"Well, I think the rest of the people who live here find Christmas very enjoyable, so I'm trying to bring a little cheer to the place while they're out...since it's Christmas Eve and everything. Nettle concentrates and finally gets the bow to stay, and then steps down off the pew.

Natalie smiles and takes Nettle's hair and pushes is back over her shoulders. "I've really missed you-- thank you for asking me over and telling me about your....fiance! I still can't believe you're engaged and haven't told your parents yet! And I can't wait to meet Alec! And Nettle, I don't know why you're so scared something's going to happen to him. You know planes are the safest way to travel!"

Nettle smiles patiently at her cousin. "Well, you can tell that to my heart, but not to my head." Nettle wishes she could tell Natalie her real reason for fear, but knows it would only confuse or bring danger to her Unawakened cousin. "Besides...I should be hearing from him in the next day or two. Not much more time left to wait, right?" Nettle puts on her bravest smile, and Natalie smiles gently back.

"Oh Nettle, you always were such an emotional freak!" Natalie laughs and hugs her. "If only everyone knew! The cold-hearted exterior you put on in high school was all a facade!"

Nettle thinks back to how many millenia ago high school seems, and realizes there is a distance between she and Natalie now....that her life has moved on to so much more than mundane memories.

"Oh! I better go! I have to teach that dance class in about an hour and need to get changed! Remember, I want to see his ring when it comes in!" Natalie hugs Nettle, and the two walk to the chapel door. Natalie gets her coat, and the two exchange good-byes as Natalie opens the door and walks out. Nettle stands by the door watching her as she gets in her car and leaves. Her eyes unfocus as she looks unseeing at the falling snow and stands in the doorway, deep in thought.

A blue outline begins to form, it cracks sideways and Alec falls from it, landing on his feet, his knees buckle and he falls to the floor. "I...hate...gates..." he says as he hold the bile down. He stands and looks around. "Right, home sweet home." Alec walks wearily to their room and crashes on the bed, pulling the cover upon him.

Nettle stands in the doorway as the sunset colors the snow with pinks and oranges until she realizes she freezing, and then quickly shuts the door and rubs her arms. "Where did I put that jacket..." Nettle thinks, and then a look of resignment crosses her face when she realizes it was left in her...their...room. She sighs, and slowly makes her way down the aisle, wondering if she'll be doing a similar thing with Alec in a little over a month. Making her way downstairs, she stops and gazes around at everything-- as if trying to delay getting to the Room. "Maybe I'll just go over and watch Nat teach her class-- I've said I wanted to do that. Yes, I think I'll do that." Nettle quickens her pace, and soon she's walking through the Horizon Realm and into the palace.

Alec rolls over and takes his clothes off and folds them neatly on the chair in the corner. Hopping into bed, he smiles. I'll surprise her when I wake up. He lays his head down the pillow and sleep over takes him...

Nettle makes it to the door. It is closed as it has been for 3 days. She takes a breath and opens it slowly, and then enters-- letting the light from the hallway illuminate the room slightly. She waits for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and then walks quickly over to the closet. Fumbling through the hanging items of clothing, she tries to find the coat she wants. "Damnit!" she whispers, and tears come to her eyes when she can't find it. "So easily frustrated...emotional freak..." she mutters to herself as she walks over to turn on the light. Turning back around, she sees the chair in the corner and her heart stops. Alec's clothes are folded neatly on it. Her hand goes to her face, and her mouth tries to form words. She can barely breathe. "What....who...who would play such a sick trick on me!" she cries in dispair, and then her eyes wander hopefully round the room and fall on the form on the bed under the sheets. She approaches slowly...tentatively...and is barely able to speak the name. "Alec...?" She stands there frozen, her face white, thinking she must be hallucinating.

The form rolls over and turns on the lamp, "'Allo love. Come to bed won't you?"

Nettle looks at Alec a moment, and then her eyes roll up into her head and she crumples to the floor in a faint, her hair fanned out on the floor around her shoulder and head.

Alec sits up, "Crikeys...she fainted!" he says as he hops out of bed and kneels next to her. "Wake up, Nettle, wake up, you alright, love?"

Nettle moves her head a little and moans quietly as her eyes slowly open. When she sees Alec she sits up quickly and throws her arms around him. Her face pressed against his neck, he hears and feels her sobs as they wrack her body. "Alec...Alec...you're back and your safe...PLEASE tell me you're done....please tell me you're back for good..."

Alec nods, "I am, love. I'm here and now I'm all yours." He helps her up and to the bed. "Lie down, I want to show you something..."

Nettle lays back and puts the back of her hand to her forehead, still feeling a bit spacey. Blinking a few times, she looks at Alec again and her eyes drink him in thirstily. She watches him silently, wondering what this something could be...

Alec bends down kissing her passionately. "Well then again, I've shown you before so sing along if you like." he says with a chuckle.

Nettle reaches up suddenly and pulls Alec down on top of her-- kissing him passionately, energetically, emotionally-- holding his face in her hands, then wrapping her arms around him. "Oh, I'll be singing all right, Alec..." she whispers, and begins pulling his clothes off hurriedly.

Afterwards...

Alec holds Nettle as he smiles in the candlelight. "It went well, strange but well." He gets a look on his face and rises to his elbow. "I want to tell you something."

Nettle traces a finger down his face lovingly. "I'm so glad you're back safely, and back for good, and I want to hear anything you'll tell me, love."

Alec shifts his weight, "Well where to begin. The plane ride was interesting. Janis came to me and tried to warn me of what may happen." Alec gets a faraway look in his eye. "Arriving at Balador was nice, but crikeys must they have the orgy room so close to the entrance? Right, well I saw who I needed to see and they welcomed me back."

Nettle nods, then laughs. "Orgy room...why haven't you taken me to this place before?! And when are you taking me??" Nettle smiles and watches him steadily. "I'm so relieved they welcomed you back, and it confirms my belief that the leaders of the traditions are not stupid. They knew it was an accident, love. It was only you who were punishing you. So that was it, then? You went to them and all was well?"

Alec nods and lights another joint, "Yeah, I did what I had to do. I left something behind there, Nettle." he says with a serious look. "I left a part of me I no longer need. I also.." Alec looks down then back at her, "Got myself fixed again."

Nettle watches you with eyes suddenly wet with tears, but her face impassive. "I understand, Alec. I'm still not sure if I think what I did was wrong, but now that you're back with me, I don't want to make a baby yet...so I'm glad you had it done." Nettle smiles and wraps her arms around Alec tightly. "You are so wonderful and patient with me, and I hope someday I can repay you for that, Alec."

Alec studies her face for a moment and kisses her. "Not to worry, love. S'ok, I didn't worry too much. Sides, the part I left, I didn't really need with Dave and Jason about. I can feel it missing, but I'll grow used to it."

Nettle watches Alec-- her face uncomprehending. "Left a part of yourself behind? What do you mean-- I don't know if I like the sound of that, Alec." Nettle watches Alec carefully.

Alec nods and looks up at the ceiling. "I had abit of a chat with Bacchus, nice fellow by the way. I left my past, part of me soul back there. I can never learn the ways of the spirit world, like Jason and David use. It's the price I had to pay to lose my guilt. I'm not happy about losing that. But it's what I had to do, love. I'd do it again, too."

Nettle listens with a concerned look on her face. "That seems a bit drastic, don't you think baby? This woman-- Sylvannia-- she had that much of a hold over you...are you sure that was the only way you could lose the guilt?" Nettle tries to disguise her envy of how much this woman meant to Alec.

Alec strokes her hair and nods. "Well it wasn't all my descision, there love. I had a price to pay for her death, whether they believed it to be my fault or not. My mentor died at my hands. I couldn't walk away unscathed. The Cult would never trust me afterwards, and so this is my punishment."

Nettle studies Alec silently for a moment. "Why do I get the unspoken impression that this was your choice to leave a part of your soul behind? Don't take this wrong, Alec, but it seems almost the easy way out. I mean, if you should happen to freeze again and someone close to you dies as a result, will you return to this Bacchus and have him cut out another part of your soul to get rid of the pain?" Nettle raises an eyebrow and looks unflinching into Alec's eyes.

"I won't freeze again. Ever. I am over it now, and I'm ready. I need abit more practice, I am a bit rusty but I'll do." Alec looks down at her, "Rest easy, love. We'll be alright."

Nettle watches Alec for a moment, thinking, and then nods. "Your confident reassures me...I believe you." Nettle gets a mischievious look on her face and smiles. "Bacchus, eh? So what did you learn from him?"

Alec shrugs, "That supposedly I'm important to his plans, whatever that means. He was chatting on about some great destiny of mine. I don't know."

"Important to the plans of a god?? Well, I'm glad I'll be around to see these plans...well, I HOPE I will...great destiny?" Nettle shakes her head in awe. Looking up at Alec, she smiles gently. "I love you Alec."

Alec smiles and holds her close, "Love you too, sugar," he says smiling. "Ahhh what a nice homecoming..."

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