It had all been a misunderstanding, nobody had asked for her side of things. So once again Sarah Alder was carrying the blame for something that nobody had bothered to ask for her side of things. They saw the end result and reacted without seeking out all the evidence.

Sarah Alder was so tired of fighting for others and not for herself. The world was always take, take, take. And she always got the short end of the stick. She could handle the others' anger with her but she couldn't handle Tally's. Tally had been right all along, there had been a connection between them. And why now was she acting like it never existed?

She came back from the peaceful calm of the mycelium, she had deserved the right to rest after all she'd done. All she had suffered. But she had to make a choice, stay or go back and help her fellow witches once more.

So she dragged herself from the comfort and warmth of her happy ending and felt the weight of the world on her shoulders once more.

She had rescued Tally and her unit from the Camarilla, she didn't need to be there but she was. She had even saved Nicte despite everything.

There was Sarah Alder saving everyone and yet there were never any thanks. Why did she even bother to come back?

Tally had yelled at her for forgetting about Khalida when she had set off her storm. Although Khalida was ancient and powerful and could handle herself, couldn't she? Alder had it all under control and was well aware of what she was doing. She didn't need to be scolded by the likes of her.

All of that strength, all of those walls were gone like it had never existed. And all the pain and suffering she had endured weighed on her like never before.

As if on autopilot she took herself out the backdoor and walked off into the woods, she just walked until she collapsed under a tree. She felt so numb she didn't even feel the bite of the cold.

Tally had found her the next morning, shivering and exhausted. Apologizing for yelling at her without knowing the full story. Khalida had told them that she and Alder had exchanged words, she would be fine, that Alder needed to take the enemy out. Once again Tally had acted without knowing the truth, she hadn't changed one bit.

Alder hadn't spoken a word as Tally wrapped a hand around her and helped her walk back to the cabin. When Tally had helped to undress her to put her in a hot bath she noticed bloody scratches on the inside of her arm. Eyeing the blood beneath her fingernails.

"What did you do?" Tally stared at her with tears in her eyes.

But Alder didn't respond, she just let herself be sat in the bath while Tally washed her wounds and the blood from her nails.

"Sometimes when you can't get the pain out, hurting yourself is one of the only ways to release it. I should have stayed there. I shouldn't have come back. For all my suffering I am still treated like the bad guy. None of you deserve me," Alder leaned back against the tub as she slipped her arm from Tally's grasp, "I gave up the summerland for you, you know? Even then I could feel you."

Tally tried to fight back the tears, she had no right, "I'm sorry, all I do is hurt you."

"Yes, you do and I forgive you every time."

Tally choked out a sob, "Why?"

Alder gave her a blank expression, "I wonder why myself."

When the water grew cold Alder stood and Tally tried to avert her gaze with a blush on her cheeks, she wrapped her in a towel and took her to bed. Tally knelt at her feet and took her arm in her hands and kissed the marks until they were fully healed. Alder slipping her arm from her grasp and taking her chin in her hand she stared at her with dark eyes.

Leaning down she placed a kiss to her lips leaving Tally breathless, Alder ran her thumb over the girls bottom lip and pondered for a minute.

"Would you like to make it up to me?"

Tally nodded eagerly as her eyes grew dark. Alder stood and let the towel drop to the floor and then sat back on the edge of the bed, spreading her legs for her, a smirk on her face, "Then make it up to me."

Tally swallowed the lump in her throat as her gaze scanned up the smooth legs opened to her, running a hand up slowly from her ankle to the witchmark on her inner thigh. Tally had wondered where it was. She kissed it with reverence before licking her lips and looking up to meet those blue eyes that looked down on her like she was so small at that very moment.

Alder placed her hand on top of that red hair she loved so much and guided her head to the place she wanted it most. And even though Tally Craven had never eaten out a woman she was a fast learner and the fingers tightening her hair were encouragement enough to continue whatever she was doing with her tongue.

And when Alder came, a grunt falling from her mouth, Tally lapped it up like she was drinking from the holy grail. Chin wet and pupils blown she looked up at her looking for acceptance, had she done a good job? Was she forgiven?

Alder smirked down at her, "That's a start," guiding her to her feet Alder leaned back on her elbows, "Strip. Then come here and show me how sorry you are until I accept your apology."

Tally nodded and couldn't undress fast enough. Apologizing throughout the whole night and into the morning. Alder eventually forgave her after a few spankings and a stern talk about how actions have consequences.

Tally couldn't sit without wincing for days.