AN: HAIYO! (That is apparently how I have decided to say hello IRL... so I thought I'd try it on here... Doesn't work quite so well does it?)

Anyhoo! So my computer is acting up and preventing me from listening to music properly, as well as my graphics tablet dying so my projects are now on hold :( Sad times... BUT it doesn't stop me writing! So I hope you enjoy the chapter xx

As she entered the hall, Arianna wiped the last of her tears away, pushing away the images of her fears and worries as she scanned the hall for her husband. She smiled when she noticed him sat at their usual table, and she hurried over with her breakfast.

"Good morning." She greeted brightly.

"Good morning." He replied, the same awkward tone in his voice that Arianna found was becoming normal. She shifted in her seat.

A strained silence fell over them as the two ate, and Arianna found the lump returning to her throat as the buzzing heat that suggested tears were trying to form hummed in the corners of her eyes. She didn't think he would notice.

"Arianna, is everything alright?" the awkwardness was gone, replaced by concern she hadn't expected to hear, and her head lifted to stare at him, her breakfast forgotten as the tears welled and spilled down her cheeks. His eyes widened. "Why are you crying?"

"I…" she lifted a hand to wipe away the tears, but more fell to replace them and all she managed to do was make her hands wet as she tried desperately to push the tears away. But they would not obey, and in the end she gave up, just staring at her hands in confusion. "I… I don't…" she stammered.

He pushed a handkerchief into her hands. "Here." She used it in silence, but no matter how many tears she wiped away, more would come. He sighed. "What's wrong?" it came out completely wrong. The way he said it made it sound as though it was a bother, and he didn't want to know, and that just made her cry more.

"I-I'm sorry…" she stammered, struggling to breath as she choked on the tears.

"Don't apologise. What's wrong?" It was gentler this time, sincere and kind, and it was as if he'd never been awkward with her. It was enough to make her look at him again.

"I just… everything is just getting on top of me."

"Everything?" he frowned. He had not been aware anything had been amiss, aside from the fact that she had lost her family. Her eyes widened, and he realised she had probably not meant to tell him that there was more than just her family upsetting her. She gulped. "I believe you have some explaining to do."

"H-huh?" she asked, a little confused.

"You are preventing me from doing my job." He said with a frown, which she quickly emulated.

"Wh-what do you mean?" her voice was still shaking, but it had calmed a little, thanks to the fact that he was finally acting at least slightly normal.

"I am supposed to protect you… How can I do that if you do not tell me what is wrong?" he said seriously. She was silent for a long moment, staring at him. Finally, she looked down.

"I didn't want to bother you…" she muttered nervously.

"It is not a bother to make sure my wife is happy. As I'm sure you would say it was not a bother to look after me when I was ill." It was clear from the way he said it that he wouldn't believe her if he said so, but that only proved his point. She did not look at him, though.

"I… I guess you're right… But-" he raised a hand to silence her.

"No buts. Tell me what is wrong. Perhaps I can help." She wanted to revel in the normalcy a little longer, but the look on his face told her he was not feeling patient, and would soon begin to push her for an answer. So, she sighed and nodded.

"Okay… Well... You know about my parents… that's still… upsetting." It took her a few moments to gather her thoughts together, before she began to lay out her worries and fears for him properly. "I-I'm worried about Ellen, as well. She's been researching the relationship between magic and technology… She's only been reading stuff so far, but she keeps mumbling about needing evidence, and I don't want her to do anything stupid and get expelled… She'll be all alone…" she felt herself rambling, and stopped herself, taking a deep breath. He took this pause to nod.

"I will talk to Miss Middleton. If I tell her you are concerned for her, I'm sure she will be willing to put her research aside for at least a while. Have you spoken to her yourself?"

"I- I made her promise not to experiment… But…"

"Of course, you're concerned she might try to conduct such experiments behind your back. I shall remind her of the consequences of such actions." This provided a great amount of comfort to Arianna, though it didn't show on her face. She knew Hieronymous was good at scaring people into following the rules for their own good, so she felt better knowing he would turn that skill to stopping her friend from doing anything stupid. After a long moment, he realised that she was still crying and didn't look very comforted. "I sense this is not all that troubles you?" he prompted, and she shook her head minutely, refusing to look at him. He waited, knowing that pushing her for an answer was foolish. She seemed to war with herself for a long while, before she took a deep, shaky breath and met his eyes.

"Why have you been awkward with me?" he started, his eyes widening as he stared at her pleading, watery eyes, full of hurt and worry and fear. He gulped.

"I don't know what you mean." It was true, he didn't…

"The other day… You… You seemed really awkward with me… and when I asked if you wanted some company, you said you were busy… But you've got nothing to do. And you've been awkward today as well… Did I do something wrong? Did I upset you?" He stared at her, realising she was right… He had stuttered and stammered that he was busy when she had offered to spend time with him… He had been avoiding her other than seeing her at meals, and when he thought back over the past couple of days, he realised their meals together had been hauntingly silent. He gulped. He knew why… It was obvious, once the matter was examined. But he couldn't tell her that…

Could he?

"I…" he sighed. "I did not realise… It is true, though."

"Why? What did I do?"

"No, you have done nothing…" Well, that's not entirely true. He told himself. Simply by existing she has done something.

"Then… why?"

A silence hung between them, the tension thick and stifling to the couple, though neither was sure if they could be called that. But suddenly, Hieronymous sighed. "Because I am a coward…" he muttered sadly, closing his eyes. She was silent, contemplating his answer, trying to understand what he could possibly mean by it. "I… I am sorry. I have been pushing you away, though unintentionally."

"What do you mean?" she asked softly. She had a feeling she knew what he meant, but she could see from the tension in his face that he needed to say it himself.

"You recall our… discussion? When you first arrived back at the academy?"

"Discussion? I remember an argument…" she muttered, and he couldn't help but smile slightly at the sarcasm in her voice.

"Perhaps that is a more accurate term. Regardless, do you remember my words?"

"You said…" she thought for a moment, then realisation dawned on her, and her next sentence was strong, confident, and contained all the explanation she needed. "You said you were afraid of loving me." He nodded.

"It seems that has not changed in all our time together. And it seems that no matter how many times I tell myself to stop running away, I still do." He explained. "I am a coward." He repeated quietly, and the look in his eyes nearly made Arianna burst into tears again.

"I understand…" she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"You shouldn't."

"But I do."

"I know. And that is one of the reasons I…" he trailed off, a hurt expression crossing his features, and she smiled kindly.

"At least I understand why now." She said, as though it made all the tears worthless. She stood. "In that case… I shall leave you in peace." She said, smiling warmly at him, though he barely noticed it for the pain in her eyes. Before he knew it, she was walking away and silence seemed to weigh on him, despite the low murmur of people chattering around him. He stood swiftly from his seat and followed her, forgetting his book and half-finished meal in his hurry.

He caught up to her in the hall. "Arianna?" she froze, clearly not expecting the low British voice to sound behind her. She turned around and looked at him curiously. Tears had dripped down her cheeks again and she stared at him, wide-eyed before wiping them away hurriedly.

"Hierony-" she caught herself, clearing her throat. "Professor?" He flinched, watching as her face trained into a hollow smile. The exact thing he had wanted to avoid was what was occurring…

"Arianna, I am sorry."

"Whatever for, Professor?" he flinched again at the cold formality in her usually bubbly voice. That's supposed to be how I sound… Not her…

"Arianna…" at his broken half-plea the fake smile flickered for a moment, and her eyes brimmed with tears again. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her mouth and she began to cry silently again. All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her trembling shoulders and sooth her worries away, tell her he loved her… But as he stood there, frozen, she squeezed her eyes shut, turned on her heel and ran down the hall, leaving him alone in the empty corridor with a lump in his throat.

Arianna's visit to the mall hardly distracted her from the ache in her chest or the tears that wouldn't stop flowing from her eyes. She walked like a ghost, empty and cold and completely alone. Nobody commented on her state, but she felt foolish all the same.

She didn't spend long browsing the shelves for a diary, too upset to allow her mind to wander. All she could she was his face, cold and distant… All she knew was that now she had most likely pushed him away for good.

She ended up with a very simple diary with a black cover, which she placed on her desk when she returned to her room, before slumping on her bed and pulling out her nearly full, old diary.

Saturday August 30th 2014

Dear Diary,

Why did I do it? Why did I tell him? I've ruined everything… I pushed him… WHY DID I DO THAT!?

I can't believe how stupid I've been… Everything was fine, and I just had to go and say something to him. But everything wasn't fine. He was being awkward. And now I know why… I guess… I should just leave him alone?

But I love him… I…

Tears smudged the words as she cried, and exhaustion eventually pulled her into an uneasy sleep before Ellen returned from the library to find her friend curled up next to the smudged diary entry. She couldn't resist skimming over the shaky, blurred words, and her heart sank as she studied her roommate's tear-stained face.

"Oh, Arianna…" she whispered sadly, sitting next to her sleeping friend and laying a hand on her hair. "He'll come around… You'll see. Everything's going to be okay." Ellen murmured, although she didn't know if she really believed the words herself.

I...

I have nothing to say... *walks away*