I’ve gone for too long

Living like I’m not alive

The door shut and I locked it behind the last fan. I froze for a moment, turning around, hoping that when I looked up Keighlyn was still here, that him showing, and the vampire attack wasn’t a dream. For a moment the room seemed empty. I caught my breath and felt my eyes watering up. No, no, not again. It’s not fair. Why do I keep making him appear?

“Are they gone?” I heard his voice whisper. Relief flooded through me.

“Yes.” I breathed. He stepped out from behind the dressing stand. He looked the same. No…his eyes looked sadder. Before I could ask why he was with me against the wall.

So I’m going to start over tonight

Beginning with you and I

“Thena.” He moaned, catching my lips with his. My stomach wrenched at his closeness and I welcomed the kiss. Two years since I’d been this close to anyone. Two years since I tasted, smelt, heard him. I let him pick me up and I wrapped myself around him, tangling my fingers in his hair.

Another moan escaped his lips and I pulled away for a second. “Don’t ever leave again.” I whispered, before we went back to our kiss. Someone cleared their throat behind us.

“Excuse me for interrupting,” A voice said, “But we have some things to discuss.”

Keighlyn pulled away, but didn’t let go of me as I slipped back to the floor.

“Gavin,” Keighlyn said, looking evenly at him, “Could you not have given us a few more minutes?”

The man, Gavin, looked at us. “I think if I hadn’t come in when I did you would have needed more than a few minutes.” He said, eyeing my tank top that had slid up to expose my stomach. I blushed slightly and pulled it down.

When this memory fades

I’m gonna make sure it’s replaced

“Who is this Kay?” I asked, looking him over. He was older than us, probably in his thirties. Confidence surrounded him. He was one of the ones that had grabbed the vampire when he jumped back.

“Gavin Grayson. One of my closest friends and…” He pasued. “and a witch.”

“Speaking of witches, I didn’t know you were one.” He said, looking at me. “Keighyn told us you had been a Fae.” I nodded.

“I had been. When I met Keighlyn I was human. After he left, I needed a way to feel close to him. So, I found an elixir that turned me into a witch.” I looked at him.

“Why a witch? Why not just wear green or something?” Gavin asked. Keighlyn was just watching me, listening.

“I knew that when he left, he didn’t do it on his own. He left no note, no explanation. Someone forced him. Wearing green wasn’t going to help me fight them when I found him, but being a witch was.”

With chances taken, hope embrace

And have I told you?

Gavin, who had been serious this whole time, burst out laughing. “I like her Keighlyn.” He calmed himself down and smiled, taking a seat on the sofa in the corner. “She’s a fighter.”

Keighlyn looked at me, his green eyes boring into me. “I left you a note.” He said. I shook my head.

“There was nothing when I woke.” The memory of that morning made all the feelings come back. I looked away. “Why did you leave?” I whispered. He sighed and sat down, I moved across from him.

“I’m one of the leaders of the Resistance.” He stated. “I left because I couldn’t run anymore. There were too many people dying, and I had to stand up for them. I was planning to come back and take care of this, then find you again.”

“Why not just tell me the truth? I would have come with you.” I said, leaning forward.

“I know. That’s why I couldn’t. Athena, this isn’t a group of people sitting peacefully in rooms talking about unfairness. Our lives are in danger every day. The government has Weres out all over the world looking for us. We are constantly moving, constantly looking over our shoulders. That’s no way to live, to raise a family. There is no safe place for us. That’s why I didn’t tell you. That’s why I can’t let you be with me after tonight.”

I’m not going ‘cause I’ve been waiting for a miracle

And I’m not leaving

“No.” I said, forcefully. He looked at me, shocked. Gavin just had an amused look. “No way. You are not walking out on me again. I don’t care how dangerous this is. I’m going to help you. I did not go through two years without you, only to have you this close, to walk away again.”

“Athena, this isn’t some game!” He cried, “People die. We could die, any day, any time. You’re a public figure, with paparazzi following you twenty-four seven. The media knows what you eat for breakfast. You would be found out within a week and they would kill you. I can’t…I can’t have your blood on my hands.”

“But that’s just it. Sure I’m in the spotlight, but they haven’t found out I’m a witch yet. We’d be hiding in plain sight! My house is surrounded by a private gate. No one can see over the fence. I’ve got a barn in the backyard we can hide in. That’s where I go to practice my spells. I want to fight, to help. I want to be with you.”

I won’t let you, let you give up on a miracle

When it might save you

“I don’t think you’re going to win this one Keighyn. Plus, she’s kind of right.” He looked me over, “And, she knows how to protect herself. She attacked that vampire before you could.” He added. Keighlyn sighed and put his face into his hands.

“I don’t know.” He groaned. I frowned, watching him. His shoulders were so heavy with weight. He wasn’t like this in France. Two years was a long time.

“Gavin,” I stood up, setting my hand on Keighlyn’s shoulder. “I’m going to take him home. We’ll call you tomorrow. We need some time to figure some stuff out. If you still have that vampire hold him until tomorrow and we can handle that then.” Gavin nodded and stood, walking out the door I had forgotten to lock. Keighlyn went to say something but I cut him off.

“No. We’re getting home before we talk about anything.” I said, grabbing my bag and keys, taking his hand, and pulling him out the back door towards my car.

We’ve learned to run from

Anything uncomfortable

We’ve tied our pain below

And no one ever has to know

We stepped into the house and Keighlyn looked around. “This is…” He said, taking it all in.

“A little piece of France? I designed it that way.” I finished for him, throwing my bag to the ground. Keighlyn shook his head and rand his hand through his hair.

“Thena, this isn’t France. This is Starlight Shores, one of the main bases of the government. I can..” His voice caught. “I can’t ever go back to that man.” He looked away from me, walking of a little.

“Hey,” I whispered, catching up to him and taking his hand in mine. “Hey, listen to me. You will always be that man to me. Things have changed, we’ve both changed. But we’re here, and we’re together. That’s what matters.” Keighlyn pulled away again and walked up the stairs, heading towards the bedroom.

That inside we’re broken

I try to patch things up again

To count my tears and kill these fears

But have I told you, have I?

“I shouldn’t have shown up. This was a bad idea. Athena, I don’t want you joining this fight. I want you safe.” He said. Anger burned in me at that.

“Well to bad!” I exclaimed, rushing in behind him and making him look at me. “I haven’t spent two years away from you to lose you now. Besides, I’m a witch now, so this fight is mine to fight if I want to.” I paused and stared at him. “You are not fighting and going through this alone.”

“Athena! Don’t you get it?” He screamed, “People die. You could die. I have killed people. People that had families, lovers, friends.” Tears pricked his eyes and his voice cracked. “I. Have. Killed.” He shuddered, falling onto the bed. “I have smelt burning flesh. I have looked into a man’s eyes while he took his last breath. I can never ask you to do that.”

I’m not going ’cause I’ve been waiting for a miracle

And I’m not leaving

I won’t let you, let you give up on a miracle

When it might save you

I sat next to him and took his face in my hands. “And I forgive you.” His green eyes rose to mine. “I know you, and if you killed people it was because you had to, not because you wanted to. You are not a monster, and you are not a murdered. You are not asking me to do anything. I want to fight. I want to be with you. No matter what. I’m fighting. There’s nothing you can do to change that.” He dropped his head to my shoulder and I felt tears. “I love you, and nothing is changing that.”

His body stiffened under mine. “What?” He asked. I felt his head turn slightly, his warm breath on my neck.

“I love you.” I repeated.

The weight seemed to drop for him in that moment and I leaned forward again to kiss him. This time he kissed me back, bringing his arms around me.

It’s not faith if, if you use your eyes

Oh why?

We’ll get it right this time

Let’s leave this all behind

Oh why?

“I love you too.” He muttered. Slowly he picked me up and moved me on the bed so he was above me. His hands slid down my side and I shuddered, pulling away.

“I missed you.” I whispered. “I’m never going to let you leave again.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” He asked, those green eyes stuck on mine, searching down to my soul.

“More than anything.” I answered, pulling him down to kiss me.

We’ll get it right this time

It’s not faith if you’re using your eyes

Oh why?

Keighlyn groaned as I moved against him and he slid me more onto the bed. Our hands searched the other, taking in everything we had missed since that summer. My hands felt scars under his shirt that he hadn’t had before.

Our kisses grew more hungry and demanding by the second, our bodies wanting more and more. We needed this. Each other. So, we gave in. We didn’t stop. We let ourselves go, and gave into the passion.

I’m not going ’cause I’ve been waiting for a miracle

And I’m not leaving

I won’t let you, let you give up on a miracle

‘Cause it might save you

Miracle by Paramore