Disclamier: No, I do not own them. I humbly bow towards those who do...please do consider this as a complement as it was intended. If you didn't create such convining characters, you wouldn't leave us all wanting more, now would you? Lastly...I will state again, it's less than pointless to sue me.

Authors note: Thank you all sooooo much for the reviews. A special shout out to Kimmy (iluvaqt) for all of her help and encouragement on this story. So everyone go read her totally awesome stories, and give her some kickin reviews ok. And keep your eyes peeled for our special collaboration, hitting your screens soon. Lastly, a welcome to my best real life buddies, Acire Fox, and Jacen Adar who have recently joined the family. Go check their stuff out if ya like Final Fantasy, cause they're great writers :).

Fractured Fairy Tale

Chapter 2

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The nurse preceded him holding doors and such so that he could avoid jostling Adrianna as much as possible. He could tell that she'd fallen asleep by her stillness, and the steady pace of the warm breath on his chest. He breathed deeply to catch the scent of her that lay buried under the harsh hospital disinfectant. He wondered how after all these years she still smelled of lilacs, and why that still affected him the way that it was at the moment. He questioned how she still felt so very good, so right in his embrace, even after all this time and the secrets between them. And above all he pondered how she could fall asleep so easily in his arms.

All of these things had influenced him earlier. For a few moments he could almost forget that they'd ever been apart. When she was there arguing with him like she had a thousand times before, it'd been easy to ignore what had passed between them. Then with one careless remark she'd brought those painful memories back to him. Reminded him of the one lie she had told him, that one lie that over shadowed a thousand unvarnished truths. Well, it was almost the truth, you almost always told me the truth. But you lied to me once, how can I know that you won't again?

When they reached his car the nurse opened the door for him, and waited as he placed Adrianna gently in the back seat. He maneuvered her so that she was lying in a more comfortable position, and so that he could watch her in the rear view mirror as he drove. He took advantage of her slumber to brush away a lock of her hair that had fallen over her cheek. She smiled and turned into his touch suprising him, but not near so much as the small whimper of protest she uttered when he took his hand away. He shut the door softly, and turned to face the nurse.

"Do you have any questions before you leave?"

"No, I understand how to take care of her from here."

"Good…" She turned and almost walked away, but then turned back to him. "Don, I know things have been rough between you two. But everything will work out."

He graced her with a smile then, for she had been very kind to them both. He didn't know if he was quite ready to believe her prognosis on his situation with Adrianna though. After all there were countless facts and formalities that she didn't have the foggiest idea about. It wasn't as if they were having what could be considered normal 'marriage' problems. He did his best not to recoil when the nurse reached out and touched his shoulder. People invading his personal space, no matter how kind or well intended, was a no no. But since she had been so nice, he dealt with it.

She had a soft comforting smile, and there was a warmth in her eyes that reminded him of someone. "Remember…with love and patience all things are possible. But you'll never know, if you don't at least try. You owe yourself that, you owe her that."

"I'll try…I won't promise anything, but I will try."

"Well that's all anyone can ask. Now you take care, and be careful driving home. I don't want to be seeing either of you again anytime soon."

"Yes, ma'am." He smiled and waved as she walked away, then settled himself in for the long drive that lay ahead. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he glanced back at her sleeping form. He wasn't going to lie to himself. He knew that he was not the world's most patient man, and he'd never classified the feelings he had for Adrianna as love. But a part of him did miss that closeness, missed the contentment that came with having a lover who knew you well. He missed the way that she could sense when he needed comfort or support, without a single word from him. And he missed cradling her in his arms when she was lonely, or afraid.

It had been a very long time since he'd been able to trust anyone in his life. It would be a gamble, yes. But when he thought about it the stakes were actually very low. He was the only person of consequence that knew she was alive, no one was looking for her. And since no one was looking for her, no one would find her. What could it hurt? What the hell, I may as well try. Worst come to worst, she tries to leave and I kill her. That thought gave him pause. Could I really kill her? He looked at his hands, they were far from clean. He'd taken life many times before, but when it came down to it could he take hers?

A sinister voice whispered in his head that if she tried to run from him again, he wouldn't have a choice. There were too many things that he couldn't leave to chance. He couldn't let her be captured by a foreign program, he couldn't let her be captured by Manticore. Either case would bring questions he couldn't answer, and pain for them both. And God forbid that Renfro figure out that he'd been the one who'd helped her escape her death sentence. She'd use her against him in a heart beat.

Well that leaves me with two options. She can stay with me, and I can protect her. Or she can decide she wants to run from me again, and I kill her. But if she stays, well that gives me a whole new realm of possibilities doesn't it? He looked back at her, and lost himself for a moment in the thought that things could be as they once were. Then for the first time in a long while, a true smile graced his features. Who knows? Stranger things have happened.

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So what do you think? Please do review, or e-mail. Let me know what you think? The more feedback...the faster the updates come. What can I say, my muse is a glory hound ;). And all comments are greatly appreciated! Even flames, which will be used to keep my feet warm as I sit typing away at my computer :).