He was standing in the shattered remains of the City Hall subway station, staring at Iliana's flaming back while all those wizards pointed their wands at him - Aurors, he remembered that one - and he was bracing for the inevitable, when they would tear him apart. Then there was a bang, a flash of light, and the smell of smoke. One hand clamped around his wrist and another landed on his cheek, drawing his gaze to lock onto brilliant blue. He was being squeezed through a hose that was too small for him, he was going to suffocate, but maybe that was okay, because Iliana was here with him in the end. It wasn't how he'd thought the Aurors would kill him, but the how didn't really matter as long as she was okay.

With a thump, his feet connected with the worn boards of his bedroom and he sagged against Iliana, panting and looking around wildly. Her arms were tight around his waist, half-supporting his limp form as he struggled to understand what had just happened.

"Credence... Credence, you need to stand on your own, I can't hold you," Iliana's voice said in his ear, and Credence forced his legs to cooperate, his knees to lock and support him. She drew back, looking up at him. They were both streaked in soot and she was bleeding from dozens of grazes across her arms, legs, and face. Graves, he'd done that, he'd hit her with some sort of spell and made her slide through the gravel, and Credence felt the thin thread of control he had over himself start to slip as his body wanted to dissolve, give over to the power once more and go find Graves and suck the life from him for daring to hurt her...

"Credence!"

Her hands came up, framing his face, and Iliana drew him down so that his forehead pressed against hers. He could feel her breath against his mouth and he wanted to kiss her again, to just cling to her and fall into something soft and kind, but he didn't know... she was still here, she had come back...

"I need you to stay together for me, okay?" Iliana urged him gently, thumb sliding across his cheekbone in soothing sweeps. "I know it's difficult, but I think I managed to convince the Aurors that they got us both in that attack. If they think we're dead, then we have some time to maneuver."

"Time to..." He didn't know what she meant, he had no idea what she was talking about. Only a moment ago he had resigned himself to his fate and now she was talking like he had a future. More specifically, like they had a future. She was using wonderful words like 'we' and 'us,' like she intended in this suddenly available future that they would be together, at least for a little while.

"New York City isn't safe," Iliana explained, stepping back and breaking contact. "The Aurors, they saw you, if you're spotted roaming around Manhattan they'll be after you again. We need to get some things together and then get out of here."

"But you..." Credence stared at her helplessly. "You saw it, that... that thing that's... that's inside me," he groaned. "You know what I am, I can't... I'm not safe, I don't deserve..."

Iliana reached out, taking his hand and squeezing as she whispered intensely, "That is not you, Credence. I told you down in the subway. You are the sweetest," she leaned up, placing a kiss on his left cheek, and Credence let out a soft whine as his eyes fluttered closed. She smelled like smoke and grease from the tracks, "Kindest man." This time, her lips landed on his right cheek. Her hand came up under his chin, her thumb brushing his lower lip. "And I adore you," she breathed before placing a light kiss there as well. It lasted only a second, not nearly as long as he wanted, but when she pulled back she murmured a request against his tingling lips, "Run away with me, Credence?"

He opened his eyes. She was right there, offering him the life he'd spent months dreaming about. Or, not exactly that life, but close enough, he wasn't one to be greedy or picky, not when good things typically avoided him like the plague. The idea that she was standing front of him, that she'd seen the darkness that lingered inside of him and had still put herself between him and a dozen wands, had saved his life, made him feel warm and wanted and horribly guilty because she shouldn't have had to do that, she shouldn't have bothered, not for a monster like him.

"Unless," Iliana stepped back, her heart plummeting down to her knees as she realized she may have badly miscalculated. Perhaps... perhaps she had crossed some kind of line she couldn't come back from when she pulled away. Maybe she'd destroyed the faith Credence had in her. It wouldn't be impossible, not when his trust had been so badly broken in the past, it had to be a fragile thing by this point. Three days, she'd thought that would be enough to sort herself out and stand before Credence confident in what she wanted but she hadn't thought how it might look to him...

She wrung her hands nervously, averting her eyes toward the grimy window. "I-I mean... I've just publically defied the Aurors - and very well, I may say - but there's... that's not really a forgivable offense, not for something like me. It's safer if I leave New York too and I... I don't know, I was being presumptuous, I suppose, I just thought that... I could go alone, that's fine, I just thought you might want..." She fought the tears starting to build in her eyes. She was usually so clever, how had she been so blind? "I'll just... go then..."

Iliana barely managed a single step towards the window before Credence was on her, dragging her into his chest and clutching her like she was a life raft. She could feel his breath, quick and panicked, against her ear as he held her with more strength than he ever had before. Iliana melted against him as he murmured against her hair, "No. Please don't leave me, not again. I can't lose you again, I can't..."

The smile that spread across her face was irrepressible, she was glad her face was buried in Credence's chest so he couldn't see how foolish she must look. She pinched her mouth into a more reasonable expression and drew back just enough to look up at him, twining her arms around his waist.

"Where do you want to go?" she asked softly. "We could go west, I have friends that way. Or Europe, that might be nice, just find some cozy little magical community and settle in for a while. We could go anywhere, Credence, South America, Asia." Her eyes lit with the possibilities spread before them. "Where do you want to go?"

Credence had no idea. He had heard Ma ranting about some places, calling them godless and savage, but Ma was wrong about a lot. Where did he want to go? He hadn't ever really dared dream of living someplace other than the dingy church on Pike Street, but if he thought about it... The penthouse apartment he dreamed up turned into a cozy little cottage. Their clothes were nice, but not terribly expensive. But when he came through the door Iliana was still waiting to greet him with a smile and a kiss and they still sat together in front of a fire.

"Can we... go to Europe?" Credence asked uncertainly. "Maybe... maybe England, someplace I can speak the language..."

"We don't have to stay in one place," Iliana pointed out. "It's easy to travel between countries in Europe, especially with magic. Can you imagine, we could decide to go to Paris for a week? I could show you where I was born," she said wistfully, recalling the stories Absalom told her about a place she couldn't remember actually seeing. "Yes, I like that idea. We'll go to the docks, and we'll get on the first ship to anywhere in Europe. Do you have a suitcase?" Iliana asked, and Credence gave her a blank look. She flushed. "Ah, yes."

Iliana pulled away from him, peering around his room. The apple crate that served as a desk chair was a decent option and she waved her wand in a little spiral. The crate shuddered and then transformed into a suitcase with a creamy leather exterior and brass fixtures. There was even a tiny C.B. initialed below the handle. Following the urging of her wand, the suitcase flipped open and settled on his bed. His wardrobe jumped open, the handful of garments he had dancing out, folding themselves into neat squares before Credence's eyes and fitting themselves snugly into the suitcase.

"Is there anything else you want to bring?" Iliana asked him curiously, and Credence felt a flush of shame. All he had to his name was a transfigured apple crate full of third-and fourth-hand clothes. Even if they did make it to Europe, how were they to live? He had never worked a proper job, he'd only served Ma, he didn't know how to provide for her. Iliana was used to a certain kind of life and he didn't know if he could give it to her, he was terrified he would let her down.

Shyly, Credence reached out and there was a creaking as a board under his bed shifted. He whispered one of the few spells he'd learned and a small pile of books slid from under his bed to stack themselves in his hands. They were all battered, the pages warped with water damage, and a few of the corners had been nibbled by mice, but they were his, the singular thing he'd ever managed to keep secret from Ma.

"I don't have much," Credence mumbled, staring down at his sad pile of books. "Even my clothes aren't... I mean... I- I know I don't look like the kind of person who can afford t-to... just sail off..."

Iliana smiled, placing her hand on top of his pile of books. They shivered and pulled themselves free, fitting neatly into the last available space in his suitcase. It snapped shut and slid onto the floor, sitting neatly by Credence's side. "It doesn't matter what you have. Magic," she reminded him, twirling her fingers through the air and letting off a rainbow of sparks. "I can turn dish rags into couture, it's just easier if I have something to start with."

They were both looking more than a little bedraggled - though Iliana was definitely in worse shape, Credence's clothes had started off shabbier than hers. To prove her point, Iliana raised her wand and began to trail it over his form, murmuring spells. The sleeves and hems of his pants lengthened so that they finally fit him properly and Credence felt the sagging tops of his socks rise into place and tighten. The pressure from too-small shoes eased as they resized, the leather gleaming like new, the laces fresh. His coat adjusted its fit to match the current style, his shirt returning to the fresh, crisp white it had probably been originally. Patches faded smoothly into newer, nicer fabrics all over. Credence wished he had a mirror so he could see what he looked like dressed as if he was somebody.

A memory came to him from near the beginning. He nodded to his hat, hanging on a hook near the door. The battered, wide-brimmed black thing looked quite plain compared to the upgrade Iliana had given him. "C-Could you... make it like those straw hats? Like the men on Wall Street have?" he asked, and Iliana hesitated.

She bit her lip. If that was what he wanted then certainly, but, "I like your hat," she admitted shyly, flushing. "I think it suits you."

Credence didn't understand that, he'd always thought it made him look like he was much younger than he was, but if Iliana liked it... "I'll keep it, then."

Iliana was quick to shake her head. "No, if you'd prefer something different-"

Credence lifted his hand and said the spell. The hat floated towards him, only dipping towards the ground once. He set it on his head and reached down to pick up his suitcase. Something about it, standing before her with his whole life packed and ready, made a surge of something resembling optimism rush through him.

"I'd prefer it if you liked to look at me," he said.

"Well..." Iliana flushed darker. "I suppose we should go to my place then, I need to pack as well. We'll have to Apparate again," she said apologetically, and Credence knew the word and what it meant, but this had been his first time experiencing it. It wasn't pleasant, that was for sure, but he trusted Iliana implicitly, reaching out and taking her hand. Again came that feeling of being squeezed through a too-small tube, and once his lungs felt like they were about to explode they landed in Iliana's living room.

"Oh!" Iliana cried out as Gus came charging from under the couch, jumping up and placing his front legs on hers. "Oh, Gus, I'm going to miss you," she said, dropping to her knees, heedless of the gashes there, and wrapping the squirming axhandle hound in a tight hug. Gus whined in protest, almost like he understood what she was saying, licking frantically at her cheeks and nose. "No, I have to go, sweetie," she told the dog gently, releasing him. Gun whimpered, giving her a hurt look before jumping onto the couch and climbing up onto the throw pillow, turning his back to her resolutely. Iliana winced as she got to her feet, both from the stinging of her knees and the snub from her pet.

She drew her wand and waved it. A folded bit of card appeared on the coffee table where Newt's field journal was resting. That would do, it would give Elvira enough information that she wouldn't worry, and Iliana would send along something more detailed when they got settled somewhere.

"Come on," she said quietly, taking Credence's hand and pulling him further into her home.

Credence had been here before but he'd never seen anything beyond the front living room and kitchen area. Now she pulled him down the hallway. They passed a door that led into a bathroom with a nice, claw-footed bathtub and another open door that housed an office, the walls lined with books and a cluster of picture frames sitting on one corner of the desk. Beyond that were two more doors, but they were closed. One had a wrought iron bar twisted into a cursive E, the other into a letter I.

He hadn't been sure what to expect from Iliana's room, but somehow he both was and wasn't surprised. The room was done in light colors, faded blues and greens accenting creams. The furniture looked worn but well-made. The wardrobe stood open, revealing several dresses of varying levels of formality. Credence tried to imagine her in the ones he could see, the feathered ruffs and sequined overlays clearly for her appearances on stage. There was a vanity scattered with jewelry and perfume bottles. Her bed drew his eyes. For some reason he'd been expecting something large and covered in pillows, perhaps with hangings around it. The reality was a twin bed with a simple wooden frame, a quilt thrown over it, and a pair of pillows resting at the top. It was nearly austere, but space had to be conserved for one very important reason.

Books.

One wall held a large window that looked out over the city, a bench for sitting a reading below it. The other walls, where there was no furniture, were entirely covered in bookcases of various styles and woods, obviously all either purchased or conjured hastily as she needed more room, and no wonder. There were books stacked two deep on the shelves and more small piles scattered around on random surfaces. There was a roll-top desk covered in a spray of parchment and several open books showing whatever Iliana was currently researching.

Iliana saw him looking around, saw how his eyes lingered on the copious amounts of books, and bit her lip. "I know, I'm a bit ridiculous, but I love reading and learning about magic and I..." She shifted her weight from one foot to the next. "I don't normally have people in here so it's messy..."

Credence just stared at her, mouth hanging open slightly. She had mentioned when she offered to teach him that she was clever when it came to spellwork and he had never questioned that. But he was now realizing that there was more to it that Iliana simply being smart. She was a scholar, she had devoted herself wholly to the study of magic with the same kind of fervor Ma had for her witch hunt. He would see that many of the books had tabs in them, bits of parchment or fabric that marked places she often referenced. He would not have been shocked to hear she had read every volume in this place. He was impressed.

"You have a few more than I do," Credence said softly, offering her a faint smile, and Iliana sagged in relief. More than once a fellow had been put off by her bookishness, she'd even used that reaction to her advantage on occasion before to drive of a suitor. While Credence had never complained when she was patiently explaining magical theories, he hadn't quite been let in on just how obsessive she could be about her studies. He was just looking at her expectantly though, that tiny smile that was the equivalent of a giddy beam for him. It made her heart warm and she felt compelled to avert her eyes before she did something foolish like start kissing him - they really did need to get moving.

But as she did, she caught sight of herself in the stand mirror occupying one corner ad gave a dismayed cry. "Oh, why didn't you tell me I looked wretched?" she winced, flushing as she realized she'd done Credence up like some high society type and she was standing here streaked in grease with blood on her chin.

"You look beautiful."

From anyone else, it would have sounded like a line, but Iliana knew that Credence did not have the self-assuredness to try and lie to make her smile. It was something she wanted to work on, to help him develop confidence in himself, but that would come later. For now she got to enjoy the innocence, the utterly guileless way he had about him that made her blush.

"Well, I suppose I should get started," Iliana murmured, turning and raising her wand and her hand in concert. She flicked both multiple times, chanting spells under her breath, and all around her the room set to work. She turned back to the mirror, satisfied in her spells, and began to set about fixing herself up.

Credence watched in awe as the room around him sprang to life. From underneath her bed slid two suitcases not dissimilar to the one she'd made for him. Her wardrobe exploded outward, clothes and shoes flying across the room and folding themselves as they went, followed by the jewelry and toiletries from the vanity. Credence ducked as a silky robe sailed over his head from where it hung on the back of the door. The quilt, obviously something with sentimental value, peeled itself off her bed and joined her clothes. It was way too much to have possibly fit into the suitcase, and that was only the first.

The books around him came flying off the shelves, stacking into neat piles and lowering into the second suitcase. There were probably a couple hundred of them in the room and yet they all managed to fit themselves into the suitcase. The desk closed itself with a soft thump, the key turning in the lock, and began to shrink itself down before floating over and joining the books in the second suitcase, all of Iliana's notes safely tucked away inside.

Before the mirror, Iliana trailed her wand all over her body. The cuts on her limbs and face cleaned themselves out and began to heal before his eyes. Her shredded stockings repaired themselves, the line down the back straightening. The scuffs on her shoes smoothed out. The stains on her dress vanished, tears here and there coming together smoothly. Her hair pinned itself up in a smooth updo. The smeared mascara around her eyes was wiped away and replaced with a fresh coating.

Both suitcases shut and locked themselves as Iliana turned away from the mirror, looking as put-together as she always did. A coat slipped past Credence and landed in her outstretched hand and she shrugged it on. Credence opened his mouth to ask if she could even lift those suitcases as she approached the bed. Magic, he had to remind himself, as she picked them both up with nary a grunt. She turned to him, smiling gently, and asked, "To the docks?"

Credence was feeling guilty once more. She had said that New York wasn't safe for her anymore because she stood up to the Aurors, but she'd done that on his behalf. He was the reason she was now having to leave her home. She actually had a good one, with an older sister who loved and cared about her and wanted the best for her, a job that she enjoyed doing something she loved, and a home that was warm and welcoming. It was freedom for him to be able to put the church behind him, but for Iliana, she actually had something to leave behind.

"Y-You can... take a moment," he offered, "if you want."

Iliana knew what he was trying to do and she loved him for it. She smiled at him sadly and admitted, "If I start saying goodbye, then I'll start crying, and neither of us want that. I just fixed my face up."

Credence understood. It was a bit awkward with them both holding suitcases and he insisted on taking one of hers, but they managed to link arms and once more Iliana pulled him into that horrible crushing place. He was ready this time, knew what to expect, and it wasn't as bad this time when they landed under an awning off to the side of the docks. It certainly wasn't his favorite way to travel, but considering the convenience of it, the pressure of Apparation seemed a relatively small price to pay.

"We'll need some kind of story," Iliana commented nervously. That was something that had occurred to her while she'd been staring into her mirror and, more specifically, at Credence's reflection behind her. They were both relatively young for intercontinental travel, so they had to present the image that they had money to spare. But more than that, they needed a reason to be together. A young lady didn't travel with a young man unless he was family or her husband, not without raising a few eyebrows. They didn't look a thing alike so he couldn't pass for her brother, and it would have felt weird pretending to be related.

"What do you mean?" Credence asked her. "A... A story about why we're going to Europe?"

"Yes. Tales of running from the magical police won't cut it if we're pressed," she said ruefully, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Would you... mind if we were newlyweds?"

Credence stared at her. He remembered when Modesty first came to the church on Pike Street when she was younger. When Ma let him take her to the park, she would often insist on playing house. She would be the Ma and he would be the Pa, and their house would be the little space under the slide. Credence would pretend to complain about his day at work and Modesty would listen very sympathetically as they ate their pretend dinner.

Back then, Credence had, at times, wondered what it would be like to be a husband, if he would ever manage to find a woman who loved him - the idea had seemed so impossible. It had been nice to play pretend with Modesty even if he was far too old for imagination games. He had thought it was the closest he would ever come to such a thing, and so he had let himself enjoy all the moments he thought he would never have. This was just like that - it was not real, it was only for show, but the very fact that their relationship - whatever it was - involved some kind of romantic element made it all seem so much more... real. As if this were just a dress rehearsal for some next step.

"We could perhaps be cousins, if you'd prefer," Iliana added swiftly when she saw him hesitate. "It would be a stretch but I think perhaps we could pull it off..."

"No, I just..." Credence swallowed thickly. He managed to work up a small, uncertain smile. "We don't have rings."

Iliana smiled and waved a hand dismissively. "Details." She squinted at the ground and spotted what she was after, a couple of loose chips of concrete. It was still not quite dawn. A few people were milling about, but they were mostly dockworkers and crew for the ships at port. No one was paying them much attention, and so she summoned the debris into her palm. A whispered spell, a tap with her wand, and the rocks became simple gold bands, one thicker than the other. Iliana made to put the thinner on her left hand.

Credence's hand closed over hers. She looked up at him questioningly. "Can I do it?" he asked shyly, and Iliana felt her jaw loosen just a little. Her heart rate picked up a bit as she passed her ring to Credence. He lifted her hand and gently, almost reverently, slid the band onto her ring finger. It wasn't a real marriage, not even close, and Iliana wasn't quite sure she was ready for a commitment like that - marriage was a scary word. But there was definitely something in the way Credence stared at the ring on her hand like he'd never seen anything more fascinating, and she suddenly understood why he'd wanted to do it.

"Now you," she said shyly, and reached out. Credence surrendered his hand, and her heart broke just a little at the sight of all the old, poorly-healed scars across his fingers and the backs of his hands. So much pain had been etched into his hands and she wished she could take some measure of it away. Iliana slid the ring onto his finger and smiled. There was something oddly gratifying about seeing the glint of the band on his hand and the strange sort of pride it gave her, an almost possessive feeling.

She sucked in a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. There would be time for that later. "Come on," she urged, jerking her head in the direction of the ticket window. She offered Credence a cheeky wink. "You're about to find out I'm very good at being a criminal."

They approached the window, where a bored man in a blue uniform trimmed in gold was waiting.

"Excuse me, sir," Iliana greeted him. "What is the earliest ship leaving for Europe?"

The man arched an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that question. Most people would book trips weeks or months in advance, not simply appear on the day they wanted to leave with bags packed. "And where in Europe would you like to go?" he asked pointedly, clearly already frustrated with her. Credence watched as Iliana offered the man a brilliant smile complete with sparkling eyes. It was not an expression he'd ever seen on her face before, but it certainly did the job as she chirped,

"Oh, anywhere!" She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Credence's, pulling herself tight against his side and staring up at him, starry-eyed. "We didn't think we'd be able to have a honeymoon, not with dear Credence's work, but Daddy was an absolute dream! His wedding gift was time off for my wonderful new husband and he said he'd pay for us to go wherever we wanted! Credence wanted to wait and plan a trip but I said no! After all, Daddy isn't usually so generous and there's no telling when he'll let my poor dear have the time again." She pouted, bottom lip thrust out almost comically. "Besides, what's life without a little spontaneity right?" she demanded of the man behind the window.

Credence stared down at her blankly, not quite sure what to make of this version of Iliana that actually seemed... painfully air-headed. The man behind the window clearly thought so too, because he was shooting Credence a pitying look over Iliana's head.

"There's a White Star liner leaving for London at eight o'clock, but the first class rooms are all booked. That is, I'm assuming you wanted first class?" the man asked, shooting Iliana a knowing look.

"Oh, of course! If we're going on a honeymoon we're going to do it in style!"

"In that case, the next earliest would be the Cunard's Aquitania, which will make berth in London, and the French line has a ship that will be docking in Marseilles. That one leaves at noon."

"Hm, what do you think dear?" Iliana asked, looking up at him curiously, and Credence jerked at suddenly being involved in her little act. He hadn't expected it but he supposed he should have. She was an excellent actress. The man behind the window seemed to complete believe that he was the new long-suffering husband of some bubbly socialite with money to toss around. Or, perhaps, he simply didn't care enough to press beyond the surface.

"L-London sounds nice," he stammered, and just like that Iliana was crying,

"London it is then! And the nicest room available, if you would," she added with a wink to the man behind the counter. "I expect we'll be spending quite a bit of time there."

Credence went brilliantly red at the implication, but he supposed it was expected for a couple that were supposed to be on their honeymoon. "O-Oh... Ah..."

The ticket seller gave Iliana an appraising look, and this time when he glanced at Credence he looked almost insultingly impressed as he sized the pair of them up as a couple. He gave her the price for their fare, and at the total, Credence felt like he had just been frozen in place. He was an absolute idiot. They had no money, how was this supposed to work? They couldn't pay for a ticket, they couldn't even catch the subway.

But, impossibly, Iliana was digging into the pocket of her purse and pulling out an impressively thick stack of bills, counting out the appropriate amount and passing it over to the man cheerfully.

"It's under the name Credence and Iliana Barebone. Now, what amenities does the ship have?"

Somehow, impossibly, they had managed to do it, and Credence was having a very hard time not staring around at everything like he was some wide-eyed country boy that had never seen anything nice in his life. But everything in the first class areas was gorgeous, like something from one of those rich, noble estates in Europe. The walls were paneled in ornately carved woods, the staircases were all intricate wrought iron. There was an elevator on the ship for God's sake! Huge windows overlooked the sea from the writing room and the café. There was a pool, a gymnasium, games on the open deck. There was a smoking lounge that looked almost terrifyingly ornate to Credence's eyes. The dining room was a thing of beauty and featured rich colors and ornate columns and more flatware laid out on the table than he could possible imagine using in one meal.

Then there was their room. He had known when Iliana handed over the money that the place they would be staying out be far nicer than anything he'd ever seen before, but this was... something else. There was a private drawing room with furniture that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Ritz, and a private dining room that had a menu with dishes that he'd never heard of and couldn't pronounce waiting on the table. The walls were all done in ornate wallpaper and carved wood and there were thick rugs covering the floor. They had a large window that looked out over the sea, currently giving them a wonderful view of New York.

But then they got to the bedroom, and Credence's mind came crashing to a halt. It was just as beautiful and luxurious as the rest of the suite, with the same wallpaper and carpets. There was a wardrobe that seemed like it was as big as his whole room used to be. The bed was a massive, king-sized thing on a metal frame. There was a thick, downy comforter thrown across the top and there were more pillows that he knew what do with arranged artfully at the head, but the fact remained that there was just one bed. For the newlyweds they were pretending to be, this would probably be ideal. But they weren't actually newlyweds.

"I'll take the couch," Credence said immediately, and Iliana, who had been busily examining the bathroom, poked her head in.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Credence pointed at the single bed. "The couch," he said weakly. "I'll sleep there."

Iliana looked from the bed, to him, then over her shoulder into the drawing room. The couch was made for looking expensive and sitting on. Credence would be crammed on it and it was barely wide enough for him to lay flat. There wasn't much in the way of padding on it either, and she looked back at him incredulously.

"You most certainly will not," she proclaimed. "Worst case scenario I will turn the couch into a cot, but..." Her cheeks heated, but the bed really was unnecessarily large, and they certainly had enough pillows to make some kind of barrier between them. She would feel bad, too, kicking Credence out of the bed when he had been through so much more in the past few days than she had and definitely deserved a good night's sleep in a luxurious bed. If he insisted, they could switch off nights in the bed. And while she could have split the bed into two, somehow furniture was always a bit tricky to spell. If you split a couch into say, three chairs, or a massive king sized bed into two twins, it tended to get proportionately less comfortable.

"I don't mind to share," Iliana offered. "If it would make you uncomfortable, then I'll spell the couch into something for me, but..." she glanced at the bed in amusement, "there's enough pillows to put up the Great Wall of China between us. And you've already told me you're not going to compromise my virtue," she said fondly, recalling that very first night he'd appeared on her doorstep, the moment this strange, fragile, yet desperately intense thing between them really seemed to begin.

Credence hesitated. Did it make him uncomfortable, the thought of sharing a bed with Iliana? Yes, it did. Only a few weeks ago just the sight of her sitting on his bed had been enough to send his head spinning. But it was an exciting kind of discomfort, of trying something new. He had no idea if he would reach out to her in his sleep, he'd never slept with anyone else who could tell him. Still, the pillows would keep anything untoward from happening and the idea of having her there at his side as he slowly drifted off, listening to the sound of her breathing and knowing she was right there... it sounded incredibly appealing.

"We can share," he said quietly, and Iliana smiled at him, her cheeks going a bit red. She might have hesitated to offer, but it was the most practical and comfortable option for both of them, and she trusted Credence to behave himself in a way she had never trusted other men. He'd seen her in her night things before when he came to her apartment to be healed and he'd seemed too scandalized to even look at her for the most part. She found his innocence charming, especially when compared to the men she saw come into the Cactus Cat who liked to loudly - and probably falsely - brag about how smooth their were and how many ladies they'd charmed into bed. Their levels of inexperience when it came to the opposite sex seemed to match in many ways. Iliana actually found the idea of slowly learning how to be with another person, of doing those tiny, insignificant firsts together - sharing a bathroom, having breakfast together, divvying up space in the wardrobe - to be rather romantic.

She had never dated, had in fact been afraid to. Dating as a half-veela was filled with pitfalls and potential stumbling blocks and, simply put, she'd never met anyone she liked enough to bother dealing with those things or risking the potential heartbreak. She saw little point in dating someone she couldn't see becoming a long-term partner. But somewhere along the line, her original pity and compassion for Credence had turned into protectiveness, then affection, and now something more than that. Not love, at least she didn't think so, but something that might easily grow into love. While Credence's feelings about her were still a bit foggy to her - his entire emotional state as a whole right now was a bit up in the air - she knew what she wanted out of this relationship, and if that lined up with what he wanted... well, then she was perfectly happy to play for keeps.

Iliana moved into the room properly, sitting down on the edge of the bed and patting the comforter next to her invitingly. Credence sat, perching on the edge of the bed with his shoulders so tense he looked like he was waiting for lightning to smite him. His hands were fisted on his thighs and Iliana reached out, placing her hand over the closest fist and slowly smoothing her thumb across his fingers.

"So, in the past few hours we've done several thousand dollars in property damage," Iliana murmured, "escaped from Auror custody, used counterfeit money to purchase a ship ticket under false names - well, I did at least - and I think we might technically count as stowaways. I think we're doing a pretty impressive job of being criminals so far, don't you agree?" she asked lightly.

Credence flinched. He knew, dimly, that she was being charitable by not mentioning the people he had inevitably killed while he was locked in the grip of the monster inside of him, but the way she said it all, so calm and matter-of-fact, threw him for a loop as he realized quite how much they'd gone through just in a handful of hours.

"And now we're sitting in a room that looks like it belongs in a palace," she continued, and smiled at him. "Not bad for a couple of first timers, huh?" She nudged his shoulder teasingly with hers.

Credence stared at her for a moment, but she looked so cheerful and so optimistic despite the horrors of the past few hours, and the room they were sitting in was so impossibly lavish, that it struck him as completely hilarious. He collapsed into helpless giggles and Iliana soon joined him, the pair of them slumping back together on the soft sheets as they howled with laughter.