Damian.
The moment I walked into the room and saw Ivy awake, I was blown away. I didn't think it would ever be possible, and I had slowly started to lose hope, but the moment I heard her voice through my mind, I knew it couldn't be real.
How many times had I actually contemplated hearing her?
More than I can count, that's for sure.
For a moment I thought I was losing my mind, but when Talon and Hale took off running up the stairs, I knew it must have been real and the possibility had made my heart soar.
I thanked the gods for bringing her back to me, but I just prayed it would be forever this time. I couldn't survive losing her again.
A few days had passed since then, and with every moment she was awake, I slowly found myself going better and better. I didn't feel hollow and empty anymore. I didn't feel like I was the reason she was gone.
Instead, we spent every moment together as if nothing had ever happened.
As if the war and everything else had only been a dream.
Sitting in the living room with Ivy and the twins, I watched her sit on the floor as the twins handed her various toys. I had waited so long to see this, and now that I could, I wanted to hold the memory forever.
The twins had their mother's back, and from the looks in their eyes, they were happy.
She was the love of my life, and I hated it took me so long to realize. But now she was back, and I was going to make sure I showed her just how much she meant to me. Just how much she meant to this family.
There was no way in hell I was ever walking away from her again. I would never keep a secret from her again. Those days were long over.
I'd learned my lesson just as my brothers had learned theirs.
"How are you feeling today?" Hale said to Ivy as he stepped into the living room.
"I'm feeling better than I was before. My strength is almost back completely, but I will admit it will take some time before I run laps around you guys."
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