Rosalina sighed in releif. "Yes. Its me and Gareth." she said.

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Gareth smiled sadly at the blonde. "Its ok now." he said and stroked her hair.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista nodded and gave Rosalina and Gareth a weak smile, sighing contentedly as Gareth stroked her hair. Turning her face away, she coughed lightly again before speaking. "I'm-I'm sorry..." she murmured weakly. "I-I don't want...to cause...trouble..." she mumbled, Gareth's sad smile not lost on her. Catching sight of splotches of her blood on her sister's floor Calista could only sigh sadly. I am even making a mess of my sister's room, she thought to herself. Can't I do anything right?

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Cali, don't say that." Rosalina said, her face a mix of worry and fear for her sister.

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"She's right. THere is nothing to be sorry for." Gareth said. "Rest, and we will finish the cleaning."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista coughed lightly as she gave both Rosalina and Gareth a weak smile. "You...shouldn't have to..." Calista murmured, wishing to help the group a bit more. "I-I want to help..." she whispered. "A-all of you are...in this mess...because of me..." she added her voice trailing off as the effort to speak grew more taxing on her frail body. Yet, deep in her heart she wished she was dead for all that everyone had suffered because of her.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at Gareth. "I'm going to get her room cleaned." She said and left, still nervous about the area and being alone.

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Once Rosalina was gone Gareth took Calista into his arms. "Don't, I wouldn't have gotten involved if I didn't want to. I saw the danger and I accpeted it. So, please, don't blame yourself sweet angel." he said and gently kissed her lips.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius had been pacing the rooms since Rosalina sent him away. As he came back down the same hallway, he saw Rosalina head to Calista's room and debated following her.
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After her sister left, Calista just smiled up at Gareth as he took her in his arms. Touched by his words, she feel could tears start to mist her eyes. "Oh Gareth..." she started to say when his lips captured hers in a gentle kiss. Shocked by his actions, her blue eyes widened and she tensed slightly for a moment. Yet his kiss was so tender that she quickly relaxed in his embrace once again and did not fight him. Slowly and tentatively she returned his kiss, knowing that as a married woman it was a grave sin to kiss another man, and yet she could not help herself. She had tried to love Julius, but couldn't. He was rarely gentle to her and if he was tender for a second, his beatings only intensified later as if to make up for a moment of weakness. Hence, whatever she did for her husband was out of sheer duty. Yet, she knew if Gareth would ask anything of her, she would do whatever he wished not out of duty but out of love. As her confidence slowly built, her kiss became much surer though it remained just as tender.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina started cleaning her sisters room, startign with the bed. She had to make sure there was no dust or dirt.

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Gareth kissed Calista with gaining passion as she became more confidant. How long since he had been in love, not since his wife he was sure.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Deciding to follow Rosalina, Darius made his way to Calista's room and just stood silently at the door as he watched her clean. "Need help, love?" he asked finally after a moment.
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Moaning softly as Gareth kissed her with gaining passion, Calista began to kiss him with increasing passion as well. She had no idea what made her so bold as to do so, but Gareth made her feel more alive than she had in a long while. Moreover, she trusted him, felt safe with him and if she were truly honest with herself, knew that in such a short time she had fallen completely in love with him.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Why would you want to help?" Rosalina asked not looking at him.

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Gareth smiled and moved onto kissing her jaw.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"I want to help you. You shouldn't have to be doing the work of maids," Darius said softly. He did not care about Calista, but if Rosalina was insistent on cleaning up her room, then he was going to help her.
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Calista closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh as Gareth started to kiss her jaw, a sweet smile on her lips. Opening her eyes again, she just gazed at the mage with love in her eyes. "Oh Gareth, I love you," she whispered a bit breathlessly as her quick burst of strength started to wane.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shrugged.

Gareth smiled. "I think I may have fallen for you Angel." He said, unsure if he could say love yet.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Not making another comment, Darius started to clean the room, his heart really not into the task.
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Giving Gareth a soft smile, Calista kissed him gently once more before resting her head against him. "I hate to disappoint you, but I am no angel" she said softly. After the headache she caused for her sister, she hardly felt like an angel, just a woman that was trouble for everyone.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina kept cleaning.

Gareth sighed. "You are an angel. You just need to see it your self." he said and kissed her head.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius just cleaned another corner of the room and the uncomfortable silence between the two started to stretch to longer intervals. "What do you want from me, Ro?" Darius finally asked, unable to take the silence.
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Giving Gareth a weak smile, Calista just rested against him, too tired to argue with him at the moment. "I always want you beside me," she whispered him, knowing she probably sounded incredibly selfish, but she liked having him near. At least he had not raised his hand against her yet, even though she probably deserved a good beating.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth smiled. "I'm not going any where."

Rosalina looked at Darius. "I want you to stop being angry at Calista, stop blaming her."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Thank you...for everything," Calista whispered to Gareth as she snuggled closer to him.
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"How can I not blame her?" Darius asked. "You were hurt because of her!" Darius exclaimed. "I don't think I can ever forgive her for that," he added a trace of bitterness in his voice.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!