~September 20, 2024~

"Nick, come on, we've got plenty of room. And otherwise Diana will end up coming over so often you'll go crazy." Darien laughed.

He reached over for two cups and held out one to Diana and one to Nick.

"Cmon Nick, I know you hate me...but we ar kinda family now. And families stick together."

Nicolas took the cup still sorta out of it. "I don't..."

"No, Nick, you're staying." Diana commanded. "You're staying and that's final."

Nicolas looked about ready to argue but decided he was too tired. "Fine. But only for tonight."

"Alright." Diana agreed, however, she only did it to sedate him. Tomorrow, is another day. "I'll get an extra Blanket. Darien, show him the guest room."

Diana stood up and went to get the blanket.

"Yes Ma'am." Darien tried to grin comically, unsuccessfully.

"Uh...just this way." He gestured to the stairs with his own mug.

Not knowing what else to do, Nicolas followed Darien.

Darien led Nick to the spare room.

"Well...this is it." He waved an arm dramatically, mostly for lack of anything else to do.

Nicolas entered the room and sat uncomfortably on the bed.

Diana came a second later carry a stack of scarlet blankets. "Here," she said. "I got you a lot in case you get really cold."

Nicolas nodded.

Diana neared him. "Nicolas do try and get some sleep tonight okay? And if you need anything, anything at all, I'm just in the other room."

Nicolas nodded again.

Diana couldn't take this. She went up and gave him yet another hug. "It's going to be okay..."

Nicolas merely nodded.

Diana sighed.

"Diana... I just want to be alone..." Nicolas said finally.

It was Diana's turn to nod. "Okay. I'm just in the other room okay?" She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving him.

Darien tried to smile and followed Diana, leaving Nick alone.

"Darien..." Diana said turning to him once they reached their bedroom. "I'm very worried for Nick."

"...He'll be fine." Darien tried to be reassuring. "He's tough...I should know, I've fought him enough."

"I hope he doesn't do anything... drastic." Diana said hugging herself.

"I'm sure he won't..." Darien hugged Diana. "He'll be fine, you'll see."

Diana kissed Darien softly. "But... oh poor Amy... I hope she didn't suffer..."

"Poor Aiden too..." Darien hugged Diana tighter. "...I'd better owl Ana in the morning...unless she knows already."

He allowed one tear to run down his cheek, for his dead friends. "I'll miss them...They didn't deserve to die."

Diana nodded and responded to Darien's tight hug. "Oh Merlin... this is wrong. They were just about our age... younger than us too. They didn't. They shouldn't have."

"You don't suppose your sister would do anything drastic would you?" Diana said worried.

Darien shook his head, eyes distant.

"No. She never does. No matter what. She just locks it away." He glanced at the window, out into the darkness. "I won't tell her until morning though...I don't know if I should tell her myself, or send an owl...Which would be worse?"

Diana was silent for a moment and thought things through. "I think it would be better... if you told her in person."

"I hope she and Nick'll be alright. I couldn't even imagine what I'd do..." She left it there and let the words if I'd lost you hang about in the air. She didn't even want to think about that. Instead she hugged him tightly.

Darien nodded. "I'll go see her tomorrow."

"Only time will tell...But I think they'll be okay. They're tough." Darien tired once more to be reassuring.

He hugged Diana back equally tightly, and kissed the top of her head.

Diana sighed contentedly in his arms. "I love you."

"I love you too." Darien whispered, raising a hand to storke her hair comfortingly.

"You have pretty hair." He smiled.

That made Diana smile slightly. "So do you." And as if to emphasize her point, she ran her hand through his hair. "It feels nice, and smooth."

"I also like the feel of your fur." Diana said matter-of-factly.

Darien laughed quietly. "Ah but at least this hair doesn't smell like wet dog." He pointed to his head.

"But... I like stroking your fur, it's so nice and soft." She smiled. "My very own wolf." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Darien grinned.

"And this wolf is only yours."

"He better be." Diana said in a playful serious tone.

"Forever and always." Darien smiled honestly, hugging Diana close.