Losing someone you love

Eris had been walking around, kept clear of where Killian had said there was another residence living in the house. When she came close, she could feel the soul, how it was hanging on, on its last thread. It reminded her when she had worked as a nurse under World War two. When she had taken souls in her canister to save for later. Souls that had been given to her by patients so she could live without taking from people that deserved to live. But feeding, that she needed to do. Paintings caught her eye, and she could feel how her heart was caught in her throat. Oliver had to had given them to him, it had been those paintings she had painted while living together.

She found the kitchen, saw the outside garden from the window and took her time, waiting patiently so Killian could have the time with his daughter they both deserved. But when it became quieter in the room, she started walking towards it, knocking gently towards the door. Kilian’s voice told her to come in, so she pushed the door slightly ajar and gave them both one of her famous soft smiles. “Sorry to interrupt” she said letting her tongue glide over her teeth “I don’t want to take your time away from each other, I can just come home another day, if that is alright of course, if I come back?” she didn’t want to overstep, and she would much rather have that Killian gave his time to both Iris and Mary-Jane. They didn’t deserve getting pulled in and thrown around, just because they were dealing with old souls.

The demon looked peaked in and Killian smiled softly and welcoming to her. The shapeshifter tried to do the same, but it was a little less and her cheeks were red from the mood. “It’s okay,” the shapeshifter mumbled slightly hoarse as the souldemon apologized for interrupting.
I can just come home another day.
Both Mary-Jane and Killian caught onto it. Killian didn’t move because Mary-Jane was laying with her head on his lap. But it didn’t take long before Mary-Jane got to her feet and approached the souldemon. She invited Eris in for a hug, and if the souldemon hesitated, Killian would nod somewhat frantically. “You can come any time, but… Please stay,” the shapesifter mumbled into the ear of the souldemon. “Thank you for looking out for Iris,” she mumbled before she would let go of the soul demon and take a step back.
She looked over at her father, who quickly understood his que to get up. As he stood in front of Eris and next to his daughter he smiled gently at her. “Remember what we talked about, okay?” he said and pulled on a smile. Mary-Jane pulled on a similar smile before she wrapped her arms around him in a short hug. When her arms left him, she started to push him a bit, and he quickly made sure that he wouldn’t stumble over Eris, as they both moved out of the room. Mary-Jane closed the door behind them and laid down next to Bruce.

Killian smiled widely, almost as if something miraculous had just happened – because in his eyes it had. He squatted down and wrapped his arms around Eris and swirled her around. It was incredible how it almost felt like his day had been saved. “You’re the most wonderful person!” he laughed happily before he sat her down again and looked into her eyes. Joy was spread all over.

As Eris replayed what she had just said, her eyes went big. How, could she just, that, she had no idea. Oh god. But before the train of thought could escalate in her mind, the small shapeshifter got on her feet and walked towards her. She gave her a small smile, and then, just like Iris had done. She went for a hug. What was this, had these girls never had a mother? She didn’t even hesitate and placed her arms around Mary-Jane and gave her a hug, a hug that only a mother could give. “Thank you, that means a lot coming for you” she whispered back as she got out of the hug and a smile was on the soul demon’s lips. “Of course” she nodded, and took a step back so Killian could hug her too.

A laugh left her as they were being pushed out the room. Being treated as the annoying parents they were, and the teenager daughter just wanted to go back to being moody, which would be hard when finally getting some of what it was that she wanted.

She was just about to say, that it went well. When Killian exclaimed and picked her up. Her laugh became bigger, and she had to wrap her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. But she was quickly sat down again, and she let out a small chuckle, a big smile formed on her lips as her hand found his cheek. “Thanks, I guess?” she hummed laughter still hanging in her words, she looked around the house before her eyes settled at him again “so” she whispered taking a deep breath in “do you have time to talk with me too?”

Eris laughter was so healing and true. It only filled the happiness in him even more. He loved how she had to swing both legs and arms around him. “I-” he had to find the words in his excitement but didn’t really want Mary-Jane to hear just how much it affected him to see Mary-Jane hug Eris. It was almost an acceptance to Eris being near the family. She wasn’t a threat. “She doesn’t really like touches, so it’s” he corrected some of Eris hair behind her ear. “It’s quite grand,” he explained.

Time to talk?

He licked his lips and nodded a bit more contained than just a minute ago. “Yes, of course,” he said and looked towards his office and the kitchen. “Do you want to sit somewhere private? Something to drink maybe?” he wondered, knowing it might be a little too many questions, but it was almost like his mind was running with 100 miles pr hour.

This man? He gave her life, it was that simple. Pure, love and life and never made it hard. Nor made her feel like she had to fight every step of the way to earn it or give it to him. She understood, she wanted to ask if their mother had been gone throughout there life. It seemed, like one craved touch so much. While the other, was almost scared of it. And that they both had looked at her, and known that she could be trusted? She couldn’t really describe how much it meant to her. Clearly neither could Killian. “I understand” she whispered, letting a small smile stay on her lips. A chuckle left her as he clearly couldn’t decide what to do. “What about, we get ourself a drink and then we can sit in your study?” she took his hand, and started walking towards the kitchen, well she had time to explore hadn’t see?

She let his hand go as they came to the kitchen, giving him free rains to get them something “maybe some wine?” she asked, leaning against the counter. Without being able to stop herself she jumped up and sat on the counter, dangling her legs while watching how he moved. A wave of goosebumps slid over her body. How was it possible to love a person, so much?

Killian couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he couldn’t decide himself about where to go, so it was nice that Eris had an idea. “Sounds absolutely perfect,” he said and let her take his hand, so he could follow her closely. She let go of him in the kitchen and he started to look for some glasses for them. As she mentioned wine, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he looked over his shoulder, “Of course,” he said, his icy blue eyes following her as she jumped up on the kitchen counter to sit. He pulled open a special drawer, so he could s3e approximately 24 different red wines. The one on the lowest shelf and furthest away was the one he chose. He had to squat down and move the bottle above it a bit to get the bottle he wanted out as safely as possible. It was an expensive wine Eris and he had shared before multiple times before he had disappeared so many years ago. It was their wine.

He had a wine openener hanging on the inside of the drawer and used it to open the wine. The wine was opened, and he approached her. After all, the glasses stood right next to her. He looked up her shortly, smiling his always glad and innocent smile before he looked down at the glasses and poured for each of them. He put the wine flask on the counter, close to the nearest wall only to grab both glasses and hand one of them to her. “Shall we?” he wondered before he reminded himself that one glass might not be enough, so he leaned in to grab the flask by it’s neck and placed it under his arm so he could carry it. The other hand asked for her hand to grab and help her down from the counter.

She watched how he decided on a wine, noticing that it was the same brand of the wine they had been drinking back in the day. He really hadn’t forgotten a thing, had he? A feeling blossomed in her chest, spreading from her heart out to her fingertips. She was almost scared to let it overwhelm her, until she understood what all of this would mean for them. She wasn’t blind to the fact that her former fiancé had a lot of lovers, and just as many children. And even with her being the mate standing on his collarbone. He also had some on his ribcage. Something she had always joked about, that maybe one day she would also be standing there. If she had only known.  

Brought back to the reality as he came over to her to take out two glasses. As he reached out his hand, she took it, for a moment she contemplated on pulling him in and placing a kiss on his lips. Something she had been thinking about ever since she had knocked on the door. But she jumped down “We shall” she said with a soft voice, she jumped down quite gracefully and followed him into the study. “So,” she started, waiting for the door to be closed, following him with her eyes. “I have thought a lot about our last meeting” she put out there but didn’t finish. Almost to wait if he had as well, if things were still complicated for him as well. Why was this even so hard? Maybe because she was so afraid that he wouldn’t take her back. One thing was to be swept about the moment of seeing the person that you once loved. Another was finding the same feeling for them in your new life. Things changed, and she understood that.

She jumped down from the kitchen counter and they went into his study. He closed the door behind him and looked over at her as she slowly started to speak. He put the wine flask on a little table nearby. He looked up at her as he placed the flask, reacting to her words. “Yes?” he said softly, almost nervous about what she had at heart. He feared that she didn’t want to see him any longer, and that this was a goodbye. He straightened back up slowly, feeling hos his heart actually beat nervously. Killian wasn’t really the person to be nervous, but Eris had such a grip on him. He wished to satisfy her on so many levels that one would not even be able to think about all of the things he wished to do for her. Only the sky was the limit.

She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as he didn’t really give her anything to go on. She licked her lips, looking down at her feet thinking about how to phrase it. Because she was so scared to take a leap only to get her heart broken all over again. And she wasn’t sure she would be able to bear it, not after just turning her back to someone she truly did care about. But it just, it just wasn’t the same as what she felt for Killian. With a small nod she walked towards him and took one of the glasses and poured red wine in it. “Yes” she mimicked how he had spoken. “I - couldn’t stop thinking about you, even after such a long time and” she turned towards him while taking a small sip from the wine. Her eyes closed as she briefly took in the flavour. “So I, told my boyfriend right away after we met, and now I don’t really have anything holding me back – if you, want to figure out where our story could bring us, now that we found each other again?” she hold her breath, waiting for his answer, while her heart pounded relentlessly against her chest. Her blue eyes finding his, the wait almost being insufferable.

He noticed how she looked nervous, and sadly, he didn’t know if it was because she was about to reject him or if it was because that she was about to confess feelings. His eyes followed her carefully as she started to pour the wine. He pulled a nervous smile as she mimicked how he had spoken. He liked when she did that, even though it didn’t help that much on the nervousness. What did help on the other hand was how she hadn’t stopped thinking about him and his smile got warmer and more welcoming, almost knowing where this was heading. He almost couldn’t wait for the reveal of what she wanted to say, as she took her time and tasted the wine. He raised his brows slightly as she explained she had told his boyfriend, and nothing was going to hold her back. His heart skipped multiple beats. He was lost for words, but it was almost clear on the way he smiled that he would very much try and figure out where their story would bring them. “Eris there is one thing you should know,” he breathed out somewhat calm, and he reached out to take her glass to place both of their glasses on the table with the wine before he would turn to her. He couldn’t contain his smile. “No matter where our story goes, I would love to make it an adventure,” he said almost dreamy as he looked into her light eyes. He slowly leaned down towards her, “And I don’t care how long the journey is going to be or if we get lost somewhere,” he licked his lips a little, “It’s not going to be a waste of time as long as it’s with you,” it felt like he was inches away from her, and he simply wished to pull her in, but didn’t want to mess too much up yet.

As her heart was pounding before, it was like it stopped every activity as he told her there was something she needed to know. She was sure that he was going to tell her that he couldn’t be with her. That even though that he had the mark and was bound to her through that. There was someone else right now, which meant that Eris needed to make peace that she would be alone. And maybe that would be alright, even though it hurt, she knew that she had done the right thing with Jack. Even if it meant that she once again would have to wait for her turn to be with someone. But as he took away the glasses and a smile started appearing on his lips, she knew that it couldn’t be as bad as her brain had just made her believe it could be. But as he leaned towards her, showering her with beautiful words about how their story would always be an adventure. Her eyes found his, “So” she whispered, feeling how their breaths mixed, wanting nothing more to pull him into a kiss. But she needed to be sure “Do you want to be mine again?” she asked quietly, not letting her eyes leave his again “And, can you be only mine?” she knew the last request might be difficult for him. But if you didn’t ask and didn’t voice your thoughts. How was he to know what she truly wanted?

It was good that he didn’t just think that every piece of the puzzle was solved just by him saying yest to going on an adventure with her to explore where their story would take them. She had to know, and he certainly understood why. Did he want to be hers and could he be only hers? For a moment he felt like everything stopped, because Artemis popped into his head. He did love Artemis, but did he love her more than Eris? The question was quite simple, because no matter what, the mark on his collarbone would explain it to him, even if he wished the answer was different. He took a deeper breath in, “I would love to be yours again,” he replied, licking his lips for a second, “And I am going to be only yours,” he breathed out. It was no lie, because as of right now he wasn’t. He hadn’t been as productive as her. And as of today, he had had a lot on his mind to process with multiple emotional daughters, his brother, Artemis and now Eris. Not to mention how Jolene had taken so much of his energy earlier.

She closed her eyes as she let the words wash over her. Could it really be so simple? Was it so easy to just, say what it was you needed and people responding? No words that could be misunderstood, nor back handed comments about not being sure or understanding one’s own feelings. It was just like everything feel into place so easily with Killian, every puzzle piece fit eachother beautifully. With Jack, they had to fight for every step of their relationship. And Eris wasn’t blind to the fact that it was her fault, that she had done something so horrible towards him, to make him so cautious and not being able to open up. Maybe that had been one of the reasons it shouldn’t work out between them, because he deserved better than being with someone that had already stabbed him in the back. Even as it hadn’t been her attentions.

“I love you, there really hasn't been a day where you haven't crossed my mind” she whispered, as her hand found the back of his neck and pulled him in. Standing on her toes as she placed a soft kiss towards his lips. Just a small brief one. Almost as if she was testing the waters, waiting for a reaction towards her action. Her eyes found his, licking her lips, it almost felt like magnets pulling towards each other when she leaned towards him catching his lips once again. This time with all the passion that burned in her body for him.

A smile spread on Killian’s lips as Eris explained that he had crossed her mind every day. It would be the biggest lie to say that Killian hadn’t thought of Eris because with her birthname on his collarbone, it was difficult not to think about her when you looked yourself in the mirror. As her hand found the back of his neck, he didn’t hesitate to lower himself even more. His own hand found its way around her to support her and pull her a little closer. He could feel how the kiss was just a simple kiss, but it set fire to the fireplace, dipped in gasoline. Their eyes found each other shortly before they both let their lips crash passionately with each other. He didn’t even hesitate to squat down and pick her up to make it easier for both of them. By picking them up, their lips parted for just a moment, and before their lips could crash again, he whispered back to her, “I love you too.”

It was like a motion between two people that knew each other so well, crashing together after so many years apart. It was magical, and she was quick to turn off her other senses that always worked on overtime making sure that she was safe and wasn’t about to be ambushed. Living the life, she had did for so long, it left some marks that was hard to erase. But with him, it was like she could breathe probably for such a long time. When he pulled her up, her legs were quick to swing around his waist and her hand placed on his neck pulling him towards her after their lips had parted. A soft smile formed as he responded and told her that he loved her too. The feeling that grabbed her stomach was overpowering. She quickly let their lips met, not wanting to waste another second.

But as she did, her one eye opened, looking towards the door of the study that wasn’t closed anymore. When had that happened? Then her eyes caught a very tall, beautiful woman just standing there staring at them. “Killian” she whispered, letting herself glide back to the ground. It was like her heart was stuck in her throat, as there was something so powerful and threatening about the aura that this woman possessed as she stepped into the room. “I see I should haven’t had come back, just wanted to make sure you were alright after everything that had happened – but it looks like you’re already had someone else you could call to lick your wounds huh?” the low voice was dripping with sarcasm and a small tint of hurt. Eris licked her lips looking towards Killian before back at the woman. “I, well this is awkward” the soul demon breathed out and didn’t really know what to feel about this situation. It wasn’t how she had pictured it would go after their confession. “I’ll just let you guys talk” she then added, but as she started to walk towards the female witch, the tall blond woman raised her hand and gave her chilling smile “No, stay”- “I really don’t think –“ but before she could finish her speech Artemis raised her hand and with a small movement it was like her mouth was sealed shut. Then she waved the hand and Eris ended up sitting in a chair, almost glued to it. Her big blue eyes drifted towards Killian, what on earth was going on. But at this moment, she tried her best to keep her cool. Even though it was very hard. “So, Killian, what is going on?” Artemis said with a soft giving him her full attention.

Everything seemed perfect. Two people melting into each other after being apart for so long, but sadly it didn’t last long as Eris parted their lips to say his name. Just like Eris, he had turned everything off, but just by saying his name, everything went back on, and he could simply feel Artemis presence and let Eris glide down all the way. He closed his eyes shortly taking a deeper breath in. He had truly believed she wouldn’t come back within a couple of hours and that he would be able to talk to her in calm situations. This wasn’t a calm situation, being caught red-handed. He opened his eyes and turned to look at Artemis standing in the door. Even though she looked tough, he could almost see the hurt dripping of her. He clicked with his tongue a little as she talked about him having someone else to lick his wounds. It wasn’t really anything to reply to. Even though Eris talked, he didn’t take his eyes of Artemis. He wanted to be sure that the didn’t do something stupid, and as Eris was about to walk out, she was quickly muted and put into a chair. Killian exhaled and for a moment he thought about releasing Eris so she could go, but he also knew that Artemis wouldn’t appreciate it. What’s going on?
“This is Atarah,” he exhaled and slowly started to approach Artemis. He didn’t wish to use magic to either calm her down or get her out. After all, he never really used his magic, unless he was saving it in books, papers, or something alike. He knew he had told stories about Atarah and him while Artemis was still quite young and new in the coven. He had told her about how much he had loved and cared for her, asked for her hand because it was easier to get a rejection about that, instead of scaring her away with telling her that she was his mate. He had told stories about how he had been so drained after the war, that he had been laying in coma for multiple days, how he woke in the battlefield, was tortured on enemy ground and how he had tried to find her when he was released but with no success.

Artemis looked at the soul demon sitting letting her eyes rest towards Killian. It made her heart boil; just how familiar they were to each other. How much she had been fighting to get to the same level with him, how she had been pulling, scraping, and shouting. How much she had done for him, sacrificed, and even altered about herself to become more suitable for him. How he had always picked someone else over her, every – single – time.

This is Atarah. It was like all emotions left Artemis as she looked towards the woman sitting in the chair, that let her beautiful blue eyes rest on her. Blue eyes that told her a clear tale, that this would not be forgotten. Even if she was quiet and didn’t try to fight against the restrains that Artemis had put on her. But it was like the atmosphere had changed in the room, and the witch wasn’t blind to the fact that there was a slight breathing down her neck, that made the smaller hair rise as an uncomfortable feeling started to form in her chest. Yes, Killian had talked about his mate, enough times to know that how he felt about the woman was true love. Funny, how he hadn’t found her before now. She even remembered her now that she looked at him, back en January she had been standing talking with Jack. Her and Joe had been walking from class as Joseph had made it his mission to figure out who the hell this person was. She remembered her so clearly now, and how was it that they had only found each other now? She looked back at Killian, just how long had he known that she was close. Leading her on, being with her knowing that it would always be her that would be kicked to the curb. A soft, almost manic laugh left Artemis as she nodded, almost to tell that she understood.

“Excellent” she breathed out giving him a fake smile “So, I’m guessing I’m out and she’s in? Fabulous, and how long have you known? Just how long did you know that she was walking around and that it would always be her you would choose over me?” she didn’t really let Killian answer as she almost spat at Eris direction “But I shouldn’t be surprised now should I? Because even though it’s so easy to take me to bed, because you know I would do anything for you” she paused “did you know, huh?” she now turned towards the restrained demon that just kept her very calm annoying blue eyes locked on her. “Did you know that he took me just a few nights ago? Must be nice knowing huh, that your man is so easy to just change out his mates because of his ability, and because of that you will never really be his, he might say that, but just you wait, you are just as easily replaced as the rest of us” Eris didn’t like any of what Artemis said, but she couldn’t hide the hurt that glided over her face as she looked towards Killian. And it wasn’t fair that she felt hurt by the fact that she had broken things of with Jack the moment she had let him kiss her in his office. And he had stayed with the woman clearly scorned by how he had acted. Eris understood in some way, had she been in the woman’s shoes, she would have been too.

Killian didn’t like how Artemis started to ramble about how Artemis was being replaced by Eris. How long had he known that Eris had been walking around? Honestly, he had known for too long to his liking. even though it had only been a month. How long at Killian known that it would always be her he would choose over her? Forever. Ever since he had met Eris, he had known. He would turn to her in a heartbeat. It was quite good that Artemis didn’t let him reply, because he knew it would only hurt Artemis further. “Artemis,” he hissed as she almost spat at Eris. Killian was quite close to her when she started to talk about how she wanted to do anything for him. He pulled hos hands a bit up, hoping that she would allow him to grab her by her arms, but before he could do that he stopped as she suddenly started to talk about how he had taken her a few nights ago and how ‘easy’ it was for him to change his mates. “Stop,” he said but she continued and told Eris how she would never really be his. He finally grabbed her arms and shook her a little, “Are you done? Anything else you got on your heart?” he asked with his eyes looking directly into hers.

In the background, Mary-Jane had exited her room because she had smelled Artemis. She wanted to talk to her about how things had gone after she had left. How Iris was in good hands, how everything was going to be alright and how she believed that Eris seemed to be a good person. But she never got far because she could almost feel the anger, distrust and heartbreak that spread in the room and leaked all the way to where she was standing by her door. Her heart was beating quite rapidly, because something about this reminded her about how things had been before they had moved away from Amy, how Amy had seemed so mad at her father. Besides from that, Artemis was a woman that Mary-Jane trusted and confided in and all of that crumbled for every single work Artemis spoke.

“Am I done?” Artemis hissed, looking straight into Killian’s eyes, as he asked her that very question she threw right back into his head. Because she wasn’t “I have every right to be angry, how much haven’t I sacrificed for you, being this perfect little woman that could run around taking care of your kids while you didn’t have the time, huh!?” she bellowed, Eris widened her eyes. Now, she could be hurt by the fact that Killian clearly had been keeping himself occupied while she had figuring things out. Mostly because she didn’t want to think about him being with this vile woman. But she didn’t care that she tried to take it out on her either, but the children? No, that was too far. Which was why she started to fight against her magical restrains to get her to shut up. “And boy did I have to pull the long end on that one, pretending to actually care for the broken children that you and your wife didn’t want“

Eris looked up and saw Mary-Jane at the end of the hall. Her whole heart broke for just that look that was shown on that face, she shouldn’t be able to hear that. That was the last strength she needed to get her powers to work. She disappeared in a cloud of shadows and appeared in front of Mary-Jane “Please don’t listen to her, look at me, Jane, look at me you are loved” she whispered, knowing that the child didn’t like to be touched. But right now, Eris did it anyway. She grabbed the back of her head and pulled her close, letting the shadows teleport them into Mary-Jane’s room and closed her door.

She wasn’t done. He almost knew it. He raised his eyebrows as she mentioned that she had every right to be angry. He didn’t know if he agreed, but from her point of view, probably. But as soon as she started to drag his children into all of it, he was very sure that this was going to end up bad. “What the hell is wrong with you? Leave my kids out of this,” he sneered. One thing was to mention how he had been hooking up with her while Eris had been figuring things out, the other was how she took it out of Eris – but his kids? That was the last straw for her. He could feel how he lost everything for her. Every single piece of the puzzle they had built. Just like Eris and Killian had, thought they finished their puzzle so much faster because they had done it before and knew how to communicate about putting the pieces together.
Mary-Jane could feel how her heart sunk and how her stomach started to turn as Artemis started to tell how she had been running around taking care of her and Iris because Killian hadn’t had the time. Hadn’t she enjoyed it? None of this had been enjoyable?

Pretending to actually care for the broken children.

“Shut up! Just… Shut up,” he said and tightened his grip around her. He was clearly hurt that she took it out on his children. “I can’t do this anymore. Not with you,” he exhaled and slowly took his hands away from her, “I want you to pack your things and leave,” he said getting a little stern with her, “Leave.”

While what looked like her parents stood and fought about their relationship, Mary-Jane slowly backed away. Her bottom lip was quivering a little and she didn’t feel like she could breathe. Was she just a broken child to her who she pretended to like? Out of the blue, Eris appeared in front of her, but her eyes was on what looked like her mom and dad. Look at me. Jane. Mary-Jane slowly looked up at Eris and felt how her eyes were getting wetter by the second. You are loved. A giant lump formed in her throat. She felt like puking. Eris arms folded around her, and a heartbroken sob left her. They were teleported into her room, and she tried to push her away. “No,” she argued, not noticing how she once again today started to get younger and smaller, looking like a twelve-year-old girl. She felt weak in her arms which she had tried to push Eris away with. The sorrow only grew by the embrace and the sobbing started to control her breathing. She didn’t have the strength to push Eris away at all and therefore simply wrapped her arms around Eris.

The smile that formed on Artemis lips, it shouldn’t be there not with the situation that formed around them. Did he regret it now? Did he regret ever loving her, or taking her into his coven, she hoped so. She hoped I suffered for ever choosing her, making it easier for her to get the hell out of a life that had been so close to what she had always dreamed of. What a foolish dream that had been. As he told her that he wanted her to pack her things and leave, she pulled her arm out of his grip and walked towards his bedroom where she kept all of her things. It didn’t take her long to pack it all and was out of the door before more could happen. There were so many things she could say to hurt him more. Words that could cement the ruined relationship and she could walk off without any problems. Because you couldn’t return to people that hated you, making it so much easier for her to just disappear and forget this had ever been one of the happiest times of her life.

Eris didn’t care that Mary-Jane that had transformed into what felt like a small girl in her arms. “Oh, Sweetheart, just let it out” she whispered, as Jane tried to push her away not wanting the affection. But as she decided to put her arms around her, and not just stopped fighting. Eris took it as a sign and wrapped her arms lovingly around the small girl. “It’s okay to cry and lash out, that was horrible, and no one should ever have to listen to something like that” she whispered, placing a hand against Jane’s hair. Closing her own eyes as she just stood there with the small girl in her arms. She could almost feel the pain from the small shapeshifter burn through her. This wasn’t fair, no child should go through that. No one.

Killian rarely regretted anything, but sometimes he wished that things had happened in a different order. He didn’t regret loving Artemis, because he had loved every moment with her, except for this one – bringing his children into all of this, having used their love to get even closer to him. He didn’t hate her, nor didn’t he care about her, but she had crossed a line that he would never forget that she had crossed.
He kept standing in the door to his study till he was sure that she left with all of her things. With a swing of his finger, he made sure that the door closed and locked itself behind her.

Eris words was almost lulling her. It hurt, so, so badly, just like earlier this day, except for the fact that it wasn’t gratitude this time, it was Mary-Jane who had been used to get closer to his father. It almost felt like a replay of how Amy had tried to get herself closer to Killian’s work, just to make things worse for everyone around them. She buried her head in Eris chest, letting tears run down her cheeks once again. No matter who she loved they actually never loved her back.

Killian’s shoes could be heard approaching and he pushed the door open to see how her daughter once again was hugging Eris. “Jane… Dearest…” he exhaled. He didn’t enjoy seeing her transforming into a smaller girl, because it only visibly showed how little she felt and how much she felt like she needed parenting. He squatted down as soon as Mary-Jane seemed to look towards  him from Eris arms. She loosened her grip around Eris before she ran towards Killian and jumped into his arms. He lifted her up, holding around her. “I’m here,” he mumbled to her and slowly approached Eris. He sat down on Mary-Janes bed with his daughter in his arms like a monkey baby. He cradled her a little. “It’s really late Jane,” he mumbled to her. She shook her head towards his neck. “Do you want to go to bed?” he added, and even though Mary-Jane hadn’t agreed that it was late, she nodded. “Okay,” he breathed out and gave Eris a short look and a nod to her that he got it. He moved a little to the side to pull the covers away, but Mary-Jane quickly took over, seeming to look older and older before she crawled under the sheets. She whispered a sad goodnight before Killian leaned down and kissed her forehead, making tears glide from her eyes down her temples, sniffing a bit. “Do you want Bruce in here?” he wondered being replied with a nod and her patting next to her, so the dog jumped up into the bed. “Do you want me to stay till you fall asleep?” She shook her head and sniffed once. He gave her a gentle smile. “I love you, don’t ever forget that,” he said and squeezed her hand – but Mary-Jane took her hand back.
Killian slowly got up on his feet and shut the light in her room before he walked out to meet Eris outside her room. “I’m terribly sorry about all of this,” he exhaled.

When Killian finally joined the room and she felt how Mary-Jane slowly got out of her arms to turn to his father. She quickly let go and watched how she embraced him. A soft smile formed on her lips, feeling like she was intruding on a moment that she shouldn’t be part of. This wasn’t her child, even though there was a part in her heart that wish that she were. Especially after just finding out that someone had used her to get closer to her father. How cruel some people could be. So, she walked outside the room and leaned up against the wall, her eyes travelled shortly towards the room where the older soul was staying. What a mess this seemed to be, and all she could think about was the fact that she hadn’t been fast enough to shield her from the last words.  

By the time Killian came out again, Eris had her eyes closed, only to open them as he spoke to her. A soft exhale left her, and a slow nod was formed by her head. Her fingers closed around his hand and she pulled him towards her. “You are a kind and wonderful father Killian Jones” she whispered, giving him a soft smile “and in my eyes you are also a pretty lovely man” a shadow of a smile formed on her lips as she pulled him a little closer. “Even though slightly frustrating at times” she chuckled letting her blue eyes find him in the slight darken hallway illuminated from the light that escaped the study and entry way. “Kiss me” her words almost came breathlessly, her looking through her heavy eyelids not wanting to waste a second more. Even through the hurtful words from the woman earlier, she hadn’t changed her mind, nor did she want to. She was right where she should be, she was home.

Killian let her pull him closer and pulled a slight smile at her. He liked that she believed that he was a kind and wonderful father, but he knew he could have been so much better for Jolene, Iris and Mary-Jane. He hadn’t been the optimal father figure. The smile curled a little more as she complimented him as being a pretty lovely man. Once again he let her pull him closer and a teethy smile formed on his lips as she said he could be slightly frustrating sometimes. He wanted her to be more specific so he hopefully could work on it, but for right now, he felt like there was more than enough to work with.
Two simple but magical words left her, and he leaned all the way down to place his lips on hers. His hands found their way to her hips and wanted to pull her closer. He was gentle and to some extend relaxed. He broke the kiss shortly, “You are a nurturing and loving mother,” he said and gave her a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth, letting on hand slide up her back, “The loveliest woman,” his kiss was now placed close to her earlobe, “and the only one I’ll ever truly love,” he breathed and pulled her a little closer. It might be slightly heavy words, but having lived so many years without her, he knew so, so clearly that the love between the two of them was just something very special. Nothing could even compare to the two of them. He pulled a little back so he could watch her blue eyes. “I… Did you want to stay the night?” he wondered tilting his head a little, “Or more nights? Every night?” he added a little cautious. It wasn't a problem to him at all, he simply just wished to know if she wanted to stay, because he would very much like her to do so.

The words that left him made all the horrible words that Artemis had said, fade away in the background. Well, not the words directed towards his kids, that, that would forever be imprinted in her mind, and she would remember that if she ever met the woman again. But being here, this close to him, feeling his lips pressed towards hers. His hands forming around her hips. She could melt right there in his arms as he told her that he was the one that he’ll ever truly love. Maybe it was true for her as well, at least, the love she had for him was the brightest she had ever known. So, in that sense, she felt it too. That he would be the one that would overshadow every other love that had been in her life.

“Yes” she whispered looking into his eyes as he asked if she wanted to stay the night. A smile formed on her lips as he then proceeded to ask if she wanted to stay more nights, and then a small laugh as it turned into every night. “Yes” she then said nodding slowly letting her fingers glide over his neck. “Yes, I would love to stay” she licked her lips and pulled herself up on her toes, but before she let her lips meet his “if it’s alright for the girls as well, I, the last thing I want is to make them unhappy” she whispered letting her eyes find his giving her a soft peck. “That wine, and a bed might be nice either way, then we can figure out what to do after a good night’s sleep” she let her fingers glide down her cheek “you need it” she mused closing her eyes as she once again let their lips meet.