A/N Just a short chapter to let my readers know I haven't forgotten about them. I'm working on my 2nd original novel right now, so updates may be infrequent for a while however I have every intention of bringing this to a conclusion, never fear.


Eskel was standing at the window while Maya slept.

He didn't need that much sleep and he supposed she typically didn't either, but her body was still fighting the silver and she was out cold. Despite all the alcohol he and Lambert put down earlier, he felt clear headed. He wasn't sure if it was his Witcher metabolism or denial, but either way, he felt okay.

He never felt okay. Usually, he didn't feel anything. When he did, it reminded him quickly why he didn't want to feel anything the he'd stomp it back down again. Geralt was always better at that sort of bullshit and even he was a wreck most of the time.

So maybe he wasn't okay, maybe that wasn't the right word. But he felt something and it was making him uneasy. He wasn't used to it.

Still, when he looked back over his shoulder at Maya sleeping peacefully in his bed, it didn't feel wrong. He felt content, maybe, even if that was the last thing he should feel about the entire situation.

He looked at her carefully. He loved to do that when she was asleep, when he could just look at her without having to worry about what he looked like at the same time. He could see the narrow straps of a nightgown on her shoulders, but the sheet carefully outlined the plump curves of her body even with the extra fabric underneath. She was on her side, the arch of her hips as round as the rolling hills outside the window.

He felt something when he looked at her and not just the physical reaction he expected. He felt good; he felt protective; he felt purposeful. That was the crux of it, really. He felt like there was a reason to keep going, keeping moving forward instead of living in this century long stasis of the same thing, year after year.

He looked back out the window and sighed quietly, watching birds leave their roosts as dawn brightened. It didn't feel only good. A lot of unfamiliar emotions were dueling inside of him, but it felt like something other than squashed grief for the first time in a very long time. He didn't try to push them away or pretend they weren't happening and that was as surprising as anything.

He closed his eyes and leaned against the wide stone of the window frame, waiting. He tried to think about it, but it was too hard to focus. Easier to just let them all wash over him. He could learn to sort them out later.

It seemed like only moments passed when he heard Maya stir behind him. He opened his eyes to find that the sun had crept above the hills and realized he'd dozed off a bit. Wasn't the first time he'd slept standing up, but might have been the first time it felt restful.

He turned around to see Maya stretch, her face creased from the pillow, her hair a tangled mess around her face but her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright. The blood was working.

He'd do it again, if she ever needed it, without hesitation.

She saw him, her head lolling over to look at him.

"Hi," she said softly, voice still thick with sleep. "Why are you so far away?"

He didn't even try to stop the stupid smile, the one that was a little too big and pulled on his scars. Didn't hurt though.

He took the few steps to the bed and crawled over toward her, putting his head on her belly. He looked up at her and she lifted her head, tangling her fingers into his hair. Her other hand cupped his cheek, gently caressing his scars as she always did. He closed his eyes.

"Did you just get in the bed with your boots on?"

Eskel grunted, but it was almost a laugh. "It's my bed."

She didn't reply right away, but when she did, her voice was soft, hesitant. "I was hoping it could be ours, at least for a while."

Eskel lifted his head and propped himself up on his elbow to look at her. His eyebrows drew together in the middle.

"For as long as you want it to be." He meant it. A part of him wanted to say something more grandiose, but inexperience or not, he throttled it down.

Maya smiled on one side of her mouth. Her eyes were hooded. "Then take off your boots and get in here."

"Yes ma'am," Eskel chuckled, catching the heel of one boot with the other to push his foot out. He kicked his leg and the boot thudded on to the floor. He tried the same maneuver with the other one, but couldn't manage it. He rolled over on to his back, grabbing the other boot and yanking it off, tossing it haphazardly across the room. When he rolled back, Maya was biting her lip, trying not to laugh at him.

"What?" he said, shrugging. He was grinning foolishly anyway.

She shook her head, snickering. "Come here." Eskel wiggled himself up until he was next to her and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, cuddling herself up to him. Once his head hit the pillow he felt a little dizzy.

So, maybe he wasn't entirely sober just yet. Maya wrinkled her nose.

"Gods Eskel, did you two bathe in vodka?"

"I would never take a bath with Lambert."

Maya laughed. It was bright and genuine and it made his heart feel too big for his chest. She opened her mouth and tried to say something but thought better of it, closing her mouth again. She clamped her lips together into a thin line but the corners tipped up into a tiny grin.

Eskel smirked. "You sure you're up for all this?"

Her grin disappeared, morphing into something else. At first he felt worry creeping up the back of his neck, but she smiled again, sweetly this time, chasing the shadows away.

"For you, anything." Maya kissed him softly on the mouth and wrinkled her nose again. "But first, why don't you get some sleep and sober up before I get drunk from kissing you."

"Would that be so terrible?" He leaned towards her just a little and the bed spun under him.

Okay, things were wobbly now. Maybe she had a point.

She didn't answer, just nudged at him until he rolled over and his back was to her. She wrapped her arm around his waist, her face against the back of his neck. Her breath brushed over the little hairs there. She squeezed him, slipped her knee between his legs. Little as she was, she made him feel warm and like he was safe; like she was protecting him.

After what happened, maybe he needed to consider that. She was probably as capable in a fight as he was, even if her tools were different. He was safe, with her here. Safer than he was alone anyway, for probably a great number of reasons.

Eskel sighed and relaxed back against her. Maya's voice was the the last thing he remembered before he quickly drifted off to sleep. A bottle of vodka and staying up all night was unsurprisingly good at knocking him out.

"Love you," she whispered against his neck.

It was the perfect way to fall asleep.