1) Give me a pairing.
2) Give me an AU setting.
3) I will write you a three-sentence fic
For the longest time, he was lonely, rolling around in that bag on his own. Then, one day he awoke to his soulmate at his side. Every time they come together, he loses a bit more of himself, but he doesn’t care..
Ellyn couldn’t help taking a little time to stare down at her left hand. It was hard not to be distracted by he shimmering opals and diamonds set in gold. Her immortal chose the engagement ring well and she was excited still. Hell, beyond excited, the fae was thrilled! Sure, they hadn’t set a date yet, but, that was only a small matter. She had proof for the whole world to see. Not that she’d needed it, personally. Ellyn knew that Arzhur loved her, there was no doubt about it. But, this…
The ring was concrete, it cemented that knowledge into a physical display. It reaffirmed the way her heart fluttered in her chest and how much her cheeks hurt from smiling. Well, that and the fact that she couldn’t keep her eyes off of it for too long at a time.
She had kept it secret for nearly a month—selfishly and a tiny bit wary of having to defend her love from others. However, she was done with all of that, she wanted to shout her engagement from the heights of the world. Even in her own realm! The fae was not about to let anyone dictate her life, her love or her future anymore. She’d have the throne and her soul mate, or she’d leave the seat in Krull’s capable hands.
Ellyn gave a wistful sigh and spun a little more power into the preservation spell she’d worked over the ring. Opals were delicate when it came to water and Goddess forbid that anything should happen to her ring. No, she’d taken measures to ensure the whole piece was safe from the elements and extended the diamond hardness throughout. A small giggle escaped her lips as she went back to reading her book, hot chocolate in hand, that giddy feeling still bubbling up from the pit of her stomach.
It was an itch that needed to be scratched. A nagging craving that she’d harbored for weeks.The ache so deep and digging into her thoughts that if she didn’t voice it soon, she knew she’d go insane. So many long weeks before she’d even tried to bring the idea up and found herself unable to do so.
But, tonight was going to be different. She’d had a long week in Faery and he’d been swamped at work. Sure, she’d stolen a few hours time with him here and there, but, this was going to make up for all of that. Her heart fluttered in her chest, pulse racing at the prospect. Cheeks flushing, she met his gaze through the mirror, dozens of candles winking off the glass and tiled surfaces of her bathroom.
The faint flush was back in her cheeks as she turned to face him, meeting that slight smirk of his with her own grin. It took her only a moment to untie the belt of her red silk robe, slipping it off her shoulders as she stepped towards the antique clawfoot tub. It fluttered to the floor and she stopped short, letting him get a full glimpse of her nude form.
They’d arranged to spending the weekend together, just to see if they could manage it. After all, one night wasn’t enough for either of them and Ellyn would not let another opportunity like this slip away. Telling her men to hold their position in the western plains of Faery, she made the realm jump to Wales late Thursday night. It gave her just enough time to rest up and make the necessary preparations for their weekend.
She arrived at his house in the middle of the afternoon just shy of dinner the following day. After dinner, they made a little wager. The goal was to see who could make the other pass out before the other. It wasn’t just a matter of who could hold their liquor, it was mainly sexual. Nothing was really off-limits and the proper precautions were taken.
By Friday night’s end, she had won. Saturday night, he’d beat her to the punch. But, Sunday was the great equalizer and the last stand.
Ellyn had finished the last ward just in time. Everything was ready and they were counting down to drop the ball. She made the jump from New York to Wales and then to Faery. The queen suited up in her light armor, deciding that it would be easier to use than the alternative. Full metal armor would have been sweltering in the heat of the volcanoes.
No, this called for something else entirely. All of her men had gathered for the attack on the keep, wearing their cooler, thinner leather armor. But, she’d spent the better half of a week enchanting it all. It had been time consuming, stressful and left her weaker than she wanted to be when this all started. Not to mention feeding her magic to Krull.
As soon as she got home, she started stripping. The fae left a trail of clothes to her bathroom and turned on the shower. Her lips still tingled from that lingering goodbye kiss and she ached all over. It took her a moment to pinpoint when this all started and she blamed the spar.
That damn spar that ended up being a teasing match from Hell and left her horribly aroused for the rest of the evening. Leaning against the vanity sink, she caught a glimpse of herself as she un-braided her hair. Her pulse jumped in her neck as she swallowed and tried to concentrate on something other than how she loved his hands on her hips sliding over her waist and along her ribs. Or, how bad she wanted him to reach up under her sports bra and slide that calloused thumb against her breast…
She stopped then, shaking her head as steam slowly clouded the mirror. Licking her lips, she ran her fingers along her sides then and fought remembering how his col touch gave her goosebumps before making her want to kiss him as if her life hinged upon the act. The fae stopped short as her fingertips dipped over her hips and towards the junction of her thighs. Growling in frustration, she stepped into the spray of the shower, hissing as the scalding water pelted her skin. She adjusted it a moment later to something more reasonable and that’s when the memories came back in stereo and with vengeance.
Ellyn just gave in then and let the desire gripping her body win. Her forehead pressed against the cool tile a moment as she slid her hands upwards along her chest, palming her breasts. She could still feel the press of his lips along her neck, causing her index fingers and thumbs to pluck and roll her hard nipples. The fae licked her lips, right hand trailing along her toned stomach as she remembered the main reason she’d magic’d her sparring outfit away. He’d made her aroused and wet with all of his grinding and she couldn’t very well finish their little date like that.
But now, now she could finish what was so poorly interrupted in the gym. After all, she knew her body so well. She’d had it for centuries. Her fingers slipped between her legs then, running along the seam of her sex, pressing between her labia as she gasped. The fae had never had a problem with being responsive, in fact, her body was quite sensitive and short busts of repetition were more than enough to get her wet. She spread her legs a bit more, leaning against her shower wall a bit more as her fingers curled and moved a bit higher, brushing over her clitoris. The moan she’d been holding back escaped and she started rubbing a bit more.
That left hand was still at her breasts, alternating back and forth as she pinched at her nipples and whimpered. Her fingers moved a bit faster, sliding between her folds to draw out her anticipation a bit more. Soon enough though, she was rubbing that little button more and more. Ellyn’s knees buckled some as she trembled, panting against the tile and closing her eyes.
“Just a little more…fuck…”
Her voice broke with a mewling sound and she felt tension spreading along her lower back and center. The fae trembled, trying to had to find completion as her back arched and she pressed her left hand against the wall to keep herself upright. The water was turning a bit cooler then and she wished it was his hand working her to a frenzy by rubbing between her thighs. That raspy voice as he became aroused and his erection pressing against her, teasing as he kissed her neck. The way he challenged her and tried to dominate her and she’d let him. Gods, she’d let him do whatever he wanted to her right now.
She was feeling that build up within her suddenly reach the breaking point as she froze, crying out as she came. Her orgasm had her eyes closing tightly, screaming his name as her breath hitched. Ellyn closed her eyes tighter, seeing stars in that moment and slowing her right hand down. The fae whimpered then and let her hand drop, the relief of that much needed climax spreading through her body. It took a few minutes before she opened her eyes and regained normal breathing—moving then to wash herself and plotting the way she’d win the next game or, at the very least leave him in the same state she was in…
Quivering and wanting more.
Agoraphilia: I’ll write our characters having sex in a public place
Claustrophilia: I’ll write our characters having sex in a confined/small space
Expecting:
Ellyn had popped into his apartment as usual, but there was a certain spring in her step, a smile that wouldn’t disappear. However, her lover was at his piano, practicing something or another. Either way it was lovely and she enjoyed it. Eli came up and sniffed at her before sitting down and awaiting his customary petting. Once, twice and a third gentle pet, she moved to come up behind him, arms slipping around his neck as she leaned against his back. The fae hummed softly along with his tune and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, waiting for it to end.
Giddy happiness and joy radiated off of her, tinged only with the slightest bit of fear. The broker stopped what he was doing and gave her a proper hello consisting of that lopsided grin and a soft kiss to her lips. Ellyn smiled and nuzzled his cheek, leaning against him a bit more, hands slipping down to grasp his as they rested on the keys. Her voice was soft as she spoke into his ear, breathing along his neck.
“So…You were wondering why my magic has been acting up, right? Well…I saw the doctor today. A real one, mind you, not just a healer from Faery…”
There was a pause in her story and he nodded, turning his head to look at her. “Go on…Is it serious?”
Ellyn bit her bottom lip then and let go of him, standing up straight and fidgetting her hands. “You could say that. It’s pretty serious…And a lifelong thing.”
He sucked in a breath and turned around on that little bench, taking her hands in his and meshing their fingers. “Whatever it is, we will get through it—together.”
“I know…I know, Kane. But…Well, how do you feel about being a father?”
The question hung there as she watched his brain fizzle out, then reboot. Slowly the drop in his jaw came up into a grin and she could see the warmth in those dark brown pools of his eyes. As his gaze traveled down along her front, she moved a bit closer and pressed his palms to her stomach while her hands covered his.
“I thought I was imagining the little fluttering I felt there. Hell, I thought it was nerves. But, it’s real. It’s our child, Kane…I’m only two months along, but…You’re going to be a father.”
Ellyn bowed her head to stare at his hands, feeling that familiar prickle along her awareness as he reached out with the Force and tried to make contact. The fae laughed when his eyebrows shot up and his eyes searched hers, knowing he felt the little flickering life force there.
“It’s…A…I’m…Oh, wow…I’m going to be a dad.”
Laughing, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion, tears sliding down her cheeks as she moved to sit in his lap. His arms came around her instantly, pulling her against his chest and holding her tight. His forehead met hers and she sniffled, beaming at him.
“I love you, so very much, Kane. We can do this…”
“And I love you, Ellyn. We will do our best and that’s all that can be expected of us.”
Graveyard/O, Hero:
Even though he’d been cremated, Ellyn had dedicated a grave of sorts to him in Faery. Kane hadn’t survived that damn war, whereas she’d won hers. They’d been together for almost a year by the time he’d died and to say the pain was getting less was an overstatement. She still had days when she never wanted to leave her bed and just stay in those shirts of his until the scent of him was gone. But, it was almost like he was reminding her, his presence seemed to linger and that offered some comfort.
Still, it was her daily morning ritual to visit his grave in the royal gardens. His grave wasn’t a sad stone or a small plaque. The love of her life deserved something better—something grander. The Japanese cherry tree that she’d planted using a handful of his ashes thrived in her realm. It grew faster than the others and bloomed shortly after taking root.
The fae rested her hand against it’s trunk and bowed her head, speaking softly to the ghost of her memory. ”I miss you, Kane. More than I’d ever thought possible. And I know you’re alright and probably watching over me right now…But, I wish you were here. I’m so afraid to do this by myself. I’m scared, Kane…”
Tears flooded her eyes as she slid her free hand along the swell of her stomach. the responding kick she felt made her choke back a sob. “I promise you, your son will know of everything you did to save the galaxy and he’ll be my little reminder of you. I’m just sorry you never got to see him and I’m sorry I couldn’t heal you. But…He’s our little bundle of Luck and I will do my best. Just, watch over him, too. Please?”
As usual, her personal guard was silent, but, even the battle-hardened orc couldn’t keep a dry in the wake of her sadness.
Song:
Ellyn settled his head in her lap, ignoring the protests of the doctors around them. He was dying and she needed to summon high magic. It was risky, given her pregnant state, but, she didn’t care. She couldn’t live without him. With her heart cleaving in two, then shattering into shards that cut through her throat, she smiled at him. Tears began to fall as he blinked at her and that cheeky grin spread across his face. The fae cleared her throat then and let her fingers run through his hair, down across his sweating and clammy cheek. Starting to glow, she summoned her magic, voice coming out softly at first, then getting louder.
“Land of bear and land of eagle. Land that gave us birth and blessing. Land that calls us ever homeward, we will go home across the mountains…Well will go home, we will go home. We will go home across the mountains. We will go home, we will go home. We will go home across the mountains…”
That song was soft, her mother’s lullaby, as she’d once told him. Even after her magic faded and her voice cracked, she continued. He wasn’t able to be saved and she felt her breath hitch in her lungs as he blinked up at her, licking his lips as if to speak and she leaned down. As his hand reached her cheek, thumb swiping away her tears he smiled and broke her heart.
“I love you and I’m sorry…”
The light disappeared from his eyes and his hand dropped when he took his last breath. The anguished wail that left her lips then made everyone turn away. It had been the most beautiful and soul shattering moments they’d ever seen.
Harpies: Our characters getting into an argument
“What do you mean that I need to stop bringing you food from Earth?” Her hands were on her hips then and she was trying to stay calm. but, her eyes were flickering colors, like a candle flame.
“I’m not saying you can’t. Bloody Hells! I’m just asking you not to bring so many sweets!”
“Well, why?! I don’t understand!” Ellyn’s voice rose then and she noticed the pillows levitating off his couch. Crossing her arms over her chest, she lowered them, fuming as she tried to control her powers. “You go from loving the food I make and bring for you to telling me I can’t fucking do it anymore! Christ on a cracker! Tell me why? Why, Kane?”
He ran his fingers through his hair and she watched him pace some, mumbling to himself. When the broker turned to her, he wore the most serious expression on his face. Ellyn was tapping her foot, waiting, annoyed and at the end of her patience when he spoke.
“I’m gaining weight…”
She stared at him, completely shocked. Anger deflated, she stared at him, gaping a moment. Words failed her and she sputtered a moment. “Do…Do what? What’s going on?”
He stared at her, puffing out his cheeks as he sighed in frustration. She wants to hear it again. Wonderful. He scratched at the back of his head and threw up his hands then.
“All your good food is making me gain weight, Ellyn!”
That was when she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Taking a moment and running her thumb along her bottom lip. “That’s why we’re arguing? Really?” Crossing the floor in a handful of strides, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his lips softly.
“I’ll lay off the food all the time, but, next time…Don’t wait so long to tell me, Kane. I don’t like arguing and I like it even less when it’s with you.”
Faerie: Our characters causing mischief together
“RUN!”
Ellyn grabbed onto his shirt and tugged before taking off. There was a loud crash, a bang and a lot of cursing. They were running as her General came lumbering around the corner. She spotted the orc covered in corn syrup and popcorn. The fae watched the orc slip and fall, nudging Kane to stop.
They started laughing and couldn’t stop. Ellyn fell over onto the grass and hugged herself. Kane doubled over with that gasping laugh of his and It took them a moment to find their breath again. They managed to, just in time because the large orc was coming after them again.
Scrambling to her feet, Ellyn took off running, using a sweep of her power to make him trip and fall again. that was a terrible prank, but so worth it.
Wallowing in her depression only lasted so much. It had been over two full weeks since she’d seen her vampire, her Arzhur. On top of him not telling her where he was, all of her attempts to contact him were spotty at best and she never knew if he received her messages or not. Ellyn was at a loss, a complete loss.
Their once powerful bond was fading, fast and she found herself curled up in bed at night, crying. Her responsibilities to Faery were slowly becoming less of a priority. Even when she used them as an excuse to leave her friends. She was starting not to care about small things, she’d earned a loss in appetite and she felt like she was all cried out. The time spent in the sun and daytime hours was supposed to recharge her. in truth it had the opposite effect. Her thoughts jumbled, dates and events forgotten—exchanged instead of a reminder of how this was her fault.
Everything was her fault.
Her whole existence seemed like a blight against the world. She’d curled up on the couch, determined to finish figuring out some new enchantments when the voices began again. No more skittering little insects. No, these were some sort of other animal. Something with claws and teeth that wanted her shaking like a leaf. Hysteria waited to claim her as she felt like her soul was being ripped into pieces. there was no thought that was able to keep her afloat anymore. She was losing everything all over again.
The man she’d come to love, the family she’d wanted and the friends who were always at her side. Slowly and surely it was all being chipped away. And those lovely little sibilant voices liked to remind her that it was we fault. her failures in the past were here again now, haunting her and robbing her of the life she used to feel like she deserved.
Now?
Not now.
Now, she found lapses in time and place as she moved through the realms and along Earth. What used to cause her joy only provoked sadness and a deep unending loneliness. Her brain functioned only to remind her occasionally to eat and that even if she passed out from exhaustion they’d be waiting for her to come back. No amount of praying, begging and hoping kept her afloat anymore. Hope was dying, it lingered only so long as she saw him and felt his arms around her.
Everything hurt, every moment and breath without him. Each hour that passed by when she hadn’t heard from him made her heart crack, seams and fissures breaking the little thumping thing wide. The ache that started two days from when she’d last seen him grew exponentially and made her shake and clutch at her chest with every breath. This whole house was a searing reminder that he wasn’t around. Little things didn’t matter anymore, she’d taken to only bathing when she had to leave the house. Her desire to care was waning and apathy was threatening to settle in. She was careless on the field, taking hits and getting minor injuries. Being thrown from a horse for the first time in centuries was a stark rememberence of how badly she was falling apart. Parallel timelines didn’t so much to help her situation and if the men noticed, they never spoke a word.
Krull had taken to staying with her more than before, trying to keep the nightmares away. The all consuming desire to let everything pass her by. She’d begged him before to let her die, to take the reigns and lead Faery himself and he’d done like any older brother would. He pulled her from the collapsing shadows of her sanity and held her until she cried tears of blood, her heart cleaved and wept on it’s own. To the point where she was making herself sick.
Just two and a half, lonely, pitiful weeks without him and she knew she was over-reacting. The logical part of her knew what was happening and her heart drowned it all out. That was the hardest part—the knowing. The fiercely controlled part of herself, the resolve to soldier on and put one foot in front of the other remained. Even if she was dragging her feet and grabbing at the earth with her bare hands. When she wanted so much to cave in, to stop and wallow in her grief…She found some sliver, somewhere that prevented it.
Maybe it was her love for him, maybe it was her duty to her friends and family. Whatever it was, it was fragile and shrinking every day. She wasn’t sure how long it’d last, but the nit-picking in her head began again and scenarios of creative means to ends were finding niches in her consciousness.
Scream:
Ellyn had the perfect plan to frighten Panda. Why? The simple answer was because she was family. The long answer included something about trying to scare her out of her funk lately and to alleviate her boredom since Arzhur had gone away on business. Not to mention the Halloween after sale was awesome.
She situated herself inside clothes dryer one morning, knowing Panda would have to move laundry over. Wearing a latex zombie mask, she waited. There were the tell-tale sounds of Panda coming down to the basement and apparently, she was talking to herself. Brimmign with excitement, she waited for that door to open and lunged out, growling. The following scream was well worth it until the door got kicked in her face and she knocked her head.
“Fuck! Panda, chill out!”
Coffee:
“Panda! Oh my god, Panda! Where are you?!” Ellyn was downstairs running on a week of no sleep, copious amounts of coffee and energy drinks. Her sugar level was ridiculous. She was even wearing rollerblades in the house. The fae skated from the living room to the kitchen and back to the stairwell again.
“Come on! You can’t stay up there foreveeeeer!”
Spectre:
Ellyn was a ghost and it sucked. She didn’t even recall how she ended up like this, except she was sure it happened with the war. So, who would she haunt? Her brother and sister in law. More specifically, Pandora. Like right now. The little witch was soaking in the tub and she decided this was as good a time as any.
Slowly, she focused her disjointed energies and became visible, floating above the woman and waving. “Hey there, Panda. Don’t scream?”
Bleed:
Ellyn was fighting her, over what it was, she’d forgotten. All she knew was that something had snapped inside her sister and that was not going to be tolerated. Lashing out with her power, she made the boards beneath her feet come alive, binding her tightly.
But, it didn’t help. She felt the window beside her explode, a shower of shards cutting into her face and skin. Warm blood slid along her skin, stinging from each and every cut as she stared her down, panting under her breath. “Stop this…Now, I don’t want to hurt you, Panda!”
O Macbeth:
Naim had gotten injured in Faery and it was all her fault. Ellyn’s sorrow washed over her as she stared at her brother on the bed. He was in a coma and non-responsive. She could feel Panda’s hatred through the walls, coming closer. Guilt ate at her then.
If he died and left his family all alone, Panda would end her in her grief and those poor twins! Ellyn swallowed back her tears as the door slammed open and Panda advanced on her, energy swirling around her. The fae was exhausted from the battle beforehand and her magic was almost spent.
The witch picked her up with the barest gesture and slammed her into the wall, plaster raining down over her head. An invisible hand gripped her throat tightening as the younger woman came closer, hovering off the ground, tears coursing don her cheeks. Ellyn’s own flowed freely as she felt her air supply being cut off—accepting her fate as she saw Panda’s lips moving before the darkness claimed her, a searing pain in her chest before everything went black and cold.
Get Me:
Ellyn arrived just in time. For whatever reason, the house was being attacked. Naim was at the store, obviously and Pandora was trying to protect the twins. The strangest part? She heard the twins crying all the way in Faery! Those two were going to be ridiculously powerful in the years to come.
Regardless she arrived, Excalibur in hand and in full chain-mail armor. She pinned some vampire to the wall and he cackled on and on about something. She hated lame ass monologuers. The fae queen grabbed him by the throat and jumped into the backyard where the garden came alive.
Vines, tree roots and all manner of flora moved to pin him down and she decapitated him in one swift move, incinerating his body in the next moment. The ashes were gathered and sealed in an earthenware jar. She’d have to scatter them to the four winds later. Heading upstairs, she found Panda clutching at her children, crying. Ellyn ginned then and gestured some.
“I got it, it’s dead…and the house repairs itself…Calm down, Panda. You’re children need you calm, alright?”
Nurse Me:
Ellyn wasn’t having any of her shit. Nope. “If you don’t drink this down, right fucking now, I’m going to put an I.V. in your arm and pump it into you.”
When Panda gave her the finger, she moved and sat on the frail woman’s chest, pinning her arms down. Ellyn pinched her nose and waited for her to gulp for air, pouring the entire contents of that cup down her throat. Her hand clapped over the woman’s mouth and she rubbed her throat like a small animal. Once she felt Panda swallow, she sat up, running a hand through her hair.
“Why the fuck do you always have to be so difficult?”
Ellyn heard him as he entered his apartment. It’d become quite common for him to do so since they started spending more and more time together. Hell, they were dating or whatever this was. She was still so unsure, but, she knew she valued his company and enjoyed the time she had with him. Between showing him Earth in the past and him pretty much being the one who kept her from getting lost in the war—they worked out together well enough. As these thoughts turned in her head, she wasn’t aware of him standing next to her as she coated another large strawberry in chocolate.
She turned some, setting it town on the wax paper before glancing at him. He was dipping a strawberry to help out, or at least that’s what she thought. Then he lifted it up and grinned at her. Ellyn rolled her eyes and leaned in, taking a quick bite and eating it. Then she leaned in and kissed him soundly, purring against his lips some. They pulled apart for a brief second and she rubbed her nose against his as he spoke.
“Tastes like chocolate…The good kind.”
Dalvrick was home and she didn’t even need to hear him from across the house. After all, she was in her garden perfecting a crossbred species of pitcher plant and a rose. A little more tweaking and the blooms would be glorious. Ellyn bowed her head more as he came up behind her, trying to be silent and she felt his arms encircle her waist.
“You’re late…Did you run into hunters again? Or were you trying to visit your daughter again?” When his lips trailed her neck, she shivered and smirked, dropping her tools as she leaned back against him.
“Let me put a spell on Ina, I can bring her here and take care of her correctly. Hell, I’ll spell that whole damn household. Watch me…Now, I want to go out for dinner, since you’re so damn late, Dally. I’m feeling…Greek.”
Ellyn found him meditating in the gardens, her lower lip was caught by her teeth as she mulled over how to make herself known. She smiled then and settled for the easiest way. A flick of her wrist and magic unfurled beneath her feet, giving her heels little cushions of air to keep from making a sound with each step she took.
Once she was behind him, she bent down and perched on her knees, hands sliding down over his shoulders as she hugged him. Her cheek met his, nuzzling a moment before she smiled and decided to speak, lips grazing the edge of his ear.
“I hate to interrupt you, Zan…But, I’ve missed seeing you for a while and to be quite honest, I was worried while you were gone. I…”” Pausing a moment, she licked her lips and sighed, inhaling a moment before she continued, obviously a little nervous.
“I—I was thinking a lot while you were gone, organizing things, making evaluations and trying to understand why just seeing you makes me the happiest woman in the universe. I realized that I love you…More than a friend—more than I’m supposed to and in a way that makes me afraid because you’re a Jedi. You’re in the middle of a war and I’m not from this realm…I can’t help it if I’ve become attached to you, even if I don’t know how you feel about me and I know attachment is forbidden to you, but…It won’t stop my heart from missing you when I don’t get to see you for days on end. It hasn’t done anything to keep me from craving more time with you, more than just hugs and stolen kisses. I couldn’t keep this to myself any longer, I had to tell you….But, please, tell me…What am I supposed to do when the very universe is against us?”
Her voice had gone soft then and she blinked back the tears in her eyes. Ellyn rested her chin against his shoulder then, arms slipping down as she leaned against him. She was waiting for something—anything from him and fought hard to keep from trembling at her own confession.