I fixed it =D

It was exactly 3 o'clock when she heard a soft knock on her door. This time, since she'd known he was coming, she'd gotten ready. She had straightened up her apartment and cleaned it. she had even dressed in more casual clothes and left her hair down instead of wearing her emissary uniform. She opened the door and Uldren stepped inside, smiling. Hearing one of her neighbors yelling something on their way up the stairs, she quickly shut the door behind him.

"Petra," her murmured, pulling her into his arms and giving her a quick kiss. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too. How are you?"

"Better, now that I'm with you. How about you?"

"I'd say the same."

He kissed her again, longer this time, both knowing the truth was that neither of them were okay. They needed to be together more. Petra wished she could go back to the Reef with him more than anything else. She needed this all the time, his arms wrapped tight around her, his fingers buried deep in her hair, and his face pressed against hers. When they finally stopped her hugged her closer, brushing his hand across the back of her neck before they both whispered, "I love you," at the same time, and broke off into quiet laughter. He rubbed his nose against hers affectionately.

She pulled away, grabbing his hands and pulling him toward the kitchen. "Look, I made dark chocolate peppermint truffles. Want one?"

"Sure!" He popped one into his mouth, and after he finished chewing, he said, "Wow, that's really good. I didn't know you liked baking."

"Well, I used to help the techeuns bake everything during the Dawning every year as a child, and now that I have a lot of time and not a lot to do with it, I've just been messing around with some simple city recipes."

"I like it." he took a bite out of another one. "It's sweet, but simple. I haven't had anything quite like it since before I became an Awoken. In a way, it almost tastes like... home."

She beamed at this description, happy that he liked the truffles. He finished the second one and gently pulled her across the room toward the couch, where they collapsed in a fierce kiss. It was so wonderfully peaceful, lying in his arms, as he stroked her back, her shoulders, her hair. She rested her head on his chest, a perfect, warm contentment spreading through her whole body, feeling happy for the first time that week, as sun seeped through the cracks in the window blinds and fell across her face.

Uldren let out a happy sigh, twisting her hair in his fingers. "This is all I can think about whenever we're apart."

It was better than anything she had ever wanted. She wrapped her arms around his neck, sinking deeper into his warmth, as he brushed his lips across her forehead. She felt as though she was melting right into him, and hated remembering that he would have to leave later. It was too painful. She couldn't think about that, she was too busy enjoying the steady motion of his thumb going back and forth, back and forth, on the back of her shoulder, his other hand resting on the back of her neck with his fingers tangled in her hair. She had no words to describe how good it felt, she had never felt that way in her whole life. None of the other times she'd spent with him had come close to this. This was so amazing that she could hardly even keep her eyes open, her tired mind so at peace that she just wanted to fall asleep right there on the couch with his arms around her. All her worries had faded away. Nothing bad could possibly happen while he held her.

"So, how's it going with the guardians?" he asked.

Petra groaned. The spell was broken. "Do we have to talk about that?"

"Not if you don't want to. Is it that bad?"

"Yeah, and it's boring. I still haven't managed to get any meetings with the vanguard, I haven't sold any bounties, and everyone here still hates me quite a lot."

"Oh, Petra, they haven't hurt you, have they?"

"No." Not yet, at least. Some had tried. "The vanguard is keeping them under control."

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, squeezing her tenderly. "I'll ask Mara to send a few guards to help you. Emissaries usually have a few guards."

"Even banished ones?"

"I don't know, but I'll make sure you do. I want you to be safe. I can't stand the thought of something happening to you and me not being here to help you." His arms tightened around her, as if he were afraid she would be attacked if he let go. She shifted slightly, snuggling closer, letting his fingers comb through her hair. No one had ever cared about her the way he did. No one had ever wanted to protect her or keep her safe. If this was love, this tender warmth, then she had never been loved at all, either. Now, though, she felt a love so strong it couldn't stay inside them, it was seeping out, filling the room.

"How is everything going in the Reef?" she asked

"Well enough, I suppose. The war is over, but the Oracle Engine is predicting another one, so we're preparing for it. Some of the elite Wolves who joined us are on the Queen's Guard and the Techeuns are searching the stars for our next enemy. The Crows and corsairs have entered intense training, and everyone is rebuilding our forts and temples. We're all busy, but I haven't let Mara forget you or the work you're doing here."

"I'm not doing anything, though."

"But you're trying!" he rubbed his cheek against the side of her forehead. "I would suggest, though, that you spend a good amount of your spare time working out so that when you come back, you'll still be in shape and you can go straight back into combat. Mara would expect you to be ready to go."

"Oh, I didn't think about that! I should've realized that going a month without working out at all wasn't a good idea. It's gonna take me forever to get back in shape! At least I'll have plenty of time, I guess."

"Well, there's one good thing- it'll give you something to do here. Also, I brought you something to help you eat your ramen."

He dug around in his cloak pockets before finding a large plastic bag full of little white packages labeled RAMEN SEASON- XTRA XTRA FLAVOR.

"What?!"

"I found them at a crazy little shop near the Tangled Shore. Isn't city ramen supposed to be super bland?"

"Are you kidding? Oh my gosh, give me that!" She snatched the bag from him, pulling it open and inhaling deeply, the smell of spicy ramen filling her nose. "Ahhhhh, you're amazing!"

He chuckled and pulled her onto her side so that she was facing him, caressing her face before leaning in to kiss her. One of his arms was around her waist, the other on the back of her head, and her hands gripped his shoulders as they fell into a passionate kiss. She couldn't let go; she wanted this feeling to last forever. All month she'd felt so tense with boredom and full of a storm of anxious thoughts and she was tired of all of it. It was not action and battle that wore her out, but their absence that depressed and exhausted her. But when Uldren was here, all her anxiety had to leave. Now, this erased every trace of the weariness it left behind, and she felt refreshed.

Suddenly, he let her go, sitting up and looking around. Startled, Petra looked up at him, then realized that someone was knocking on her door. She stood up, going to the door, and peeked through the keyhole. Her heart sank. It was her nosy neighbor, Kiren. What did she want? Petra cracked the door open and stood in front of it, blocking Kiren's view of the room. "Uh, hey. Can I help you?"

"My water isn't working."

What? Why was she telling her this? "Um, I'm sorry to hear that."

"One of the pipes is busted."

Petra was confused and very irritated at this pointless interruption to her time with Uldren. "Call a plumber, then. I don't know what that has to do with anything." She started to close the door but Kiren impatiently pushed it back open.

"Don't play dumb with me. I know I usually see you lurking around the Tower but you've been hiding here all day. What have you been up to?" she stood on her tiptoes peering suspiciously over Petra's shoulder. "Your house looks much cleaner than normal."

"Excuse me?! Are you saying that I broke your pipe on purpose? Why would I do that?"

"Well, I don't know. You and your people are strange, and Light knows, you've done worse."

"I- What?" Petra straightened, glaring. "I am sorry that your pipe is busted, but I don't give a damn about you or anyone here and I don't even care enough to do something so spiteful!" she slammed the door shut, twisting the lock and storming back into the kitchen. "You see how awful these people are? You see why I'm never going to get anything done here?" she shouted, bringing her fist down hard on the counter.

Uldren moved toward her, grasping her hands with a stricken expression. "I'm so sorry, Petra, I swear I'm doing everything I can to get you home. If there was anything else I could do I would-"

"Oh, Uldren- I don't blame you!" She pressed herself into his arms, relieved when he hugged her tight, the depth of his golden eyes washing over her. "I'm sorry. I don't really blame anyone but myself, but I haven't done anything to these people. I've apologized, told them it was an accident, there was a misunderstanding, I've tried to tell them I'd never do something like that on purpose and they just won't listen!" The hopelessness of the situation was overwhelming. A few repressed sobs finally spilled out as she buried her face in his shoulder, clinging to him desperately. He held her steady, rubbing his fingers against her back with a gentle, comforting pressure.

"My offer still stands," he murmured. "Any time you need me, any place you want... Petra, we can disappear."

"I wish we could." She gazed up at him, and he held her face so close to his that their noses touched. "But you have too much to lose and I have too little to offer."

"I don't care. You're all I want, nothing else matters anymore. I'd trade everything else to have you."

She let out a little laugh. "You're crazy."

"Crazy 'bout you," he whispered, teasing her with his fingers and kissing her again.

Somehow he brought her back over to the couch, pinning her down so she couldn't get away-if she had wanted to. She had no desire to escape, returning his affectionate kisses with the same eager passion. At this pace, she was half-afraid that they would run out of love to give each other, but she knew there wasn't a limit. There wasn't an end to this. He gazed at her, nose on hers, smiling dreamily down at her.

"Petra, I love you, baby," he murmured, gently touching her face.

"I love you too," she whispered back. This was absolutely perfect, she could never have done anything to deserve it. She'd gotten so lucky by meeting him and now she knew she was going to keep him forever.