Arkady remains patient, his hands in his lap, as he waits for Ereuvir to return. It's like waiting for a gift on Christmas or Valentines Day. For over a year, he just had a skull and memories to keep him company. Perhaps the nights of only having his own hand and those memories to keep him company during the night are over again. Perhaps he should have brought a mint.

He looks up when the door to the sitting room opens, dark eyes lighting up immediately.

Ashley. It's him. He's here and he's still beautiful, just as Arkady remembers him. He's frozen for a moment, needing a second to process all this. They can be together again, forever this time.

Arkady stands up, still gazing at Ashley. He forces his feet to move finally. "Ashley... my love... my beautiful Ashley."