Andrea began the slow trudge up the stair well to her car. It seemed to her that the steps were growing and becoming taller with every fall of her foot. A four story climb seemed like an appropriate if not somewhat unfair ending to an exhausting day.

She had woken up in Agner's apartment slightly confused at first. Her head felt as if it had been thoroughly rung and her vision fuzzed as if she had a hangover. She blinked blearily at her surroundings and found her clothes had been washed and folded and were sitting at the foot of the bed. The smell of fresh brewed coffee pulled at her senses and she realized she must have stayed at Agner's instead of returning to her apartment as she had originally planned. She got up from the bed and stumbled over to where her phone was to check the time. She found it quite annoying upon realizing he had absolutely no clocks anywhere in his house. Who lives like that? She had picked up her phone and was about to head to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee when she saw the time.

Six forty five … six forty five? SIX FORTY FIVE!

Things had become quite rushed after that and she was glad that Agner was nowhere in the apartment at the moment to distract her. After getting dressed, getting her coffee, and then getting her car, she would have a little less than an hour to make it across town in morning traffic to campus and then find a place to park and then still have to make across campus in time for her classes. She had let a litany of curses out as she raced through the apartment grabbing as much as she could in her haste.

Andrea's footsteps echoed through the garage, each step seemingly pounding against her head harder than the other. She had just began to feel like they may never end when she finally came to the level with her car. Fortunately she would not have to walk very far to get to it. While adjunct faculty were not given much in the way of perks, one of the few that they were given was parking.

Andrea climbed into the jeep and quickly locked the doors as soon as she shut them before she sunk into the seat. She felt spent. She closed her eyes with a heavy sigh. They day had trudged along at a maddeningly slow pace. It had not been a bad day per say, but she still felt exhausted. Still her mood had remained good. Memories of the weekend would creep in every so often and she would find herself grinning stupidly and then she would spare a quick glance around the room to make sure no one had seen her with said big stupid grin on her face. Every time thoughts of Agner would come into her head her mood became significantly lighter, taking some of the edge out of her exhaustion. Still, it was not consistent. In fact, earlier that morning she had found herself feeling quite annoyed for reasons she did not know. But then she would think of the lake and the tent and then the cabin and the stupid grin would quickly follow. Much like the stupid grin that was on her face this very moment.

Maybe I should check on my Depo shot. And cue big stupid grin.

Andrea opened her eyes with a soft chuckle. I am losing my mind, she thought. She sat up straight and slipped her key into the ignition of her car. She would have to drive the car over to the garage where she paid the equivalent of a second rent to keep it and then walk the six blocks back to her apartment. Or maybe she would take the train. She was feeling exceptionally lazy today.

As she drove she could not help but wonder what Agner was doing right now. She had not heard from him and even though she told herself she was not going to call him tonight, she could not help but check her phone regularly. She thought it would be best to stay at her apartment tonight. Even though he had said he would like for her to stay, Andrea did not want to overkill it by hanging around all the time. One had to play a little hard to get. Of course, after the weekend they just had, it did seem a little silly trying to come off as not easy. And there it was, that stupid grin back on her face yet again.

Andrea entered the garage and pulled into her space. She gathered up her paperwork and placed them as neatly as she could in her bag. There were still things in the back of the jeep that would need to be unloaded but since there were no perishable items, Andrea decided it could wait. There were also things that she had left at Agner's in her rush to get out the door this morning. As good a reason to call him later as any she supposed.

Andrea made her way down the stairs to the train almost instinctively. After a long day of work and an even longer, and surprising night, she figured she deserved the rest. And what a surprising night it had been. Agner has a cousin. A cousin who lives right here in the city.

She had almost forgotten about him, although she did not know how she could. What had he said his name was, Cirian was it? One had to admit he was quite pleasing to look at. Beautiful even, but a different kind of beautiful than Agner. Agner's beauty had a softness about it, an openness, a heat that constantly threatened to envelope her.

His cousin's beauty though, it had … an edge. There was a cool aloofness to it. The type of beauty that was almost intimidating. And his eyes. They were the same color grey as Agner's and they even caught the light in the same peculiar manner. That was where the similarities ended though because when he had looked at her Andrea could not shake the feeling that he was taking her apart bit by bit and every little dark secret that she had, whether she knew it or not, was revealed.

But of course he was gorgeous. Andrea wondered if his whole family looked like this. She was not sure she would be able to handle the females if they did.

Andrea rocked slightly to the gentle, rhythmic clacking of the train as it rumbled on. She wondered why Agner had not told her anything about him. Andrea had been under the impression that Agner had no contact with any of his family. Agner had barely ever mentioned his cousins, much less that one even lived here. He had been surprised when they had found him in his apartment, of that she was certain. Andrea was even more certain that Agner was furious about it. Even though he had not said anything, she had no doubt that the cousin was not welcome. But why? Aside from the fact that he had essentially broken in to Agner's apartment, why was Agner so angry? To most people that would probably be plenty enough of a reason but Andrea knew there was more. She did not know how she knew, but she did. Some sort of gut instinct she supposed. She wondered if this could be one of the trouble making cousins he had spoken of from his youth. If it was she hoped that his trouble making days were behind him.

The train rumbled to a stop and Andrea rose from her seat and made her way off. Andrea's memory of that night became a bit muddled after that. The headache had come on alarmingly quick. Andrea had always suffered from the occasional migraine but this latest one had been rather intense. She could only vaguely remember Agner carrying her into his bedroom. Not exactly how she hoped the night would have ended.

Andrea felt the familiar stupid little smile once again on her face as she once again relived the weekend in her mind. It really had been a great weekend. She had been perhaps a bit more forward than even she was used too, but it had been worth it. That first night, while wonderful, had been a bit hasty on both their parts, but the next morning had been far more satisfying. It was almost as if he knew exactly what she wanted, where she wanted him most, responding to her in every way. She remembered the warmth of his skin pressed against hers and his hands running along her body. When she looked into his eyes it was as if the universe expanded, whirling around them, swirling them into the stars. They had become one in that moment and nothing would ever come between them. Not again. This time would be different. This time ….

Andrea staggered over her feet and then quickly steadied herself. This time? she thought incredulously. What the hell do you mean "this time"? I'm losing my goddam mind. Snap out of it and focus crazy girl.

Andrea adjusted the strap of her bag back onto her shoulder and began walking only to come to an abrupt stop once more. She looked around in confusion. This was not her apartment. In fact that was not even the street her apartment was on. Andrea stood there completely flummoxed, having no idea where she was or how she got there.

"Well hello," a familiar voice called softly from behind her. Andrea turned around to see Agner standing in a doorway with a set of keys in his hand. "This is a nice surprise," he said as he walked over to where she stood and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close against him. "I was just thinking about you," he smiled as he leaned in and gave her a gentle lingering kiss.

Andrea's head spun in the same disorienting dance it always did when in his presence as she reluctantly gave way to his lips parting from hers. She looked up at him, still confused.

"What are you doing here?"

Agner gave her an amused look. "Well I do occasionally do business here, or don't you remember?"

Andrea looked at the door Agner had been standing in front of and then in the windows of the building and realized where she was. It was the antique store where she had first met him. But this place is on Downing, she thought in disbelief. I'm in Soho. How the hell did I get to Soho? I took the train? I don't even remember doing that! What is going on with me?

"Yeah I … I guess, I just don't …" Andrea looked back to see Agner staring down at her and while his face was void of expression, Andrea knew he was concerned. She waved her hand dismissively and did her best attempt at a reassuring laugh. "Yes, of course I remember. I just wasn't planning on coming by tonight is all," she brought her arms up and around his neck as she stood up on her tiptoes. "I don't want you to get sick of me."

Agner did not say anything at first, only stared at her, his eyes searching hers. Andrea felt her heart quicken. He thinks I'm crazy, I know it, she thought. But then he smiled and his hand cupped her chin as he leaned in once more, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

"Never," he whispered as he kissed her.

Agner finished locking up the shop and insisted on getting take out and then going to his apartment. Andrea was too tired to protest and figured there was not much of a point anyway seeing as how she was already here. She still made a mental note to try to get an appointment to see someone in the morning. If she was having episodes in the vein of some sort of bizarre walking blackout, then she should get herself checked out. But for now, it could wait. She was safe with Agner.

Besides this felt right anyway and she could not understand why she ever wanted to stay away in the first place. She had to admit that she enjoyed when he took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm, escorting her to the small Vietnamese restaurant around the corner. She enjoyed it when he would tighten his arm against her hand any time she started to drift to far as they walked. And she especially liked it when other people stared at them, a smug satisfied look on her face that said "yeah that's right, he's with me."

They returned to Agner's apartment and ate. He sat and listened as she complained about her day and how she playfully blamed him for her exhaustion. She had been handed a pile of papers to grade for Professor Jones and how she felt he should help her with the task, something he said he would happily assist her with if she so wished.

Once they had finished eating and cleaned up, Andrea sat down on the sofa and began to pull out some of the papers from her lab that day and spread them on the coffee table.

"I really should do these at my place," she said mostly to herself.

"I don't mind," Agner called from the kitchen.

Andrea just shook her head. She really should be going to her place. She would work better there. All of her references were there. She would accomplish nothing here and she knew it. Still she did not leave. It felt too good to be here. She wanted to be here, sitting with him, just doing nothing. And he wanted the same thing. She could tell. In the past it had always seemed to Andrea that she was the one, in any relationship, that put forth any effort. Oh in the beginning, it was always wonderful. Nothing but constant attention and texting. But eventually it always seemed to die out. Eventually the other person just did not want to be around her as much as she wanted to be around them.

Andrea looked up from the table to see Agner standing across from her, staring down at the papers. He handed her a glass of wine from across the table.

"Thanks but," Andrea took the glass from his hand and turned to set it down on the side table, "I've never really been a big fan of red. Too many Eucharists as a kid."

"Pity, it's quite good. It is said that the taste varies according to the individual," he said as he raised the glass up into the light, swirling the garnet liquid within. "That everyone who drinks it experiences something different. Something specifically to their liking."

Andrea looked at the glass in her hand and then back at Agner. "It's quite good eh?"

Agner smiled at her. "Quite."

Andrea brought the glass to her lips and took a sip and even though she tried to temper her reaction so as not to give off any indication at how much she disliked red wine, her brows still rose in surprise. It was nothing like the stale, watered down wine she used to have to drink every day while a girl in Catholic school. There was no assault on her nose as she rose the glass, expecting the familiar punch of acidic scent she likened to rubbing alcohol. Instead, it was aromatic and sweet. The taste was not bland and diluted, scratching at her throat as it tore its way down. This was spicy and yet mellow, almost elegant with a smooth finish that reminded her of sweet dried fruit. Andrea looked over at Agner who grinned at her from over his glass.

"Okay, so I'm impressed," Andrea said as she watched the wine glow a deep red in front of the fire. "Where did you say you got it?"

"I didn't," Agner murmured as he moved around the coffee table. He brought the glass to his nose and inhaled the aroma. "I don't think you will ever come across it's like again either, unfortunately. The secrets to making it are long lost. I was surprised myself when I found it. The merchant who owned that cellar had no idea what he had. It is extremely rare and I only serve it to the most special of guests."

Agner bent down and planted a kiss on the top of Andrea's head before sitting down in the large chair next to the sofa.

Andrea watched Agner as he set himself gracefully down and picked up one of the papers on the table. A simple benign gesture made into the entrancing motion. She sipped her wine. She was so aware of him and she could not help but wonder if he felt the same. She prayed that it was not all in her head and that he, much like all the others would tire of her soon. Agner's eyes moved from the paper to hers and she wondered how she could have ever have thought them peculiar. She felt a warm sensation begin to travel slowly up her spine, flooding her face and quickly looked down. No, she did not think she would get much done here at all.

"Agner …" She could still feel his eyes on her.

"Yes," he answered softly.

"Why didn't you tell me about your cousin?"

Andrea looked up and saw Agner's face was completely neutral, but she knew that was not the case. Her question had taken him by surprise. It was not what he had expected.

"It's alright. You don't have to tell me. I'm not trying to pry, I just –"

"No," he interrupted, "no. You are right. I should have told you. You have a right to know." He sighed as his eyes moved down to the paper in his hand while not really seeing it. "I did not tell you anything because I was not aware he was even in the city until just recently. It had been a bit of a shock for the both of us, when we found each other. We had never really been close and relations had always been … complicated. "

Andrea sipped her wine and waited, she knew that there was more coming.

"The last time I had seen him, and by the last time I mean when we were much younger, it had been somewhat contentious to say the least. There had been some disagreement on … well, there had been many disagreements between his family and mine. Far too many disagreements. It goes all the way back to our fathers. Even though his father and mine had …" Agner stopped suddenly, his brows coming together slightly as his mouth pressed in to a thin line. He looked down at his hands and shook his head. When he looked back up, his face was smooth once more but his eyes were guarded. "Seeing him again brought up old memories I thought I had put behind me. I had mistakenly assumed that after we spoke we would not see each other."

Andrea looked at him from over her glass. "But …"

"But now it seems he needs my help with something."

"Well?"

Agner gave her a curious look. "Well what?"

"Are you going to help him?" Andrea asked.

"Yes," Agner sighed and pinched the space between his eyes. "I don't know. I am not so sure now if it is a good idea."

"I think you should."

For the second time that night, Andrea knew she had startled him. He had not even flinched at what she had said but she still knew. Perhaps it was because she was becoming more accustomed to little quirks the more time they spent together. A subtle twitch of the finger, a slight tilt to the head, who knew.

"I think you should," she repeated. Andrea was not sure if it was the wine talking, it could be though. She was starting to feel a little heady. She took another drink for good measure. "I mean, think about it. What must it have taken for him to come and ask you for help? Going off of just the little you have told me so far, you weren't close, it sounds like you weren't even friendly. He had to have known that you would not want to talk to him, much less help him. So it can't be no small thing for him to find you and ask you for help. Right? Maybe he's changed from the brat he used to be. It's not like he's asking you to do anything illegal right? … Right?"

"No, at least … I do not think so."

"Well okay then," Andrea chirped brightly. It was definitely the wine talking. "This could be really good for the two of you. Sort of reconnect. A new beginning." Definitely the wine.

Agner chuckled. "I don't know Andrea. With Carnistir you never can tell."

"Cirian."

Agner looked up at her. "What?"

"Cirian … I thought, I mean he said his name was Cirian."

"Yes Cirian. He did say that didn't he."

Andrea hesitated. "Is that not his name?"

"No, it is his name. At least, it is now anyway."

"He changed it?"

Agner looked at her now intently. "Yes. Most likely after he came here. Just as I did."

Andrea stared into his eyes and it seemed as if the light that reflected within resembled glowing coals. Her head began to swim a little. What was she seeing in there?

"You changed your name?"

"My family name is Aikanáro Ambarato Arafinwëan. I was called Aegnor."

The name danced around Andrea's head. Familiar and yet completely foreign. Agner's eyes were locked on to hers. It felt almost as if he were calling to her.

"Andrea," he said softly, "there are things you need to know about me."

It was then when she saw it, in his eyes, behind whatever fire seemed to burn from within. He could not hide it. Not from her.

Fear. He was afraid.

Andrea's world seemed to come back into focus as she pushed back at the effects of the wine. Her heart began to beat a little harder. What could he possibly be afraid of? She stood up and walked over to where he sat.

"Agner what? What is it? Whatever it is, it doesn't matter I promise. So you changed your name. Big deal. It's was a mouthful anyway. Agner is way easier. And besides," she gave him a playful reassuring smile and moved herself over him, straddling his lap so she could face him, "its kind of sexy. I like it."

She began to move her arms around his neck when he stopped her, grabbing both her hands in his and holding them against his chest. She could feel his heart, and it pounded.

"No Andrea, please. You have to listen to me. There are things I must tell you. It is important that you know –"

"Agner," she interrupted, "or Aegnor, or Eyekano or whatever your name is, I don't care. Do you understand? The only thing that could run me off at this point is if you are married … you're not married are you?"

"What?"

"Are you married?" The world came completely into focus for Andrea now. She leaned back and looked at Agner. Her hands gripped at his shirt. "Are you? Is there someone else? Someone I need to know about?"

"No! Andrea no! There is no one else –"

"Because you said that there was someone once, but that it was a long time ago –"

"Andrea you –"

"Was it not that long ago after all? You said she was gone, is she not?"

"Yes she is gone," his voice boomed. He sitting up straight now, leaning in to Andrea, gripping her hands in his. They were like fire against her skin and the rest of the room seemed to go dark while he burned like a bright flame. "She is gone. And it haunts me Andrea. It has haunted me every day of this miserable life, knowing too late that I turned away from the only woman I would ever love. Until I met you. Until you Andrea. It was I dream that I could ever truly be happy, that I would ever find it again. Until you. There is no one else. There will never be anyone else. I do not want anyone else. And now I am afraid," his voice softened to a whisper, "Afraid that when you find out the true nature of who I am, the selfishness of what I have done, I will lose you. Once again I will lose."

Agner's hands relaxed around hers and he collapsed back against the chair, his light dimming. Andrea sat motionless, staring down at him. After a moment she took his chin in her hand and lifted his face up to hers. His eyes remained closed. He would not look at her. She could feel him trembling.

I am such an idiot, she thought. There isn't anybody else. He thinks something is going to happen to me. Like that girl. He thinks I am going to go away. I am so pathetic.

She almost laughed out loud at how foolish she had been.

"Agner," she sighed as she laid a gentle kiss against one eyelid.

"Agner," she soothed as she kissed the other. She moved her face before his, foreheads pressed together, lips barely touching.

"I am not going anywhere," she whispered, kissing the corner of his mouth, "I'm not that girl. And –" She kissed the other corner and moved her body further up his lap, pressing herself against him.

"Andrea," he rasped, his hands now gripped her hips, "please."

"And," she continued, her mouth moving along his cheek and down his neck, "I am not," she kissed his throat, "going," her hands moved down his chest, "anywhere," and to his lap where she felt him respond to her touch.

His grip tightened on her as her mouth found his once more, her lips lightly brushing against his, teasing.

"And I love you too," her tongue darted against his teeth as she pushed her hips against him, smiling when she heard him give a little moan, "Aegnor."

It seemed that the name was all it took for his barely held restraint to finally give. Andrea felt herself being lifted up as his mouth pressed against hers and he carried her down the hall. They came to the bedroom and fell onto the bed. She had barely pulled his shirt over his head before he tore at her clothes as if annoyed by the whole convention of wearing clothes at all. But once the tedious chore of removing the barrier of clothing was done, there were no more distractions, each one's focus on the other.

And soon he was kissing her again. His strong gentle hands stroking her, his hands, his lips, his tongue. All awareness became him. The warmth of his skin, the hardness of his body against hers. His face, his neck, the sweet taste of him and the groan inducing soul shattering way he drove her straight out of her mind.

How could he ever think that she would leave him? She just found him.

They rippled on the bed like a wave on the sea and he moved against her as if he knew every part of her body. He was slow, rhythmic, gentle, moving down her body until she thought she may cry out in her need to have him one with her, and only then did he comply, crashing into her.

And in that moment she could see him, truly feel him. His joy, his love, his pain, his fear. All of it bared and open for her. His need for her.

The sweet spasm went through her and she felt as if her very soul rose in the air. And then she was nothing but her body as her feet pointed like a dancer's and her toes curled. Then she breathed and she felt her body move as if she had opened to all of him, and then she took a breath and let herself go tumbling.

And there was nothing but the sweetness, just the sweetness, the incredible, oh the ….

And then she collapsed back down to earth …

… and then Agner panting as she pressed him hard against her.

The night did not go the way Aegnor planned.

Not at all.

He sat in the window watching the sleeping figure in his bed.

I am a fool, he thought bitterly.

The figure on the bed stirred slightly. Aegnor calmed his mind and focused on creating a barrier, keeping his emotions from the bond. She could pick up on much now, too much. He had to be careful.

Today, as he took care of random errands and other small tasks that he had put off, he had thought about her. About where she was, what she was doing, and if he should go to see her. Hoping perhaps she would come see him. He thought of their weekend. Of how she felt, of how she tasted. He could still smell her on his skin. He wanted desperately to see her again, to be with her again, but could not. Not till he told her everything. Not until he told her the truth of who and what he is. The very thought had terrified him. But he would not run. Not from her. Not again. They had become one and nothing would ever come between them. Not this time.

When he had looked up and saw her he almost could not contain his joy. She had come to him, as if she knew how much he longed to see her again, as if she heard him call.

And after a moment he realized she did.

He realized, as she stood there confused and bewildered at how she had gotten there, that she had heard him call. That he had pulled here to him, like some creature tethered to a leash, he had unintentionally pulled her to him with the bond.

A damn bloody fool.

And still that bond pulled at him throughout the night. He fought the torrent of emotion that would rush through for as long as he could. But when she sat astride him, her body moving against him as her lips scorched his skin, and when she said his name ... to hear his name from those lips, he could not hold back any longer.

He could look into her eyes and see the bond aflame between them, a blinding pale fire. The bond, no longer a myth but now a fact, ascends above them and he can see her fëa within. It rises and falls, as if frightened by what it feels, but excited too, by being joined to him for a few seconds before it plummets back to earth.

For an instant he felt her feel his body, felt her register him, his inner sounds, the outer wave of them pressing toward her. And then they both fell into their own urgencies, like waves from separate storms, at first damping, then amplifying the other.

His mind was half in hers. He could feel her loose jointed drift, only an occasional little coil in the current tugging at her harder, moving her toward the flood.

There was still much he had to learn about the bond they shared, so much to figure out. It pulsed between them at times, burning like a wildfire from within so hot that he did not know what do to. And there was no one he could turn too, no one to teach him how to control what he felt.

Well, there was one.

But Aegnor would not turn to him with this under any circumstance.

No, he was on his own with this. And he would have to be the one to figure it out. He was the only one who could tell her the truth.

Tomorrow.

Aegnor stood up from where he sat at the window and walked back over to the bed. He climbed under the covers and curled his body around hers.

Yes, he would figure this out tomorrow.