A/N: 2024.04.09

Hello, all! So, this idea was inspired by another reviewer on another site and, of course, as usual, I ran with it. Now, keep in mind, I started planning this before Valhalla DLC was announced. So, I do allude to some conclusions Kratos comes to in Valhalla. That being said, I will do a sequel to this one-shot later, then a brand new story, separate from these stories, that is set after the events of Valhalla. Alright! Enjoy!

After the Sorrow (After the Rage Part II)

Alfheim.

"Kratos, there's something important we need to discuss," Freya said, boldly.

"Famous last words," Mimir muttered, jokingly.

"Mimir!" Kratos chided.

"May we discuss it alone?" Freya requested.

"Of course. I'll leave you with Lúnda, Mimir."

"If Helka tries to eat me!" Mimir argued.

"You'll live."

"I'm not alive now!"

Kratos grunted. But Mimir swore it sounded like a laugh.

After leaving Mimir with Lúnda at her shop, Kratos and Freya walked to a peaceful area, overlooking the sands. It was easy to get lost in the beauty of it all.

But Kratos could sense Freya's topic was important, as she seemed to be a bit anxious. "What did you wish to discuss?" Kratos asked.

Freya took a quick breath. "Before I begin… may I ask…" she looked at him, "are you… still… alright with us? Our… relationship."

Kratos nodded. "I am. I would not toy with your emotions in such a way."

Freya exhaled in relief. "I know. Then… what I wanted to discuss… was… you and I… living… together. Having a permanent home. One that we… we share." She shifted a bit, "A… bed we can share."

Kratos froze. He looked off, slowly exhaling.

Afraid she had angered him, Freya put her hands up, "Kratos. Please. I, in no way, meant to upset you! Or-or disrespect you. I'm not asking you to… let me into the home you shared with Faye. We can have a home anywhere! I just want… to be with you. Have a home with you."

"I'm not angry, Freya," Kratos replied. "I… I wish to have a home with you. I truly do. My… apprehension is because… having a home… I always fear its outcome."

Freya sighed. "Of course. I know you've lost… so very much."

"As have you."

"The difference being you lost Faye and your love for her has never diminished." Freya sighed. "My love for Odin… died some time ago."

Kratos stood in silence for a while. "It's more than that."

Freya blinked, leaning her head slightly.

"There are many things I haven't explained about who I am, Freya. You know my titles… you don't know how I gained them. How I earned them. I wish to make a home with you. If this is truly what you want, as well… there are some things about me you must know. You must know the truth."

"Kratos, you've told me so much already. How… much more can there be?"

"A great deal more," Kratos answered. "You have to hear it. To understand… more about who I am… and who I have been."

Freya heard it in his voice. There was a lot of pain. No matter Kratos was about to say, it wasn't going to be please. Nevertheless, she nodded, concernedly, "Alright."

They sat on the ground and Kratos explained everything. The truth of his service to Ares, how he became the Greek God of War, and all of the crimes he committed. Every battle, all of the deaths he could recall, and every sin worthy of mentioning. Through it all, Kratos admitted to everything, never holding back his own reasons, as faulty as they were. Kratos didn't try to justify himself, either. He knew better.

To conclude, Kratos told Freya the truth about Lysandra and Calliope and their ashes. The reason he became known as the Ghost of Sparta.

When Kratos finished speaking, Freya sat in complete total shock. It took her a few minutes to completely gather her thoughts. "That's why they called you that?"

Kratos paused. "Yes."

Freya looked off, still comprehending all she just heard.

"I understand if that changes your opinion of me. In truth… I expect that it will."

"No, it doesn't. It…" Freya exhaled. She wiped a tear away. "When you told me about paying your family's blood back… that need for revenge… I can see how that could even exceed the hatred I had for you." She looked back at him. "How have you… carried these burdens… and not broken into a million pieces?"

Kratos considered that. "Perhaps I have. Several times. Perhaps… some of the pieces… have long since fallen away. Lost along my journey. I'll never recover them."

Freya thought it over for a moment. "No. No, that's not true. If it were… Atreus wouldn't be the wonderful boy he is."

"His mother raised him that way."

"Stop discrediting your influence on him. Stop pretending you haven't grown to be a great father to him."

"I almost led him down the wrong path," Kratos admitted.

"Then you stopped yourself," Freya reminded. "Don't assume your mistakes exceed your triumphs." She recalled a very specific event that she still tended to feel guilty about. "When Atreus freed Garm… we all berated him. He made a mistake… haven't we all. But… he was just trying to do the right thing, that's all he ever tries to do. But he made another, we berated him… and you defended him. You could've joined us in telling him how he failed, how grave his actions were. Instead, you were his father. You knew Atreus knew he made a mistake. You knew Atreus didn't need any more reminders or accusations. You knew how to speak with your son, to show him the right path. You showed him how to be a warrior who cares. How to be strong, in body, in mind, and in his heart." She took hold of Kratos's hand. "I was wrong. I… was wrong, Kratos. Things I've accused of you before… seeing you as only a killer, only as a monster… listen to me. I. Was. Wrong."

Kratos could see the sincerity in her eyes. It was making his love for her grow. "You were not." He shook his head, "I was a killer. A monster."

"Not since I've met you."

"Your opinion is biased, now."

Freya smiled, "Perhaps."

Kratos looked off.

Freya rubbed his hand with her thumb. "You've changed. You're different now. Better."

"I still have a great deal more to learn."

"We both do."

Kratos gazed into her eyes, "Thank you, Freya."

"Thank you for telling me, Kratos," Freya smiled. "That truly means more to me than you know." She kissed him. After the kiss, she smiled. "One last item."

"What's that?"

"Mimir is going to need his own… separate room."

Kratos chuckled, lowly. "Agreed."

A/N: What did you think? It's always kind of hard to keep Kratos in character. But I think I'm doing okay at it. Let me know.

Since I seem INCAPABLE of not turning one-shots in trilogies, there will one more sequel to finish out this series. Well, I say "finish out", but we'll see what happens. See you next time!