Sorry it took so long. Really hope you like this chapter – I sure loved writing it. This was inspired by a request from HappyHereford so I hope you enjoy :)

The ecstasy he'd been feeling just a moment before, had now faded to a dim ache, as the realisation of Grace's words seeped in.

"M – my fault?" Marcus stuttered, his voice clouded with confusion.

Grace merely nodded, her eyes shut tightly.

"What did I do?" Marcus asked. "I wasn't the one who got you attacked by a nest of fire ants – you did that all by yourself!" He began to feel anger creeping up a little, but was determined to not let him show. He also felt disappointment. He's waited so long, not leaving her bedside for one moment, and finally when she wakes up she accuses him of doing this to her.

"Fire ants?" Grace mumbled incoherently.

Marcus sighed, "yeah, Grace. Fire ants. Your legs were covered in 'em."

Opening her eyes suddenly, staring – glaring – straight at Marcus. "So help me, Marcus, if I get frostbite and die, I will haunt you until you're actually dead!"

Marcus stood speechless, rooted to the spot.

"Grace! You're awake!" Regan squealed, the hot coffee that was previously in her left hand was now splayed across the white-tiled hospital floor.

Regan looked back and forth between a gobsmacked Marcus and an angry-pouted Grace.

"What sort of a man are you, Marcus?" Regan asked in a higher pitched tone than usual. "The way you've been sitting there all day I'd have thought the minute she was conscious you'd be holding onto her and refuse to let her go?"

In an inaudible mumble, Marcus said, "that's what I thought too."

"And you!" Regan raised her voice, pointing accusingly at her sister. "Why on earth are you allowing him to just stand there? This is like a god damned fairytale, you and him. He's your very own Prince Charming!"

"More like the Dragon who's trying to eat me," Grace said under her breath, rolling her eyes. Crossing her arms across her chest, Grace turned her head and looked past Regan and out into the corridor.

Leaning in closer to Grace, Regan whispered so Marcus couldn't hear, "did you seriously just call him the Dragon?" Grace nodded. "As in the princess-eating Dragon?"

"Yes I called him a Dragon – as in the princess-eating Dragon!" Grace snapped sharply. "And I don't even believe in fairytales. But still, the Dragon is still gnawing away slowly and painfully at my leg! Couldn't he hurry up and EAT ME ALREADY?!?"

"Me?! A Dragon?" Marcus retorted. "Why on earth am I a dragon? This morning you told me you loved me back and now I'm the monster who's causing you a slow and painful death? That doesn't add up, Grace! So, I'd like you to explain to me why I am the Dragon. Explain that to me, Grace, 'cause frankly, I don't understand what I did wrong! Did the fire ants mess with your head? How am I the bad guy when I sat by you all day, not leaving your side once?" Marcus sniffed back what felt like the beginning of tears. He didn't cry. He was a man – a heartbroken man, even – but still, he didn't cry.

Grace sat up straight and threw up her arms in frustration, as if the answer to the question should be so obvious. "God, Marcus! Can't you see?! It's your stupid fault!"

"Stu – stupid?" Marcus stuttered.

"Stupid Marcus. Stupid Rocky. Stupid mine."

"Rocky? The mine? What on earth have they got to do with you being attacked by freakin' fire ants?" Marcus asked, impatient.

Grace sighed heavily and rolled her eyes again, not being as subtle as the time before. "If I wasn't helping you with Rocky, we wouldn't have fallen down into this STUPID FREAKIN' MINE SHAFT!! And I wouldn't be sitting here, freezing my arse off, wondering whether or not you and I are gonna die down here! Like I said. Your. Fault!"

There you go! I just love a delusional Grace – don't you?? Pretty pretty please review – I'll love you always, promise

Em xXxXxxxx