Right then, as he extends the very idea of taking her back to his townhouse in Hawethorn Village, that voice which had always served as that more sensible part of her and left Lani second guessing so many things in her past should have been screaming of just how badly this would end up, how she would do nothing but embarrass herself more than she already had with all those bold words she'd dared to say to the fae man - even if she wouldn't remember them when morning came and she was released from the wine's embrace. It should have had her trying harder to think of a different option, tried to insist that apologizing to Ellie for interrupting the her for whatever it was that the huntress may be involved in at the time. After all, the honey-blonde woman with eyes of early morning frost, perhaps only mere shares paler than Lani's own and hair a few golden hues darker had been there through some of the fae woman's darker days, having been perhaps the only person from her life here in the city whom she'd kept with her. Surely, if the huntress would have gone as far as to move to Willowhaven just to be the friend Lani had desperately needed for the past three years, then one call or fumbled text would hardly be an inconvenience. Now, this would have been the best option without even an inkling of a doubt... but Andras didn't know that the blue-eyed blonde fae woman was currently living with a roommate that could have been easily contacted. He could have waited for the huntress to arrive, ease Lani into the passenger seat, and watch the car disappear in the night. Both he and Lani could have been content with leaving it there, where it probably should have been left... but none of this would come to be. That voice could not reach Lani in this moment as the drunken haze only seemed to claim more and more of her senses, fading some things and sharpening others. Like the fae man's musk that hung over her with nearly the same heaviness as the alcohol.

No, Lani is entirely lost in the moment, in the wine, and in the memories that seem to flicker across her mind like flashbacks in a movie. They moved so effortlessly through her thoughts now, unbidden and unhindered, like the trickling of water as it finally finds a break in the damn which had held it for so long.

A simple word of agreement was all the fae woman could manage then, stumbling both literally as she walked beside Andras whose arm had wrapped itself securely around her waist to guide her through the streets of Sacrosanct and figuratively through the thick fog of moments long since past and utterly surrounded in every sense of the word by his presence. She remembers how he'd walked her home that night when she'd gone looking for him after finding the camera he'd left for her to replace the one he'd so easily shattered when the blue-eyed blonde woman had happened upon him in the park one fateful night. How her heart had fluttered them as he'd offered his strong arm then. Even in those earliest memories, the fae man had always teased her with a devilish simper and dark, hazel eyes. That had also been the night when he'd taken care of the scratches on her arm from the frightened feline who'd very nearly tried to attack Andras, when he'd tried to warm her of the darkness which enfolded Sacrosanct each and every night. How little she knew of the future she would have in that moment... This memory fades, replaced by an afternoon when again he had offered his arm, this time taking her on a stroll through the snow that surrounded the lodge, revealing to her for the very first time that previous home of his. How beautiful it had looked in the glittering snow, beneath a clear, sunny sky. How breathless she'd been... and not only for the beautiful world she'd stood in that day. It had been the day that the seed had been planted, Lani having dared to feel affection for the fae man... Again, the snow and Somnia fade, and those memories carry her to when she'd walked with him on her birthday, her slender hand once more resting there upon his arm as they ventured first to the coffee shop, then the clothing store where he'd gifted her with that black strapless dress, how he'd teased her so relentlessly then, pulled her to his chest as he so easily thwarted her every attempt to be bolder, more daring...

Then, she is taken to that day... She walks with him, her hand on his arm through the musical and mystifying air of the Winter Solstice Festival. How they'd laughed as they enjoyed the food and festivities, how they'd danced to the music that never left her... and, how they'd kissed...

Oh, how she remembers each kiss they'd shared, how they'd tastes then as he sat her there in his lap as the heated water of the hot spring lapped gently at their bare skin as he'd practically pulled her into his lap and their lips met for the very first time. She remembers how he'd set fire to her, that unspoken desire for the fae man intensifying enough to rival a thousand white suns as Lani was overwhelmed by the warmth in every part of her - emotionally, mentally, and yes, very much physically... It was the same warmth she'd felt there in the shelter of the cabin he'd given to her as a gift. He'd pulled her onto that bed then, and for a second time, she'd surrendered herself to his lips, desperately hoping that those kisses would never end... It was the memories she would have to blame as the reignited warmth from long ago washes over her, releasing her only to turn the fae woman loose into the present moment, pressed against the fae man's side as they approached the stairs to the townhouse. She would blame them for the way those new and terribly sensitive senses were held captive to the scent of him, locked so intently upon Andras that she would almost believe it was his own heart fluttering that she'd felt instead of her own. She couldn't think of anything else, see anything else as he gently places her against the door and places her hand on his arm he'd offered to her so many times over. All there was that baby blue eyes could see beneath heavy, dark lashes that blink ever so slowly was his lips. She could think of nothing more than if they tasted how she remembered, if they might still set fire to every single part of her heart and soul like that once could three years ago before so much had changed between them, shattering the fantasy she'd let herself fall far too deeply into. It is then that she dares to wonder if, just maybe, the very thing that had once left her so sleepless and hopelessly lost in those memoires might be able the help her forget the relentless ache.

And, if she would so dare to steal a kiss from him, what then? Would he pull away? Better still... would it only make her heart ache more? These there thoughts that had only survived for only a fraction of a second, though. What did she really have to lose? The answer doesn't find her in a word...

She dares to very nearly steal that kiss from Andras then, that instinctive "mmmm" nearly lost as her lips embrace his own. Just like before, she can feel the fire rushing through her with a vengeance, as though something within the fae woman had wanted nothing more. There would be no water that could taste sweeter, no torrent of rain that could ever hope to quell the flames that ran rampant, swallow Lani wholly and completely. She doesn't feel the cold of the night, doesn't hear the way those keys jingle as Andras abandons them there in that door and instead pulls her into him as he answers her liked a starves man would devour his first meal in weeks, ravenous and eager... as though he, too, had wanted nothing more than this. She feels his teeth nipping at her lower lip followed quickly by his tongue then, very nearly demanding entrance, and she surrenders to his hunger entirely, a muffled moan all that escapes her as that stolen kiss becomes passionate, alive with fierce desire and need. He presses into her further and she is almost gasping, breathless beneath his own guttural growl of wanting as those kisses so passionate and starved slowly soften... until they are both left panting against the door she'd completely forgotten. Her name is on his lips again, baby blue eyes fluttering up to his of hazel, the fae woman weak against his strong frame she lingers against, his hand holding her there with not the slightest resistance from Lani as he speaks, a soft and... loving smile finding her lips then. She's without words, though, but there is understanding in her gaze despite the drunken haze that has them gleaming in the weak street lights. He kisses her so, so tenderly now, her heart racing wildly within her breast as Andras confides in her that he wanted all of her, wanted her mind when he took her beneath him. He presses into her, asks the fae woman can see what she does to him, tells her that he needed her to say yes when the time came that they'd share a bed together.

When... not "if"... but when. Those words, they aren't able to sink in fully, but there is a part of the fae woman that recognizes what they mean. She would not remember them in their entirety, but somehow, something in Lani tells her hazed mind that they would linger there just on the edges of her thoughts when this night was over...

Just as suddenly as the moment had seized them, almost seeming to stop the endless passing of time as she and Andras both became lost in the throws of that stolen moment only they would know of, it ebbs away as the fae man remembers those keys he'd abandoned only moments ago. So consumed by the fire and the sudden heaviness that is closing in on her consciousness, Lani almost doesn't feel that fleeting sensation of nothing to support her as the door opens. But, as he always seemed to, Andras catches her easily with an arm around her waist and guiding her into the darkness of his home. She has no hope of making anything out in this moment, hardly even able to manage her steps now, all strength gone from the fae woman and she finds herself swept off her feet, held in his arms like she'd been before. Unable to fight the waves of darkness much more, her head is resting there against his chest, listening to the steady beating of his heart as Andras moves easily up the stairs and into his bedroom where he lays her there in the folds of his bed. Finally, Lani isn't able to hold on any longer, dark lashes fluttering closed over baby blues as she's swallowed by the dark comforts of sleep, that fleeting kiss upon her forehead the last thing to touch her mind, his murmured words the final thing she hears before there is nothing but silence. It was not the silence she'd been chases each and every night before tonight. There was no uneasiness, no ache somewhere in the back of her thoughts that reaches even past her consciousness and into her unconsciousness as she seeks some semblance of relief from the restlessness that always seemed to have a grasp on her. No... this was... safe and serene. Here, she finds no nightmares nor any dreams to stir the calm, still sense of peace. While it went without saying that the wine surely lent a hand in the utter quiet that so envelopes her as she sleeps, there was more to it than that, something entirely... content in the fae woman as she drifts further and further into it.

It had been so, so long since last she might have ever slept so well, so easily through an entire night. Months upon months had passed her by, leaving Lani hollowed and exhausted, aching and weak as she fought against the tides of her past and the emotions that had never really left despite her best efforts. But, tonight, it was as though none of it could reach her here.

The Next Morning

Weak sunlight filters through the thick curtains of the bedroom, touching her face gently but only just enough for soft baby blue eyes flutter open. There's a pounding in her head as the fae woman begins to reach the point of wakefulness, the confines of the room hardly managing to come into focus. She blinks once, twice... perhaps several more times then, lifting herself up from those unfamiliar sheets so that she is propped up on her elbows, elegantly curled blonde hair tumbling haphazardly around her. Where.... am I?, she asks herself wordlessly then as she tries again to bring the room into focus. First, she finds the bottle of Advil and a glass of water on the nightstand beside her. Had she made it home? Was she in Ellie's room? Deciding that it was best to try and quell the ache of her hangover, thoroughly regretting now the wine she'd obviously had too much of, she reaches for the items first, taking a couple of the capsules and chasing them with the water that almost tasted absolutely divine. Setting the glass back down, she lets herself sink back into that bed for a few more moments as the heaviness of her hangover starts to ease. Blinking again, she looks over to a chair in the corner of the room. It was a darkly colored suit jacket. When did Ellie get a suit jacket like that?, she thinks then, trying to remember if she'd seen it on the huntress before or not and failing to place any sense of familiarity with that article of clothing. If anything, it looked like a men's suit jacket, which didn't make any sense to the fae woman. Ellie wasn't seeing anyone last she'd checked, and if the honey-blonde woman would have had plans to have someone over, she would have told Lani. To the best of her memory of the morning before, there's been no such mention of company coming over. Come to think of it.... Lani reaches under the blankets and finds her phone still securely tucked into the pocket of her pants, and pressing slender fingers to the glass screen, she sees that there were three unread text messages.

The first one was from Ellie, reading "Hey, I'm home. Didn't think you'd still be out job hunting. Any luck?"... Lani opens the second, noting the time on this one said 9:56pm, this time reading "Where are you?".... And lastly, the final one from the huntress read "Well, I hope you're okay. Please call me when you get this".... the time on that final message reading 3:16am.

Finally, the fae woman begins to recall the events of yesterday afternoon. She remembers sitting at the table with Andras, their conversations having been somewhat... well, awkward perhaps was the best word for it. Maybe a little tense? She recalls some of the conversations, of Somnia and of Ida, of her fruitless attempts at finding work... Then, she remembers the wine. Which explains the hangover, but everything else that happened in between was nothing more than a haze. With most of dull ache and heaviness receding, Lani finally sits up and gets a better look at the suit jacket, the scent from it beginning to finally sink into her senses.... Suddenly, as if cold water had been dumped over her, she understands why it was so familiar, realizes the scent of him was everywhere. Her hearts is racing wildly now as the realization that had been creeping up suddenly crashes into her. I'm in his house! Oh, god..... Well, at least she was still dressed. So, surely nothing had happened, right? She attempts to slow everything down, taking in a few deep breaths. It's fine, everything is fine. You got drunk, so that was dumb. But all you have to do is just leave. He's probably sleeping. He won't notice, and you can just get back in touch with him later and apologize for leaving without saying anything. No worries.... Slowly, she makes her way towards the door, turning the handle and moving into the hallway. She does her best to place each foot carefully, silently in case the floor beneath her might creak. She descends the stairs, hopeful at first, but when the smell of freshly brewed coffee finds her Lani knows he's down there. She stands there, halfway down. What now? It wasn't as though she could just leave now... Besides, what choice did either of them really have after last night? It wasn't like Andras would have just left her to figure it out on her own. Well, so much for slipping out, she says then, almost unable to withhold the soft sigh of defeat that attempts to escape her, yet she is only just able to silence it.

She was thankful that he'd taken her here after last night, but not in the least bit surprised. Even for all the time that has passed since last they'd been together, despite just how much had happened between them, it was impossible for the fae woman to think that he would have left her to fend for herself. From the very beginning, he'd always.... well, been there for her.

Lingering there for a few moments more, wondering if maybe he might have just made coffee and perhaps slipped away into a different part of the townhouse, she tries to think of what to say, an excuse to thank him for his kindness, that she looked forward to hearing from him about a possible job in Somnia, and that she needed to get a cab home so her poor friend likely thoroughly worried for the fae woman by now would be able to see that Lani was okay. Well, as okay as she could be given what happened yesterday evening. She still wasn't even entirely certain how they'd managed to spend an entire evening in that little bistro. What on earth had they been talking about? As soon as that thought dared to flicker across her mind, she shoves it away. Maybe she didn't really want to know. Finally, she moves down the remaining steps and finds herself in a tastefully decorated living room, the kitchen to her right, a shadow in the weak morning light distracting her from the destroyed foyer to the left... Suddenly, baby blue eyes widen as they see the fae man leaning there against the counter, coffee mug in hand, sunlight kissing his entirely shirtless chest, casually dressed in loose-hanging grey sweatpants, dark hair tousled and... wet? Had he just gotten out of the shower? An achingly familiar warmth touches fair-skinned cheeks and she knows that they're flushed, betraying her flustered disposition like they once did so often around the fae man as baby blues can hardly manage to pull away from him. Had she ever seen him dressed so... well, comfortably? It had always either been those immaculate dress pants and suit jacket or... entirely naked, never anything in between. Clearing her throat, she's frozen in place, like a deer in headlights, managing only to reach up and tuck a strand of disheveled golden hair behind a delicately pointed ear, knowing that at least here, she didn't have to worry, not about her ears anyway..."Good morning, Andras", she tries to say casually, attempting to keep the timid breathlessness out of her words.