Dissociation
Chapter Eight
-Inimitable-
Natsumi peeked out from the curtains to the front of her house. Akito had said he would bring the kids back over around noon, and it was now almost eleven thirty. She backed away then with a sigh. "I should just leave and go to the store so we don't have to see each other." She told herself, walking back to her room and then into her closet.
But she wanted to see him. "Damn it!" she yelled and fingered through her clothing. But she shouldn't be dressed to expect him. No. She had to pretend she was completely aloof. Deciding on her plan she pulled down some tight workout clothes and tugged on some black capris that formed to her body almost like a second skin and a matching sports bra that showed off more than it should.
She clipped her hair up in a jaw clip, messing with her bangs until they were perfect. She glanced at the time and gasped. They'd be here any minute! She heard the doorbell ring and yelped. She ran into her bathroom and grabbed a spray bottle that was filled with water and misted herself lightly so it appeared she'd been working out in her exercise room. She grabbed a towel and ran, stopping before she was in the foyer and slowed her pace to a casual step.
She stopped at the door and opened it, dabbing at her face in attempts to remove the 'sweat'. "Oh yeah, Akito. Sorry I must have let the time slip." She feigned slight surprise and then smiled down at her kids who all looked happy to see her.
"Hi Mom!" they yelled, hugging her briefly and then running up the steps to go place their things away.
Akito took in her appearance and smirked, pulling off his aviators as he stepped into the house. He didn't believe her for a minute. "You let the time slip, when your kids were coming home?" he asked, raising a brow as she shut the front door. Before she could do anything, he pulled her against him and nuzzled her slightly, inhaling deeply. She could feel his smirk, and he pulled away, releasing her. "And yet you don't even smell like sweat. Interesting."
She turned a dark red. "In fact," he whispered. "You smell kind of like that cherry blossom spray you love so much." She went darker and huffed.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Damn it. She forgot sweat smelled.
"Sure you don't." he smiled at her. "I bet you put that whole outfit together just for me. Hm? Am I right?"
"No!" she yelled over exaggerated, extremely flustered. "I like to keep in shape. Nothing more."
He chuckled, turning to face the stairs as he waited for the kids to come back down. "You just keep telling yourself that, and maybe somebody will believe it." he crossed his arms, that self-righteous smirk still on his face.
"Don't be mad just cause' you like it." She retorted, sauntering off into the living room.
He watched her butt as her hips swayed, and then followed her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and causing her to let out a gasp. "I don't like it." his deep voice said in her ear. "I love it." he emphasized, nipping her earlobe.
"Stop it," she whined quietly, not pulling away. "The kids will hear and you can be the one explaining that to them."
"Explaining what to them? That we still love each other?" he asked, resting his chin on her shoulder. "They already know. Izayoi asked me last night if you and I still have sex."
"Well we don't anymore. We're divorced and we should keep it that way. And I don't love you." She growled out weakly, breaking from his grasp and facing him. "And stop trying to put the moves on me." She pointed in his face. "The mind is strong, but the body is weak."
He sighed, her words hurting him, though he knew deep down she didn't mean them. He wished that she would quit being so stubborn. It would make things a lot easier. "Well, I love you." He said softly, turning as Hayate ran into the living room.
"Mommy!" he said happily, flinging himself against her legs and hugging her. "I had so much fun mommy. Daddy let me ride all the kid rides at the 'musement park, and we had funnel cake, and I got to play games, and Kanamé almost threw up, cause' he rode too many rides after eating. I think his tummy is like daddy's." he said, all of his words coming out in a rush.
Natsumi leaned over and picked Hayate up, hugging him tightly and resting him on her hip. "Is that right sweetie? I'm so glad you had fun. Did daddy drink Alka-Seltzer when he got home to make his stomach better?"
He nodded excitedly. "He gave Kanamé some too and it made their stomachs all better!"
Sanosuke came in then, and hugged Natsumi. "I unpacked all my stuff and put my clothes in the hamper." He told her as he pulled away.
She looked down and smiled, placing her hand on his head. "Good job. I'm so proud of you, you're growing into such a fine young man. Now why don't you two go and look at the lunch menus and pick what we're having today." She told her two youngest and set Hayate down as they ran off to the kitchen.
Akito gave her a curious look. "Menus?"
"It's easier for them to decide what they want to eat when they can see it. So I made one for every meal time, and once they pick I make it. Makes them feel like it's a restaurant." She shrugged and stretched languidly. "So I suppose, if you want…you could stay for lunch."
"Well I wouldn't want to impose." He said.
"If it was imposing I wouldn't have asked. You think I have a problem with asking you to get out of my house?" she arched a delicate brow and headed back to her bedroom to change into something more normal.
He rolled his eyes and found his way into the kitchen, where Sanosuke and Hayate were looking at the menu, which actually looked like a menu you would find at a restaurant. "So boys, what are we having?" he asked, looking over their shoulders at it.
"I want macaroni and cheese!" Hayate declared.
"But I want chicken wraps, and since I'm older I get to pick." Sanosuke said, looking down at his younger brother.
"Well I don't want either of those, and since I'm the dad I guess that means my word is final." Akito said, the corner of his mouth tilting up slightly.
Both looked up at him, wide eyed. "But dad!" they whined at the same time, causing Akito to chuckle.
"I suggest you agree on something then, or I'll pick the healthiest thing on there." He threatened. They both gasped and looked back at it, scanning over its contents.
"Akito!" they all heard from the other room.
"Mom's calling you dad." Sanosuke said without looking up, since they were still trying to decide what to get. Akito sighed and left the kitchen, heading into Natsumi's room. When she wasn't there, he went into the bathroom and then into the walk in closet, stopping dead in his tracks.
"Which do you think looks better? I can't decide." She said, turning around and facing him in nothing but her bra and underwear, which were both made of black lace with little white bows decorating the ends. "This?" she gestured to her body. "Or this one?" she held up a strappy navy blue one.
He blinked. "Um…why does it matter which undergarments you wear exactly?" he asked, becoming confused. She wasn't going on a date later, was she? His body slowly tensed at the thought of her being that intimate with another man, but he forced himself not to jump to conclusions.
"God you're stupid sometimes." She tossed the other aside and grabbed him by the shirt, dragging him towards her and pressing her lips and body against his. He wrapped his arms around her, gripping her butt with his hands and pressing her fully against his arousal.
"I thought you said we weren't going to be doing this anymore." He murmured against her lips.
She sighed and pulled away from him slightly, meeting his green gaze. "If you don't want to, we don't have to. But who am I kidding? Really?"
"Honey, I always want to when it comes to you." He said, kissing her once more. "We have to be careful though, cause' of the kids." He said, gripping the backs of her thighs and lifting her, pressing her against an empty spot on the wall of her closet.
"I wanna love you again Akito," she whispered against him, trying not to moan from the feel of his arousal pressed against her own. "But it's so hard…"
"I want you to love me. I can't live without your love." He began to trail kisses down her throat as he ground against her. "I spent the last five years becoming the man you deserve. The man I should have been."
"I want to believe you," she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly. "But…I feel so isolated now. I don't ever want to feel trapped again."
He pulled away and lowered her legs so that her feet were touching the ground. "I promise I will never trap you like that again. I know what my mistakes were now, and I will never make them again." He got down onto his knees so that his face was level with her pelvis. "It's been a while since I've gotten to taste you." He commented, kissing the center of her underwear.
Natsumi trembled from the feel and leaned back against the wall to steady herself as he pulled down the lacy undergarments. He lifted one of her legs and pushed it aside, holding it up as he took in her already moist center. Then his head dipped, and he licked along her slit, circling her clit with his tongue. "Oh Akito!" she moaned, letting her fingers run through his hair until she gripped it and encouraged him forward.
"You still taste so amazing." He said against her, continuing his antics. Then he slid a finger inside of her and began to move it slowly.
"Mommy! What is Daddy doing?" Hayate yelled from the doorway. Natsumi went wide eyed as did Akito. Sanosuke slapped his hands over his brother's eyes but he himself looked absolutely baffled.
Akito removed his hand from her and closed her legs. Then he stood and turned, keeping Natsumi hidden behind him. "Your mom just needed some help with…a bug bite that was on the inside of her leg. She couldn't see it, so…yeah."
"I think I'm going to go throw up now." Sanosuke said, keeping his hand over Hayate's eyes and leading him out of the room.
Natsumi hit him over the head. "You idiot! I told you not to fondle me with the children in the house." She huffed.
He gasped and turned around. "What? I told you we needed to be careful. You're the one who instigated it you know, so don't try and pin this all on me."
She poked his chest over and over. "Pin! Pin! Pin! Pin! Pin!" she said and stuck her tongue out at him.
He pressed her against the wall with his body, kissing her passionately as he stuck two fingers inside her and twisted them, causing her to moan into his mouth. He pulled away enough so that he could see her face as he continued to pump his fingers within her. "You get under my skin sometimes." He said, pulling his hand from her warm center with a smirk. "Now hurry up and get dressed. Our children are hungry." He kissed her once more and left the closet before she could recover from his sensual assault.
She slowly collapsed to the floor, panting loudly. "Damn him." she muttered, still trying to settle her spinning head and racing heart. After a few minutes of sitting there she got up and dressed in some black capris and a red tank top. She walked back out, a slight blush still covering her cheeks. She entered the kitchen only to find Hayate sobbing. "Hayate!" she gasped, rushing over to her baby boy. "What's wrong my love?"
"W-was daddy hurting you?" he choked out, and only then did she notice he was continuously keeping his face hidden from Akito. Natsumi sighed and looked up to the broken expression of her ex-husband. She gestured with her head for him to follow her, and left the kitchen with their youngest in her arms, going back to her room and sitting down in the middle of the bed, snuggling with Hayate. Akito entered shortly after, sitting on the edge of the bed stiffly, since he didn't know what to do.
"Hayate," Natsumi began calmly but strongly. "Daddy was not hurting mommy. You need to understand that when mommies and daddies love each other they do things together without their clothes on. Daddy was making mommy feel good because he loves her. Do you understand?" she looked down into her five year old's eyes, smiling softly at him.
"I think so." He said softly, glancing back at Akito before looking up at her. "But, if you and daddy love each other, then why aren't you married? Don't you want to be a family again?"
Natsumi frowned slightly and made sure not to meet Akito's gaze, which was almost boring through her. "Because Hayate..." she trailed off, sounding sad. "Sometimes love just isn't enough. But we're trying...a little."
He smiled, looking the way Akito used too as a child, and pat her cheek. "It's like you always say mommy. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. You and daddy will get it right, I just know it." he said.
"We'll see sweetheart. Now go get your siblings and pick what you want to eat and get out all the ingredients so mommy can cook. Ok?" she asked. Hayate nodded excitedly and hopped up from his mother's grip before running from the room. Natsumi sighed and finally looked over at Akito.
He looked like he was about to say something, but then the sound of a phone ringing stopped him, and he reached into his pocket to see who it was. Frowning, he answered. "Toshiro, I'm kind of in the middle of something. Can I-" he froze. "What? No, that's fine, I'm on my way. Just get everything together, and I will be there shortly." He hung up and looked at her, rising from the bed.
"I have to go. This gangster I've been trying to put in jail just got arrested for assault, so this might be my chance to finally put him away." He told her, putting his phone in his pocket. He frowned then. "I'm sorry, I hate to be rushing out like this." He said sincerely.
She looked away and sighed. "I understand. It's your job after all."
He reached out and grasped her chin gently, turning her face towards him so that she was looking him in the eye. "I wouldn't be leaving if it wasn't an emergency, I swear. You and the kids are the most important things in my life." He kissed her forehead before walking out of the room and to the kitchen, where all four of the kids were currently getting things ready for lunch. Kanamé took one look at his father and frowned.
"You're leaving." He stated.
"Yes." Akito said. Hayate ran up to him and hugged him around the legs.
"But daddy, we want you to stay for lunch!" he said. Akito picked up his son and held him to his side.
"I know, daddy wants to stay really badly, but he has to go now and put a really bad man in jail. Uncle Toshiro can't do it by himself." He explained.
"Are you going to come back?" Sanosuke asked from his spot at the table.
Akito sighed. "Only if your mother says it's okay."
"Which means you won't be coming back." Izayoi sighed, sitting down at the table in defeat.
"I know it sucks, but we'll get to hang out again." He said, trying to reassure them. Hayate hugged him around the neck.
"How bad is the bad man?" he asked.
"Really bad. One of the worst bad men there could ever be." Akito told him, rubbing his back. Sanosuke stood and walked over, hugging Akito around the waist.
"Thanks for taking us to the amusement park dad. And letting us spend the night." He said.
"You're welcome." Akito set his hand on the boy's head.
Kaname looked to his father and then continued to get out the things they would need for lunch. "Well, see you around then. Whenever you have time."
"I always have time for you." He kissed Hayate on the forehead and set him down, and Sanosuke let go of him.
"Bye dad." He said softly.
"Bye kids. I love you." He said before turning around and heading for the door. He took one last look around the house, and, with a sigh, left.
Akito and Toshiro walked into the police station later that day, going straight to the front desk. "We're here to see Ziggy." Akito said, putting his hands in his pockets. He had had to swing by his house and change into his work clothes to look professional before meeting his friend, but it had all been done relatively quickly.
"Oh yes, Mister Leroy Jenkins." The officer at the front said. "He's in the last cell. You can just go on back." She motioned with her hand.
"Thanks." They both headed back, stopping in front of the last cell, where Ziggy was. He was a well-known head gangster in Boston, and they finally had enough to be able to put him away. "Looks like you're finally where you belong." Akito said once they were in front of the cell.
The punked out man sitting in the cell just smirked. "Well if it isn't the big bad Uchiha and his smarty pants partner. I can never remember your name." he pointed to Toshiro.
"I don't care." The redhead sighed. The fact that this murderer didn't know his name only put him at ease.
"So whaddya want? Huh?" he asked, standing up and running his hand through his greasy dark brown hair, spiked with green tips. He had a piercing on his nose and over his eye, as well as on his ear. "You the one who's going to be 'putting me away'?"
Akito gave him a confident smirk. "You bet."
"Are ya now?" Ziggy arched a bushy brow. "See, all credit deserved. I used to think you were kinda intimidatin' cause you were the big bad lawyer, that sent us baddins' away. And no one could get ta ya, cause you didn' have a weakness."
Akito couldn't help but look pleased, until the criminals next words wiped the smirk right off his face. "But now…ya got five."
"Excuse me?" he asked, his voice hard as he tried not to physically show a reaction to this punk. Even Toshiro looked vaguely alarmed.
"Ya know. That pretty lil sexy wife of yours. And I gotta say, you got some cute kids. It'd be a shame if somethin' bad happened to any of them. Specially that lil one. He's really cute, a bit of a mama's boy but when your mom is a sexy fine piece of ass like that, who wouldn't? Right?" he snickered, pacing around the cell in order to get some exercise.
"Wow, are you really that worried we'll get you convicted and sent to jail that you're trying to scare us off?" Akito asked, attempting to play off the threat, although on the inside he was freaking out.
Ziggy shrugged. "I wouldn't say worried, but I ain't that good of a guy. So I always like a lil collateral. I'm sure my boys would enjoy a night of that bitch's screams. She looks like a screamer. I'm even tempted myself."
Akito stiffened. "If you so much as have one of your guys look at her I will kill you. And that's not a threat, it's a promise. Come on Toshiro, we have scum to get rid of." He turned and headed for the door.
Ziggy came to the bars and pressed his face against them. "What are ya gunna do law abider? Nothing! You better watch yourself and your bitch!" he yelled after them, laughing as the two exited the cell area and left the station.
Toshiro frowned, looking over to his friend. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." He sighed, stopping and running his hands down his face. "I'll have to talk to Natsumi about it, and see what she wants to do. She needs to know, just in case. Maybe we can get some police officers to guard her house until this all blows over or something."
"That'll freak the kids out. And what about at school or at the hospital or the grocery store?" Toshiro sighed, grimacing. "Maybe it was a good thing Natsumi was gone while you clawed your way up and put all those criminals away."
"Yeah, but what am I going to do Toshiro?" he asked, some of his fear seeping into his voice. "If I tell her she'll just pack the kids up and disappear again. I just got them all back, I don't think I'd be able to survive if they left again."
Toshiro gave Akito a sympathetic look and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Akito. I don't know. But you know these guys are serious and you can't run away or they win. Why don't you convince them to go on vacation while this is all happening." He snapped as the idea hit.
"I'll try." He said, seeming doubtful of the idea. "But you know how she is about work and the kids going to school, and if I wouldn't be going with them for the vacation, Natsumi would get suspicious."
"I don't know what to tell you my friend. But I'm going to go home and make sure Minako and Ayame are ok. You should head home too you look like you could use some rest." Toshiro told him, waving as he walked to his car and got in. Akito sighed, doing the same and going home, trying to come up with a way to keep his family safe.
"I'm going to get you little boy!" Natsumi yelled, chasing Hayate, who was only wearing his underwear, around his newly picked up room. "Come here you little devious thing you." She laughed, holding his pajamas in one hand and trying to grab for him.
"No mommy!" he squealed in glee. "I wanna sleep nakie!"
"No! No! No my love! You cannot sleep naked." She lunged forward and captured her small boy and lifted him up into her arms. "Silly Hayate. I win." She snickered, showering his face with kisses. "Now will you do what mommy says?"
"Maybe." He giggled cheekily. "Can I sleep nakie when I'm six?" he asked, holding up six fingers.
Natsumi laughed and set Hayate down on his bed. "We'll see." She told him, helping him dress in his bed time clothes and then helped him into bed. "Good night sweetie. I love you more than anything." She told him, kissing his head and nuzzling him lovingly.
"I love you too mommy." He snuggled into his sheets a bit. "I wish I could say night to daddy too. I miss him." he said softly. She looked down at him sadly and sighed, until she got an idea.
"Hold on just a moment Hayate." She said, getting up and leaving the room. She returned shortly with her cell phone and dialed Akito's number and then handed it to Hayate. "There you go sweetie. Just wait till he answers."
Hayate held the phone to his ear and then perked up when a deep voice answered, and he giggled. "No daddy, it's me! Hayate!" he said. Then he looked confused. "But, since you asked, I'm wearing my Spiderman pajamas. Isn't he cool? He's my favorite. Mommy said I could sleep nakie when I turn six." He looked at Natsumi, and then away. "Maybe." He was silent for a bit, until he nodded. "Yeah I had a good day. Did you put the bad man away?" he smiled brightly. "Oh, okay, so you're about to put the bad man away. That's so nice! You're kind of like Dare Devil then, which means you're a superhero too!"
They stayed on the phone a bit longer, until Hayate began to drift off. "Okay daddy, I'll go to sleep. Goodnight, I love you." He held the phone out for Natsumi to take. She took the phone from him and kissed his forehead before tucking him in and then flipping off the lights.
"So what are you wearing?" she asked in teasingly manly voice, snickering into the phone.
"Shut up. I totally though it was you." Akito said.
"You're a freeeeeeeeeeak." She taunted, beginning to laugh as she hoped down the steps and flipped off the main lights, leaving only a couple lamps on and then sat down on the couch.
"Yeah well this freak still wants to know what you're wearing."
She rolled her eyes and looked down at her clothing. "Just some shorts and a t-shirt and some slippers. Nothing too kinky tonight." She laughed.
"Dang. I was so hoping you were wearing that little red number I saw in your closet this morning." He chuckled. "So, how was your day?"
"Why on earth would I be wearing that to tuck my children into bed?" she arched a delicate brow, staring at the phone. "And it was fine. Made lunch, went to buy some groceries. Some gross punk guy was talking to me about some repulsive sexual things. I tell you, teenagers these days are just disturbing." She shook her head and sighed, glancing up at the ceiling. "So…I was thinking…"
"Uh oh, good thinking, or bad thinking?" he asked. "Because sometimes your ideas are a little scary."
"Well, the children were very sad that you weren't able to stay for lunch and since you'll be coming over tomorrow anyways. Why don't you just…head over now and surprise the kids in the morning with breakfast and being there when they wake up." She finished, pursing her lips together, actually slightly nervous.
"Is there an ulterior motive behind that question?" he asked. "As in, you want to finish what we started in your closet?"
"Of course not!" she nearly yelled, turning a dark red. "I just thought it would be nice for the kids. But never mind." She huffed.
"No, no, I would love to come over and be there for the kids." He said. "I'll head over now. Should be only ten minutes or so." She could hear him moving about and putting some things together.
"Alright see you then." She said, ending the call. She sat there for a moment and then jerked up, running to her closet, opening her lingerie drawer, and fumbling through her nightgowns. "Ok Natsumi can't look like you're asking for it. But you gotta look gorgeous." She told herself. She stopped, pulling out a maroon colored one and smiled evilly. She undressed and pulled on the matching silk panties and then put on the gown. It was short and made of thick sheer, almost solid but slightly translucent. It stopped just below her rear and had a satin ribbon just below her bust. Lace triangles covered her breasts just barely and thinned out into spaghetti straps.
Once she was all dressed, she went to the bathroom and made sure her makeup was fresh and she looked perfect. She messed with her hair and then heard her phone ring. She ran into her room and picked it up seeing it was a text from Akito, telling her that he was there since he didn't want to wake the kids up with the doorbell. She hurried out and flipped off the kitchen lights and the lamps she'd left on.
She came to the door and unlocked it, opening it only enough for him to see her. "Hm, that was quick." She said, trying to sound carefree.
"Well I didn't want to keep you waiting." He said, dressed in his clothes from earlier that morning. Then he took in her appearance. "Did you change your clothes for me?"
She opened her mouth to say she'd already been wearing this when she'd called but then remembered she told him what she was wearing. "…No…" she huffed, turning around and allowing him in as she walked towards the living room. "I just decided to change before you got here into my sleep clothes."
"Uh huh." He didn't sound convinced as he entered and quietly shut the door behind himself, following her into the living room. "So, where am I sleeping?"
"Where do you think?" she asked, glancing back at him.
"Well I hope with you…naked." He smirked.
She laughed and shook her head. "Nice try and close. I just won't be naked. I don't want you sleeping on the couch. It's expensive and it'll ruin the surprise if one of the kids comes down stairs and sees you in the middle of the night." She turned off the last light in the house and went into her bedroom.
He followed her, placing his small bag of clothes for the next day at the foot of her bed. "So, let me get this straight." He said, taking off his shirt. "We will be sleeping in the same bed, but we aren't going to fool around?" he began to undo his jeans.
"Yup." She said happily, getting into her side and snuggling beneath her comfy sheets.
He took off his pants and got into the other side of the bed. "Well can we at least snuggle?" he asked, looking down at her. She pulled the covers up and covered the lower half of her face to hide the smile.
"I dunno. You tend to get naughty when you touch my body in any kind of way."
"I promise I will restrain myself unless otherwise instructed." He ran his finger up and down the comforter covering her arm.
She giggled, pulling the covers down slightly. "Making out a little does sound kinda fun though."
"You sound like a horny teenager." He snickered, nuzzling her. "Reminds me of when we first started dating."
"Like that summer vacation our families took to the beach when I was seventeen and we snuck into the boat house and did it on the counter top?" she nuzzled him back, ignoring the scolding voice in the back of her head.
"Yeah, and then later, when we discovered sex on the beach isn't as romantic as they make it sound in movies because we got sand everywhere?" he kissed her lightly. "I don't have a fond memory that doesn't include you, you know." He smiled down at her and brushed her bangs from her face.
She kissed him back, nipping at his lower lip. "Well we've known each other since we were young. And spent nearly every summer together."
He cupped her cheek before kissing her deeply. "You were the only thing that made my life worth living back then. You still are. You and the kids." He said against her lips, kissing her once more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, pulling away every now and then to take a breath before pressing her lips against his once more.
"I've loved you for so long." She whispered, holding onto him more desperately. "I don't know how to love anyone but you."
"It's impossible for me to love anyone else. I gave you my heart years ago, and you still have it." he wrapped his arms around her as best he could, wanting to keep her there, and never let go. The words from Ziggy entered his mind and he pushed them away, not wanting his fear to show through his kisses.
She moved her hands from his back and held his face, kissing him more feverishly. "I love you," she said seriously, not breaking their contact. "I'm so sorry I left you, but if I hadn't…my love would have dried up and turned to hate." She tried to explain, having to break every now and again since he hadn't stop kissing her.
"I love you so much, sometimes it hurts." He continued kissing her. "I forgot to remind you that I loved you, but I will never make that mistake again."
"You didn't hold me anymore." She said sadly, pulling him closer.
"I am now." He murmured, looking down at her. "And I will never let you go."
"I woke up to an empty bed, every morning without you there…"
"I will always be there when you wake up."
"You left me all alone," she said weakly, a stray tear sliding down her cheek.
He wiped it away before kissing her sweetly. "You will never be alone." She nodded slowly and kissed him once last time before turning on her side and closing her eyes.
"Sleep with me."
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, snuggling against her. "Goodnight love." He murmured. She smiled slightly and placed her hands over his, falling back into his warmth that she had been without for so long. And then they fell asleep for the first time together in years.
