Author's note: Hey guys... It's been awhile! *nervous laughter* Thanks for being so patient with me... thing is, I posted the first chapter right before going back to school from Summer vacation, and since then life has been pretty hellish... what with homework and work-work and family issues and my procrastination syndrome -_-. Writing is hard.

BUT! Today is the first November 5th since I fell in love with V for Vendetta, so here is my gift to you~ (It's not much...) Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

*hugs*, Avi~

Chapter II

adVent

advent: the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event

VVV

His breath came out as a shudder. "Hello, Evey."

Evey blinked once. Twice.

She didn't hear him stutter. "It's been quite a while..."

Her mouth fell open. She couldn't breathe. Why… why couldn't she breathe!?

V stiffened and took a step toward her. "I know that you must have many questions. But don't worry, I shall answer them all!"

She looked him up and down, and finally took a deep breath, and had to force it back out. Her eyes suddenly stung.

"Evey," he rushed, "I realize that you thought that I..." He paused. "I know that you believed me gone, but I have returned to–" He chuckled nervously. "I... seem to be unable to find the words..."

Tears forced themselves from behind her eyes, slipping onto her cheeks. Shoulders falling, her bag slid from the fabric and collapsed onto the ground.

He took another step. "Evey, I–"

She moved.

With speed she'd never had before, Evey launched herself at the man before her, wrapping her arms tightly around his, burying her face in his shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably.

Too distracted to feel his arms slowly winding their way around her, she let herself fall apart. The hard mask passed against the top of her head, dark, deep breaths ghosting against her scalp.

VVV

She held the cup with both hands.

Yet, despite that, she did not feel warm. She watched cautiously as he sat before her. Waiting.

"You were dead," she muttered.

V cocked his head, the mask smiling at her. "Not quite…"

Her grip on her tea tightened. "You were alive."

He sighed. "Yes… I suppose."

She frowned, lips stretched tight against her cheeks. "...Why?"

"I'm sure you saw the expl–"

She stood and dashed her cup to the ground, breaking it. "You were alive!?" Tea puddled the floor like blood, but she paid it no mind. Her lips curled into snarl, teeth gnashed. "You were alive! And you didn't tell me!"

"You weren't ready to know the truth–"

"Bullshit!" she spat. "You said no more lies!"

"I know–"

"You broke your promise, V!"

"I promised nothing."

"You– Augh!" she threw her arms into the air, turning away from him. "I'm not doing this!" Evey stomped out of the kitchen and into the foyer, the soft music of the Wurlitzer still playing...

It was her favorite song.

Gnawing her bottom lip, she closed her eyes, and took deep breaths. She heard a rustle behind her, and turned around.

V stood before her, shoulders slumped. It was so contrary to how she remembered him, and for one moment, her frown unwound.

"Evey… I…"

She watched him carefully, eyes casting down to his slowly writhing fingers, hidden from her by his gloves. His familiar voice, once so full of strength, had become so...

"V… how did you survive?"

He chuckled quietly. "It's quite simple really…"

Evey was too curious to keep up with her anger. She looked into the eyes, waiting for him to continue. When he turned away, she followed him. "How, V?"

He sighed. "You said you didn't want me to die. So… I didn't."

"That doesn't make sense," her head shook slowly back and forth, denying all possibility that what was happening could actually be... real.

V sucked in a deep, slow breath, and looked at her. "I know."

Evey blinked and crossed her arms over her chest. "Then how did you really survive? You were shot, and blown up. Your pulse was gone, I checked!" Too many times, she thought.

"Like I said, it was simple..." Suddenly, his hand reached out, and he gently tugged her arms out of their perch, sliding his fingers between her own. She flinched, but didn't pull away. "Because you wanted me to," he said, curiously studying their intertwined hands. "That's the only conclusion I could make." He looked into her eyes, and stooped ever so slowly, his porcelain nose inches from hers. Her eyes widened, and his smile didn't move a muscle. "And that's why I'm here."

"Wh…" she stammered, face hot. "What do you mean?"

Something warm suddenly began to slide past her waist, spreading to the small of her back. She hadn't noticed him move, but by then it was too late. She flinched, a cold shiver racing up her spine, and V pulled her closer.

He unwound their fingers and turned it into a light grip on her hand, his thumb caressing her skin. She stared at him with wide eyes. "V?"

V began to move, gently pulling her along with him. Trying not to blush, she realized that he was dancing with her. She suddenly felt ashamed that she would think it was anything other than that.

What was wrong with her?

After a few moments just moving in silence, the music helping her keep pace with him, she heard him sigh contentedly.

"I waited three years to hold you like this again," he muttered, spinning them around.

"You could have come sooner."

"No, I couldn't," he spun them again. "Evey, I kept my distance from you until I believed that you were ready. I… I believed that you needed peace, in all of the changes you have made. Your choice that night, to destroy Parliament, reshaped your life." he slowed them down until their dance was just a sidelong scuff. "Reshaped England..." Evey waited patiently for him to finish, trying to comprehend his words.

Hearing him speak… It felt like time had stopped since she'd last heard his voice…

V's grip on her hand tightened lightly. "I waited… waited for you to finish what we started. I wanted to give you time. Until the weight of the changes finally lifted from your shoulders, I stayed in the shadows, never letting you know that I was alive." His head dipped in shame. "I'm sorry to put you through this..."

Evey stared at him in bewilderment. Then it clicked. "The speech… you watched the speech tonight."

"Yes."

"Were you… were you there…?"

"...Yes."

Breath rushed from her lungs. Of course, all of those masks… I never would have known… "So… you chose now?"

"Yes, I did." He stopped them, staring down at her. He didn't let go. "What you said out there tonight, it proved to me that you were finished. And now… now we can move on."

Her shoulders lifted defensively. "'We'?" she echoed.

"Listen to me, Evey…" he pulled her hand to his chest. "For decades I had believed a lie. I convinced myself that I was incapable of becoming like any other man. But when I saw you, everything changed–"

"I don't like where this is going, V," she interrupted, pulling away from him. Her hand slid from his grip, and she backed into the piano, holding onto it for stability. Her knees were weak, and her heart was pounding. But her mind felt empty; like she felt nothing at all. His words sounded too familiar… his last words… that he…

He…

V reached for her, taking a step closer, but did not touch. "I've returned for you, Evey."

She shook her head wildly, eyes burning. "This isn't happening," she realized. "You're not real. You're–" she closed her eyes, and something in her mind went out, like a bursted light.

And as her knees gave out, her mind drowning, strong arms quickly wrapped around her...

...and held her close.

VVV

"Mr. Kellen?"

"What is it, Jackie?"

She hesitantly inched her way through the door, holding tightly onto her bag. "I'm… heading out now. Do you want me to bring back anything?"

"No."

She eyed the nearly empty glass on his desk, and the bottle next to it. "You sure?"

"Just go, Jackie."

"Fine, fine… hey," she turned, frowning. "Do you know where Evey is? She never misses a day. She isn't sick, is she?"

Charles sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I haven't heard from her either."

"Did something happen?" she asked, mouth serious; eyes curious.

"..."

"Charles–"

"Just go, Jackie."

She sighed. Leaving the room, she mumbled under her breath. "If you hurt her–I swear to God, I'll kill you."

When the door closed, his eyes darted up to the frosted glass.

And he poured himself another drink.

VVV

Unlike any other time she'd woken in that room, there was only smell.

Evey sat up slowly, looking around.

"Oh God," she whispered, bare feet gracing the cold stone floor. "Oh my God…" Her hands reached up to her face, her fingers were cold.

The night before came flooding back, along with a scent she hadn't experienced for three years.

She hesitantly followed the smell, trying to convince herself that it was all just a trick, that everything from the night of November fifth was nothing more than a fatigue-induced dream. There was no way that he was alive, no way that he could be making…

She rounded the corner to the kitchen.

"Ah, good morning," V chimed, folding his hands.

Evey looked down at the table and saw a massive assortment of different types of breakfast; but what caught her attention most was the Eggy in a Basket placed right in front of what used to be her spot. She swallowed. "Just like old times, huh?"

V chuckled to himself. "I would certainly hope so. You must be hungry! Please, sit down," he offered, motioning to her chair.

She sat down warily, staring up at his face. He smiled back at her, like he always did. "Last night… did it… am I…"

V stayed where he was, not moving a muscle. Evey appreciated it; she knew that he knew that anything more would frighten her.

"Yes," he said, "I can assure you, Evey, that all of this… is real."