Author's note: Sorry!

Aelin's hand combed through Rowan's hair. He needed a haircut.

It was just the two of them in Rowan's bedroom. Fireplace roaring and used tissues galore. Rowan would be free tomorrow. She'd have her buzzard back. Which Aelin supposed was a good thing, she didn't want to clean Rowan's handkerchief any longer.

A soft knock on the door brought Aelin back to reality. She stood from the bed and opened it.

It was Elide, red-eyed like she'd been crying and her long hair everywhere, "We need to talk."

Aelin sighed, she knew this was coming. She walked over to Rowan and nudged him. He groaned and she whispered, "I'm going to go. Okay?"

Rowan looked skeptical, after all, she hadn't left his side for days, but he nodded.

With a quick kiss, she turned around facing Elide, "Let's go to the lobby."

Aelin wrapped her hands around her iced tea. This was going to be a long one.

Elide's mouth opened, but Aelin cut her off, "I know what this is about."

Elide sat back, "You do?"

"Of course. It's obvious. And even if I didn't know the situation, I still know my cuz. There's only one person that could break you like that."

"It was nothing. I was being foolish."

"You were being human."

"It doesn't matter now. Lorcan Salvaterre means nothing."

Aelin smirked and raised a brow. "Are you sure?"

Lorcan took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A sigh, but the door opened.

Rowan's eyes widened. Shock, then annoyance. "What?"

Lorcan took another deep breath, "We need to talk."

"On behalf of him, I'm sorry."

Aelin sat back on the couch, her face stoic, "What's done is done?"

Elide's eyes widened, "Wait really? You're not mad at me?"

"Of course not. I'm furious at Lorcan. But I feel that you will - if not already cause him more pain than I ever could."

"But you…"

Aelin gave her a teasing look.

"But you know how to fight."

"Yes, but over the years Elide Lochan I've learned that the pain in here," she pointed to her chest, "is the greatest pain any creature can receive." Her eyes widened, "Wow! That was deep."

"You think I cause him pain?"

Aelin rolled her eyes, "Oh for the love of god, of course."

"But, I'm just… me. And he's well… him"

"Should I tell Lorcan you feel this way."

Elide became defensive, "If you do…"

Aelin chuckled.

Elide put her tea down and crossed her arms over her chest, "It is still no excuse for what he did."

Aelin nodded, "I agree, but I also think he just needs another chance. Rowan screwed up a lot of times. It's nature."

Now it was Elide's turn to chuckle, "If I asked Manon for help, we'd be chopping heads by now."

Aelin smirked, "I wish to do that too… Maeve's boys can be infuriating… they're crazy."

They laughed.

Rowan glared at Lorcan.

Lorcan glared at Rowan.

Lorcan gave up, he knew Rowan too well, plus he had leverage.

"I feel something. I don't like it."

Rowan scowled, "Yes, I believe what you want to say is, 'I'm sorry'."

He mumbled it.

Rowan cupped a hand to his ear, "What was that? I can't hear you."

He mumbled incoherently.

"What?"

"I'M SORRY!" Lorcan bellowed. He rolled his eyes at Rowan's ridiculous antics.

"Much better, now why are you here."

"You don't want to kill me?"

"Oh, believe me, I do. But Aelin likes this rug and then she'd kill me if I got it dirty. So I'll ask again. Why. Are. You. Here?"

A strange feeling came over him and suddenly, Lorcan wanted to tell him everything.

Lorcan recalled the small talk they shared. He recalled the way he was changing. He recalled putting his defenses up and Elide somehow sneaking past them. He recalled that brilliant smile and that unbreakable soul. He wanted to fly in joy. But then he recalled the look of frustration and hurt on her face. And he knew he wanted to change.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to yell.

He wanted to shout about it.

He began saying, "I think I'm in love with a girl."

Rowan laughed and Lorcan scowled.

The former tried to compose himself and failed, "Wow. I'd begin to tell you how stupid you are, but then I'd be a hypocrite."

Lorcan scoffed, "As if you've done anything wrong, 'I'm-the-sweetest-most-romantic-guy-a-girl-could-wish-for.'"

Rowan half-smiled, "I'd tell you how I screwed up - multiple times, but that would take chapters to explain."

"That's different. This time I hurt her. I don't think she'll forgive me." Lorcan looked taken aback, he groaned, "Great, now I sound like a lovesick moron."

Rowan put a finger up, "Technically, you are a -"

"Alright! I don't need to hear that." Lorcan put his head in his hands.

Rowan-damn-Whitethorn took his sweet time thinking, "You know her better than anyone here right?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Well, if she won't forgive you idiocy. Then you'll just have to be mind-blowing brilliant. But I don't think you know how to do that"

Rowan was lucky he didn't lose a limb.

They'd spent a good half hour talking about the boys and their screw-ups.

"Taking care of Rowan for that week was hell. After I told him not to, Rowan drank a whole bottle of Pepsi while his throat is still raw, he couldn't speak for the whole day. It was wonderful."

"I wish I could shut up Lorcan sometimes. He really knows how to screw things up."

"True, I really don't know how he's going to get himself out of this one."

"He won't." Elide said determinedly. There was no way that moron was getting through. Though it would be interesting for once in Lorcan's life, have him being the one chasing after someone. He couldn't do it. No way.

Though she suddenly felt the urge to impress Lorcan when she returned to her room and found a note lying on her bed.

'Wear this and meet me in the lobby in an hour."

Mr. I-screwed-up-big-time-and-I-plan-to-earn-your-trust

Author's note: I'm not dead! I just needed time to adjust to a lot of things. I just had to take a break. But I'm back with a bunch of ideas! I can't wait to share them with you.

I know this isn't my best work, but this helped me get back in the zone.

Review!