Serana paced back through the streets towards Breezehome, going over all that she and Aela had talked about.
"Serana, are you thinking of curing yourself?"
"Pretty sure I am actually," she answered, "been thinking about it for a while."
"Why do you want to stop being a vampire, Serana? Someone pressuring you?"
Serana looked over at her, "you really think anyone could pressure me?"
Aela raised an eyebrow, "I hope not, for their sake."
Serana smiled, before looking up at the horizon.
"I've been a vampire for so long, Aela. Literally centuries. It's hard to remember what it was like before that. But all this time, I've had to sate a thirst for blood, avoid the Sun, and keep finding ways to be proud of what I am. I really don't want it anymore. The hood up every day, the potions of blood. I'm done with it."
"What are you going to do?"
Serana opened the door to Breezehome and let the warm feeling of home hit her. The fire was low in the pit on the floor nearby, and Meeko was sleeping next to it on the fur carpet. He raised his head when she came in and prodded over to her. Serana smiled and knelt down to scratch his neck.
"Who's a good boy, huh? Where's your dad?"
Meeko looked up the stairs and back at Serana before she smiled, stroked his head and stood up.
"Good boy, back to bed," she whispered and Meeko turned and went back to his spot, circling several times before laying down.
Serana silently went upstairs and around to the bedroom, where she found her husband sitting on the side of the bed, writing in his journal. He turned though to the sound of her entrance and smiled with a raised eyebrow.
"Hey, have a good girl's night out?"
Serana smiled, "for my first one in thousands of years, wasn't too shabby. The story of your previous engagement was particularly fun."
Nero's eyes widened before he closed them solemnly.
"No one's ever gonna let me live that down, huh?"
"Not a chance," laughed Serana before she removed most of her clothing, climbed into bed and put her arms around her husband.
"You being the spoon tonight, huh?" he smiled.
"You wish," she returned, "actually, I've got something to talk to you about."
He looked up from his journal at that, before putting it away and turning around to face her.
"What's up?" he asked.
"I'm going to go away for a few days," she answered.
"O... kay. What for?" Nero asked curiously.
Serana wondered how best to put it, and realised there wasn't really any other way.
"I'm going to go get cured."
She watched Nero's expression change to surprise, "really?"
She nodded, "should only be gone for a few days, then I'll come back."
"Why... where did this come from?" he asked.
Serana explained everything; her conversation with Aela, her thoughts over the past month. Everything. When she was done, Nero sat back and swallowed it all.
"I need you to know, Nero, I'm not doing this because of you. You accepted me like no one else did. I know my being a vampire doesn't bother you, any more than your lycathropy bothers me. It's my choice."
Nero smiled, and Serana wondered why.
"What?" she asked with a smile.
"Sometimes you remind me just how much I love you."
He leant in and kissed her long and softly, and she cupped his cheeks in her hands as he did, before he finally pulled away.
"Who exactly are you going to see about this? That man in Morthal? Fa... Fari... Faleo.."
"Falion, and no. He deals with more common forms of vampirism, mine is a little more unique. I need to see someone with a few more years of experience than him, and who knows about my form of vampirism personally."
Serana watched Nero raise and furrow his eyebrows in thought for a few moments, trying to think of who she meant, before he finally realised.
"I guess you'll finally get the chance to tell your mother about the baby," he smiled.
"That's the idea," smiled Serana as she pushed him down into the covers and came down after him.
"When do you leave?" he asked before he began kissing her.
"In the morning."
"So we have all night," he said before attacking her neck, and she moaned in pleasure as he did so.
~ The Next Day ~
Serana packed some things for the trip while Nero got breakfast ready. Lydia was sat at the table with a cup of coffee.
"Does Adrianne need to start hammering at the crack of dawn every day?" she groaned.
"Only when someone nextdoor has a hangover," joked Nero as he set the table.
Once breakfast was ready, Serana put the bag in a chair and sat down with Nero to eat something.
"So when will you be back?" asked Lydia.
"A few days. Essentialy going back the way we came yesterday so should arrive maybe by the morning tomorrow."
"Have fun," said Lydia, "more than I am right now."
Nero smiled, "maybe you see why I limit my intake now, huh?"
Lydia laughed, "not that far but getting there."
They broke their fast before Serana picked up her things and headed outside with Nero. She said bye to Lydia who wento up the stairs back up to bed.
"You wouldn't know she's a Housecarl, would you?" joked Serana.
Nero laughed, "looks like I'm carrying the burdens now."
They embraced each other tightly for a long while before eventually Serana pulled away.
"Well take care of her, I'm sure Farkas is in the same boat. And good luck with packing."
"I knew this was all a ruse for you to get out of helping!"
Serana smiled evilly, and kissed Nero.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Serana picked up her bag and headed for the gate which was opened by the guards soon as they saw her coming. She pulled up her hood for what she hoped would be one of the last times, and headed for the stables.
Author's Notes:
Really enjoying writing things from Serana's perspective for a change. It's good to flesh out her character and follow her directly this time around.
Slightly shorter chapter but glad I could get something out!
Dragon Language:
None used
Thank you readers for your patience, I'll work on the next one soon as I can!