Degana opened her eyes and immediately she felt an onslaught of emotions come over her: shyness, confusion, anger, and then fear. She stared at the ceiling until the emotions passed and she was left shaking slightly from the last thing she remembered. The face of Vladislaus had been so livid… she feared she would never forget that expression.

Her memories were slowly returning to her. Hopefully it wouldn't be long before she remembered everything. Degana sighed, Vladislaus' expression still imprinted in her mind as she got out of bed. She ran a brush through her silky hair out rubbed her face to banish the sleepiness from her expression. Only after that did she go to the kitchen.

"Good morning, dear. I was just going to the market, would you like to come?" Gretchen asked as she secured her gray cloak around her shoulders and picked up her woven basket. Degana smiled but shook her head.

"No thank you," she said. "I think I might take a walk this morning." Gretchen nodded and smiled, but the smile failed to reach her eyes which were worried and held concern for Degana.

"All right. I'll be back soon."

When Gretchen left, Degana took her own cloak from the peg, and glancing around to see whether anyone could see her, she waited until Gretchen disappeared from sight before Degana hurried to the Valerious manor. She knocked on the door and waited for a few moments until the door swung open and Carl stood there.

"Hello, Carl. Is Gabriel here?" she asked. Carl nodded and let her inside.

"Come with me. He's been up half the night researching documents with me so I already apologize for anything he says," Carl said. Degana smiled and followed the friar up the winding stairs to the tower where they found Gabriel lounging, eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest, in front of the fire. Carl smiled once at Degana and then left them alone.

Degana walked silently over to Gabriel, and crouching next to him, she touched him lightly on the hand.

"Gabriel," she called softly, rousing him from his light sleep. He opened his eyes and when he saw her he smiled faintly.

"I never thought I'd see the day when I would wake up and find an angel before me," he whispered. Degana blushed at what he said, but she immediately became stern.

"Don't think me coming over here is an apology. I've only to come to tell you that some of my memories have returned that concern you," Degana said sitting on a chair across from Gabriel's. Gabriel listened intently as Degana recounted her memory with him, from when Vladislaus met her at the bottom of the stairs to when her and Gabriel kissed. When she finished Gabriel was quiet.

"So that's what happened…" he murmured. Degana nodded briskly and rose.

"Well, that's it, so I'm leaving," she said and started for the door but Gabriel stopped her.

"Degana, wait. Is there anything I can do to mend our problem? I hate how you look at me," he said sadly. Degana looked at him and she felt her heart melt a small bit and she tried to hold her cold composure.

"Gabriel… it's just… what happened all those years ago is still with me… and…" Degana said, trying to get her feelings across but failing. Gabriel approached her and took her hands in his.

"Degana, listen to me. Vladislaus is not the same person as he was those years ago. I tried to save you from him because I loved you," Gabriel said holding Degana's hands tightly. Degana tried not to look at him, but she soon found herself doing just that. "Did you know that I mourned for you months after your death. I visited your grave everyday for a month and put fresh flowers there. Your favorites too: black roses." A single tear slid down Degana's cheek and she squeezed her eyelids shut, letting more tears escape.

Gabriel wiped her tears away and then held his hand to her cheek. Degana nodded.

"I watched you from heaven and I smiled," Degana whispered as her eyes, now vibrantly blue with tears, searched Gabriel's soft brown ones.

"I'm sorry," Gabriel whispered.

"For what?"

"I don't know. For anything that I might have done that we'll remember soon enough," Gabriel said. Degana smiled.

"Apology accepted."