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"I a him to understand, even when she didn’t "But you are And… you aren’t"

He rolled his shoulders "I a to do with how I feel about you," she said quickly "They never did I didn’t fall in love with you because you were strong or fast or a good fighter"

She couldn’t see his eyes in the low light of the early evening that filtered into the room There was a lamp in the corner, but his back was to it

"Why did you fall in love with me?"

She melted at the vulnerability in his voice, so different than the reckless confidence he’d alorn before

"I fell in love with your mind, which understood me Your humor The way… you would look so stern, then just the corner of your mouth would turn up when you sht she saw a smile tilt the corner of his lips, so she continued

"I love the way you would take care of me Of anyone you cared about You were--are--one of the htful men I’ve ever ave "

"But I didn’t"

"You did There were dozens of Grigori in that cistern, but I’h it cost your life" She could feel some of the tension leave his shoulders "I’m just confused"

"Are you sorry we made love?"

"No," she whispered "When I touch you, it’s like being home"

"I feel the same way"

She blinked hard to force back the tears "But you don’t remember me Or why you fell in love with ently "I don’t understand either, but when you’re in pain--as you are right now--I ache with it I felt inco me you still feel that way, and I don’t kno to fix it"

She couldn’t stop the tears that fell She could hear the panicked sound of his inner voice, but she closed her eyes and whispered the spell to quiet him

"Ava--"

"I need time, Malachi"

"Don’t push me away" His voice was low Pained "Please"

"I won’t" She admitted it to herself, "I can’t"