- Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh -

"My love, there is no need for you to ask for my forgiveness, I-" Say'ri's voice cut out, as she was still stumbling on her words from all the tears a moment ago.

The two had made their way back up on their feet again, but they were hardly capable of holding a real conversation. There was so much that they both needed to tell each other, but they could not even begin to process it. Robin simply continued to hold her, giving both of them all of the time they needed to finish their exuberant release of emotion.

Say'ri really did forgive him, but Robin would find that hard to believe for some time. In truth, the only person who he would have trouble convincing to forgive him would be himself, but that was a battle to be fought another time.

Then, Sully spoke up, "Hey, uh, Robin?"

He looked to face her, "I don't mean to interrupt or anything, but y'all have been at this for a while now. Wasn't there, y'know, someone else you wanted to talk to?"

Robin remembered immediately, and said "Yeah, we'd better bring her out pretty soon…" He turned down to be facing Say'ri, who had been listening to their conversation. It took her a moment to realize what they were talking about, but when she finally realized, she sighed heavily, and said,

"Fie, Morgan, of course… Robin, you certainly want to speak to her privately."

"That was the plan." He responded.

"Good, but even then, choose your words wisely. She has not handled your absence quite as well as the rest of us." Robin sighed, and started to say "Oh Gods" before Say'ri spoke up again.

"She does not hate or resent for it or anything of the sort, she has just been… unstable."

Robin waited a moment, biting his lip in thought, before finally saying, "Alright, let's bring her out."

Say'ri nodded once before calling to one of the guards from earlier, "Major! Bring out princess Morgan in the same manner which you brought me out earlier!" The officer nodded once, then left through the double doors.

There was a short pause before anyone spoke, until Robin finally said, "Are you sure it was smart to do that? Y'know surprise her like I did with you?"

Say'ri hardly had to think before answering, "I fear she would not believe the guards if they told her you had returned."

"So it's like that, huh?"

"After you left, she would wake up every day from the same dream that you had returned, and she would pray to the Gods it would come true. But not even the most valiant hearts can sustain that much hope for so long, and she was convinced you would never return."

"Well, I can't blame her for that."

"Of course not. Most of the Shepherds were convinced you were gone for good. But, just because her faith had stopped did not mean that the dreams had as well."

Robin sighed pitifully, "Oh Gods…"

"Every day for at least the past month she has woken from that same dream that you returned, only to cry in her bed to realize that it were not true. It has tormented her like that, and I fear that it has taken a serious toll on her mentally."

They all had been watching the doors at the end of the hall throughout their entire conversation, but it was only now that they finally opened, and there stood Morgan. Her dress for the holiday was all white, with some small highlights, and a simple construction. She was much more pale than Robin remembered her, skinnier too.

She took no more than two steps into the room before looking up and seeing them. She froze in place, and inhaled sharply.

Robin hadn't even said a word, only raised one arm and started to open his mouth, when she cut him off.

"No! Don't say anything! Just- Don't speak!" Almost immediately her eyes started to water, and her entire body to shake. Robin was completely stunned by this outburst, as was almost everyone spectating.

"When you start speaking you… You sound just like him! And it makes me think it's real this time- That he actually came back, but I know it's not true! It's just- It's just another God damned dream!"

By this point she was properly weeping and choking on her own words. It was hard for her to continue speaking, giving Robin an opportunity to speak.

"Morgan, please, I-"

"No! Stop! Please, I know it's a dream, I just…"

She unwillingly fell to her knees, barely keeping her head up from how hard she was crying.

"...I just want to believe that it's real… Just for a little while… I don't want to have to wake up, I just… Oh Gods…" She buried her face in her palms and continued crying, completely unable to control herself.

Robin knew he had to get closer to her, but just as he was getting within a few yards, she noticed him again. She let out a small scream, and jumped to her feet, falling backwards a few steps in the process.

"No! Stay away, that- that's what wakes me up! As soon as you touch me I- I wake up, and then you're gone! D-Don't, please!"

The others looked on throughout this interaction, completely unsure of what to say. Say'ri simply stood a ways behind Robin, one hand covering her mouth, her eyes starting to water again.

"Morgan, you have to believe that it's really me! Just calm down for a moment!" He took another step forward.

"That's what you always say! Every time! Please, just let me sleep, what did I do to- Wait, no! Oh Gods, please!" Robin sprinted towards her and grabbed her. He knew it would terrify her, but she wasn't going to listen to him like this. It was the only way he was going to make her believe it was really him. As he wrapped both arms around her upper body, she closed her eyes and let a long scream, then was totally silent other than a couple sniffles.

Then, after a few moments, she started to open her eyes again. She still felt him wrapped around her. Everything felt the same as before, and it was all so real, and nothing like any of her dreams. She moved her face to be looking at his, still shocked beyond what she had ever felt before.

He said only one thing to her, "I'm so sorry, Morgan," before she passed out, and went limp in his arms.