Before I begin, let me tell you guys that this is NOT related to the first chapter, where Van apologized to Ethan and all that jazz. This is another alternate ending type deal based off of a tumblr prompt. Enjoy ;D

"Welcome to the night, Vanessa." He told her, turning his back to her and staring into the fire. For a moment, he almost thought about walking away, going back to London and finding one of the others to look after her, but he didn't. He couldn't make himself seriously consider it. Her actions had been wrong, but certainly a softer conclusion could be reached.

Before he could speak again, he heard her scoff, loudly, angrily behind him.

"Don't patronize me, Little boy. I have lived in this night long before I knew you. And don't you dare speak to me about my soul. You know nothing." He whirled around to face her, not sure what he was expecting to see. Her fists were balled at her sides, teeth bared in anger, and her face flushed. He could see the darkness creeping into her eyes.

"Oh no Miss Ives," he spat, "My intention was never to patronize you, only to let you know that you are getting out of control."

She took a step towards him, fists still balled in anger, "Whose control? Yours? I am not yours to control. I CHOSE THIS." She snarled at him, resisting the urge to growl or scream at the top of her lungs.

"Chose what? To throw away your soul for the sake of revenge? What the fuck were you thinking?" He hissed back, taking a step backwards, the further she moved in. Her face was tense, flushed with color, veins showing. The longer he watched, the more animal like she became.

"I was thinking that he deserved it. That is was MY decision to make. That I got to chose what to do," She snarled again, not as loudly as before. Her eyes were burning like fire.

"Well you chose poorly." He growled.

"BUT I CHOSE FOR MYSELF, I'M TIRED OF LIVING A LIFE DICTATED BY OTHER PEOPLE!" She screeched.

"Well you could have at least done it with regards to those other people! After everything we've done to keep you safe? After everything we've done to save you from that darkness? You go and fucking ask for it!" He snapped, clenching his own fist, glaring her down. She may be small, but her anger made her presence massive, filling the room with a fury like no other.

"Exactly! 'WE!' What you all have done for me. You, Sir Malcolm, Sembene, the whole lot of you. It's my turn, damnit! I am not some small, squeaking little door mouse that needs a guardian!" She screamed, and she didn't stop there.

"I am sick and tired of having to depend on other people to keep me safe. This evil is after me, but always, the people around me are targeted! PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE I CARE FOR THEM AND I WON'T HAVE THAT BLOOD ON MY HANDS ANY LONGER!" She was breathless now,her chest rising and falling with painful breath. Her face was still painted red with anger.

"WE CHOSE TO DO THIS FOR YOU! BECAUSE YOU NEEDED US! And throwing all of that away to prove something is ridiculous Vanessa!"

He barked back at her, although his own anger was ebbing away.

"I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO FOLLOW ME HERE! YOU CHOSE THIS!" She screamed, "YOU KNOW WHAT I AM BUT YOU FOLLOWED ME ANYWAY! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T STAY!"

Immediately, she registered the hurt, and the shock on his face. She'd never wanted to hurt him, but if he listened to her and left, it would be better for them both.

"Is that what you want?" He whispered, feeling his chest tighten at the thought of her removing him from her life.

There was a long silence in which she turned her back on him, crossing her arms across her chest and hugging her sides.

"Just go back to London, Ethan." She whispered in response, her voice thick with emotion.

"Okay. I will, first thing in the morning, but I need you to tell me something first."

She made a small noise, telling him to continue.

"Was it really motivated by revenge? Or was there something else?" He asked, desperate to get her to open up to. Her yelled decelerations were not enough. He knew her thoughts ran deeper; there was more on her heart and mind then she'd say.

"I did it because I wanted too. I wanted him dead. And because I needed to know if I could in the event that..." she whispered, clutching her sides tighter, and turning further away from him.

"In the event that what?" He asked.

"In the event that weapons weren't enough, and one of you needed my help." She whispered, her tone growing slightly more flustered.

"I still don't quite understand..." He felt what she was saying, but he could hear the tension in every breath she took. She needed to keep going.

"WHAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT? ALL OF YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU WOULD DO IT FOR ME, SO WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ABOUT ME TRYING TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE I LOVE? I'M TIRED OF LOSING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF MY OWN INCOMPETENCE!" She whirled around to face him, throwing into the air in frustration. In the dying fire light, he saw tear tracks staining her face.

"And that's what this is about?" He continued prodding her, not daring to mention that she was far from incompetent. Now was not the time for flattery or tender words. He wanted her to keep going, whether she yelled or cried, he didn't care. His own anger had hidden itself away, knowing he'd at least somewhat gotten his point across. Now, his main concern was her.

"Yes" she muttered, relaxing her arms beside her.

"Why?"

She almost growled in frustration then, locking her arms around herself and pacing in small circles. Her eyes had welled up with tears again, but they were still filled with darkness and frustration.

He settled himself on the sofa then, so she was pacing in front of him, elbows propped on his knees, and he held his chin,

" You're trying so hard because you feel guilty?"

"I AM TRYING SO HARD BECAUSE I LOVE YOU ETHAN" She dropped to the floor then, sitting up and curling in on herself, hiding her face against her knees and screaming.

There was a long moment of silence between them, with just the howling of the wind, and her muffled crying between them. He didn't know what to say to her, what to do in this situation. He most certainly wasn't leaving in the morning, but as for right now, he was lost.

He slid to his knee beside her, setting a hesitant hand against her arm, before gently prying her fingers from her arm, and holding them in his hands, like he'd done once before. He didn't know if she even remembered.

" You and the others...all of you...I would do anything to keep you..." she didn't look up at him, but her voice was so fragile. He could hear the tears in her voice. He wrapped his arms around her, and it only took a minute for her to fall in against him. He felt her small hands wrap up in the fabric of his shirt, and her head settled against his shoulder easily.

"Please don't go back to London. I didn't mean it..." she whimpered against his neck.

"Darlin'," he murmured, testing the word he felt every time he spoke to her, "so long as you want me here, I'm with you."

Well, that's that.I'm also thinking of posting a multi chapter fic with my ideal season 3, sort of an AU/Prediction story. Would any of you be interested in reading it? ~Until tomorrow!~