"It's all... overwhelming," Laurel continued, "I feel... empty and I... don't know what to think," she confessed. After a pause she went on, "But the more I consider it rationally, the more certain I am you would never... have said those things."

Nic didn't move.

There was another long pause before Laurel reached out and gently pulled the scarf down from his eyes.

It looked like Nic was asleep. It didn't look completely peaceful though. And the underside of the scarf was still a little damp. This was the first time he had ever looked so... vulnerable.

Laurel looked at Nic for a long time before slowly reaching out and hesitantly at first but with growing confidence, brushed the hair from his forehead. "Who's fault is this?" she whispered, "Is it mine or yours?" She stroked his cheek a little, "Neither I guess... it must be that curse of yours working." After a moment, she pulled on his cheek a little.

Nic slowly started to wake. He looked rather disoriented like he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming or not.

Laurel continued to pull on Nic's cheek, "I'm really mad at you," she spat, eyes hidden behind the sunglasses.

Nic slowly turned his head to look at Laurel, still looking dazed.

"Really, really mad," she emphasized, "But... I'm glad I still have to right to be mad at you," she whispered, letting go of his cheek and smoothing out his hair again.

Nic blinked blankly at Laurel almost as if he didn't recognize her.

Laurel stared back. Or at least, it could be assumed she stared back since her eyes were hidden.

After awhile, Nic moved his arm a little which seemed to start convincing him he wasn't asleep any longer.

Laurel continued to stare at him, she seemed to be withdrawing a bit for some reason.

It took him a long while to raise his arm and slowly reach out for the sunglasses.

Laurel swallowed but didn't stop Nic. When he pull them off, there was second where Laurel managed to look at him but then she winced and shut her eyes, using her hand to shield them from any light.

There was evidence of a very recent operation on her eyes. It wasn't clear exactly what had been done but her eyes had a bluish tint.

Nic looked at her for a moment before trying to lift the sunglasses back up to her face. But his arm stopped after part of the way. It didn't show on his face, but it looked like that might be too difficult for him at the moment.

After a moment, Laurel reached out blindly with her free hand and eventually found Nic's hand with the glasses. When she touched his hand though, she didn't take the glasses, she just squeezed it tightly.

Nic's hand gradually fell to his chest, unable to to keep it lifted. Just from his light touch, Laurel could tell he was frustrated with how weak he currently was.

Laurel eventually let go of his hand and took the glasses. When she got them back on she look back at Nic. She still seemed reserved, "I... don't know if I believe this is happening," she suddenly confessed in a quiet voice.

Nic didn't say anything.

... Well, that didn't look like it had changed.

Laurel continued to stare at Nic, "Do you love me and only me?" she suddenly asked.

Nic blinked, surprised by the sudden question. After a moment he answered, voice a little weak, "I... don't love anyone else... like I love you."

As soon as he finished, Laurel's lips were already locked onto his. It was a short kiss, filled with relief but also disbelief... with a touch of something darker. She quickly pulled away, withdrawing a bit back into herself.

Nic kept his eyes closed as Laurel pulled away biting his lip a little, fighting something back. He was quiet for a long moment before a first for him. "But... I'll never get it right," he confessed quietly. For once, Laurel could see the pain on his face. It looked like they had both had a rough time while Laurel was away.

For once, Laurel didn't fight to remain optimistic. "You messed up pretty bad this time," Laurel agreed, "You never explain anything to me, get angry for reasons I don't understand and then take it out on me. Go off and do everything on your own, leaving me behind to pick up the pieces. You can be pretty hard to deal with," she confessed with a sigh. There was an pause where it seemed like she wasn't going to go on. "But... after hearing you say... the most hurtful words you could probably ever say to me... I've come to realize that I could never hate you. Even if you threw me out one day, if you... left me, I could never... hate you," there was raw emotion in her voice, so much of it... it was impossible to distinguish which emotions she was expressing.

Nic didn't say anything, eyes still closed. His hand clenched a little as the fight got a lot harder.

After a moment, Laurel reached out and put her hand on Nic's clenched one. "Stop trying to be perfect, Nic. No one is. I messed up too. I believed lies and didn't stop to think. I should have known you'd never betray me. I ran away. I ran away to the other side and now... now I... I'm..." she stopped for a moment, "Just stop beating yourself up, Nic," she finished quietly.

It looked like that was going to be rather difficult for him. He was starting to sweat a little, mind moving too fast. It wasn't clear if he had even heard her.

Laurel wiped some sweat off of his forehead. "Honestly... you're such a handful," she muttered. Mind moving too fast, huh? She leaned down and really kissed him, lingering on his lips as she put a hand on his cheek.

It took a moment, but Nic started to come back. Laurel's fingertips got a little wet with a few tears as Nic slowly kissed Laurel back. He was really hurting.

Laurel was hurting too, but surprisingly, no tears came as she continued to kiss Nic softly. Nic could tell something was different with Laurel, something inside of her that she wouldn't let him near. She finally pulled away, cupping his face in her hands and wiping his tears away gently. "Now, stay calm. As much as you hate it, you're as weak as a rabbit. If you get too upset and kick the bucket right now... then I'll probably hate you," she warned him as she leaned in and kissed his forehead. "Are you hungry? You should eat." she stated as she kissed his temple. Old habits die hard.

Nic managed to shake his head a little.

Laurel nodded, Nic's head still cupped in her hands, "Alright... we're okay," she murmured as if reassuring herself, "We'll work this out." She stroked his cheek a little, "Some water?" she offered.

Figuring Laurel wouldn't be happy until she felt like she had helped in some way, Nic nodded a little.

Laurel nodded and got up, going to a small fridge. She pulled out a small bottle of water and went over to the cupboards. When she came back, the water looked like it was in some sort of sippy-cup. She took a seat beside him on the bed. "How far can you lift your head?" she asked.

Nic tested it out. He lifted his head a few inches, but it wasn't clear how long he'd be able to keep it up.

He wouldn't have to hold it as Laurel slid her arm underneath his head to support him. She held the sippy-ish cup to his lips and let him drink what he wanted.

Nic drank it all; he wanted to have his strength back as soon as possible.

Laurel raised her eyebrows a little, a motion barely visible with the sunglasses, "Anything else you want?" she offered as she slowly removed her arm and lowered his head back down.

Nic shook his head, looking pretty tired.