~September 20, 2024~

Diana hugged Darien back, however, she couldn't help but feel a sense of forbidding. But she pushed that ugly thought away.

((lol))

"So...um...what do you want for breakfast?"

"Breakfast?" Diana asked. "Why? Aren't we going back to sleep?"

Darien shrugged. "I'm not so tired now. And even if we do go back to sleep-we'll need breakfast in a few hours anyway."

Diana nodded. Well, to be completely honest, she didn't think she could sleep at the moment either. But... "I just want to hold you right now. I don't really feel like doing anything."

"Sounds good to me." Darien replied, smiling.

He stayed where he was, arms around Diana.

"You know, actually, I think I might check on Nick..." Diana looked at the door worriedly. "He seemed... different." Well of course he seemed different the love of his life just died. Good call Diana.

"Okay..." Darien released Diana.

"I think I'll stay here..." He tried to smile. He never knew what to say to comfort people.

"Alright, I'll be back." Diana said giving him a quick peck on the cheek before living to go to the guest room.

Darien smiled weakly, watching Diana leave.

Then he wandered over to the window, out into the black night, steaming up the glass with his breath.

Somewhere out there...Anywhere out there...
Were the Purgers.

((Dun dun dun!!!))

Diana quietly crept onto Nicolas' room, not wanting to wake him if he was already asleep. She opened the door and poked her head in silently. It was dark but she could hear Nicolas' deep breathing.

When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw Nicolas laying down, under the covers.

She was just about to turn around and leave when she heard him speak.

"I can't sleep... I've been laying here trying to sleep and finding myself unable to." Nicolas said matter-of-factly.

Diana didn't know what to say. Instead, she went completely inside the room. "Do you want a sleeping potion?"

"No..." Nicolas said. "I just want to stop thinking... thinking about what happening. Thinking about how I could have stopped it..."

Diana neared him and sat on the bed. "I can get you some dreamless potion..." Diana offered.

"Don't you see Diana? I want to dream about her... I want to see her again... a-alive!" Nicolas choked. "It... it's not fair!"

Diana sensed Nick was on the verge of tears and hugged him. "It's OK, Nick." She said... knowning it was all in vain. How could it be OK?

((lol))

Darien sighed, wiping the condensation off the windowpane with a hand.

He rested both hands on the sill, and bent his head, resting his forehead on the cold pane.

Maybe it would numb his thoughts...

Diana came back to their room feeling as dismal as ever. She sighed heavily. "Poor Nick."

She went over and hugged Darien.

Darien nodded. "It must be hard for him."

He hugged Diana back, removing his now frozen forehead from the window.

"Why are you cold?" Diana asked him.

Darien shrugged. "Blame the window. It's pretty cold out there."

"I gave Nicolas some sleeping potion, and a dreamless one to go along with it." Diana informed him.

Then she looked up at Darien, l"I was wondering if it would be alright if I stayed with him for a couple of days?"

Darien paused, and thought about it.

He didn't want Diana to be away for a few days...

But she wanted to make sure Nick was okay...

Darien smiled. "Sure. Make sure he's okay."

Diana smiled and released a breath she didn't know she was holding. To be honest, she probably would have stayed with Nick for a few days even if Darien said no, but she wanted his permission and now that she had it, well she wanted to kiss him.

Which she did.

Darien kissed her back.

"But don't be gone for too long." He smiled. "I'll miss you."

"I won't." Diana smiled back. "Because I'll miss you too."

Darien smiled more widely...

And kissed her.

((sorry I haven't been replying, was/am being assaulted by an evil cold/headache combo with exhaustion on the side...And that sounds like a meal...And to top off my week of horrors, I still had to go to school!! Someone somewhere really hates me. Sorry! ))

Diana returned the kiss. Then she said. "Let's go to sleep? Well we've only a few hours left, but let's get what we can." Diana said yawning.

Darien nodded. "Alright. May as well."

Diana went towards the bed, pulled the covers up and rolled inside.