Twin Wounds Chapter 4

Twin Wounds Chapter 4

Here is another chapterrr :3 I made it extra long because you all have been so nice and supportive! (I went to a coffee shop and wrote this chapter eating a grilled cheese sandwich like a real writer!!)

Tag List: WE HAVE AN AMAZING NEW MEMBER. THIS PERSON COMMENTS THE SWEETEST THINGS ON MY POSTS AND I LOVE READING THEM!! PLEASE WELCOME...@aelinchocolatelover!! As always, also huge thanks to @backtobl4ck :)

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: Language, Light Smut :3

Enjoy!! :)

 People can be homes. Sure, Aelin scoffed. Apparently, her therapy group was a bunch of cringey idiots. And her fucking hot therapist was the most infuriating person she had ever met. Her palms hurt from her nails digging into them all the while he had looked at her. She couldn’t handle his beautiful eyes looking at her knowingly. As if he knew what she was going through. 

After another miserable half hour of therapy, the group was herded to an outside area. People were gathered around talking like it was high school recess. The area was a large grassy field, some proud oak trees scattered around. Another nurse, Beluar, smiled at their group and motioned for them to mingle. 

Lysandra immediately sat down on a bench beneath a tree, Lucas following suit. “That was a stupid session,” she said, her eyes closed.

“I..I don’t know, I liked it,” Elide said softly, flushing when Tiela nodded at her. “What about you, Aelin?” 

Aelin looked Elide up and down. She thought the female was sweet, was probably a great person, and had been through some traumatic things. But Aelin didn’t have the energy to dredge up small talk and form friendships. She shrugged, staring at the ground. 

“It’s rude not to answer somebody,” a cold voice said, and Aelin’s eyes snapped up to Tiela, who was looking at her with an disgusted expression. 

Aelin bristled. “Are you my mother?” 

“No, thank God,” Tiela smirked. “I’m sure you were a nightmare. Even worse than you are now.”

Aelin grinded her teeth. Tiela must have still been salty from therapy. “I’m not going to waste my time listening to this shit,” she growled, standing up and storming away. She felt her anger cloud around her head, blocking out other senses, before she slammed into something hard. She cursed and looked up, ready to fight, before she was faced with an eyeful of her therapist. 

He was even hotter up close, so close that she could see his eyelashes - so close she could smell him. He smelled like pine and snow, a scent so nice she almost closed her eyes and leaned in - before realizing what was going on. She lurched back, muttering an apology - but in her haste, she tripped and almost fell over. 

Rowan reached out and steadied her, his hand warm and strong on her arm. It sent electricity through her body, and she looked up at him, breathless. “Are you all right, Aelin?” he asked, his beautiful face twisted into concern. 

“I’m. Fine.” she gritted out. Realization seemed to cross Rowan’s face and he immediately let go of her arm. Aelin felt cold where his hand used to be and crossed her arms. 

“I’m…I’m sorry that this isn’t an ideal place to be,” Rowan said to her softly. Aelin raised her eyebrows at the sudden change of tone in the conversation, and her therapist scratched the back of his head. “I know you’d rather be at your home, maybe with your cousin-” Aelin’s expression at that must have been alarmed, because Rowan stammered; “I-I know him from your file.”

Aelin cocked her head. “My…file?” Rowan nodded, and a horrible thought crept into her mind. “What….what is in my file?” she breathed. 

Rowan rubbed his neck and looked at the ground. “Oh, you know, the usual. Er, a photo of you, a little from your cousin, and….ehm, things of that sort.” From that terrible performance, Aelin had a pretty good idea what else was in her file - but she didn’t, couldn’t, handle that shame. 

“Alright,” she said, forcing herself to believe him. She didn’t let herself consider the alternative - that the staff at this place knew about Him. She felt sadness replace the anger in her stomach, and she hugged herself. Find the knife, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered. Aelin shoved it aside. 

“Actually, I wanted to talk to your group,” Rowan continued, bringing Aelin back to reality with a start. He squinted into the distance where her group was still sitting and began walking to them. Aelin followed behind, cursing mentally that she had to go back to those judgy people. As she neared the group, Lysandra looked her up and down and subtly moved to the side of the bench - making a place for Aelin. Aelin mentally debated before sitting down next to the woman. 

“Hello, everyone - long time no see?” Rowan chuckled to himself. The rest of the group stared at him in dead silence, and he hastily continued. “I wanted to talk to all of you. I forgot to mention something at group therapy today. At the Whitethorn Rehab Center, patients are allowed one phone call a day to a person of your choice, whether it be a family member, a friend, or a loved one. We have an hour a day designated for this purpose -- 10-11pm – but if you’d like to make a call at a specific time, just tell a staff member and they can help. If your person of choice doesn’t pick up the call, you will be allowed one other time during the day.”

The group perked up at that, and even Aelin felt a bit lighter. At least she could still talk to Aedion. Maybe she could convince him to get her out of this place.

 “Are you alright, Lysandra?” Elide asked softly. Aelin turned, and to her surprise, the female beside her was watery-eyed.

“I’m fine,” she said thickly. “Just..I’m excited to have a call.”

“Who will you call?” Rowan asked in that gentle, understanding voice he used with them, the voice that made Aelin feel safer than she had in a while. 

“My niece.” Lysandra blinked a couple times, clearing her tears away, and set her shoulders. “I’m practically her mother. She’s staying with her grandmother right now, but…she doesn’t like it very much. She’ll be very happy when she learns I can call.” 

The group nodded. “Actually, it’s time for calls,” Rowan said. “Shall we make our way?”

Twenty minutes later, Aelin was dialing Aedion on one of those old phones you always saw at a police station. She leaned against the brick wall, listening to the phone ring, before lurching up straight as she heard the click of a call.

“Hello?” Aedion’s voice crackled through the line, and Aelin let out a breath. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her cousin. 

“Hey, Aedion. It’s Aelin.”

“Aelin? Are you okay? Do you need help?” Aedion asked frantically.

“No, I’m fine. We get a call every day at this place.” Aedion let out an appreciative hum, but Aelin pressed on. “But actually, yeah, I would like some help. I want you to come pick me up.”

__

Rowan sat in his office, trying to calm the heat in his blood. One fucking look, one fucking touch and he was no more than the horny teenager he had once been. It was disgusting, him thirsting after his patient who was three years younger than him.

And yet - and yet Rowan could have sworn that heat had flashed in Aelin’s eyes as she looked at him through her lashes. 

Move past it, man, Rowan chided himself. He checked his watch - 12. Time for lunch. He pulled out his Tupperware and began to eat his sandwich, pulling out his phone. He’d texted Remelle earlier to say he’d gotten her number, and she had texted him back.

Remelle: Hello muscles 

Me: Hey

Remelle: Oooo hello good sir

Remelle: What you doing?

Me: I’m on my lunch break 

Remelle: what do you even do?

Me: therapist

Remelle: ….

Remelle: mm k

Me: what

Remelle: nothin, that’s a notable career

Remelle: good for you

Me: ..thanks

Rowan frowned at his phone screen. He couldn’t help feeling a little hurt at Remelle’s obvious distaste for his profession. 

Remelle: ANYWAY

Remelle: I was wondering if you r free tonight

Me: I am 

Remelle: 😈

Remelle: My shift ends at 11

Remelle: meet me there?

Me: sure. 

Me: do you want to go to a place or….

Remelle: nah car hookups are hot

Me: ok heh

Me: see you then i guess

Remelle: 😘

Rowan closed his phone and sat back in his chair, taking the last bite of his sandwich. However awkward their conversation was, he was looking forward to seeing Remelle again. He needed to get Aelin out of his head and focus on his career, dammit. 

Though, that might be harder than he thought, given that Rowan had already scheduled a one on one therapy session with Aelin for Monday. Dammit, Rowan cursed himself. Well, that’s a problem for Monday Rowan. Not Friday Rowan. 

____

“Did you have a nice talk with your niece?”

Lysandra looked up, surprised, but Aelin was even more startled with the question that had slipped out of her mouth. Lysandra gave her a tentative smile. “She’s well, happy to hear from me. Luckily her grandmother isn’t being too terrible. Yet.”

Aelin nodded. “Good.” 

They were sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch, all of them quiet after their phone calls. No matter how much Aelin begged, Aedion had insisted she stay at the center.

“Please, Aelin. They are here to help, I promise. You just have to let them in,” Aedion had pleaded. 

“I fucking hate this, Aedion!” she’d hissed into the phone, not wanting to be overheard. “Please, if you still love me, come pick me up. This is not helping.”

Her cousin had been silent for a few long moments, quiet enough she’d thought the line had dropped, before saying; “Just give it two weeks. If you feel the same then, I’ll pick you up.” 

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry, Aelin. I just want to help.”

Aelin had let out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I know. It’s okay, Aedion. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Aelin snapped back to reality to find her group staring at her expectantly. “Er, what was that?” she asked awkwardly, shoving a potato chip into her mouth. She had finally given into her hunger and had grabbed a bag of chips. 

“I just asked who you called,” Elide smiled at her. 

“Oh, uhm…,” Aelin debated for half a second whether to actually tell them, but she didn’t have the energy to make up a lie. “My cousin, Aedion.”

“Is he the one who checked you in?” Lysandra asked. The woman again had sat next to her at lunch and was now eating a bowl of soup. The steam flowed up and around Lysandra’s face - with that and her near-glowing emerald eyes, she created an eerie appearance. 

Aelin dipped her head. “Yes.”

“My mother checked me in,” Elide said quietly. All eyes went to her and she took a small bite of bread. She chewed for a while, her face contemplative, before continuing. “She checked me in because of my bulimia. I had relapsed since joining a….a not so nice group of girls. She was distraught. I’d been bulimic since I can remember, but it stopped for a while, and then…high school.”

The group was quiet for a while. “I’m sorry,” Lysandra said softly. She reached out and covered Elide’s hand with her own. Lucas gave Elide a side hug, and Tiela and Selmer murmured their apologies. Aelin looked into the female’s dark, depthless eyes and gave her a nod. A nod of respect and sorrow for her, something she hoped to convey in the action. From the small light in Elide’s eyes, Aelin knew she understood. 

___

“Have a good weekend, Sellene,” Rowan called over his shoulder as he left the building into the pitch black night. Sellene echoed the sentiment and Rowan walked across the parking lot to his car. 

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Rowan sat in the dark, the only light being his phone screen. It was 9pm and he still had two hours before he was going to see Remelle. Two hours, with nothing to do. He sighed and pulled out of the parking lot, driving to the gym. 

When he entered the locker room, he was immediately met by Lorcan, Rowan’s closest friend and gym buddy. The rough-looking man with dark wavy hair that brushed his shoulders and intense black eyes clapped Rowan on the shoulder. “Rowan. Dude. Why the hell did you ditch me last night?”

“I met a girl,” Rowan brushed him off, opening his locker. He pulled his shirt off and began changing.

“Oooo, a girl,” Lorcan cooed sarcastically. He rolled his eyes. “You could’ve texted, man.”

“I did!” Rowan protested, tying his shoelaces. 

Lorcan frowned. “Uh, no you didn’t.”

Before Rowan could say anymore, another man entered the locker room - Fenrys. He was also Rowan’s friend, but they weren’t as close. Fenrys was a beautiful man with year-round tan skin and golden hair. He gave Lorcan and Rowan a wolfish grin as he passed. 

“My dudes,” he crowed. “I haven’t seen you in forever!”

“It’s been two weeks, Fenrys,” Lorcan sighed, dropping his previous argument. He tied up his hair into a ponytail and left the locker room. Fenrys frowned at his back, and turned to Rowan with raised eyebrows. 

“I have no idea what’s up with him.” Rowan finished changing and watched Fenrys unwind from the gym. “I’m just here for a quick workout before…er, before something else.”

“Oh ho,” Fenrys said, his eyes wide. “I know that look! Are you seeing a girl, darling Rowan?”

Rowan forced his face to stay straight. Fenrys’s grin stretched wider, seeing through him. “Nice, my guy. Good for you.”

___

After a nice core workout, Rowan was sweaty and gross as he drove to Remelle’s bar. Great, now she’ll think I’m nasty, he groaned inwardly as he gave himself a much-needed self-sniff. He applied some emergency deodorant, but it didn’t really help. 

At 11:15, Remelle emerged from the building, its pounding music heard from outside. She scanned the parking lot before grinning as she spotted Rowan. She nearly skipped over to his car, hopping into the backseat where Rowan waited. 

“Hey,” Rowan said, smiling awkwardly. “How was work?”

“I don’t really want to talk, you idiot,” Remelle laughed, leaning in to kiss him. Her mouth was sticky and she smelled like alcohol again. He wrapped his arms around her back, leaning into the kiss. Remelle stroked her hands down his arms, pulling away to say against his lips; “Holy shit you are jacked!” 

“Just got back from the gym,” Rowan grunted, pulling back to look at her. She wore her uniform, but her top three buttons were undone. 

Remelle wrinkled her nose. “That explains why you smell like a dead mouse.” Rowan winced and opened his mouth to apologize before she covered it with her own. Remelle pushed him back onto the seat, laying him down, and giggled as she leaned over him. Rowan stared up at her, her smudged mascara and flushed face. 

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, and meant it. This was perfect - Remelle was an attractive, nice female - maybe they could date. When he was with her, he totally didn’t think about a certain patient. Not at all. 

Remelle rolled her eyes. “I don’t need the compliments, I know already.” She leaned in and pressed rough kisses against Rowan’s neck. He felt his neck becoming sticky, and he sat up on his elbows. 

“Er, would you mind wiping your mouth?” he asked awkwardly. Remelle didn’t look up at him, kissing across his collarbone. “Um, it’s just, your lipgloss or whatever. It’s sticky.” 

“Oh my fucking god, fine,” Remelle groaned, sitting up. She grabbed Rowan’s gross gym shirt and wiped her mouth with it. Rowan felt a pit in the bottom of his stomach form as he watched her. 

“Sorry.” Great - now he was uncomfortable and Remelle seemed annoyed. The woman shot him a glare and then let out a breath, unbuttoning her top to reveal her generous bosom. 

She advanced toward him then, lips stretching to a wicked grin. “It’s okay. You’re lucky you’re hot.”

I'M SO SORRY

I'm so sorry - I don't think I'll be able to post a fanfic for the rest of Aelin's week, including today. And I'm SO MAD because today is my favorite!! Rowaelin!!

I'm sorry y'all 😭 BUT I am in the process of planning a full, continuous fanfic saga....

SO EXCITED I HOPE THIS IS TRUE!!

10 clues that Taylor Swift is releasing a memoir on July 9th 2023:

• The author will be confirmed on June 13th.

• The book has 544 pages. 5+4+4= 13

• Taylor used ‘Dear Reader’ in her SNTV post

• In the ATW short film, Taylor is seen at the end at her own book launch, 13 years after the main plot takes place. 2010 + 13 years = 2023

• One million copies are being printed for expected presale alone.

• The publisher demanded for a booksellers TikTok to be deleted after suggesting it was Taylor’s book.

• The audio book is 13 hours long.

• It is currently priced at $45 for a hardback, extremely expensive for a standard book.

• It has been confirmed the memoir is by a world famous musician.

• The Target online store has marked it as age ‘22+’

WE HAVE A TITLE

The most amazing person ever, @backtobl4ck , helped me find a name for my new fanfic and we have a winner!!

*Drumroll please..*

TWIN WOUNDS!!!

I loved this name because I thought it fit the story so well. What do you think?

As always, thank you @backtobl4ck!!!!!

First Chapter of my New Fanfic!

Hello everyone! I have decided to write a multi-chapter fanfic series. Please don't hate me if the posting is irratic or if I stop for long periods of time lol. This is a Rowaelin spin - what is Rowan was a therapist and Aelin was his patient? I don't even know y'all 😅

HUGE thanks to all of the love shown in my previous posts but mostly to @backtobl4ck!! This person is the sweetest person ever and deserves all the love - go follow her! She has some great fics :)

Warnings: Language, descriptions of bad mental health/states, mentions of eating disorders. Enjoy!! :D

Rowan Whitethorn was a rehab therapist, but he had some shit of his own to sort out. 

But every day he pushed that aside as he got ready to lead a session in what he liked to call the “Rehab Room”, a dingy and cold room, with ugly orange carpet and a circle of folding chairs. Today there were some new patients coming in, Sellene - his boss and cousin - informed him as he made his way to the Rehab Room. How nice of her to tell him when the session started in two minutes, with nowhere near enough time to look through their folders.

After he said as much, Sellene raised an eyebrow at him. She was the prettier, female version of Rowan with dark bronze skin, silver hair and piercing green eyes that mirrored his. Dressed in a v-neck black dress, she was an intimidating sight, and Rowan grumbled as he stomped to the Rehab Room. 

The room was already full - or, as full as it usually was. Rowan did a quick analysis of the situation. Lucas, a regular, was chatting with one of the newbies. She was a pretty woman, with pale skin, a river of black hair, and wide, innocent eyes. But she had a haunted look about her, like she had seen too much. Next to her was a stunning woman. She had dark brown hair that rested to her shoulders and emerald green eyes. She had a hungry, animalistic way about her movements, quick and distorted. A couple others were seated, and Rowan was about to sit down when the door swung open and slammed shut. He turned. 

His gaze was met with a woman. She had pale skin and golden hair, and a lean body. But as he surveyed her face, he struggled not to gasp. She had the most breathtaking eyes Rowan had ever seen. They were the most beautiful blue, framed with long, curled lashes. But - she was so, so skinny. She was so thin it hurt Rowan to look at her. 

The woman clearly didn’t want to be here, and she glared at Rowan before taking a seat, crossing her arms over her chest. Rowan snapped out of his trance and cleared his throat, taking a seat across from her.  

“Welcome, everyone,” he began. “My name is Rowan, and I will be your therapist for your time here at the Whitethorn Rehab Center.” 

The woman with an animal-like nature raised her hand. Rowan nodded for her to speak. “Aren’t you Rowan Whitethorn? Didn’t your cousin Sellene start this place?”

Rowan closed his eyes for half a second. This came up occasionally, and everytime his patients assumed he got his job because of his cousin. He would pick a better damn paying job than this one if that was the truth - no, Rowan got here because of his own hard work. “Yes, my cousin Sellene made this place, but I assure you I didn’t get this job riding a wave of nepotism . I worked hard and studied psychology for years to get this position.”

The woman who raised her hand shrugged and slumped back in her chair, and Rowan continued on. “I thought we’d begin this session with introducing ourselves, since we do have some newbies. Just state your name, why you are here, and your…favorite animal.”

The stunning woman with beautiful eyes rolled them, but Rowan ignored it and pointed to the woman who had raised her hand. “You first, please.”

The woman heaved a sigh but said; “Hello, I’m Lysandra and I’m a drug addict. My favorite animal is a leopard.” 

Next was the woman with black hair and big eyes. “I’m Elide,” she nearly whispered. “I’m bulimic.” A dark red blush spread across her cheeks, and she ducked her head. Rowan recognized her shame, and he felt sad for her. “My favorite animal is…a bumblebee? I guess? I dunno.” Rowan pitied the poor woman as a tear slipped down her cheek. 

“Thank you, Elide,” Rowan said softly. Lysandra patted her shoulder and Lucas gave her a side hug. Elide sniffled and managed a smile. 

They moved on to Lucas, who introduced himself as a recovering alcoholic who had been in the WRC program for a year. A woman named Tiela went and then a man named Selmer, and then it was that woman’s turn. 

She raised her eyes up to Rowan, her gaze hateful. Her body language was tight and closed off, and Rowan could see her cheekbones - too much. Too, too skinny, he thought. “I’m not doing some shitty introduction,” she said. Her voice was rough, but Rowan had a feeling that wasn’t what she sounded like all the time. 

He raised his chin and said in his most stern voice; “We try not to curse in this rehab group. It can be triggering for some patients.” The woman rolled her eyes dramatically. “Please state your name, your…problem…and your favorite animal.”

The woman sighed, but seemed to give in. “I’m Aelin. My favorite animal is a dog. Done.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow at her, trying not to show the thrill that had gone through him when she had said her name. Aelin. Like a song. 

“I don’t have an addiction,” she snapped. “My cousin made me check in here.”

“And why is that?” Rowan asked. He knew he shouldn’t be prying, every therapist instinct was telling him to let it go, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to get to know this woman. 

Aelin’s eyes dropped down to her lap and her shoulders slumped. The anger that had been in her spirit since she had come in seemed to snuff out, and Rowan felt himself think come back, stay. Don’t leave her. “My…a year ago...my fiance passed away,” Aelin said in a miserable voice. Rowan felt his stomach drop and he paled. The others in the group sucked in breaths, giving her pitying glances. “Cancer. In his stomach. I didn’t take it well. Obviously. My cousin checked me in. My favorite animal is a dog.” 

____

After the session, Rowan made sure the patients got back to their rooms safely and then began the thirty minute drive home. He had felt like a pile of shit ever since Aelin’s introduction in the Rehab Room. He had fucking made her admit it, forced her too, like they had made him…

No. Don’t think about her. Not for a fucking second. Gritting his teeth, Rowan cranked up the radio, Jack Harlow filling the car. Not his favorite, but he’d take it. 

After a long drive, he finally pulled into his driveway. He had a nice enough house - he was skilled at saving - but it was bland and undecorated. He walked through the house, the rooms barely full of furniture, and to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he cursed as he realized he had forgotten to go pick up groceries. 

Grumbling, he grabbed an apple and began eating when he received a text. Pulling out his phone, Rowan read the message. 

Lorcan: You free?

Me: nope

Lorcan: You actually not free or u don’t want to talk

        Me: *shrugging emoji*

Lorcan: wow fine

Lorcan: how dare you abandon me 

Lorcan: now I have to go w fenrys

Me: where

Lorcan: da club

Me: …

Me: is there food?

Random Oneshot! :)

Okay I just wrote a very short, very bad Manon + Elide Oneshot. Idk XD

Thank you for all the support on the first chapter of my fanfic(still working on the name)! Chapter 2 coming soon....👀

Warnings: Light smut 😲

Ok enjoy!

Elide Blackbeak was exhausted to her very core. After a day of limping around her estate, making sure everything was ready for her wife’s return, she was ready to go take a hot bath and rub some ointment onto her ankle. But her heart was thrumming with nerves and excitement. After months of sleeping in an empty, cold bed, Elide would at last be reunited with Manon after her long tour with her Crochan witches. 

Elide was waiting in the huge foyer for her, fidgeting. The few servants in the household had cleared the space for them to be alone, so the only sound was Elide’s erratic feet tapping. Finally, she heard the sound of footsteps and held her breath as the big door opened. 

There, in the doorway, was Manon Blackbeak, Crochan Queen - and Elide’s wife. She was an unparalleled creature of beauty, with stark white hair she had cut to her chin and sharp golden eyes. She was dressed in black leathers and boots, her crown forgotten. As she stepped through the threshold, her eyes went immediately to her wife. 

“Manon,” Elide breathed, stomach doubling. An intense look crossed Manon’s face, and she crossed the room in five quick steps before pulling Elide to her, their faces an inch away from each other. Every pining second of those long months crashed into Elide, and she encircled her arms around her wife, breathing her in. She felt Manon stroking her sea of black hair and smiled. 

“I missed you,” Manon murmured. It was rare for her to express affection in words, so Elide held those words close to her heart like a jewel. She pulled back and scanned Manon’s face. 

“I love you. I’m so happy you are back, Manon.” Elide reached out and stroked her wife’s cheek. Manon leaned into the touch, holding Elide’s gaze. “How was your trip?”

“I don’t really want to talk about that right now,” Manon said, her voice dipping lower. Elide felt a thrill go through her, and she played coy, raising an eyebrow. 

“Oh? What do you want to talk about, Manon?” she whispered. 

“I don’t want to talk at all,” Manon said, her voice guttural. She plunged her hands into Elide’s hair, tugging it at the roots. Elide leaned her head back, her mouth making an O, before Manon kissed up and down her neck.

          Elide felt Manon slide her hands under her shirt and she stifled a moan. She kissed her wife and began peeling off her layers of leather as Manon made small, tight circles on her skin. She wrapped her legs around Manon’s waist and laughed breathlessly as the Crochan Queen led her to their bedroom. 

        Manon rolled off of Elide and lay next to her, both of them panting. The Queen wrapped her arms around her wife and Elide felt safe, knowing the person next to her could slaughter the strongest of men in minutes. 

       “I missed you too,” Manon said, breaking the sleepy silence. 

       “Hmm?” Elide was half asleep. 

       She felt Manon smile against her skin. “I missed you, Elide. And I love you.” 

       Elide looked up at her wife blearily. Seeing the sincerity of her gaze, she smiled softly and settled back down on her chest.

       “I know.”