As she began to cry Niko knew he shouldn't have told her. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. He withdrew from her, he knew she would try to change things, but it was too late now.
''It doesn't matter. What matters is that you are well.''
He turned away from her and sat down.
''Get some more sleep. I will keep watch''

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"Niko." she touched his shoulder, needing his warmth and comfort. "Please don't turn away...I need you." the day was catching up to her, the fear, the pain of seeing him taken away, the fear of never seeing him again. "Niko..." she sobbed, covering her mouth with her hand. It had been too much.

Feeling bad, Niko covered her hand with his and pulled her down to sit beside him. Without speaking he put his arm around her, keeping her close to him.
He hoped she wouldn't bring up what he had chosen to do for her. Knowing that if he told her it would upset her.
''Don't cry, angel''

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Her arm snuck around his chest and she held him, tightly pressig to him, sobs wracking her body. She remembered the cages, being with him, holding hands through the bars, then...she tried talking through her crying "I...thought I would...never see you again..." she hid her face in the crook of his neck "I...tried...knocking down the...gate. It worked! And then...and then..." she stopped, unable to say what came next "I tried coming after...you."

''I know, love''
He tried to explain how he knew. ''I began to see flashes in my head of you. When you escaped....what those animals did to you. I could hear your voice in my head when I was imprisoned.''
Niko lifted her head so she would meet his gaze. ''I am right here. I will never leave you.Even when I was chained in the cell I knew I would find my way back to your arms''
He pressed her hand to his chest. ''For you.''

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She met his gaze amazed, and hiccoughed "You knew?" she thought back, "I remember speaking to you...but...you saw?" she felt sick that he had witnessed what they did to her after she broke free of the cage. "You saw...?" that would explain how he knew why she cried out when he hugged her in the cell. She didn't know he could see her. She would never of wanted him to see it. She closed her eyes and held him tighter to her. "I wish you hadn't seen that, my dear, sweet Niko."

''I wish it had never happened. You did not deserve such a thing to happen.''
He ran his hand almost protectively over her back as he spoke, taking joy from the fact that her back felt unblemished and smooth. Free of wounds or scars.
''You are safe now. They cannot hurt you. That is what matters''
He leaned his head against hers bringing her the comfort of his closeness.

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She brought her lips to his, thankful that he was alive. She did not take her lips away, she just kissed him, both giving and receiving comfort from it. Her hands cup his face, then rand lightly over his shoulders and down to his chest, making sure she wasn't dreaming and that he was still there.

Niko returned her kiss, enjoying the taste of her lips once again.
It shocked him, how not too much earlier he had thought he would never see her again. It dawned on him, she was his wife and he was her husband. They would always end up together, no matter what life threw at them.
He broke the kiss. ''Le Melon angel''

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"Le melon, keeper of my heart." she didn't know if she was still groggy from being drugged, or if she was still tired. But he needed sleep before her. He hadn't gotten any. At the same time, though, she wanted to be closer to him, to be awake to feel him there.

Having noticed how they both were becoming tired Niko had a sudden thought.
''We are both weary and need a good night's rest. We are not far from a safe place. Our safe haven. '' He meant the cave that they had spent nights in before. It was perfect, it hid them from view and kept them safe. They could sleep easy there.
He stood up and offered his hand to her. ''Will my wife accompany me?''
He smiled at her.

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She smiled at him and took his hand. The cave would be wonderful. "Yes, I will gladly accompany my husband." they got on Raven, and the horse seemed to know right where to go. After they were inside the cave, she turned to Niko. "Home, sweet home." she grinned at him before pouring some water into a hollowed out stone and dipping a cloth into it. She had him sit while she dabbed at the cuts and bruises on his face. She still felt sickened. But she still gently bathed his face and the rest if his injuries. She once again marveled at his body. Even though it was still dark she could see enough. Whe she had finished, she removed her dress that had been ripped to shreds in the back and pulled the cloak tighter around her.

He sat as she tended to his cuts. ''Thank you, dearest'' he said to her when she finished.
As she took off her dress Niko took her hand and pulled her to lay down next to him. He snuggled towards her to lend her his body warmth, while at the same time responding to hers.
He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her back, relieved she was better.
''I cannot tell you how glad I am you are better''

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"me too, love." she smiled and chuckled inwardly as she could feel, even now, her desire for him growing. But now was no the time, she decided. She snuggled back closer to him, leaning into her husband's warmth and shelter. "Thank you." she whispered, knowing she didn't have to explain what for. She was thankful. The pain of the wounds shad had earlier was too much to bear. Yet she had, for a while. Abd had no idea how she had managed it.

Niko lay with his arms around her, he began to drift off as he spoke.
''Perhaps we could stay here until we are fully recovered. Just us. You're all I need...... angel''
He finally drifted off to sleep, comforted by the closeness and warmth of his loving wife.

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She knew he had drifted off, and she smiled. Stay here. She liked the sound of it. She lay listening to his breathing, and, she grinned, his soft snoring. The sounds of the night animals and the crickets joined the chorus. A slight breeze blew into the cave, swirling over her. She wasn't afraid of it anymore. She brought it to her hand and used her warmth to make it a warm wind. She didn't know why, buy she turned in her husband's arms and held her hand out towards him. The warm air began circling around Niko gently. She thought she heard him sigh in his sleep, as if happy. She smiled, Abd snuggled close, facing him this time. She watched him sleep for a bit, glad that he looked peaceful. The air would circulate around him all night, as she commanded. Her eyes drifted close and she encircled him with her arms adage slept.