(incase anyone was wondering, the title means, The Return)

2.

Evey had begun eating as soon as V had set her plate down, but when he began to speak she forgot about her food, and was lost in his words.

"I awoke on the train, it was obviously on it's way to parliament, at first all I thought of was how proud I was of you for making the decision, then i realized how god awful it was of me to believe that it was alright for me to leave you behind, with all this revolution business. I had never pictured a life beyond the fifth, but while I lay on the train awaiting certain death i new i could not give up, could not die.

"There was something that pulled me up, and forced my legs to make their way to the control car. I had to reach the breaks before the train reached parliament and went up in a blaze of pyrotechnics. I dont remember actually getting off the train or sending it on its way again, the next thing I remember is laying on the stone for a long time, wishing to heal."

At that point V stopped talking and looked up to Evey, and then down at her plate.

"Evey please do not let my story distract you from your breakfast, I worked hard to make it delicious and I fear it will not be so if it is cold."

Evey was not surprised that her "tasty" breakfast was more important to him that his near death. She shook her head and took a few bites before he continued his story, looking directly at evey, still eating.

"I stayed in the tunnels of the underground for near a week, but it was hard to keep track of time, I was unconscious most of the time. i stayed until i again found the same strength that had gotten me out of the train, and then i made my way to the street, and i had no choice but to make it to a hospital, i knew i would not live without professional care."

Evey stopped eating at his last words and shot him a quizzical look.

"Yes Evey, I a masked vigilante went to a hospital. but of course i was not masked."

V said as he noticed her surprise. "The mask might have given me away as a terrorist."

Evey just stared at im in disbelief, why would he not show her his face, but he would show a perfect stranger? She pondered the thought as she took a few more bites of bacon.

"Are you upset with me Evey? You are scowling at your bacon." V's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Why?" she asked hoping she needed no more clarification, obviously she did because V tilted his head to the side and waited for more. "You couldn't show me..." her voice trailed off.

"Ah," V spoke in a quiet tone of realization. "Evey, you expect something beautiful behind this mask, you expect a face to go with the personality, but the reality is far from that. some one who does not know me, may stare at my deformity, may even ridicule the face behind the mask, because they do not have any expectations." he stopped speaking then, and waited for evey to say something, when she did not he started again.

"Evey, please? try to think about it?" he finished sounding exasperated.

"I am thinking about it V, I guess I understand. But I want you to know I do not expect something beautiful, I expect something that will reflect the beauty of your personality, not something that resembles it. Does that make sense?"

V was surprised at her openness, and nodded " Beauty is to have less illusion and more soul..." [1]V quoted, "something like that?"

"Yes V, something like that, please continue with your story..." she said glad he sort of understood, but she knew he would not show her his face anytime soon.

"I think that I have had enough story telling for right now." he said standing and collecting Evey's nearly empty plate from the table. " I promise to continue later."

"But V, i need to know what happened." she said hurriedly standing and moving close behind V who was now stationed at the counter. She wanted to place a hand on his shoulder or waist but she knew that he would pull away from her if she did so.

Evey was somewhat surprised when V turned around to face her, their chests only inches apart, V wanted nothing more to reach out and hug her as she had done to him not an hour ago. but he restrained and spoke instead.

"I will tell you later today, it is a long story, and I do not wish to tell it all at once."

Evey nodded and gave into temptation putting her arms around him and leaning into his chest. beneath her cheek she felt him slightly pull away, but she had him trapped between her body and the counter top, much like their first hug that day.

After a moment of closeness Evey felt V begin to relax, as his hands made their way into her short curls and on her neck pulling her head closer into his chest. But at the moment Evey began to get comfortable in V's arms he released her and strode into the living area of the gallery and plopped himself down on the large sofa.

"V?" Evey called from the entrance to the living area. V simply tilted his head to one side, to show her that he was listening. "I missed you." was all she said, hoping to tempt him back to her, instead of standing and making his way to her he said,

"Come and sit with me Evey, I will tell you more of my story."

***

[1] quote by Marry Baker Eddy