It has been 2 months since the return from Vollachia, everyone got involved in the war and came back safely. Things were rough for them being separated from Subaru. All things are going quite smoothly with everyone focusing on The Royal Selection.

With Emilia studying, Roswaal and Otto handling the official documents and gaining support of nobles from all over the country.

Many nobles were approaching them so they had to sort out which ones will be beneficial to them, and the workload had only increased recently.

Due to Subaru playing a major role in war and helping Vincent regain the throne, his popularity shot through the roof because he was the one leading an army in the battle which broke the Lupugna defenses first. And word got out that he made an entire city, Guaral fall with only 7 deaths.

Most importantly for the Sage Council and upper echelon he played a major role as a diplomat and signed a peace treaty between The Kingdom of Lugunica and The Empire.

From nobles to commoners, everyone sung his praises as they were astonished that the same black haired powerless boy who ashamed himself at the Royal Palace in the ceremony one year ago and got beaten to a pulp.

That same black haired boy managed to played a major role in defeating the White Whale,Sloth then defeating The Great Rabbit,Greed, conquered the Pleaides Watchtower and also led an army to the decisive battle in the Empire.

And from his group Ram also killed a Sin Archbishop of Gluttony. No one knew but the authority went to it's new owner:Subaru and was not manifested yet.

He took care of the majority of threats that threatened their Kingdom. He was a great hero.

According to them not only he was a great strategist but also a good diplomat sealing the non aggression pact between two nations.

Finally moving on to his friends -

Rem had woken up but didn't had memory of her past life. She still acted badly towards Subaru, but he accepted that she will not be the same and stopped trying to interact too much with her. Everyone in the camp bonded with her quickly especially Ram gaining back her sister.

Roswaal was the same old same old with his creepy habits now that the chances of Emilia winning the election increased.

Garfiel was amazed at his Cap'n as he heard that he commanded everyone at the Gladiator Island to defeat a Guiltylowe. He also heard the war cries of the soldiers when his Cap'n entered the battlefield and tipped everything in their favor.

Otto had gone back to his office to stamp and do all the things an Internal Affairs Minister is supposed to be doing.

Frederica,Meili and Petra were happy to see that Subaru finally came back but a little annoyed that he brought another loli Louis.

As much as everyone wanted to get rid of her due to being a Sin Archbishop, Subaru remembered his time in Hall of Memories where the Archbishop said that she will not release memories of others as she is terrified that Subaru will kill her. So yeah, they wanted to find a workaround for her to release memories so that anyone in lost memory state can be recovered.

Beatrice was if not the happiest then the second happiest getting her contractor back, now always near her contractor scared that black shadows will emerge again and take him away from her.

Lastly, Emilia who was terrified of losing her only knight was on cloud nine when her favourite knight returned to her. She had felt these extremely warm and fuzzy feeling watching his face, hearing his voice and holding him in her arms. She was now finally sure that she loved him but the only problem was she didn't know how to confess and answer his feelings.

Just Watching him puts a smile on her face, and she was missing his unusual antics. It gave her the scare of her life when he was far away from her, out of reach which helped her find conclusion to her feelings. The longing she had when he was away, ready to do anything to reach him even a second faster.

Trying to confess her love was so hard for her that she forgot what to say to him when he lovingly called out to her and she became a stuttering mess sometimes.

But she still hadn't confessed to him and is wondering how to go about it.

Subaru being self deprecating as always thought that it was his mistake and asked for what's wrong to apologize but she always brushed him of saying that it's nothing.

He was a bit sad that Emilia didn't tell him the problem troubling her. But let it be.'If I did something wrong then I'll apologize when she feels like telling me'

Lastly, he realised how much Satella did for him and saved him. She began to appear in his dreams. He was summoned to her Shadow Garden everytime he sleeps and spends all the time while his body rests in the real world his mind receives comfort by the Satella.

He was very confused how to interact with the witch and couldn't steel his nerves enough to approach her. He feared that she might get angry and do what she did in one of the loops in the Sanctuary.

She was sobbing all the time in those three days.

First three days of meeting with Satella in his dreams didn't go well because he remembers that at the Watchtower, Envy was about to consume him for eternity not allowing him to turn back time. Then, he was told by Satella that Envy wanted to control him and when Satella gained control she used Shamak and a teleportation spell to send him somewhere far away to keep him safe from Envy.

It was a mistake on her part that she didn't specify where he will be teleported as she didn't want to force him to be with her and continued apologising for three days due to the hell he had to experience in Vollachia and with her losing sight of him causing him more trouble.

On the fourth day, Subaru approached her himself and told her -

"Satella, please don't cry, I am sorry for not talking to you sooner. So who am I talking to? Envy or Satella?"questioned Subaru.

"I ... Am ... Satella. I am sorry that Envy tried to consume you... When I gained control I sent you far away from Envy because she would have not let you escape." sobbing in between.

"Then thank you, Satella you saved me yet again. As I couldn't have escaped from that place as I didn't had a body to do kill so as to go back in time."

"I am really sorry." said Satella apologetically. Subaru brought his hands to her face to wipe her tears.

Subaru was still a soft hearted person, one who forgave and tried to save even Rem after she tortured him for hours but Satella who always wanted to save him, he still wanted to repay the debt somehow.

"Ahh" Satella gasped." No, you don't have to force yourself to do anything I didn't bring you here to console me or thank me, I just don't want you to have your nightmares and hurt yourself" said Satella frowning and leaking more tears.

"Satella, calm down, as you are helping me, I also want to do something for you. Please, now you don't have to hide your face with the veil. I have accepted you as a friend- "said Subaru softly."-So please show me your face."

Satella nodded.

Subaru slowly reached out for her veil and removed it with all the care as she expected him to treat her.

Even when he doesn't have his memories he still treats her so carefully. She was feeling a bit happy at that.

He finally removed her veil and uncovered her face. Her puffy eyes,sad face and leaking tears sent a pang of pain through him.

He still didn't had his memories as Flugel but he really wanted to remember what he did to save Satella. He truly wanted to remember her.

As if something was unlocked inside of him, the immense love he always felt towards her. He felt the urge to return it. As if his feelings long lost were recovered, but only feelings not memories.

He suddenly got overwhelmed by his feelings to comfort her, hold her closely in his arms,wipe her tears,soothe her,pat her head or do anything he can to stop those tears leaving her eyes,to do anything he could to stop those which are making her grieve. It seemed the natural reaction to him. He did it instinctually.

Subaru instantly held her by her shoulders and pulling her into a hug,her face buried in his crook of neck.

Satella's face flushed deep scarlet as she waited for this since 400 years and now finally embracing her beloved.

'Noooo! This must be a dream, I am going crazy finally. Why would he try to comfort the one who made his life living hell'Satella thought sarcastically.

She forgot in her self depreciation that same Subaru forgave Rem and helped everyone who had once rejected him to move towards the safe future tomorrow.

His kindness, sympathy and empathy was unmatched. And she realised yet again why she loved him.

"Satella" he lovingly called out her name."Everything will be fine now"he cooed near her ears. Saying those familiar words whenever she was struck in a bad situation even 400 years ago.

Putting his chin on her head and embracing her putting hand on her back and on her head.

Satella remembers how long she had been waiting for her lover to hold him, to speak to her. Oh, how long she had dreamt of this.

And finally-

Satella's dam broke as she began wailing crying loudly and returning the embrace to her love in her arms. She began to let out 400 years of anguish, suffering and loneliness through her tears.

Subaru slowly began to stroke her head and kept drawing circles on her back so that she would calm down. Her crying voice brought tears to his eyes too. He kept whispering sweet nothings in her ears as well. It seemed the right thing to do.

She kept crying for two hours and had finally calmed down now. They were sitting in front of each other now.

"Umm ... Thank you so much Subaru. I missed the warmth of another person for so long."Satella said gratefully fiddling with her thumbs.

"It's fine. I know how it feels"

"But I brought you here to comfort you not the other way around."said Satella while pouting.

Subaru laughed. "Don't dwell on it too much. By the way you look way too adorable right ." Subaru said grinning.

'Cute. He called me cute. Is there a chance for me now' thought Satella and her face got red.

Satella was trying her hardest to not lose control to Envy during the whole thing but hearing that word pulled the final straw.

Envy pounced on Subaru pinning his hands near his head and growled possessively"Cute cute cute cute cute cute. I am cute. I am cute. I am cute. I am cute. I am cute. I am cute. Please do whatever you want my beloved. Use me however you want because I am cute. Ehehehe."and began giggling pervertedly.

'Did She enter her Yandere mode.'

Subaru was shocked and currently unable to move. Hearing those words by the most beautiful girl and in the sweetest voice gave him chills down his spine. He was trying to move but couldn't get free. He realised Envy was in control.

"Satella. Please come back, I am a little terrified right now."

Hearing her name called out she was able to gain control again.

She released him from her grasp and began asking for forgiveness.

"I am sorry, I will send you back now you seem to be fine and not have nightmares. Envy might take control again and do something this time."

"Yup, I like it more with you in charge but ok you can send me back. Thank you for your therapy session"he said smiling.

Subaru began fading slowly. Just before fading completely.

"Leaving this way, it seems like I am dying."

She looked a bit angry at this but mustered up her best lovestruck face and-"I love you."she said in the most passionate tone.

Before Subaru could react, he faded completely.

Waking up from the dream, with Beatrice hugging him. He found himself back in his bedroom. Now he was completely relaxed and calm. He remembers what happened in the shadow garden.

'I have never tried to understand or interact with her until now. It seems like a good chance to learn what really happened.'

But seriously why would she love him of all people.

Subaru had always known that he wouldn't have survived this long without her interference as long as he had. He is grateful to her and but has not thanked her properly yet. He understood her importance when he was all alone in Gladiator Island, so he didn't outright reject her and talked it out with her. Since then she appeared in his dreams only when he was about to have nightmares to comfort him.

He fell asleep again. If he's lucky he might meet her again.

- 3 Days later -

They have returned from Vollachia and was now sleeping in his bed cuddling Beako.

He was once again having nightmare about Chaosflame. The ten second death loop. Pure hell and utter agony.

He was about to scream and scratch himself when suddenly-

Black.

Darkness.

Nothingness.

He found himself floating.

A sense of peace and tranquility suddenly filled his entire body.

He was suddenly feeling loved. Beneath his head he felt warmth of another person.

"Subaru, open your eyes"

Subaru slowly opens his eyes and finds himself laying his head on Satella's lap, a lone tear escaping his eyes.

"Yo,Satella"Subaru said tiredly.

Slowly patting his head and soothing his hair she said in her best calming tone "Just relax here for now,my beloved. You were about to have a nightmare."

Still being self deprecating fool he was -

"Hmmm. It is really calming. I was about to hurt myself again,I guess and I would have created more trouble for Beako and you. Sorry for this, Satella. Didn't you say that you're running low on mana and would have trouble summoning me here again when I was here last time. I just created more trouble for you." Subaru said apologetically, forming fresh tears in his eyes.

Satella didn't like it at all that her love was always like this. She is going to have to do something about this sooner.

"Don't worry about it I was able to restore some amount of mana so, it's no problem. I just didn't want you to hurt yourself again. Sorry for calling you here without your permission." she said while running her hands through his hair and wiping tears on his cheeks.

"If anything I am grateful to you for this treatment so, thank you"

"Think nothing of it, dear. I thought you would get angry at me for bringing you here"

"No, I won't. The peace I feel right now is just what I needed. Thank you again."

Satella showed a beaming smile and continued stroking his hair.

"Satella really has timing like Buddha, like I was about to have a nightmare and you called me here"he said smiling sheepishly.

"Don't joke about it, it was bad enough that I couldn't do anything when I lost you. Don't take your suffering so lightly. And don't make jokes about it either. "scolded Satella pointing a finger at him.

"Satella, how can I come here again? What is this place called? How time moves in the real world when I am here?"fired a barrage of questions at get out of curiosity.

"This place is called Shadow Garden. We can do anything here and we can create anything we want in here out of nothing. It also replicates the feelings of the real world in all honesty. I can control this realm so I blocked pain for you, that's why you're not feeling any pain. I can allow you to enter here when you call my name. Time can be slower or faster depends on how I want it." answered all questions truthfully.

"There's a taboo about speaking your name so, can I call just 'Tella' for you to call me here and please slow the time as much as possible"

He thought that it might be very useful in battles if he had time to think clearly instead of being constantly terrified by your enemy.

"Yes, of course. I'll remember that and fulfill your wish to come here. It's a nickname then?"she said and questioned.

'He only gave her a nickname to avoid calling her name.' Satella snorted at the irony that once he gave her that same name as proof of his affection and closeness to her, but as unpredictable as always her beloved was.

"It's not only a nickname but it's the best proof of affection and closeness that I can give which means I trust you now."said grinning.

Satella blushed. Her love was always one step ahead of her.

Whenever Subaru was about to have a nightmare Satella would bring him to the garden without asking and lend him an ear, a shoulder or lap to cry on. She was happy to be able to talk with him without him being hostile.

It slowly became their daily routine to meet in shadow garden even without nightmares.

The calming sensations brought by being able to talk with someone about his trauma was good for him else his mind would have been broken without her help.

He began to sleep properly nowadays received much needed and deserved rest without nightmares and his eye bags were disappearing. His mood was a lot better usually now. Beatrice was elated that her contractor had no nightmares and was sleeping peacefully these days without self harm.

This is my first fic. Please do leave a review.