How she had tried time and time again to forget the way her name sounded on his lips. One would think that, for all the nights she'd spent sitting in the bay window behind her closed bedroom door, staring at a sky full of stars that always seemed to shine so brightly over Willowhaven, the trace of tears streaking fair-skinned cheeks as she shattered silently - most nights - over and over from the memories that came to her unbidden. And yet, it seemed that no matter the number of seconds, minutes, or hours that passed her by... she could never manage to forget the way those hazel eyes she'd known to be so fierce and daring had softened just for her once upon a time, the two of them having hidden away from the world and Somnia in that small cabin nestled in the woods and snow. Despite the days, weeks, or months that came and went... still her mind had been able to recall with perfect clarity the way they had very nearly played in the glittering snow like two beings who had known each other from their earliest years of life, tossing snowballs at one another, his laughter filling the trees that had surrounded them alongside her own. Even for all those countless tears she'd shed, begging through stifled sobs for time to wash it all away like saltwater waves as they swept across a sandy beach and often took with it the pretty little seashells that dotted the shoreline, she had not been spared from them. Nothing could help her to forget the taste of his lips as he kissed her, the warmth of his hands calloused and yet so... careful. Not the warm and comforting embrace of her mother nor the bright and cheerful words of encouragement from Elaine nor the sweet fragrances and peaceful, rolling hills of her hometown could succeed in stealing the fae woman away from Sacrosanct or Somnia.

Perhaps that might not have been so bad, being unable to forget all the memories she'd made with the one she'd so carelessly fallen for despite the warnings... if it hadn't meant that so, too, did those nightmares remain, lying in wait for ever elusive sleep to drag the blue-eyed blonde from her own consciousness.

While she hadn't even the faintest idea of how the fae man would react to her presence, to the soft, almost whispered greeting she'd offered him (or how she would react in turn for that matter), she very much hadn't expected him to practically leap up from his seat when unexpecting hazel eyes snapped away from the faceless crowd to meet hers of baby blue, sending that surprisingly durable chair toppling over in a flurry of clanks and clatters before it finally stills on its side on against the floor. And, there it was... the familiar way that she has to catch her breath, yet, it is different from before. There is hesitance, uncertainty that colors each quick beat as she attempts almost vainly to steady her heart and tell herself to breathe and the fae woman knows that it is borne from the feelings she's tried all this time to break away from only to find now that she had hardly been successful. It was... well, not like the fae man to be so caught off-guard by nothing more than a whispered 'hello'. She'd known him to hardly ever be surprised or startled. If anything, he always made it seem as though he expected anything and everything, ever the collected and refined figure one might expect from a High Lord. Maybe, once upon a time, there might have been mischief glittering there in those baby blue eyes that watched him from beneath thick, dark lashes and a playful smile upon blush-colored lips. But that was then, not now. There is a flickering ember somewhere within the fae woman that whispers with the want to tease him, to smile sweetly as she so easily did before the changing, before she'd become broken. And yet, there is not enough warmth within the barely smoldering bed of coals to give life to it. Nonetheless, there is a weak smile that plays upon her lips as the dark-haired man quickly gathers himself once more, that achingly familiar air of refinement so taking him over now.

Time changes so many things... and yet, there are some things that are as everlasting as time itself.

Unprepared, despite some part of her knowing full well that it would only be a matter of time considering how the natural flow of conversations typically went, he breathes her name. Again, she is left feeling breathless, a tightness gripping her chest. A soft sadness threatens baby blue eyes to glisten as she remembers all too well how she had once loved the sound of her name on his tongue. How could she ever forget? There had been so many times where he'd said it, often in dark and sultry tones... But, it was in remembering those fleeting moments where he'd said her name gently, almost... affectionately, that was what had that sadness so frighteningly to sending the fae woman into a heartache she knew she wasn't ready to feel the full force of again. He says her name almost easily... and yet, does he know just how much her heart would break whenever his so much as dared to flicker across her thoughts? And, oh, how often it had. She watches him as the fae man moves almost... nervously, pushing at that crisp sleeves of his shirt. There they stand, several feet apart, practically the center of attention as the soft murmurs of their onlookers. Now, it is her turn to feel nervous, the fae woman hardly ever comfortable under the curious and watchful gazes of so many... strangers. Tension seizes her slender frame, hating the way she could so easily hear the softest voices as they seemed to take some sort of delight in guessing at what they were witnessing.

She wants to block them all out, but that was just one of the many things she struggled with these days...

After what feels like an eternity, he moves now to pick up the chair he'd very nearly flung behind him, and she is very much aware of the way he lingers there on the other side of the small table that occupied a fraction of the space between them. He replies, agreed to the amount of time that has passed since last they'd seen one another, hazel eyes watchful and wary as if she might run. And oh, how she wants to in this moment, but she remains where she is. When she brings the older fae woman who had been reminiscent of a grandmother to Lani, she can see him regain the final remnants of his confident aura, perhaps equally content as she to find a subject that had little to do with their... history. The fae man's reply brings with it a tinge of comfort in knowing that she was doing alright, not that she could ever imagine anything having happened energetic elder fae in the past two years. This would have put the blue-eyed blonde at ease perhaps, but when the mention of a fae child being expected to arrive into the world of Somnia, she can hardly help wondering if perhaps it was his. However, as quickly as the thought finds her, she shoves it forcefully away. She denies a new wave of grief to clutch cruel fingers around her heart. It's not your business, Lani. She shifts her feet slightly, feigning another weak smile."Oh. Congratulations", she remarks, taking every sliver of will to try and sound at least neutral, still wholly aware of their spectators. Now could not be a worse time for the wave of emotions ever lapping at the walls she was always trying to keep them behind to break through."I'm sure Ida is looking forward to it", she adds after a pause that lingers for perhaps a moment longer than it should have.

The gazes of those around them, the emotions that demanded her attention she was only just able to refuse them, the mere scent and presence of the fae man... If not for the fae woman clinging almost desperately to the image of that radiant smile of Ida's, she was hardly certain she could have stayed there any longer without making an excuse to dismiss herself.

She can see as hazel eyes sweep over the remains of the crowd that had paused to watch them, and she hardly doubts if he can see her discomfort (or sense, she can't really say for sure, not that it wasn't obvious anyway despite her efforts) and fragile will to stay beginning to falter. After all, hadn't she approached him without even the slightest idea as to what called her to? He gestures to the empty chair with a half-simper, extending an invitation she wants to politely refuse... and yet... she could hardly deny that he was right. While a large majority of watchful eyes have since vanished, the group of women clearly still interested in what might transpire. She swallows, but nods and moves to sit there at the table, the fae man settling shortly after. He is leaning into his own chair now before the casual inquiry is made. Having settled herself, though hardly inclined to remove her overcoat, she shrugs slightly, as if her return was hardly worth noting."A couple weeks ago, I suppose. Hence the job hunting", she answers simply, her voice miraculously steady even if she felt as though she couldn't be further from matching her tone. He's quick to offer her a glass of wine, and almost at his words, the waiter appears from inside with a glass of water in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. Had he been watching as well? Did the owner see, too? Well, I guess I probably shouldn't expect a call after this... She contemplates reaching for the empty glass, wondering if maybe a little wine would at least take her mind off, well, everything, although the hesitation is obvious. What if it just made things worse? What if she said too much? Screw it. She reaches for the bottle and pours the dark red liquid she knew she had once enjoyed indulging in with him, but again, she tries not to think about it. Nodding in acknowledgement at his simple remark, she lifts the glass to her mouth, taking a small drink, before setting the glass down on the table again. And yet, somehow, her mouth still feels dry as she is grasping for what to say now..."So. How's... business?", she asks hesitantly, carefully, almost entirely certain he would understand that she was trying to ask about Somnia without saying its name aloud.

For all that she's been through, still she keeps the promise she made him long ago, ever-guarding the secrets he'd shared with her when everything had been so... painfully different than it was now.... even if it didn't really have anything to do with her anymore and knowing only made it hurt more...