BITTERSWEET MEMORIES | RILEY

Riley allowed the water to wash over his face and body, he was sore and he was not focusing. He had to take his time, he had hurt the woman he loved so deeply that earning her trust back was the most important thing he could ever do. He sat in the tub he leaned back closing his eyes as he thought to himself. What are you doing out there? You need to remember she thought you left her. Sliding under the water he he went over everything he was going to say, tell her his story. Part of it though he couldn't share the quest had been an assignment when he was briefly with intelligence. Pushing himself out of the water he began to let it drain. Standing up he rolled his shoulders and grabbed a towel wrapping it around his waist he moved to the steam covered mirror and wiped off enough where he could see his face, it looked lighter than it had in years. Jules was good for him, if only he could help her see it. Removing the towel from his waist he grabbed the sweatpants he had taken from the dresser and slide them on as he tossed his clothes in the hamper. The towel was slung over his shoulder as he walked out he was towering off his wet hair and thick beard, when he looked up he stopped in place. His heart skipped a beat and a knot formed in his stomach, this had been his dream walking out of the bathroom like many nights when they were relaxing and asking her to marry him. He took an even breath and approached. "My god you’re beautiful."

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@juliet

He

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him standing in the doorway. It was almost like nothing had changed at all. The only difference was that this wasn't their room. No, she couldn't think about that right now. Right now she needed to focus on him, on herself. That could wait until much farther in the future when they were both ready.

Sitting up slightly on the pillows, Juliet patted the bed beside her and decided to ignore his comment about her current state. He might see that she was beautiful, but she felt like the exact opposite. "Alright, Riley. Talk to me." Almost as an afterthought, she found herself activating her power. It wouldn't help him as much now as it would have back when they were living together full time, but it would at least cancel his out and allow him to focus. "Just tell me everything. Maybe if I understand why, maybe then we can discuss what happens next." After all this time, she still hadn't quite figured out what she had done so wrong that he had actually left.

As he finally settled in beside her, Juliet took stock of him. He was still Riley in most ways, but she wasn't sure she had seen a smile reach his eyes yet. With him close enough, she reached for his hand before wrapping hers around it. It was almost as close as she could get while still being ale to see his face.

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@david

He could feel her power start to work and he was a little annoyed that she didn't trust him enough to get it all out. He then reminded himself she had a very good reason why that was the case, still it felt like a kick in the gut. Her hand touched his and he sighed, it was time to begin. "First off I will be honest with you I can't discuss the instigating incident as it was while I was on a mission for Intelligence. Before that though I had been on a quest and was injured as you know, and spent some time at the hospital only a couple days but in that time I thought back to the quest and what happened, I started doubting myself and what I could do to keep you safe, what if I was so injured I couldn't save you if we were attacked." He nearly laughed at the irony of that statement because that very thing had happened, he made it so when he pushed her away. "Still I wasn't sure, I was happy we had all our plans, our expectations and hopes. We wanted to start a family even before anything was made legally binding. A few months later though I was assigned the mission, I told you it was another quest hoping it would allow you not to worry as much. It went wrong, we barely made it out alive and I panicked. I thought about all our dreams and plans, what it would mean if I lost you or our children and so when I got home I told you it was over. It ate me up inside I hated myself, I didn't know how I would live with out you but I knew you at least stood a shot of living." He took a deep breath as he looked away from her, how could he have done that to the woman he loved. He didn't deserve to be forgiven, to be truly back in her family. Sighing he continued, "I knew you wouldn't believe me and so I spoke with Abigail, I knew when you would be going to pick up some coffee before work and had it planned when you would see us. I still remember your face, I wanted to chase you and tell you everything, but at the time I foolishly thought I was protecting you. The years passed and I left intelligence, I couldn't do my job anymore. We had the house and I couldn't make you take care of it on your own so i would mow the lawn and edge. I did it while you were at work so you never had to see me." He looked up at her unsure what his face looked like but he ached inside, rehashing something he had gone over and over in his head and how he failed made him feel like the world was crumbling away and he would lose everything all over again.

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@juliet

He

Juliet let her power slip away as he finished speaking. She had known fairly early on that he was annoyed by it, but she had forced it to stay anyways. It wasn't like she hadn't seen that face before. The one she was looking at now, that one was new. So much pain and regret clouded his features that she almost didn't recognize him. How was she supposed to tell him the truth now? If he knew everything, it would break him.

"Ri, babe, why couldn't you have just told me?" She asked after just a moment of thought. The old nicknames fell out before she could think about it, but she didn't care. This was Riley she was talking to, and he needed to hear her.  Her resolve was wavering by the second. "I would've helped, we could've done something." It wasn't an accusation as much as it was a plea for him to listen so that this time, when he came back to his senses he wouldn't leave again.

Letting go of his hand, Juliet found her way to his side, leaning against it before kissing him softly on the jaw. No, she wouldn't use her powers anymore to try and soothe riley. She would just try to love him through it and pray that it was enough. "Baby, you can't leave like that again. If you stay past tomorrow, I can't lose you like that. Ever. It's time to stay for keeps or stay away." The ultimatum felt heavy in her heart and she was afraid suddenly for his answer. What if he did leave and never came back? What would she do then?

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@david

Her lips touched his jaw and he sighed into her touch. She was right they could have worked something out and yet he was trying to do it all on his own, he thought it was better that way weren't they better together though. He turned to look at her, his Juliet and he her failing Romeo. He smiled softly before he nodded and added, "For keeps, I can't go another day with out you. If you let me stay I will never leave you again, as long as it is in my control as you may know I am now the head of security for magister, I mean chancellor Delisle." He gently picked her up so that she was now sitting on his lap he took her hand and placed it on his chest. "My heart has belonged to you from the very first day I saw you at camp, little did I know how completely it had belonged to you. These last two years... no words can describe how it felt with out you. I promise you here in the home that we made full of our hopes and dreams that this is all for keeps. I will never turn away, I will never run. If something happens I will talk to you about it." He leaned in and placed his lips on hers softly kissing her before he poured his heart and soul into the kiss as best he could. He refused to take another step forward until she let him but she had to know, she needed to feel the love and desire he held for her. The passion that still burned deeply in his chest and the pain he felt at loosing her. A hand made its way to her waist while he ran his fingers through her wet hair before he pulled away for air, his thumb traced her lips where his just were. Again he said, "My god you are beautiful, " he added, "and incredibly intoxicating."

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@juliet

He

Riley's words washed over her like a wave, threatening to carry her away if she wasn't careful. Gods she loved this man, more than anyone had a right to. The fact that he wanted to stay was already soothing the wounded of her heart, even though part of her mind still protested. All of that was silenced when he started kissing her again.

Resting her forehead against his, Juliet closed her eyes for a moment before speaking. "Gods know I've missed you, Ri. More than I have words for." No, she talked to people for a living and still couldn't find the right combination of words for this purpose. At his recurring comment about her beauty, she couldn't help but tease him, backing away slightly before replying "Are you sure it isn't the sleep deprivation talking? You look tired, Ri." That was an understatement. He looked as tired as she felt. Right now, she wouldn't rather do anything other than fall asleep in his arms.

Still, she found herself pulling him in to a deep kiss before he could reply, the one that said everything that she couldn't. She'd do anything to show him that she hadn't stopped loving him for even a moment, despite the odds. He was hers, and she was his. There was no other way for them.

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@david

He wrapped his arms around her as he depended the kiss, his heart mending knowing that she was there with him. Riley loves this woman and had been in love with her for nearly seven years, breaking the kiss he then placed a kiss on her nose, her jaw and then her pulse point. Groaning he pulled away sighing. His hand touched her face and he smiled, "I'm home with you in my arms I am home. I love you and I will always love you with every fibre of my being." he then leaned in and kissed her deeply his hand running up and down her side very lightly.

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@juliet

He

Ah. There was that smile she loved so much, the one that she knew and loved. It lit up his face and took away the haunted look in his eyes, if only for a moment. Breaking the kiss, she looked him in the eye while waiting for her breathing to calm down enough to speak.

"You are still the best thing that has ever happened to me, Riley David. Despite everything that's happened, everything that's threatened to tear us apart. I've never loved you any less than the first day I saw you." In her heart, she knew there was one exception to that rule, one that she would doubtlessly have to tell him about some day soon. Even then, she had loved him. It was the one day she would never be able to fully forgive him for, and he didn't even know about it yet.

Her thoughts were cut off by the blaring of a cell phone, hers to be specific. Groaning at the thought of having to move, she kissed Riley's shoulder where she had laid her head before rolling over to grab it off the night stand. Thank the gods it was just a text message, even if it was from Dylan. He and his poor timing needed spoken to, immediately.

"That was Professor Bridges. He, Chancellor Hadley, and Magister Delisle are all in the bunker at the Garrison. The Chancellor and the Magister are both suffering from power exhaustion but are otherwise alright." Furrowing her brow, she continued reading the insanely long message that read more like a report than something meant to be short and to the point. "The students are with them as well, but the Commander is keeping the place on lock down until the morning. No one will be able to get in until he gives the all clear at dawn." Well, at least she didn't have to worry about Riley running off right now. There was nothing for him to do if he couldn't even get to Masin.

A few buttons later and she had answered the remaining questions Dylan had left her with, specifically, whether or not she was alright. "I'm under strict orders from the Professor to find somewhere safe and hunker down there until dawn in case of another attack or random insurgents still on the island." She commented with a small smile, looking up at Riley as she finished. While the sentiment was understood, she couldn't help but find it ironic that she was probably safer now than she was during the actual attack itself.

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@david

As soon as Juliet put her phone down he rolled over and pulled her on top of him and he smiled again, things were not back to the way they were but they were talking and planning on trying to find a path they could walk together. He sighed as his hands went to her waist then moved ever so slowly up her sides and then back down to her waist. Finally a single hand ran through her hair, his smile grew. "I know this is a new beginning, I know there are things that must be said and done until you trust me again. I will wait however long it takes." Riley then kissed her forehead, then her nose, both cheeks and along her jaw. He ran a thumb along her lips, "I'm sorry, I know I said we can wait but I missed your touch, your very being. I even missed your power though as infuriating as it is, just being able to hold you and kiss you helps me feel home." he then pressed his lips to hers again not wanting to break the contact, he wouldn't go any further than necessary or than he was allowed. "I need to stop doing that. It could lead somewhere you're not ready for." he pulled her closer and kissed her jaw, then down her neck back to her pulse point, groaning he rested his head against her shoulder. This was so hard to remain calm and collected. How he loved this woman his other half.

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@juliet

He

The feeling of his skin against hers was almost enough to break her will completely. Almost, but not quite. Every time his hands hit her waist, too close for her comfort, she was reminded of the reason why she swore to herself she wouldn't take him back. Of course, she was too far gone for that. She loved him too much to stay away, but she wasn't ready to go there. Not yet. Not until she was sure.

With a low groan, Juliet pulled him closer to her, his head against her shoulder and her arms wrapped around his neck. She held him there fore a minute, her cheek against the top of his head for a long minute before speaking. "Not tonight, Ri. It's still a little too soon and there are still things that need to be said." She whispered, pulling back so she could see his face. "But soon. The kissing, however." She remarked with a grin. "That you can keep doing." Not that she didn't know where that normally lead with him, but still. There was only so much she was willing to refrain from doing.

Pulling herself back until she was sitting in his lap, Juliet grabbed his hand and held it for a long moment, simply revelling in the feeling of his touch. "I know this is going to be a long road, and I know that the pain isn't over yet. I just want to know that for one more night, I get to fall asleep in your arms. That I get to be yours." No, she wasn't his property, she never had been. But he had held her heart for so long, that she wasn't sure it even worked properly when he wasn't there. He was ingrained in to her very being, and Juliet knew that without a single doubt.

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@david

Riley nodded in response but kissed her deeply letting her know that he would remain with her, he stretched out his legs and reached for the sheets he broke the kiss to then lightly kissed her nose and brought her hand to his lips kissing her palm before placing it on his bare chest. He looked at her and took in her appearance, two years on she had a few more lines and he knew they were there due to his foolishness, he kissed each of them. Two years older and still his own goddess, no one compared to her, she was the only woman he could see himself with and he would love her. "Whatever you need, I'm not in and hurry. I'm just glad that I get to spend this time with you." he smiled kissing the back of her hand and her palm again.

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@juliet

He

A shaky breath escaped her lips as she leaned forward to kiss Riley in response. As soon as she finally came up for air, she reached across the bed to draw the warm blankets around them. "Good." She stated simply, laying against his chest and trying to stifle a yawn. It had been a taxing day, but she was almost afraid to sleep out of fear that everything would turn out to be a dream. If it was, she prayed that she wouldn't wake up.

wrapping one arm around his waist, Jules found the other wandering his chest, searching out newly acquired scars and touching them one by one. Some day she would ask where they came from, but tonight she was intent on simply finding them and acknowledging their presence. A few of the older ones, from Camp and his days with the intelligence department, seemed to have faded, though her touch generally found their ghosts anyways.

With her exploration complete, she pulled herself closer until her head laid against his shoulder, right below his neck. A content sigh escaped her lips as she nuzzled her head against his chest. "If this is a dream, your not allowed to wake me up." She warned, leaning up to kiss him softly. "If it's not, then I'm not exactly sure that I want to go to sleep, ever." Still, her eyes were drifting closed, listening to the beating of the heart she cherished above all others, it's slow rhythm carrying her away softly.

created by rynstone.

@david