Emerie laughs in glee as she downs her third glass of wine. As it happens, the House of Wind will usually give Nesta, which now included all of them, what they want, and tonight, all three Valkyries are having a sleepover. Yes—a sleepover. With a lot of wine.

Nesta laughs at Gwyn who is giggling uncontrollably on the floor. She had sent Cassian away to the River House and made him tell the others that they want an uninterrupted girls' night. They had started out playing board games and painting each other's nails as if they were little kids again, but once the wine got involved, it turned into tales of embarrassing moments. They may have even joked around at their mutual horrific childhoods in their drunken stupor, unable to vote on who's was the worst.

"Gwyn get off the floor!", Nesta laughs as she drapes herself over the table. Emerie squeals with laughter, panting for breath as Gwyn's face turns as beet red as a tomato. Glancing at the clock, Nesta laughs harder. "It's nearly three, we should be asleep. Shhhhh! The house will hear you two."

"Us!?", Gwyn giggles. "The House is enjoying this as much as we are!", she squeals in glee, gasping as her arm accidentally hits her own glass next to her, spilling the contents onto the floor. Within seconds it disappears as the House cleans it up.

"Heyyy", Gwyn whines. "Now I have no more wine!"

Emerie snorts. "Oh you have plenty of 'whine', Gwyn", she laughs. Nesta joins in and they start another fit of giggles as Gwyn pouts cutely, her face still brightly flushed.

Emerie grins brightly. "Hey guys, I just realized something."

The giggling ceases for a moment, lazy smiles coming upon Gwyn and Nesta's faces.

"Oh no, here comes weepy Emerie", Nesta mumbles fondly.

Gwyn tears up already in anticipation. "I love weepy Em. She's so inspirational."

Emerie grins and tears up at the sight of her friend. "I realized that if we had all carried out our lives the way we were supposed to, the way we had been born...none of us ever would have met", she sniffles. "So...in a way, everything MUST happen for a reason because I don't think my life would be this happy if I did have you two." A few tears streak down her face.

Gwyn sobs and stumbles over to sling her arms around her and Nesta's eyes water a bit as she watches them. "I agree, Em. I love you guys so much."

Nesta nods. "I second that."

Letting out a huffed laugh, Gwyn slides into the bench beside her and hugs Nesta's side, feeling her body tense before relaxing, her usual reaction to anything physical that didn't have to do with Cassian. "You can say it y'know. I know you were scared to say it to—to Cassian. And Emerie and I know your fears about it, but it's ok Nes."

"Say what?", Nesta looks into Gwyn's mesmerizingly bright teal eyes.

"That you love us too. I mean, we are kind of like your second set of sisters after all."

"I did."

Emerie pipes up. "Nooo, you said 'I second that'."

Nesta gives them an embellished eyeroll. "Same thing. Plus you both already know how I feel."

"Still", they pout in unison.

Suddenly Gwyn swivels around, squealing and grabbing the table to prevent herself from falling off the bench.

"Gwyn? What?", Emerie asks, frowning.

Gwyn blushes deeply. "Nothing. I—"

"Spill it", Neta urges, knowing the change in her friend's demeanor could only mean one thing, but wanting her to say it without assumption.

Taking a breath, Gwyn nibbles on her lip a bit. "I think Azriel is here to check on us."

"How would you know that? I didn't hear anything", Emerie questions, an eyebrow raising ever so slightly.

Gwyn's cheeks turn red as apples as she looks toward the door, and Nesta can practically feel the buzz coming off her nerves. "I—", she stutters, clearing her throat. "His shadows are cold. Nt like upper cold, just like...I dunno...cool. The temperature changes very slightly. Maybe because I'm part nymph the changes are easier to detect like in water? The room got a little cooler the way it always does when he's here."

Nesta can't even bite back the devilish smirk that bestows her lips as she glances at her friend. "Hm…yeah...I'm sure the nymph thing must be it."

Gwyn glares at her, but it's too cute to be vicious. "He...he can't see us like this Nesta! We're in...pajamas and—and all the wine. See I can hardly speak right and I'm all wobbly."

Emerie giggles and gaps. "Oh, Gwyn! Honeyyyy", she laughs. At that, Nesta can't help but laugh too. "Gwyn has a crushhhh, Nes."

Gwyn's jaw drops and she stares at them horrified. "No! No no no no. I—I don't! I do not! I—I do NOT like Azriel! Why would I?"

Just as she blurts that out to defend herself, in walks Azriel, his movements relaxed and slow until he hears only the last part of that conversation.

Gwyn whirls back towards the door and lets out another high-pitched squeal as she does fall off the bench this time. She keeps her eyes fixed on him, his usually composed and stoic face falling as if he'd been stabbed through the heart, if only for a second before he placed the steely resolve back upon it.

"A—Az...Azriel—I...I didn't mean..."

Emerie and Nesta's laughter had immediately halted when he walked in, watching with second-hand horror and guilt.

Azriel had taken three long strides to her and held out his hand as she sat utterly stunned on the floor. "You owe me nothing, Gwyneth Berdara."

Gwyn shakily grasps his scarred hand, noting again since after the Rite, how soft they are in contrast to the rigid scars throughout them. Azriel pulls her to her feet, noting her matching green pajama set which makes her eyes look brighter somehow.

She notes how his shadows bob and swirl around her happily as he pulls her to her feet before loyally returning to moving around him again.

"No I—I didn't mean that. Not—not in the way you think. Y'see, I'm a bit tipsy."

Azriel nods slowly and glances over at Nesta, narrowing his eyes slightly in silent scolding. Nesta just shrugs and smirks at him, a mischievous glint in her eye as she moves them to rest on her friend, before meeting Azriel's again quickly, a silent nod to knowing his high regard for her.

Quickly averting his gaze back down upon the little Priestess, he gives her the smallest of smiles. "I can certainly see that. I think we are just lucky that it hasn't gotten to the point of you all trekking to Rita's, because I certainly didn't come here to be a babysitter. I do enough of that already."

"Wh-what do you mean?", Gwyn asks him curiously, her eyes wide.

"My nephew", he replies nonchalantly.

"Ohh yeah, little Nyx. How is he? Wait, you really babysit him? YOU?"

"You ask a lot of questions when drunk."

"I'm not—", she hiccups loudly and slaps her hands over her mouth. "...drunk", she continues feebly.

"Why wouldn't I babysit him?"

Nesta lets out a loud, amused scoff and Emerie slaps her arm. Azriel's face frowns again for a split second.

"Well, um...I—I don't know. You seem...", she trails off, chewing her lip cutely but nervously.

Azriel cocks his head to the side. "I seem...what, Gwyneth?" he asks, molten hazel eyes gazing into her own.

"C-Cold", she whispers.

Emerie's jaw drops and she grips Nesta's arm as if the humiliation is too much for /her/. As if she's witnessing a thriller.

Azriel keeps his eyes fixed on Gwyn's as he very slowly lowers his guards, his eyes going from steely and analytical to sad and hurt. "Cold...", he murmurs, repeating her word.

Gwyn tears up, seeing the moment of vulnerability he provided, the moment of clarity and truth he provided only to her. "I'm sorry, I—I didn't mean to offend you, Azriel. I don't think you're bad. I—I know 'cold' must sound like I acquaint you with being bad and that's not true. N-Nes can be cold, but I still love her."

Azriel is caught off guard a bit, his face truly puzzled as he blinks rapidly.

"Shit—ah...I—I didn't mean.../that/. I mean..." Gwyn huffs in frustration and rubs her temples. "My head is cloudy, and I didn't mean to be mean, I didn't mean it meanly."

Nesta and Emerie cover their mouths with their hands, trying their best not to laugh at their poor friend.

At that moment they seem to realize at the exact same time that their hands are still clasped together and their gazes move to their hands before slowly moving them away silently.

"I don't seem to have the impression that you have a mean bone in your entire body, Gwyn. However, context is everything. So when you say that you didn't mean something in a certain way, I believe you", he says slowly in his deep, velvet voice, his eyes reaching hers once again.

Gwyn takes a deep breath, her features softening as they go from horrified to relieved. "Thank you, for understanding."

"Though I can't say I'm not curious about how you shouted you didn't like me. Is there something about me that bothers you? Or is it only when I show up unannounced. I promise you the only reason I am here is because Cassian thought it would be good if I made sure you were all still...functioning and didn't want to risk getting screamed at by his mate."

She giggles in response, her face continually flushed. Nesta scowls at him annoyedly. "Get on with it and leave, Az."

Azriel disregards her outburst and focuses on Gwyn. "So, care to tell me what that was about, Priestess?"

"Hey, I thought we agreed, no titles."

"Right, apologies, Gwyn."

Gwyn sighs softly and swallows hard. "Um, well...um...", she stutters, trying to wrack her brain for an excuse. "It's um...confidential girl group stuff."

He nods a bit, looking a bit down which is unusual for him to show for so long. "So you won't tell me why you dislike me? Or at least what I can do to make up for whatever I'd done that upset you?"

Gwyn's lips part, a solemn note of worry on her face. "Azriel, I /do/ like you. We were...joking around and it was a bad joke, and I'm truly sorry. I never meant any offense or to hurt you. I like your company. Even if Nesta finds it intrusive sometimes."

His expression perks up a bit. "Honest?"

"Honest. Even your shadows are cute."

"Cute?", he asks, puzzled and taken aback. In all his years not one person has called them cute. Scary, horrifying, creepy, weird, dark, evil, bad, hell even demonic. But never once cute.

Gwyn smiles. "Yes. Cute. I quite enjoy the way they dance on occasion. And how they are playful. I'm not sure how they work exactly, but it's nice of you to let them play sometimes."

Emerie giggles happily. "Ask him about the chill!", she squeals, hopping up before Nesta yanks her back down.

Azriel swallows. "The chill?"

Gwyn chews her lip shyly and shoots Emerie a glare, unnoticed by Azriel. "Oh uhh..."

"Gwyn knew you were here before me and Nesta did! Like five minutes before you even walked in!"

Nesta chuckles lightly, amused. "True."

Azriel leans against the counter with his elbow and side, waiting patiently for a response.

"When you show up...the temperature drops a couple of degrees. That's all."

"Really?"

Gwyn nods in the affirmative.

"Nobody's ever told me that."

This time, Nesta pipes up. "That's because /we/ don't feel it, Az. /She/ does."

"I—It's probably because of my nymph side...b-being sensitive to temperature changes that occur in the water so...maybe it works in the air too."

"Yeah...that's certainly possible", he muses, unsure himself. His eyes gaze over her features, the softness within them making his heart swell and the still dance of her many freckles peppering her nose and cheeks a delightful addition to her innocent, yet determined look.

His shadows begin dancing a jig around her once more, seemingly trying to impress her, making a pink flush appear on Azriel's own face. Gwyn only giggles and lifts her hands to interact with them. They respond in kind by weaving around her wrists and between her fingers like eels in water.

"Oh—uh—", Azriel stands there embarrassed and stunned. He had never seen them want to actively engage with another person aside from him before. He had absolutely no idea what to do or how to get them to stop.

Gwyn flashes him a bright, carefree smile, and despite them being somewhat friends, it makes him warm and fuzzy inside. It makes his heart leap in ways it hadn't since he thought of kissing Elain in a jealous rage, or since he believed Mor was the one for him centuries ago. For a split second, he lets all his walls down and lets himself enjoy the sight and emotion of it silently and fully, not even caring that Nesta and Emerie were watching them both, trying to seem busy making tea that would cure their tipsiness.

Suddenly a gasp is ripped out of him and Gwyn at the same time and they make eye contact. Azriel's body goes rigid as if on alert and Gwyn swallows hard, looking a mixture of wonder and confusion. Because nothing limits the walls around her heart like alcohol, and his was nearly impenetrable but for her accepting smile, allowing for them both to be vulnerable in the same moment. The exact right time. Just enough to feel it.

The mate bond. Snapping hard and fast into place as both of their eyes widen in utter shock.