In the few days and nights that followed, they'd shared their deepest, darkest secrets with each other. Kelly even told her what had happened to make him change his ways. Damara didn't say anything for a long moment, then looked up at him. "Why'd ye tell me that...out of everyone ya know? Why me?" "Because I had to know if it would change the way ya feel toward me...because, I felt like I could. I need ta forgive myself for it, but I can't." He closed his eyes and shook his head. He felt her hand in his hair. "Sometimes we aren't always in control of ourselves. We let others and other things influence us, an' we get lost in the mess it makes. It don't change how I feel, Kel. It only makes ma feelin's for ya deeper. Ya have ta forgive yerself Kelly. Everyone else could, but until you do, it ain't done. Ya made a mistake. We both have - many grievous ones, but it's time ta start over. Well past time, really - but any day is a good day ta start. Aye?" He took her hand and kissed it, then gathered her in his arms. "Will you...will ya wait for me, Damara? Will ya pray for me an' think o' me? Will ya let me be your champion?" A smile came to her lips and she laughed softly. "You are my champion, Kel - no matter what. I came here fed up with all Mog's hatred an' arrogance, his jelousy an' greed...his evil. Somethin' snapped inside me that night an' I saw how awful it all was. How awful I'd been an' I weren't no better than him. But I know I am. I know it. I thought about Moira an' what I thought was her human, an' Kyli and Morgan. I realized I didn't have none of those things - no love, only sorrow and horror all around me. When they told me you was ta be ma guardian, I thought 'great, he'll probably hate me fer what I did to his sister', but ya didn't. Instead, ya showed me only kindness an' understandin'...forgiveness. All of ya have, but you most of all. Of course I will think of ya every moment an' pray the gods keep ya safe, so you can come back, and we can decide from there. I'd ask ya if ye'd be ma love, but the war.... I don' want no war promises." Kelly smiled, stroking her hair. "A'right lass - the only promise I'll make is that I'll come back an' we can decide from there - long's I know yer waitin' for me." ***** Not what I was originally planning on posting tonight, but still it works. Kind of got sidetracked with a few other things. A nice romantic scene anyway for you to enjoy :) Thank you all for your support and your comments! Have a wonderful Wednesday my dears. Rayvn