Chapter Four ~ Stay

(A/N) My favorite chapter so far! I hope you will enjoy it!

"You didn't tell me you were back in town," Jeritza stated in his deep undulating voice as he took a few steps closer to her. His black leather outfit nearly made him invisible in the shadows and his footsteps were silent.

"My movements are not of your concern," Byleth stated plainly as she took a step back. However she felt the wall press warningly upon her back.

A smirk played upon his slim handsome face as he stopped in front of her.

In response her face reverted to its old mask-like state. "Did we not agree to move on? To go our separate ways." Her face may have been stoic, but her eyes momentarily shimmered with memories. Then with a blink...seafoam green eyes glinted with steadfast resolution.

"I changed my mind," Jeritza murmured in his drawled out voice as he leaned in.

"But I haven't," Byleth replied solemnly. It was a testament to her resolve for her heart just continued to leisurely beat within her chest. Once upon a time, such attention and action from Jeritza had made her heart flutter with excitement and anticipation. But that was no longer.

Byleth had moved on...and she was silently proud of herself.

"Is there anything I can do to change it?" Placing his hands above her head against the wall.

"No," Byleth whispered as her eyes widened at the creeping sensation of feeling trapped. The young woman was about to duck from under his arms when a deep...almost feral voice made her freeze.

It had been quite some time now, Dimitri noted as he swirled his cup of punch. The young man had been feeling more at ease now that the liquid had chilled his overheated innards. However a new anxiety began to creep into his mind.

He didn't want to think about anything untoward for Byleth's long period of bathroom usage. For all anyone knew she could be having a serious gastrointestinal upset. But that was all the more reason to go check on her. Maybe he could retrieve some Pepto Bismol for her?

...Or maybe she got lost?

Visitors had a tendency to get lost in the great estate's floor plan. In fact the first time Alois visited, he ended up getting lost in the house for a day. They found him hiding in the broom closet as it was too scary to search his way about in the middle of the night. At least it resolved the midnight sobbing and moans. Dimitri had been sure the place was suddenly haunted…

Grabbing a fresh chilled glass cup of punch for Byleth, Dimitri followed her trail to the restroom, until he was met with a sight that made his insides boil with rage. Jeritza was leaning over Byleth, who looked like wide eyed doe. Jeritza, he had the audacity to show his face around here, or at least part of his face. Dimitri was certain the man had some sort of mask festish.

The last time he saw Jeritza...was the first time he saw Byleth's heart break.

She didn't break down nor shed a tear...but any amount of emotional growth Dimitri had watched her develop was erased in the blink of an eye. The young man feared he would never see her smile again. Her smile which had mesmerized him so. Even when the smile wasn't meant for him, to see her be so happy...then have the life seemingly snuffed out of her. Dimitri had done everything he could to help put the pieces of her heart back together.

Maybe that is why it also stung...quite painfully... to see how completely Byleth fell under the Jeritza's spell again. As if the pain from nearly six years ago was erased from her mind...as well as his own existence.

Well Jeritza was not going to have it his way again.

"Jeritza," Dimitri growled as he marched forward, his piercing blue eye focused on the other male.

"Ah," Jeritza murmured with a curl of his lips. "The lovelorn student from the Academy."

"Jeritza," The young man greatly coldly as he came to a stop before them. "You may be a guest and Mercedes's brother, but lay a finger on Byleth and you will find it missing." Dimitri warned in a low dangerous voice.

Jeritza at first smirked at the young man's threat. Then the blonde caused the glass cup in his hand to shatter with ease, all the while holding a steady unblinking gaze at Jeritza, making the latter's adam's apple quiver slightly as glass shards fell onto the wooden floorboards. The masked young man took a step away from Byleth.

Dimitri then strode in between Byleth and Jeritza as he commanded in a crisp tone, "Please have that mess cleaned before I return." Dimitri then scooped Byleth to his side with his cloak and ushered her past Jeritza, down the hallway, and through a side door that led into the fresh crisp cool air of the great gardens.

Jeritza was left feeling flabbergasted at how the table had been turned on him, by a former easily flustered student at that.

Dimitri continued to hold Byleth close as they followed an old cobblestone path into the well manicured garden and starry night sky.

Byleth was confused, dazed, warm, and cold; all these sensations and thoughts bombarded her until she was plopped down onto a creaky wooden bench in front of a soft flowing water fountain. Dimitri didn't speak or look at her for answers. He had swooped in to rescue her and now gave her time to collect herself. Byleth had nearly forgotten what it was like to have him by her side, looking out for her.

No...she had never forgotten. Byleth had thought she could while in Almyra, but her heart never allowed it.

They silently sat before the waterfall with the starry night above then, stars twinkling lazily in the dark sky. Until finally Dimitri could no longer handle the silence. "Byleth," he turned to her as she spoke his name. Upon seeing her wide innocent sea foam green eyes, the words...thoughts...his brain just came to a screeching halt. The young man pushed himself off the bench and began to pace back and forth, like a caged lion, pausing to glance back at her. He would then open and close his mouth as he tried to articulate his thoughts.

"I don't love him, Dimitri," Byleth stated into the cool crisp air.

Dimitri nearly stumbled over his heavy boots before he caught himself. He looked at her, before striding back to the bench with his long legs. The young man came to a halt before her, his eye searching hers for any hint to the contrary. He wanted to be absolutely sure or his heart wouldn't take it. "Byleth," he whispered as his armored finger tipped her chin upwards, her gaze now upwards as her supple lips slightly parted.

'Does that mean ...I have a chance?' But instead of words, the young man took action. Dimitri leaned down searching for her lips when a sudden "SPIRT SPIRT" came from behind, underneath the lush grass.

Oh no...

Then the sprinklers popped up from the earth and began to douse the thirsty ground with streams of chilled water. "Quickly, back under my cape!" Dimitri yelped as he lead the way back to the house. Byleth, blind but dry, trusted him completely.

'Oh goddess why!' Dimitri bemoaned as jets of water smacked him in the face. 'I was so close! Am I cursed? I must be cursed!' Dimitri's fur cloak and cape were drenched and weighed him down as they entered back through the side door. With blonde hair plastered to his face and wet fur, Dimitri felt more like a wet dog and he was tempted to shake like one, though all he really did was unclapse his fur cloak and blue cape. They made a wet splat sound once they fell upon the floor.

Byleth had scurried over to the bathroom, grabbing a fresh tower which she handed Dimitri. As he took it, it dawned on the young woman by how tall Dimitri had grown. To think she used to pat his head and now she could barely reach it even if she was on her tiptoes. Byleth recalled how Dimitri would stride happily beside her, chatting about everything and anything as they made their way through the university. For too many others, her lack of response and expression would cause frustration and disinterest. Yet Dimitri always sought her out, eager to share something new with her. He had always been thoughtful, even if it was just to keep her dry.

Dimitri was thankful for the plush towel Byleth retrieved as he vigorously rubbed his wet face and hair. Finally he gave a hearty sigh of relief and glanced down at Byleth. He nearly dropped the towel. "You're smiling again!" The young man exclaimed as a true smile graced her lips.

Byleth blinked in surprise before her smile widened as she happily replied, "So I am."

"I thought I would never see you smile again," Dimitri remarked as his expression softened. He wasn't curse, he was blessed and was going to seize this moment once and for all! His heart leapt with exhilaration as Dimitri swooped down, but the eyepatch hindered his depth perception...causing him to accidentally headbutt Byleth in the forehead.

"Oh goddess, Byleth, I apologize!" Dimitri was absolutely mortified as they both gingerly rubbed their foreheads. Yep, cursed...and now utterly flustered with his consistently inept romantic attempts. That was until two warm hands caught either side of his face and gently pulled him down towards her.

Byleth chuckled softly as she removed the eyepatch. "Here," she remarked gently as blue eyes peered down at her in surprise. "Let me," Byleth whispered as she called upon her own courage to rise onto her tiptoes and gently press her soft lips against his. The chaste and delicate act awakened the sleeping lion inside. Byleth felt strong arms roam across her back before enveloping her in a tight embrace that swept her right off her feet. Spiced cinnamon met sweet mint as Dimitri hungrily deepened their kiss, making them both moan longingly and lovingly.

"Stay," Dimitri breathed as he left Byleth breathless. "Please…"

(A/N) I love Jeritza, I really do so I feel bad making him the villain here but he does it so well. He gets redeemed in my other story so the universe will be in balance.