Halt slipped through the door silently closing it behind him Pauline was waiting for him and ran toward him flinging her arms around his neck kissing him full on the mouth. He caught her in his arms surprised and hugged her tight returning her kiss. When the kiss finally broke he looked at her "I could get used to coming home to that more often" he said softly. She stroked his cheek lovingly resting her forehand against his "I missed you... More than usual" she admitted stroking his back with her other hand. He held her close "I missed you too" he admitted "I must have dreamed about you every night while I was gone." She kissed his cheek softly and lead him toward her bedroom. Right at the door he dug in his heals his subconscious grabbing at him. At his sudden stop she turned "what's wrong?" She asked. He studied her face carefully "won't this change things?" He asked softly a little nervous. She realized then what must be going through his mind and leaned up to kiss him softly "Halt I am a 30 year old woman you are a 36 year old man... We aren't getting any younger" she pulled him the rest of the way into the room shutting the door then moving to him wrapping her arms around his neck "I love you and I am not asking for anything tonight all you have to do is lay here with me but I think we are past due to complicate the hell out of things." At that he leaned in and kissed her deeply his arms encircling her pulling her tightly against him. He kissed her until they were both breathless "are you sure?" He asked. "Oh Halt yes" she replied kissing him deeply once more. Halt wrapped his arms around her pulling her tight once more lifting her and leading them both to the bed.

The next morning Pauline woke warmly wrapped in the blankets and her lovers arms. She sighed contently they hadn't done anything, they were both still clad in their underthings her in her shift him in his breeches. Their night had resulted in heavy kissing and caresses in the dark room but when the time came Halt had respectfully declined "let's work up to it slowly" he had said softly. She had fallen even more in love with him at that knowing what it took for him to say that after 7 years. Afterwards they had wrapped tightly together and fallen asleep in each other's arms, Halt very quickly as he was exhausted and Pauline more slowly as she watched his features relax. At her soft sigh Halt caressed her side lovingly he was already awake. "Good morning" he whispered softly nuzzling her from behind his bristled jaw tickling her neck as he slid by to kiss her jaw. "Mm good morning and happy Yule" she said gently relaxing into his tender kisses. He smiled softly wrapped in the blankets here with her is precisely where he wanted to be on the holidays and every day. He knew it wouldn't always be possible but as often as it could be he would be sure to enjoy it "happy Yule" he said tenderly. She turned in his arms hugging him close in the morning light she could more clearly see his face and his upper body as it was bare to her she noticed a deep marring on his chest then and caressed it she noticed it was quite healed over "Halt... When did this happen?" She asked worried the wound appeared to be over his heart and looked to have been quite serious at some point. He reached up and caressed her hand lightly taking it in his own. He looked at her but the look on her face begged him he sighed "right after you left... After..." He said trailing off not wanting to bring up their daughter in their current state it was easier now but still stung. She nodded he didn't need to explain "how?" He shook his head "Pauline..." "Please?" She said. He consented "I got shot... By a crossbow man... The bolt missed my heart luckily... I was incapacitated for several days some villagers found me... Luckily they were friendly to the crown... They nursed me back to health." She looked at him tracing the scar she had tears in her eyes "this could have killed you... I could have lost you and I didn't even know." He kissed her cheek "hey none of that I'm here... I'm ok and we are together now. All that is in the past" he said softly caressing her side. She nuzzled in tightly to him her arms holding him close she would never turn him away again she swore to herself.