He stood before my threshold with an idiotic sort of expression upon his face, lips scrunched into a confused line. A pretty bouquet of flowers was cradled within his hands, each one a crimson rose that had the appearance of being freshly bought, dew adorning their lovely little faces.

"How did you find me?" Those were the first few words to him after close to three weeks of painful separation.

"Before we were wed, I was given your address…I assumed you would be here."

"Well…It was a well-educated guess." I crossed my arms and looking to his feet in a sort of discomfort. "What did you come here for, Roderich?"

"I wanted to apologize…for everything."I was handed that collection of lovely blushing jewels, and adopted them after an awkward moment of hesitance. "It wasn't fair that obligation stole everything from you…of course, very few things in this life are fair, but that simply constitutes as wrong…" These words were framed with extreme difficultly, yet he kept digging for them. "What you had done truly hurt me…I can't waste time denying that…But I truly loved you, Elizaveta."

"I know you did…"

"And that's why…I felt as if I couldn't give you any kindness…At times it was difficult to be so cruel. I was beginning to forgive you, but I wouldn't allow myself to do so. I thought if I had, it would be like admitting it was alright for you to do such a thing…And I'm sorry. I realize now that I should have allowed myself that forgiveness…"

Instances of silence past.

"Yes…well…" Thoughts took a moment to process. "…It would have been nice."

"Yes." He took in a minor breath and his words progressed. "You're not a whore… You aren't stupid, and certainly not ugly. If I missed anything of what I had said, I didn't mean any of it. I still love you, Elizaveta…and I didn't sell Vienna."

"Well…I'm glad for you. It's a very nice mansion." Again, there were tears boiling behind my eyes that I wouldn't allow into the sun's graces. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

"No. It's not." I could almost hear the words being put together within his mind. "Will you become my wife again, Elizaveta?"

"I never stopped being your wife…"

"Well, then will you come back with me and be my wife in Austria? Unless you're with Gilbert now…I won't tear you away from him a second time."

"No…I'm not with Gilbert. We haven't spoken since I saw him last…But why do you want me back? You're an attractive man with plenty of money. You can have any woman you like."

"Then may I have you?" One of my hands was stolen with gentle intent. "Elizaveta…You're the only woman who's made me happy in my entire life…and you're well aware there have been plenty of them…I know it might be difficult at first. It's hard to fix a shattered vase…but it can be done." A bit of emotion leaked onto his cheek, those gorgeous features still the same. "We can begin again…We'll simply know more about one another…Have we changed so drastically that we're incompatible?"

I placed my scarlet collection of roses near my feet and came back to wipe away those few tears adhering to his visage. "No…I think we've just been hurt. Before you say anymore, I'd like to apologize, again…for even putting us in this position."

"Well…It's not as though I hadn't helped."

"…If you're sure of taking me back…" I had to absorb those eyes, brimming with honesty and almost a tinge of desperation. "I won't do such a thing ever again…You're very dear to me, Roderich. It's been nothing but…misery without you, and I wouldn't dare lose you again. I can't promise there won't be hard times…but I'd be more than willing to call you my only man." Our hands were still woven together, and I continued the knot with my fingers winding so softly around his. "Did you come here upon an impulse?"

"No…I thought about coming after you the moment your feet left my door…But naturally, I needed to do more thinking than simply following you. I'm certain you would smack me again."

We exchanged sad grins.

"But as the weeks past, I discovered that we…had something. And it was something I hadn't had before. It was so warm around you…for the very first time; I could say honestly that I loved my wife. And despite all the things I said, I still admire you." We observed each other a long moment, our gazes connecting as cardinal pieces to a complex puzzle. "And I thought so long about what you told me…Even just losing you, someone I had adored only about a year and half was…unbearable. I can't even fathom the impact it would have if we had known each other since we were small…I don't condone what you did, as I shouldn't…but there was at least a reason, opposed to simple recklessness."

"Yes…"

"I think we were both given an unfair lot. You were taken from the man you loved, and the woman I loved was taken away from me…Well, perhaps she was never truly mine in the first place." A few more droplets my sleeve stole away. "But if our marriage can survive this, I doubt that anything else will be even a small concern…I think we're certainly worth a second chance."

"Yes…We are." With a soft tug, I pulled him through my door frame, both my hands resting with a certain conviction upon his own. Our bodied were closer, and I could feel the very vibration of upset put off by those stunning azure jewels. "I love you…" I told him.

"I love you too, Elizaveta. May I embrace you?"

"I would highly suggest it."

Without even a moment for rational thought, I was pulled into a passionate embrace, and for the longest time, we allowed those little embers of passion to mar our faces while we basked in one another's arms.

The wounds created by either of our awful knives began to heal, and our cutlery, grown so sharp by hostility and pain clattered upon the ground and shattered as sensitive glass.

When we finally came apart, wiping the tears from our stained cheeks, I raised my voice for a final round of negations.

"Roderich, I'll easily leave with you tonight…but on two conditions."

"Of course, darling."

"The first is that I'd like to write a letter to Gilbert, saying goodbye. That will be the only letter I'll send to him in the future…I don't have any plans of continuing on any form of relationship, but…It would be best to say goodbye properly."

He considered it for a weighty moment, eyebrows dented beneath a light furrow. "Well, alright. What of the second condition?"

"I'd like to take Oswald back with us."

"Oswald?" There was an automatic air of skepticism.

"Yes…He's my little kitten…I adopted him recently, and we've become friends. I'd be depressed if I had to abandon Oswald."

A moment passed under stifled laughter. "Well, I'm sure something can be arranged." The ends of his lips curled minimally in a tinge of amusement.

"Thank you, darling." His ears found placed between both thumb and index finger. Slowly, I brought my lips to acquaint his and we kissed with a sort of innocent admiration. "Thank you for everything…especially for coming all this way to return to me."

"You made it sounds as if it was an option."

We smiled to one another a moment and once again, I found that heart of mine fluttering.

"Come along, Roderich…I'll need a vase for these roses." I adopted my flowers from the floor's cool hold, and gave my eyes back to my husband, as well as my love.

"Of course, Elizaveta."