Mieko was incredibly busy for weeks. So busy in fact that she hadn't seen Albedo the entire time. Between working on her merchandise, leaving for repairs, and doing side jobs for people she knew there was no down time at all. She missed him and wasn't sleeping well, the exhaustion starting to show outwardly. "I really can't think without him around…" She sighed as she headed back to Mondstadt from Springvale. However along the path, she ran into the Traveler. They gave her some troubling news about a possible Imposter Albedo, and though she hid her worry in front of the Traveler, her heart dropped. She was terrified about the possibility of her Albedo not being there when she came back. As soon as the Traveler and Paimon were gone, she went straight to Dragonspine, not even bothering to get her warmer clothes from home. Only one thing was on her mind.

"Albedo… Albedo, please be okay…" She said as she hurried up to his camp, not minding the unusually biting cold. She was too scared for his safety. It didn't feel right. Upon arriving on the path up to camp, she paused. There stood someone who looked exactly like Albedo, but he didn't feel right. Something was off. She stared at him as he walked closer, and she felt her anxiety shoot up. Why?

"Something wrong?" He asked. He sounded just like Albedo, but… what was missing? She looked over every inch of him, trying to figure out what was missing. "Mieko?" No nickname. Something was definitely wrong. Albedo rarely called her by her first name anymore. He came right up to her, placing a hand in front of her. "Why don't you come to the lab? It's cold out." He said. She couldn't even reply, what was it that was making her anxious? Then she realized it. Where was his mark? He didn't have a star mark on his neck. She took a few steps back, reaching for her weapon, shaking her head.

"You aren't Albedo…" She whispered, immediately slashing at the Imposter, the imitation of her beloved parrying her attack. They got into a fight, Mieko doing her darnedest to fight him off. Mieko fought hard, but the cold was getting to her. She cursed at herself, but she had to find out where her Albedo was. Her weapon was flung from her hand and she gasped as she was pinned to a rock, feeling his gloved hand on her thigh. Even his touch was different, it was rougher and more aggressive compared to Albedo.

"You would be so much better off with me." He smiled at her. Mieko kicking him off of her and fought for a bit, barely able to land a hit because she was getting so cold. She fell down and she felt the Imposter on top of her. She tried hard to move, but he had her pinned. He began feeling her up, Mieko shutting her eyes and pleading internally for someone to help her. "It's the same, isn't it?" he asked. "It's still his face." she didn't dignify him with an answer, the imposter's hand sliding up her center to her shirt buttons. "Maybe it'll be better if I leave you for him to find…" he chuckled. Mieko sighed softly, knowing that meant Albedo was still alive. She closed her eyes, hoping this wouldn't take too long. She suddenly felt the weight move off of her and opened her eyes to see Albedo, her Albedo, kneeling over her. He was bruised and clearly had been through a fight, his clothes had tears in them too.

"Albedo…?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought to sit up, shaking but relieved that he had found her.

"Shhh… Mie… It'll be ok. I'm so, so sorry, Mie… My darling… I'm here." he soothes, petting her head and kissing her forehead.

"Don't be sorry…" She sat up fully. Albedo glared at his Imposter, handing Mieko her fallen weapon.

"Here. Before he gets back up." Mieko nodded and managed to stand, the Imposter surprised that she had done so, now not hesitating to leave since he was outnumbered. Albedo moved to give chase, but Mieko stopped him.

"No, it's too dangerous." She told him. She went with him back to his camp and once there, she nearly collapsed. She was extremely cold to the touch as well. Albedo picked her up, setting her down on his cot. He wrapped his blankets around her and quickly worked on restarting the small fire, building it a bit larger than usual to try and warm her up. "As soon as I'm warm. We're going back to Mondstadt. Inform Jean and the others." She said softly. "And get you medical attention." She reached up and cupped his cheek, gently stroking with her thumb.

"Mie…" He nods. "I'll be ok, the more important thing is getting you warm." he replies, standing and going to sit on his cot next to her, pulling her into his lap and holding her close, wincing as he aggravates some of his wounds.

"I missed you…" She whispered.

"I missed you too… I've not been sleeping without you next to me."

"Ah, you too?" She asked. "Goodness… we're something, aren't we?" She chuckled. "I love you." She nuzzled him. "He seemed like he was trying to get me to come to him willingly, the way he was acting…" she said. "Like he was trying to take me from you."

"It's very likely… I'll explain once we're back home. I need to make sure he won't come back for you." Albedo said, kissing her forehead.

Once back in the city, Mieko was at home with Albedo, having told Jean and Lisa what happened. Albedo reassured them that he likely wouldn't come down from Dragonspine. But just in case, they promised to be on alert. Mieko sighed as they relaxed in her room, having made sure Albedo was patched up before holding him. "Are you alright? Do you need to eat?" He finally asked, Mieko shaking her head. "Mieko, are you sure? I'm certain you didn't eat, since you went out on that urgent repair. It's already late."

"I'm fine, Albedo. Please. Don't make me let go right now. Just for a minute, please." She said, clearly still shaken from what his doppelganger, his predecessor had nearly done to her. He sat in silence with her, his chest feeling tight again. She was clearly frightened, as well as she hid it from Jean and Lisa.

"Ok. Did… Did him touching you like that ruin it for us?" he asks, nuzzling her.

"Ah, no, it didn't… I just… I need to do something for a while that is safe for me, mentally… I need to calm my frayed nerves." She added, nuzzling him back. "I'm sorry… You must be pent up…" she added. "I am too, but please give me a little while… I promise. I'll make it up to you." She added. Albedo sat patiently with her, starting to relax as she did. Eventually, he kissed her slowly, Mieko melting against him as he did.

"Is that alright?"

"You don't need to feel bad, you know." She nuzzled him. "Just you being here with me like this is doing plenty… if you'd like, you can take a bath and rest. I still want to repair the damage to your clothes." She added.

"You can do that later… I… Right now, I just want to hold you." He replied, relaxing as she curled up with him. "Mie… My Mie…"

"I'm sorry… I know this must be incredibly taxing for you, to be dealing with me like this…" She said to Albedo later that week. She'd been so shaky since the incident, and any time she and Albedo were separated, she'd look him over when he returned to make sure it was him. She'd woken up crying at least twice, and she had been keeping the shop closed, following Albedo around and keeping close when she could. So long as she could see him, she was fine.

"Why are you apologizing? You were nearly…" Albedo stopped himself, balling his hand into a fist. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Mie. I should have warned you when I told you about my age, and the mark." he said softly. Mieko stood up and walked over to him, hugging him close to her.

"It wasn't your fault." She told him.

"You could've died, Mie…" he muttered, playing with her hair to comfort her.

"That was my own fault. I should have gone to get my coat but… Traveler's words… I felt so worried about you, that I just… I just lost all thought…" she tightened her grip on him, taking a deep breath. "Albedo." she looked up at him. "I would go anywhere with you, do anything for you. What's more, I can't handle the thought of losing you"

"Mie… You shouldn't…" he felt terrible, but knowing she felt that way about him was difficult too. She'd just been put in such danger, and yet still she could say that.

"I'm sorry, but it's far too late for that." she replied, shaking her head. "Albedo." she let go of him and took his hand, lifting it to her mouth and kissing the back of it. "Albedo, you have my heart… My soul. I know, to you, this is just an experiment… But, at this point, I'd give up anything and everything to be at your side." Albedo stared at her.

"Why…? Why devote yourself so fully to me?" he asked, confused. Why did she want him so much? His feelings for her began to bubble up as she spoke.

"I wish I could explain, so you could have the data." she smiled, tears forming in her eyes. Albedo lifted his other hand to her face, wiping away the tears gently. "I can't though… I have no words to explain, not right now."

"Then instead of you giving me an explanation… Shall I show you? How that makes me feel?"

"Oh…? If you'd like… What would that entail?" Albedo paused, glancing away before looking at her again.

"It would entail… My being a bit rougher. While we are intimate. But I don't want to scare you."

"Oh, is that all?" she chuckled dryly. "By all means, then. Show me whatever you like, Albedo." she smiled, Albedo nodding slowly. "If it's you, Albedo… I'll do anything."

"Are you sure? You said his touch was rougher than mine."

"But I know your hands… I know your presence." She smiled at him. "If it's too much, I'll let you know… But I'm pent up too, Albedo. So, please?"

"I… Yes, my Mie… My darling."

"I didn't expect you to bite me." Mieko chuckled, Albedo's cheeks red as he sat at the edge of the bed.

"I'm very sorry, Mie… I don't know what came over me."

"It's fine. I told you, it wasn't painful. Just unexpected." She rolled on her side, sitting up and draping the blanket over his shoulders, nuzzling against him. "You also left lots and lots of marks. It's a good thing I usually cover up anyway." She added.

"Still, I'm sorry. After the failed experiment… After what my Brother almost did to you-"

"Shh, Albedo, it's okay." She kissed his cheek and jaw, resting her chin on his shoulder as he relaxed. "There, see? No need to be tense or stressed about it."

"I left bruises too." he mumbled, clearly beating himself up about leaving marks on her skin.

"Albedo. It's fine." She insisted, kissing his ear, causing him to shiver. "Ooh, what a nice response." She teased, smiling. A small noise of surprise left Albedo as he felt her hands moving under the blanket.

"You… Want to do it again?"

"Only if you want to. I'm alright either way." She smiled. "But I wouldn't mind… You showing me more of how much you want me… I think I need the reassurance."

"Oh. Then by all means, please. Let's continue."

"Oh goodness, how eager." She chuckled, letting him lay her back down, accepting his kisses before staring up at him. "Have I mentioned before, Albedo, that I love you?"

"I… I believe you have, Mie." he replied, cheeks red.

"Do you like hearing those words from me?"

"I do, rather ardently."

"Then, I'll continue using them. Over and over… as much as you want." She smiled.

"Shall I do the same?"

"If you want to… I don't know if you feel love the same way I do, but… If you wouldn't mind. Just… Every now and again?"

"Do you like hearing it?" Albedo asked.

"I don't know, Albedo. I haven't heard you say it yet."

"Oh. I suppose not… Then." He cleared his throat, leaning over to kiss her again, smiling as he felt her hands around his shoulders and her hands tangling in his hair. He pulled back just enough to nuzzle her. "I love you, Mieko…" At that moment, Mieko knew she was in too deep. Just Albedo saying that simple phrase set her heart aflame. She pulled him down on top of her, squeezing him tight. "Shall I… Take that as a "yes?", Mie?"

"Yeah." She replied, smiling at him. "Please, again?"

"I love you, Mie."

"Thank you, Albedo."

((I could write it heavier, but nah. I might write it later though. The smut scene. Hehe.

- Winter Cheshire))