them with suspicion; Norsefire's stain on their reputation couldn't be lifted that easily. Although after seeing that no action was being taken against them for rallying the streets all hours of the day and night and seeing that they were doing their intended jobs of arresting the obviously dangerous and not those who broke questionable laws, eyes did not glare as hard.

Citizens had taken it upon themselves to control the city, leaders born in all sections of towns and directing mayhem into more productive outlets that would benefit them all. It seemed V's plan was working, if not as immediately as some had thought it would be. And speaking of the dead terrorist turned hero, Finch wondered how Evey was getting along. He hadn't seen her since THE night. He found himself casting a glance among the crowds, unconsciously looking for a shorn-head waif, but he did not see her.

In the cool depths that was the Shadow Gallery tension was beginning to build between its two occupants. Perhaps for Evey it would be quite accurate to describe it as sexual tension. Her relationship with V seemed to come to a standstill and Evey couldn't understand why. They continued to watch a movie from V's extensive collection most nights, Evey snuggled against an accepting V, end with a goodnight kiss and go to their respective bedrooms (they found another mattress buried among his many salvaged items in one of his storage rooms so that he could move from his small cot at Evey's insistence). Sometimes she would be in a certain mood and they would be upon each other… but then he held back and it didn't go much further than heavy kissing when Evey felt they could go on to more. It was always the formerly masked man who would back off first and urge them to cool their ardor and it frustrated Evey to no end.

She made an effort to not push him as several ideas came to mind. Did he hold the notion that sex could not be considered until after… marriage? The thought made her have other interesting thoughts in that vein, but tried to clamp down on it. No, marriage was government sponsored, definitely not something V would go for as far as she could understand. Is he shy, uncomfortable with such intimacy? It had been hard enough for him to finally reveal his face to her and aside from when she aided him with his injuries he kept himself covered except for head and hands.

Evey had spotted V in front of his repaired vanity once, staring at himself, a wig in his scarred hands. She had startled him when he heard her approach and hastily, guiltily, put down the wig. She didn't ask and he didn't tell her, but after that she kissed his head and stroked it hoping to convey that she liked him as he was whenever she found the opportunity to do so. But she couldn't help but feel as if they were becoming distant from each other even as they seemed to get closer as they read books, watched movies, have engaging conversations that lit up their minds.

And so, with all this happening it wouldn't be too surprising to say that she couldn't take it any longer. They watched a movie this particular evening and as was inevitable Evey slouched into V, his arm around her shoulders as he slumped back into the couch. It had been Evey's turn to choose a movie and decided on one that she had not seen before, had she looked up at him when she read the title she may have caught the look of slight panic reach V's eyes.

He had tried to sway Evey into picking a different movie, but she was curious about this particular title as she had not seen it before. She was also becoming suspicious with V's behaviour as he had never tried to change her mind about choosing a particular movie before. So it was that they were on the couch, V slumped back in defeat, Evey against his side, that they began the movie in the dark.

As they watched on Evey came to understand quite clearly why V had tried to dissuade her from this particular film. She came to hide her face into his side as a blush blossomed across her cheeks at the scenes of passionate romance colored the screen and filled the room with intimate sounds. She discreetly watched from his side and through the embarrassment came a longing from deep within her. Though they were actors, the couple on the screen looked truly in love and were doing what she had only dreamed of doing with her V. The movie continued on, but Evey's mind dwelled on the physical loving that had happened in the previous scene.

V had silently watched it all, giving no outward reaction to any of it, even hoping futilely that Evey would not be affected by the movie to ask for what he could not give to her. Though her physical reaction had been quite endearing in how she had hid her face into his side, her flushed cheeks…

The movie ended, credits rolling on a black screen, the room almost pitch black but for the insubstantial light emitted by the white letters. V was highly aware of Evey's movements as she slowly crept up his side, the warmth of her body permeating his clothing and skin. He was certain where her thoughts lay and had to stop her before it would hurt her… no, it would already hurt her.

"I think it is time we turned in for the night," V pronounced as he began to push himself up from the sofa.

Unfortunately for him she wasn't going to let it go this time.

"V?" she gasped out, tears were making its way to her eyes, glistening and reddened in a confused betrayal, "Why are you avoiding me? Don't you love me? Why can't we just-"

She couldn't finish, but her thoughts were clear and hung thickly in the air between them. His back was to her, stilled by her words. He didn't want to answer, wished she had never verbalized what he dreaded. He knew that it must have crossed her mind countless times, but as long as she had not asked he would not tell. But she now asked and he had promised her no more lies, no more secrets. No matter how painful he found it. She deserved that much from him.

"I cannot," he started, still facing away from his love, "I love you with all my eaten heart, but I cannot give myself fully to you. My heart and mind are fully yours and always will be, please let that be enough."