Vilkas waited until it was hours passed before he even thought about making a move. One foot after another, he crept his way out of the room and shut the door behind him. Then he quickly raced down the stairs and out of the inn.

The wind was bitter on his skin but it didn't stop him from running. Quickly he made his way over to the orphanage and knocked on the door. He gave a a shiver and knocked again. Then the door opened.

The owner stood before him, rubbing her eyes.
" Vilkas? What are you doing here so late."

" I'm sorry to bother you so late."
She shook her head and held the door open wider for him to step through.
" Please come inside, you'll get frostbite if you stay out there a second longer."
He didn't waste any time. Immediately he stepped into the orphanage and sighed at the warmth.
" We have to stay quiet, the kids are sleeping." She said as she made her way over to the fire and placed a pot of water over it. " I'll make us some tea while you stay."
He didn't say anything. Instead he focused on searching the beds.

" He's in my room asleep." She explained as she joined him at the table. A small blush rose to his cheeks. He had been caught red handed.

" I was wondering how long it would take for you two to go without him." She continued with a small smile. Vilkas glanced up at her.

" It's Alexandra."
The owner nodded in agreement.
" And you?"

" What about me?"
" Does it hurt you to see her in such pain?"

Vilkas grew quiet. He mindlessly store down at the pattern in the wood of the table. An image of Alexandra's face flashed across his mind. His lips fell into a frown.

" It rips my heart out." He admitted silently.

" And the child. You miss him too?"

He took a deep breath. " I can't go without realizing he isn't there."

The owner smiled softly to herself. She knew that would be the most she would get out of him.

" So you came here to adopt him?"

When he looked at her with shock she shook her head slightly with amusement.

" I live with how many kids? You learn to realize that they are smarter than we adults are."
" Even if I did, I can't take care of him myself. I took care of Farkas so many years ago but I've never really taken care of a cub that young."
" Well you did through your trip here didn't you?"

He grew silent as he pictured the memories of the trip here. Of Alexandra sleeping with the cub on her chest, of her helping him walk around, of her showing him the stars and telling him stories. Of her smile and the sparkle in her eyes. He thought of her.

" If it wasn't for Alexandra I'm not sure what I would have done."
" I don't think you give yourself enough credit."
He watched her stand and ready a tankard of tea for him.
" So it seems the answer is clear."
He furred his brows together.

" You adopt him together."

He nearly let the tankard slip from his hands.

" That means we would be-"
" A family?"

" Not entirely." He grumbled.
" A couple?"

She watched him turn his head away slightly. Suddenly the atmosphere around her changed entirely. She leaned against the table, leaning in close to him so he didn't have the chance to look anywhere else.

" Then the answer is simple. Make her yours."
He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. This was going to be a lot more harder than he expected.

" Give me a pen and the papers."

This was it. With this signature he was signing himself into something he couldn't go back on.

He returned to the inn only to lay down for a few precious moments before hearing Alexandra beginning to stir. The sun had began to rise and it was time to set out.

Their day of traveling an odd one. Alexandra had forced herself to act as if she were alright but Vilkas knew better than to fall for it.
By the time night fell and they had begun to set up camp he couldn't take it any more. He reached over to her and yanked her into his arms.

" Vilkas?"

" You don't have to hide it." He blurted out. " I know you're sad on the inside."

He felt her relax slightly in his arms.
" It's true. I'm terribly sad. But, I've got you as well Vilkas."

He pulled back and looked down at her. Then he smirked softly as his heart began to grow warm.

" I could always treat you like how you treated the cub." He teased. She rose a brow.
" What to do you mean?"

" Well I could tickle you." He teased as he brought his fingers to her sides, earning laughs and giggles as she pleaded him to stop.

" Or I could blow into your stomach."
He quickly reached for her shirt and pulled it up just enough to expose her bare stomach. Then her brought his lips to her delicate skin and blew. Alexandra chuckled and begged him to stop as he continued with his silly antics.
She turned to her side in defense and rolled up into a small ball. But Vilkas wasn't going to let her get away. He climbed on top and still managed to slip his fingers to her sides, tickling her until she couldn't breath.

" I surrender!" She begged as she pawed at his hands. He stopped and put both hands at the side of her head.

" Do you? I think I should keep going." He dared devilishly. She quickly shook her head.

" I don't think you should." She smiled, still trying to catch her breath.

" What's this? Have I brought the great dragonborn to her knees?"

" Don't let it go to your head you wolf." She teased as she looked up at him. He cracked a grin. But as quickly as it came across his lips, it fell.

Alexandra had pushed herself up, wrapping a hand around his neck resting her fingers in his hair as she brought her lips to the corner of his mouth.

" Thank you so much for looking out for me."

Vilkas searched her eyes. The conversation from early that morning at the orphanage had echoed in his head.

" Of course, that's what companions do."
He it was hard to force another smile on his face but it was even harder to force himself not to let the words he truly meant to say slip past his lips.