Chapter 3: A sad tale and a soft kiss.

Viktor had fed her and made sure she was well taken care of. He had worked hard on keeping her mood light and tried to ask her why she was so bruised and broken.

He had an idea that these injuries involved Joshua but until he heard it from her lips he could do nothing.

The tension that day seemed oddly high. That was because Viktor had awoken that morning knowing that he would get an answer from Hermione this morning.

He would make sure that Hermione told him exactly what was going on at her house.

Hermione was sitting in her bed poking her bandage wrapped torso lightly. She started to pull on them when Viktor made his presence known.

"Vhat do you think you arre doing Herm-own-y? He asked raising a suspicious brow.

"Uhh...nothing Viktor..." Hermione said quickly releasing the white gauze and trying to look at him innocently.

Viktor simply gave her a don't-lie-to-me look and Hermione gave in.

"Fine! I want these off Viktor I cannot stand them any longer. You ask me why I have circles around my eyes. Well I have them because I cannot sleep with these stupid peices of linen attached to me!" She let out a small growl of anger and Viktor had the brass to actually laugh at her.

"Don't you chuckle at me!" Hermione said turning red and turning her honey eyes to him, her brow knitting together in anger.

"Allright, allright Herm-own-y. Here eat, you need your strength." He replied putting a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her in a tray.

Hermione smiled and shook her head. She couldn't stay mad at Viktor when he was really the only one who had even come to help her.

"I'm sorry Viktor, it's just that I don't feel that well lately. I always feel...Tired...Yes I have been feeling so tired." She said looking at him.

Her eyes were dark and no light found it's way in to lighten her face. Viktor shuddered at the picture of what this beautiful girl he loved had been turned into. He felt so much like breaking down and begging her forgiveness for letting her walk down that aisle.

Hermione was like a dove. He thought as he looked into her sad face. a caged and starved dove...I only hope I can bring her back.

"Herm-own-y don't apologize, I only vant you to be okay. Are you okay?" He asked grabbing her hand.

She looked at him sighing. "Viktor I haven't been okay in a long time but being with now is making me realize that I made a big mistake in who I married." A tear escaped her eyes as she continued. "I also wish I could turn back time and be with you. I am soooo sorry that I distroyed us."

Viktor's eyes shone with unshed tears and he pressed her to him in a warm hug. "I haff vaited such a long time to hear you say you cared for me Herm-own-y. I wish to that we were together before but I told you I vuld vait for you and I still am. I will always wait for you Herm-own-y."

Hermione looked at him in shock. "Do you, I mean do you really mean that Viktor? After everything you still waited for me?"

"Yes I loffed you and still loff you more than anything still on zis great earth." He said with passion edging closer to her with everyword.

Hermione held her breath when there noses were touching and almost panicked when he pressed his lips to hers.

For the first time in years Hermione felt happy, felt loved. The kiss was slow and full of love and passion. She didn't want it to end and when he licked her bottom lip She froze. Her breath came shorter but she knew that Viktor was the one with her and she finally surredered herself to him.

Her mouth opened slightly as Viktor's tongue explored her teeth, mouth and tongue. There mouths batlled t'ill Viktor had slipped his arms around her middle.

Hermione felt his arms moving around her body and tried to calm herself. She felt him pushing her slowly onto her back and on the bed and that is when she forgot that it was dear, sweet Viktor there with her and not Joshua St-George.

She panicked, her breath came suddenly in rasps and her eyes teared as visions of her husband filled her distressed mind.

Viktor realised her tears against his cheek and pulled away quickly. He saw her crying softly and not moving. He pulled her head to his and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Herm-own-y please don't cry, itz me, I vont hurt you herm-own-y!" He whipered wating for her to regain calm.

Her face turned scarlet and she tried to duck her head away from him.

He grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger and looked at her with a sad air.

"Vhat did he do to you Herm-own-y?"

Hermione shook her head trying to stop her tears. She willed them to leave but her emotions were bubbling under the surface and they wished not to be pushed down any longer.

In a monent she found herself sobbing harshly in his broad shoulder weeping for all the wrong descisions she had made and the consequences that had happened do to the bad choices she had made.

Her story unfolded slowly and the tales of her beatings were told as he rubbed her back and rocked her. The broken nose, the broken bones and her broken soul were left open to Viktor raw and wounded. He spoke to her in Bulgarian telling her that he would make everything alright but his heart was heavy and tears slipped from his eyes and unto her back as she recounted her sory.

"...He had hit me before you had come Viktor and I was afraid that you coming over would make him angry. Everytime we saw you or I brought you up he would get so mad." Hermione finished looking at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Don't vorry herm-own-y I vont let him or anyvone do that to you ever again, I promise." Viktor whispered to her as he ran his hands along her arms.

"Remember that I vuld never do that to you, ever...Now eat." His voice grew lighter and Hermione hadn't the heart to tell him she wasn't hungry.

He kissed her again before he told her he had to leave for the afternoon. The kiss was soft and pleasant.

Hermione smiled and watched him disapear into the Bulgarian winter touching her lips lightly and remembering how much she had missed Viktor Krum.