Hadrian had sat still in the dark for a long time, watching the evening shades of navy turn into the black of night so that only the fire lit the room. He listened to every creak of the house, as if any might be Alys’s footstep on the stair. He’d alerted his staff to warn him of her arrival, to instruct her to meet him in his study and fetch him so they might talk. So that he might break the news to her slowly.

As he watched the slow rise of fall of Logan’s shoulders as he slept, Hadrian was still in disbelief. Logan. A dead man now brought back to life—or some semblance of it. Hadrian sat there, not quite sleeping but not quite awake, wondering if this were all a dream from which he would soon wake.

Alys arrived back just before what one might say was morning from her run. The sun barely breaking the horizon as she bound up the back steps of the Usher estate and let herself inside. The house was still quiet as she moved through the estate, silent as a wraith before she slipped to the twins bedroom. Opening the door just enough to see them both still gently snoring inside.

It was after the door softly clicked shut once more that she was moving towards Hadrian’s room, her body moving with more ease now than it had been in a long time. Almost like she was no longer caged, but why she felt that way… she wasn’t sure. “Hadrian?” She called out. Her own room not terribly far from his. It was her call that seemed to alert others in the house, as one of his staff came quickly towards her. “Lady Delaney! We didn’t hear you come in… Lord Usher asked you wait for him in the study.”

She glanced at his door, a slight confusion on her face before she looked back at them. “Can I not get him myself? Is he not in his room?” was he passed out in his study? But the staff, an older woman, came forward and placed a hand on her back and pushing her towards the room. “No, he insisted.” Which had the moving towards the study and Alys wondering… what was going on in his room that she couldn’t see… unaware that it wasn’t Hadrian’s room that a surprise rested.

A word called out in the hallway woke Logan once again but he didn't stir, the pull of sleep and weight of his body keeping him from wanting to move. He didn't even open his eyes. He merely listened. All he could hear were mumblings, no distinct words or voices, and then steps along the floor. He assumed it was the staff that worked for Hadrian, probably already up early to start their days.

Alys's voice down the hall woke Hadrian from his slumber. He startled, looking to see if Logan was still asleep before quietly rising and letting himself out of Alys's room. He would then set out to intercept her before she reached it...provided Logan didn't wake.

She glanced back towards his room, even as the firm hand pressed at her back to urge her further from it and towards his study. Her eyes dancing back to the woman. Though it was the click of the door behind her that had her stop, turning to see Hadrian headed their way, even as the hand pressed at her back. “Lord Usher,” the woman bowed at her side to him as he approached. “I was taking Lady Delaney to your study,” she glanced back at Alys.

Who was completely focused on Hadrian, her eyes having already scanned him and then resting on his face. As if trying to read what seemed to be resting on his shoulders as he approached. Though she couldn’t help the small tug upward on her lips as he drew closer, or the way a soft breath left her as he came within reach. Even if her hands didn’t seek him out.

Logan heard Hadrian rise, hearing the footsteps along the floor and then the softest click of the door as it was closed. Even still he didn't open his eyes. At least not until he caught one word, and he only caught it because it was so familiar and less because it was somehow louder than the others. 'Delaney'. Though Logan assumed the Delaney they must be referring to was himself.

His brow furrowed slightly, more out of curiosity than anything else, and he slowly dragged his eyes open in the darkness.

If only they had been faster. It was a 50/50 chance as to whether Alys would recognize just where he was coming from, given the angle from which he’d approached. He almost reached for her when he heard the soft breath pass her lips, but to preserve her honor, he’d avoided making untoward physical contact with her when his housekeep was presence.

“I’ll take it from here,” Hadrian said to the woman, his eyes not leaving Alys. When the woman walked away, he’d respond softly, “And I think we can do better than the study.” He’d offer his arm, and start heading in the direction of his room, which was not far from Alys’s.

Alys glanced behind Hadrian for a moment, her mind slowly making up that where he had left was indeed her room. Had he been waiting for her? Her head tilted slightly, dark curls finally coming back to life brushed at her ears and jaw. But what she herself had yet to really notice was her scars, those deep burns, had dramatically softened on her skin. Faded from the marks they once were to something soft, something the alluded another few days and they’d be gone even.

Alys and Hadrian, while neither moving for one another, had never looked away. That was, until the footsteps faded and he offered his arm to her. She slipped her hand into the crook, stepping to his side and moving towards his room. “Had you been waiting up on me?” She asked, a small amusement on her tongue and lips. She’d wait until they were closed within his room before she’d turn and face him. A hand coming up to cup his cheek, “You worry too much.”

As his eyes started to adjust in the dark he listened to the voices outside. Hadrian speaking to the help but also to someone else. He rolled to his side and pushed his large body up in the darkness, trying to listen. He pulled his legs out, bare feet against the cool floor and at the sound of a feminine voice replying he felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn't tell if it was actually Alys but the idea that there was a chance was captivating.

Pushing himself up to standing he moved carefully towards the door, slower than he would like given the lack of light and unfamiliarity with the room. It was as he heard a door close that he reached his door and upon opening it and looking out he was met with an empty hallway.

It didn’t take Hadrian long to notice the change. Alys looked remarkably healed, the scarring on her face nearly faded to nothing. Her curls too had started to grow back. Like a garden growing from scorched earth…the Alys he’d known was starting to reemerge. He allowed himself a moment to take her in before the facts of the current situation came slamming back into the front of his mind. Logan.

“Perhaps,” Hadrian smirked, heart hammering in his chest, moving close so his body was flushed against hers, “But how can you blame me…” Hadrian leaned in to kiss her, with the ferocity of knowing it may be the last time. Perhaps there was still time. No, he convinced himself, she wasn’t ready to see him. He continued to kiss her, heart still thundering and Logan’s presence still looming in his mind.

A muffled sound left her as his mouth found hers, and it quickly turned into a very content noise. But the heat suddenly was turned up and he was kissing her as if he was on what was becoming a very well known path for the two of them. She met his heat with her own, because to her, if anyone was in her corner, it was surely Hadrian wasn’t it?

Her hands slid up to capture his face between her palms as she leaned into him. “Hello to you too,” she murmured against his lips. “Hadrian,” her voice grew softer, almost like she was demanding all of his attention as her hands were smoothing back some of his hair as she looked up at him. “Good morning.” With the same heat as he had before, she moved forward and kissed him again. Deep, unable to get close enough, and with a passion burning in her chest.

Logan furrowed his brow as he stepped into the hall. If he hadn't have heard the name 'Delaney' being spoken he might have just turned back into Alys' room and tried to find sleep again. But, you know what they say, curiosity killed the cat. So instead he slowly made his way down the hall, pausing at each door he passed to see if he could hear anything.

He eventually reached a door, unknown what was behind it, in which he heard muffled voices as if the door had been closed but whoever was behind it hadn't gone too far from the entrance. Moving close enough that his eye was almost pressed to the wood, he heard the unmistakable sounds of kissing.

All he knew for sure was that Hadrian had left his room and that now he was hearing kissing. Perhaps a lady caller had come to visit him. He smiled lightly to himself. Good for him.

Hadrian was keenly aware that Logan was still in his home; Logan, his brother, his friend that was hurting and broken. But with every touch his awareness faded and his desire burned. He wrapped her in his arms, kissing her a moment more before parting, his hands on her hips and his body pressed to her.

“Alys, I have to tell you something.”