So this chapter is way overdue and I'm can't say I'm sorry enough.

Evie was in the middle of a conversation when the door to the building was all but blown open. For the few seconds, there was just the sound of Mal breathing heavily. Then the woman Evie was speaking with gave a pointed cough.

"I'll just get back to you later?"

"Umm," Evie had almost forgotten what they'd been speaking about, "Leave the estimates on my desk,"

"Yes ma'am," She said disappearing. Two other employees who'd been in the room at the time has vanished as well.

Mal's breathing evened out and the silence filled the room to the corners, heavy in the air. Finally, Evie exhaled, "Don't tell me… Dizzy?"

"She came to find me at Sixth Circle,"

"Of course she did," Evie shook her head, "That's why she left here in a hurry,"

"Why does it sound like you didn't want her to?"

"If she's the reason why you're here…"

"She isn't,"

Evie arched a brow at Mal.

"Alright, maybe she gave me the kick in my ass that I needed,"

The corner of Evie's lips twitched upwards just ever so slightly.

"I'm not going to apologise for getting angry but walking out was childish," Mal said.

"Why did you?"

"I don't know…" Mal sighed and shrugged, "Gut reaction,"

"The last thing I wanted to do was make you feel like you didn't have a place with me," Evie reached out for her, "Because you always will. No matter what,"

Mal smiled, cupping Evie's cheek, "I know. But, I've been thinking about it. I think I should move out,"

Evie's face crumpled at Mal's words. "No, Mal that's not the answer to the problem,"

"But it is," Mal took both of Evie's hands in her own "It's not forever. It's just for now. If I have my own place you won't have to be tripping over my stuff all the time,"

"Mal… this seems like this is a step back,"

"It's not. I promise you. E, you're still the one I want to be with. You already have your plans in place to get your castle. This is just until then,"

"That's at least a year away,"

"A year isn't that long,"

"Are you going to do this regardless of what I think?"

Mal shook her head, "No. But we need to find a solution to what happened last night. I don't want to feel like that again. I don't want to do that to you again in a fit of anger,"

"Can we think about it for a few days?"

Mal smiled and nodded. "Of course,"

When they got home that evening Mal saw Evie had cleaned the mess from the previous night. The ruining canvas was laying on the table. She went over and picked it up, giving a heavy sigh as she took it in. She noticed the material of the canvas had been repaired, somehow, but there was an empty gap in that spot where the paint should have been.

"I am sorry about that," Evie said timidly, coming up behind her, "I tried to use a spell to repair it. I couldn't find a spell that could the paint back like it was. What you do really is a magic all on its own,"

Mal put the painting the down. "It's just a painting," She took Evie's hand pulling her into her a hug, "I'm sorry I walked out on you,"

"I'm sorry I made you feel like this wasn't your home," She leant her forehead against Mal's, "I hate fighting with you,"

"You know we're not always going to agree on stuff,"

"Yeah, but I'll be wrong every time if stops a repeat of last night. I shouldn't have been nagging you in the first place. I just want us to be happy. I want you to be happy,"

Mal didn't say anything for few minutes, standing there combing her fingers through Evie's hair. Evie let out a slow breath, tucking her head against Mal's neck.

"Do whatever it takes to make your prince happy…"

Evie stiffened as Mal said those words.

"Your mother used to tell you that,"

"I haven't thought about that for the longest while. I'd forgot about it,"

"You're not going to do that with me,"

"In case you hadn't noticed M, you're not a prince," Evie said, trying for gaiety.

Mal shook her head, managing a small smile. "No, I'm not. But, I am an idiot. I'm going to be wrong sometimes. And sometimes, as impossible it sounds you're going to be wrong,"

That earned a soft laugh out of Evie.

"If I'm being an idiot you have to tell me. If I'm wrong, you can't let me get away with it, even if it takes a few times to get it through my thick head,"

"And now you're going to tell me you'll tell me when I'm wrong?"

"I mean, I imagine it's going to happen maybe once a year. I'm to take however few chances I get to say you're wrong,"

Evie laughed again, "Oh, Mal,"

The silence pooled into the space around them again. Slow and cool. Less caustic that the night before. But there still something that refused to let it settle completely.

"… I lied before…" Mal said softly, "When I said walking out was my gut reaction,"

"What do you mean?" Evie's brow furrowed.

"It wasn't," Mal withdrew a step, "My first reaction. When you called the apartment yours. It made me lonely. And that made me mad… and hurt. It was like I'd never left the isle. My first reaction was to make someone else feel like that. But I could never hurt you. I would never. So I had to walk away. I didn't know what else to do with that emotion,"

Evie took Mal's hand, pulling her gently towards the sofa.

"Those bad habits from the isle are still sitting just under the skin. For both of us,"

"Everything from the isle is sitting just under the skin,"

"We already made a promise to each other once that it wouldn't define us. Let's not let it define this relationship either,"

Mal nodded slowly. She leant forward and Evie met her halfway in a soft kiss.

A few days later the argument was behind them, but not forgotten.

"E, have you thought about my moving out?" Mal sat down next to her one afternoon.

"I've been thinking about," Evie admitted.

"I was talking to Carver today and he says there's an apartment available in his building. He said he could arrange a viewing for me this weekend,"

"Actually, I've done some looking myself," She pulled her laptop towards her.

"You have?" Both of Mal's eyebrows shot up.

Evie nodded, handing her laptop to show her an apartment listing.

"Holy shit, a three bedroom flat? Kitchen, living room and dining room that aren't the same room. And an office? It's huge. Who was killed in it? That's the only way it's available," Mal said, reading through the description on the site. She stopped when she saw the price. "And there it is. I can't afford this, even if my commissions match my salary each month,"

"You can't afford it. But, we can't,"

Mal released what Evie was suggesting and did a double take, "Wait, no,"

"Mal,"

"No. Evie. No,"

"Why?"

"Because you've been saving for your castle. If we move into this place it's going to put you back to square one,"

"It's not going to knock my savings down to zero,"

"Evie, I'm not letting you give up on your dream for me,"

"I'm not giving up my dream," Evie put a finger to Mal's lips before she could say anything else. "Hey, I am not giving up on my dream. Yes, I want a castle. This isn't going to stop me from getting it. It's just delaying it by a few years,"

"But E,"

"No. No buts. Listen. There's this saying that every man's home is his castle,"

"Neither of us are men,"

Evie gave a little sigh, "I'm trying to make meaningful point here,"

"Alright, I'm sorry. I'm listening,"

"My home is with you. I don't care if where I live has a hundred rooms or if it's just four walls. I care about you. I don't want to live without you. Even if it's for just a year. Every place that's felt like a real home to me, it's had you. Your art. Your smile. Your laugh. I want to wake up with you. Your voice to be the first thing I hear in the morning and the last thing I hear before falling asleep. I want you. Before anything else. I want you,"

Mal didn't reply right away.

"It doesn't have to be this place. But I was thinking, with three bedrooms you'd have a proper bedroom and we could turn the third bedroom into your own studio,"

Mal looked between the screen and Evie a few times.

"If this is going to be a thing we're doing I have two conditions,"

"Okay…"

"Some of my money is going to the savings for the castle from now on,"

Evie couldn't help her smile, "Alright, that's a deal. What's the other condition?"

"The second bedroom is a guest bedroom,"

Evie frowned, confused for a moment. Then her smile returned, accompanied by a faint blush.

"So you want to share a bedroom?"

"If that's okay with you,"

"Of course it is," She looped an arm around Mal's neck, pulling her in for a kiss, "I always want to sleep with you,"

Mal chuckled against her lips.

"I love you, M,"

"I love you,"

I swear the next chapter will be up much sooner.

Nardragon~ until the next page.