Summary: Movieverse, post twitches II, Aron/Miranda, angst, continuation.

Disclaimer: I do not own this. If I did, it would not be a kid's movie. This is not a kid's story. I have not read the books and do not intend to because I like messing with the movie characters. The books may well be better than the movies, but since it's the movies' faults and inaccuracies that inspire my subplots… being too correct would destroy my material.

"Blue, also the waltz, my sister." Miranda says, as they eat their evening meal. "Just in case you wanted to know."

"Thank you…" He manages awkwardly.

"It might also interest you…" Miranda continues direly, "That my hero after my childhood was you."

Aron looks up at her and tries to find words.

"Of course," Miranda explains, playing with the chicken on her plate, "I didn't know you very well. But how well can anyone really know someone they idolize that much. I'm sure you have faults, but I'm blessed and cursed, and for the life of me I just can't see them."

She glances over at him… lips tight, face vulnerable, and he remembers what her healer told him, the night of her fever.

If you abandon her after finally making her feel safe you will kill her outright.

"I'm sorry." Miranda said quietly. "I'm sorry that I didn't know you. I'm sorry if I led you on. I'm sorry for all of this. I'm…" she swallowed down a sob. "I'm just really sorry."

"I'm sorry." He answers, "For abandoning you. Maybe… it's possible we were both in love with our ideas of how the other one should be."

Miranda considers. "Maybe…" she concedes, "But whatever you need me to be, I can be. Just give me time. I'll learn."

"I'm not telling you to change, it's just…." Aron once again can't explain.

The servants are starting to stare.

"Miranda would you like to go for a walk?" He suggests, to get them out of the room.

She looks around slowly. "I think that's a good idea."

Once they're out of sight, he gets down on one knee. "Miranda, I am going to love you forever. Even if I don't really know you and you don't really know me. I'm going to love you forever, and nothing will ever change that."

Miranda shook her head sadly, "We're so naïve."

"I want us to know more about each other because I want to know more about the woman I love."

"You don't love me." Miranda deadpans. "You love that wide-eyed girl from the ball."

"I love you. I'd love you even if you were as dark minded as my brother." Aron begs. "Give me any task, and I'll prove it."

Miranda scans his features. "Arrest Lord Sulla."

His eyes widen. "Why?"

"You know why." She responds coldly.

"Being Thanto's friend… it's not a crime, Miranda." He stammers.

"If you love me," she orders, "Arrest him."

"Will you at least tell me the charges?" He asks.

"Arrest him." She repeats with no change in tone.

Quietly, he writes the orders and hands them to a guard to send.

"Now will you tell me what the charges are?"

Miranda stares at him through flinty eyes.

"Rape." She answers.

"Miranda…." He gasps, horror stricken.

She checks his movement with a hand on his chest.

"I wasn't the victim."