New Relationships and Old (Lucian and Shin)

[madelyn]

Madelyn felt Shin pick her up telling her not to think that way. She didn't want to think this way but it had to be true. No matter what she did it seemed those that she cared about would perish she really didn't have a choice in the matter except to accept it and move on. But he gently lifted her and carefully wiped the dirt off her face. Her tears ran down her cheeks her wet eyes looking at him as soon as the dirt was gone he brought her into his arms. Holding her tightly like she was precious. Promising that nothing bad would ever happen to her again. She cried softly and clutched at him. Her hand wrapped around in his shirt like it had been last night, her tears wettening the soft fabric of his shirt.

He talked about Lucian and him loving her. And how they would be there for her making sure she was safe. That nothing bad would happen to them and she didn't have to worry. She nodded softly listening as she cried. He asked about her children and herself. She looked up at him and nodded her face was red because she was crying. She nodded that all three of them were just fine. It was then she heard Lucian's thick voice call out to her. She looked up and watched him come closer as he spoke.

Telling her that what he had said wasn't what he meant. That he was hurt and she could understand that. She hadn't meant to hurt him but she knew she had because though she loved him she couldn't love him like he needed to be loved. She looked up at him as he came closer asking if she would still have him if she would let him be her brother. Gently she smiled up at him and she reached up catching his hand and pulling him down to sit next to her and Shin. She leaned over and kissed his cheek gently her tears wettening his cheek before she leaned against Shin again.

"I need, both of you." she whispered to them. Forever her eyes told Lucian and her heart told Shin.

She began to calm down softly. She was getting better and she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her chest still heaving from time to time and she wanted to just fall asleep now here in Shin's arms. Holding her tightly to his body comforting her. She closed her eyes her fingers entwined in Lucian's hand and her body leaning tiredly against Shin. With the twins she often got tired more often because they absorbed a lot of mana because of the protection she tried to place around them not to mention she had a inkling they were already magical. She breathed softly but deeply as she began to relax. One hand still holding firmly to Shin.

"You both.. make me.. so happy." she whispered softly, very softly before she fell silent again.

[Shin Daisuke]

As he held Madelyn, she clutched him in the same way she had when he had kept her safe from the nightmares the night before. Her tears soaked his shoulder, but he didn’t care. As he told her that Lucien and himself would protect her, he felt her nodding gently as he kept her safely in his arms, her tears still flowing onto his shoulder, unable to stop them flowing forth. He was happy she was able to continue crying, not bottling up her emotions. And as he asked about her welfare, she looked up at him, her tear soaked and red face nodding making him feel a little better that they were both fine.

Lucien arrived and spoke. He apologized for all the wrongs he had done, and although he said he would understand if she disowned him, he still wanted to be there for her, be it as her friend or as her brother. Even Shin smiled at this, knowing that Lucien had finally come to terms with what had happened, his anger and depression no longer clouding his judgment.

Madelyn pulled him down next to herself and Shin, and kissed his cheek gently, leaving teardrops upon his skin. She slowly fell back into Shin, and he stroked her arm gently as he noticed her tiring. It was understandable after the whole ordeal. She told them that she needed them both, and she told them how happy they made her. She fell silent once more, and seemed to almost fall asleep where she sat. “You make us happy too hun…” He said gently as he continued to stroke her arm gently.

His gaze was then brought up to Lucien and he sighed. “I’m sorry” He said honestly. “I knew that you were angry, and I just wanted to either make you see that, or give you a target to let that anger out into.” He confessed slowly. “The truth is, even though I may be the one who is romantically involved with Madelyn, you two share so much that I cannot compare to. You have known her for so long, and know just where much of her thinking comes from. I can simply feel it in her.” He looked back down to the semi conscious girl and smiled. “I can tell what she is thinking, what she is feeling from just a glance… But though I may read her soul, you know it intimately” He looked back up at Lucien and continued to smile. “You’re a good man Lucien… I’m glad Madelyn has you” He said gently.

[Lucian]

Lucian sighed a little as he felt Madelyn's small hand wrap around his and pull him down to sit next to her. He loved her so much he truly did. The hurt he felt did not stem from sort of sense of betrayal but the true hurt came from the growing feeling he had that there was no one to love him the way Madelyn loved Shin. Even though he had Madelyn and a new friend in Shin he had no one to love him, to want to be with him forever. He had no one like that and now, now that Madelyn loved someone else he truly began to believe that he would be alone forever. There would be no one wake up to in the morning, no one to hold in his arms while he went to sleep. Regardless though he had to look at what he had now and be happy, he could not dwell forever on his sadness. He had to be strong for Madelyn, he did not want her to know that he was as hurt as he was. Now he finally knew Madelyn tried to be strong all the time, she would be his inspiration, he would try his hardest to be as strong as she was. That little frail blonde girl was truly much stronger than he could ever really be, but he would try as hard as he could to be as strong as her.

"I'm sorry Madelyn...I'm sorry I ruined your evening," he said softly as he sat down beside the two of them squeezing her hand gently, "I was selfish and I let my anger cloud my judgement, I failed you as a friend Madelyn, but I'm not going to let it happen again," he swore softly as he stroked the back of her hand gently, looking up at her with soft smile. He was hurt, but he was happy, happy that Madelyn was happy. Even if it could not be him that could make her truly happy, she had still found someone and that was reason enough for him to be happy.

Then he listened as Shin started speaking. He understood what Shin had tried to do, he did not want him to throw his anger at Madelyn. Shin truly did want the best for Madelyn and he was there to pick up the slack when Lucian had so obviously failed. He nodded softly as Shin talked of how he and Madelyn shared a deeper bond than Shin would ever have with her. Lucian disagreed with this but he would keep those thoughts to himself. Shin had something Lucian would never have and that was the Madelyn's love. He put his other hand on Shin's shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Shin, you are kind and good person and I know you will make Madelyn happy," he said softly and removed his hand from his shoulder, "I know you want what is best for her and I apologize for ruining your evening, it was not my intention and I also hope that my actions today have not ruined any chance of a friendship we could have," he said softly as he leaned against the tree planted next to the bench, still holding Madelyn's hand in his.

[madelyn]

Madelyn heard Shin and Lucian speaking. She sighed softly as they seemed to be making up and perhaps getting closer to being friends more now than before. She certainly hoped so because she didn't like it when they were fighting. It wasn't Shin's fault that she and he had just clicked the way they had. It wasn't Lucian's fault that she thought of him like a brother instead of like a lover. Her eyes remained closed and when Shin look down at her to read her soul he would find it slowly resuming back to it's more peaceful nature Madelyn was happy and safe in his arms.

Lucian's hand stroked hers. Shin stroked her arm and between the both of them and their voices Madelyn was finding it increasingly hard to stay awake. She was being comforted by them both now and with the recent turmoil and the fact that her pregnancy in general was taking a toll on her young and thin body she was beginning to truly tire. And so it wasn't long before her breathing deepened softly and her little body relaxed in Shin's loving arms. Her hand on his shirt slowly let go and the grip on Lucian's hand lessened as Madelyn slipped off into her own dreams. Today had been both wonderful and horrible all at once but she and the two men with her were going to make the best of it.

-I love you both-

Was her last thought to Shin before she truly slept.

[Shin Daisuke]

Shin felt Lucien’s hand as he placed it upon his shoulder and apologized for ruining his evening, and told him that he hoped they could still be friends after this. “It’s ok Lucien… I know how it felt for you… I could feel the hurt within you…” He told the boy, now smiling again. Madelyn slowly slipped into sleep, and Shin looked down as he felt her grip lessen. “We love you too” He said softly as he gently stroked her hair.

He looked up at Lucien and chuckled a little. “Guess all things considered, she would be pretty tired…” He said as he gently placed an arm under her legs and lifted her up somewhat as he stood. “Don’t worry about me Lucien. I don’t hold grudges over such things. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already my friend” He told the Romanian with a grin. “But for now, I think it’s time to take her to bed…” He said as he softly positioned her so that her arms were around his neck, making it easier to carry her back to the room.

“Those marks on your arms…” He said slowly as the chilly wind caused the man’s sleeves to ruffle. “Runes are something I’ve read about… I think that I would like to see them in action someday…” He mused thoughtfully. He turned around and started to carry Madelyn back with hum. “Perhaps we can duel sometime” He said with a slight grin as he continued to get smaller into the distance.