sorry, another short chapter! :( This chapter didn't head in the direction I wanted it to at all, but I'm pretty sure you guys will like it, so that's all that matters. :)

I just want to say thank you so much to all my readers, reviewers, and favorite-ers! I am so touched by the amount of support I'm getting from you guys! You rock! :)

Nepeta's brain processed everything in slow motion. The room around her seemed out of focus, and Eridan was just a blur of the black clothes he wore as he ran to her. She was suddenly in his arms, his face buried in her shoulder. She was then holding him, her fingers digging into his back. She closed her eyes tightly and focused on him, the warmth of his body, the protective embrace of his hold, and the small sob that escaped from him and sent trembles down his body.

She felt the way he slightly tightened his grip when he moved his head. His cologne made her draw in quick breath. It smelled unlike anything she had ever smelled before, and was absolutely delicious. She swore she could feel his heart beating as their chests pressed up against each other.

They pulled away, hot, sweaty, and teary-eyed. Eridan sniffled and grabbed her hand. His eyes were red and puffy, and there were tear streaks on his face. His cheeks were flushed, and his hair had gotten messed up upon their contact. In general, he looked like a mess.

He placed his hand behind her head and petted her hair with his thumb. Nepeta stared at him blankly, her heart breaking and mending at once. As her heart beat louder and faster, she willed her hands to hold the back of his neck. They stared vacantly into each other's eyes; all the tears, sweat, and mixed emotions shared in their embrace.

Then Eridan's expression changed slightly and he looked at her differently. His hands moved forward slightly and grasped her jaw. He pulled himself towards her and their lips touched. He didn't pull away either like their first kiss, he stayed put. He kissed her and comforted her without words.

Nepeta's eyes were wide open. Her heart rate accelerated even more. Something sparked inside of her, whether it was his hands holding her, or his lips dancing on hers, she just let go. Her eyes closed. Her heart rate slowed. And she pulled him closer.

Then his mouth opened the slightest, he bit her bottom lip and pulled slightly before letting go. He pressed his lips back against hers and his tongue pushed at her teeth. She parted her teeth and his tongue was in his mouth. The sound of his heavy breathing and the slight moan that escaped from him sent shivers down her spine and goose bumps rising over her skin.

Nepeta hadn't felt more in love. When he finally did pull away and end the kiss, her lips had to remember how to function properly. She found her eyes slowly flickering open. When her eyes were fully opened and the last of her tears fell, she saw Eridan gazing at her with longing and despair.

He stood up, and helped her onto her feet. He grabbed her hands and she stepped in close to him. He was stared right over her shoulder at the floor and his mouth was etched into a frown.

"I...I don't even know where to begin. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to kiss you...I-I...things have been a little hard, you know?" His voice cracked, and he pulled one hand free of hers. He reached one finger under his glasses to wipe the tears that had freshly fallen.

"I know." Nepeta's heart panged. These past months had been so stressful on her, and she wondered what he had gone through during their separation. "It's okay."

"And I'm sorry I never called...never called again."

"It's o-"

"I'm so, so sorry I scared you like that..."

"Eridan..."

"I should have never...I...I'm just-"

Nepeta bit her lip and then pecked him on the cheek.

He drew in a quick breath and held it for a moment. He released it with a small smile and ghost of a laugh.

"I don't know why you left. I don't know why I didn't run after you. But It's okay. We're here now, aren't we?" Nepeta said, smiling.

Eridan's smile grew. "We are."

With that, he kissed her again. It lacked the element of surprise and passion the last one held, but it was sincere all the same. And this time, Nepeta didn't hesitate to kiss him back. Even past the wetness of sweat and tears, and the occasional awkward bump of his slightly large nose against her nose, she really enjoyed kissing him.

She was about to pull away when the light from the hallway flooded the room as the door swung open. They both jerked away from surprise, but her hand remained locked with his.

In hindsight, it was the most opportune moment for Equius to find her. He stormed into the room and grabbed Nepeta. He pulled her away from him and stood between her and Eridan.

"Talk, Ampora. You know I told you to stay away. I warned you!" Equius yelled, pointing at Eridan.

"You do not control me. And you don't control her." Eridan hissed.

Equius looked enraged. "I never claimed to control anyone! I am protecting her from you!"

"I would never hurt her! There's nothing to protect her from!"

"Equius what's going on? Why are you doing this?" Nepeta said.

"Nepeta, leave. This does not concern you," Equius said.

"It does too concern her!" Eridan shouted.

At this point, curious party-goers and gathered in the hall and doorway, trying to see what was going on. Aradia shoved her way to the front, and peered into the room.

"This is between you and I," Equius growled.

Eridan's upper lip curled into a snarl. "Bullshit! You're just trying to make it that way!" Eridan reached for Nepeta and Equius punched him in the chest. Eridan gasped for breath as he doubled over.

"Eridan!" Nepeta cried. She shoved past Equius and ran to Eridan. He regained himself and stood up straight. He raised a fist, but Nepeta grabbed onto his arm. "No! Stop this! Stop it right now, both of you! This is stupid!"

"You don't understand Nepe-" Equius started.

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! Stop saying that! I'm not a little girl! I'm smart! I can make my own decisions! I'm my own person! Stop treating me like I'm not!" Nepeta was crying now. She really wished she could stop crying for once. "A-And you know what? Eridan sees that! Obviously you don't!"

"How could you choose him over me? After our whole lives, everything I've done for you! He LEFT YOU Nepeta! You are better than this!" Equius shouted.

"I didn't leave her. You told me to stay away."

Equius snarled.

"Nepeta. You should know that the last time I tried to call you, Equius answered for you. He threatened me. He told me to stay away from you."

"That's why you never called back?"

Eridan nodded.

"You said you were going to support me! Instead you drove us apart! You just punched him! You lied to me!" Nepeta cried at Equius.

Equius looked pained. "I...I did not lie. I was just...protecting you. Just trying to keep you safe from harm."

"Were you?" Nepeta hissed. There were tears streaming down her face. "Do I look unharmed right now? Do I look protected to you? Maybe the person you should've been protecting me from was yourself!"

Nepeta was shaking. She hung her head.

"Nepeta, please, listen to me-" Equius started. His voice had quieted dramatically.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say."

"Nepeta...please just-"

"No. I just...I just don't want to see you right now."

Equius's heart broke. He stared at Nepeta for a few moments, and then exited the room. Everyone that had gathered in the hallway also left, to give her and Eridan some space.

Eridan hugged her close to him, and she cried into his chest. He walked her over to the bed and they sat down on the edge of the bed. She clung to him, and he placed his head on top of hers. His heart ached for hers, as much as he didn't like Equius, he knew how strong their bond was. He wondered if they ever had a fight that lasted for more than a few minutes. Eridan never had a relationship that close with anyone. He couldn't imagine her pain, but reassured her anyways.

Nepeta cried for twenty minutes. She sniffled for thirty. Kanaya constantly checked in on them and always gave Eridan a sympathetic smile. He could never return it. Nepeta eventually calmed down, and Eridan rubbed her back while rocking her. She closed her eyes and brought her legs up on the bed. She snuggled up close to him and eventually dozed off.

When Eridan saw that she was asleep, he kissed her forehead and brought his legs up on the bed as well. He slowly lied her down onto her back and rested her head on the pillow. He spotted a folded up fleece blanket at the end of the bed and laid that on top of her. He watched her sleep for a few minutes, before he decided to go and talk to Kanaya.

She was standing in the entryway to the hallway, talking to Rose. When she saw him coming she whispered something into Rose's ear and sent her off.

"Oh, dear," Kanaya said and pulled him into a hug. He hugged her back and pulled away.

"How is she?" Kanya asked, clasping her hands together.

"Asleep. She's pretty upset."

"Well, Equius and Aradia left a few minutes ago. When she wakes up, see if she'd like to maybe come out and visit for a little while. This is the first time in a while all of our friends are in the same place at once, maybe the last time," Kanaya said.

Eridan spotted Karkat and Feferi chatting at the dining table over Kanaya's shoulder.

"Does she know about, you know," Eridan said as he motioned to Karkat and Feferi.

"She and Feferi aren't talking anymore, but she doesn't know they're actually dating," Kanaya said after she stole a glance at the couple.

"Well. I guess we'll have to see. I'm pretty sure once she wakes up she'll want to go home," Eridan said. "She won't want to see them two after what she just went through."

Kanaya frowned. "Oh, well, alright. The poor thing."

Eridan nodded. "Right. Well, I'm going to get some food. Maybe she'll be hungry when she wakes up."

Kanaya smiled warmly at him. "I think you two will work out."

Eridan then smiled back at her. "I hope so."

He returned to the bedroom a little while later with a glass of water and a plate full of assorted food. He sat at the foot of the bed with the plate in his lap. He was hungry, and picked at the foods, but otherwise didn't dare eat what he got for her.

He wasn't sure how long he'd waited when he heard movement behind him and turned to see Nepeta sitting upright. "Eridan?" she croaked, and then coughed a few times.

"Hey, you're awake. I got you some food. And water, too. You could eat it in here or out with everyone else and visit a little, if you like," Eridan said.

"How did I get here?" She asked instead, looking down at the blanket she was under.

"Oh." Eridan felt embarrassed. "Well, you sort of fell asleep. So I just...yeah."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, if I eat in here...are you going to stay with me?"

"Of course."

"Then you're all I need."

Eridan held out the plate as she pulled her legs out from the blanket. She took the plate and sat it in her lap. "I'm...I don't really have an appetite, right now." So he handed her the glass of water, which she downed.

She set the glass down on the floor when she was done, and sniffled a bit.

"Are you okay?" Eridan asked softly.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. She smiled lightly at him and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I will be," she whispered.

Eridan smiled at her. "And you won't be alone. I'm your family, remember?" He said softly.

Nepeta giggled and nodded. "Yes, I remember. Family."

He leaned towards her a softly kissed her on the lips.