It had been a while, a few months since their first night out on Sularia that it seemed as though he and Liz had been inseparable even more than before. It wouldn’t be uncommon for the rest of the White Rose Court to see her around whenever Krystopher was spotted. Blaine, for the most part, ignored it as long as he didn’t have to see it but his wife was a different matter. He was aware of her opinions but he went without answering them. Things seemed complicated between them and nothing too serious had happened yet. A lot of it had to do with seeing Moliira not too long ago and speaking with her. What they had was a distant past, and he had moved on.

He was by himself in the early afternoon, enjoying a running to take his mind off things. Swerving through the thicket, the large black wolf darted about, passing by any and all available prey as they scurried off whenever they heard him. Krys wasn’t in the mood for a hunt and needed to clear his head some. A run always helped to ease his worries and think. Today in particular was his situation with Elizabeth. There was obviously a connection between the two of them and their closeness the last few months spoke volumes of it. But it seem to have grown stronger as their bond tightened and he was sure that she felt something as well. His run wouldn’t last too long and when he felt like he was tiring, he turned around and head back home.

Not even reaching the courtyard, he shifted back into his human form, in time to retrieve the clothes that were tossed onto the ground hours ago. Krys started to get dressed and fell into one of the chairs set up as he slipped into his shirt and put on his boots. He was sure that Liz would be showing up soon and then they would have to have some words with one another.

Something had been bothering Krys but Liz hadn’t thought it was right to ask what. It was true that over the course of the months they had spent together that they had gotten close. Liz still felt as though she hadn’t completely earned the right to know what was on his mind. They were still young into the romance that they had slowly but surely formed. There were unspoken words from both of them and yet Liz hadn’t worked up the courage to say any of them to Krys.

Maybe it was because she was scared that she was going to lose him still. His recent behavior made her terrified a bit on the inside but she was able to hide it completely from him. At least she thought she had.

She had to spend time at home with her family recently and that was pretty much the only reason she hadn’t been spending the night with Krystopher. She missed him and often found herself lonely without him. How had she become so attached to a person she had trouble being honest with?

Liz was dressed in a light orange dress with a brown rope tied around the waist. The dress fell off her shoulders as if too big and that was alright. Her white hair was swept up and tied to keep it mostly out of the way. She had been dressing in dresses more since Krys had said he liked it. It didn’t really bother her much at all and she found she liked it most days.

Making her way into the court yard she seen him and the look on his face. “Something wrong Krys?” It was the first time she had asked him about what was on his mind recently. “Did you just get back from a run?”

Her timing was impeccable as always- Krys saw that Liz was coming over towards him. “Aye, I did.” He held a small smile out for her as he saw her in the dress she bore. “You seem to be wearing more of those these days… “ He had said that he thought she looked good in them, but he didn’t think that she would change her preferences just because of that. He didn’t mind it of course, he had meant what he said about it. But she got straight to the point and he knew that they had to deal with this as soon as possible. He offered her seat near his and sat up. His hands, brought together were shaking a bit as he contemplated how to bring up everything that was flowing through his mind.

“A lot has been going on lately. First of all, Moliira…she had came back from out of nowhere. I met with her some time ago and we talked about where she’d been and what she was up to when she left…” He sighed heavily before continued.

“She’s doing well and I’m relieved that she hasn’t visited death’s door. But just the sight of her had left me with all sorts of emotions, like a whirlwind. But I have made my amends with her.” Liz was the first person he was telling all of this. Not even his brother was aware that the drow was still alive and well. “I’m also been thinking about our relationship for a while now. We spent so much time together in such a short time. I know that you have been sort of worried yourself lately.” He looked at her with a cocked head.

“It’s rare to not see you around these days. Trust me, I’ve noticed how boring things around here get without you, even with Blaine and Toya’s antics.” He reached for her hand to take and held onto it. It felt like a long time since he was able to feel her and it was comforting to his wolf. “Been busy, or were you avoiding me for some reason? Either way, I’ve missed you.”  

Liz looked down at her dress and chuckled. “I wasn’t wearing many of them before because I was in and out of Sularia a lot on travel. Wearing a dress isn’t too practical when out and about traveling the world Krys. I kinda like them to be honest. Mother got me some recently… Nothing overly fancy but comfortable.” She messed with the edges of the dress a bit gave a smile as she sat down near him.

Her brown eyes watched as his hands shook and she knew that they were getting to what had been bothering him for a long time. She knew about Moliira, they hadn’t hid anything from each other but her being back made Liz scared. “I knew something was wrong but I didn’t think it was my place to ask just yet. I’ve never really courted anyone before so I don’t know much about boundaries so I didn’t want to cross one unless I knew you were ready to talk about it.”

She took his hands in hers too and gave him a smile. “Things are most definitely boring without you Krystopher but I wasn’t avoiding you. I’m a big girl if something was really bothering me that bad I would have told you. Crystaline is having boy problems or rather lack of boy problems so I’ve been helping her out… Mother asked me to stay home and spend time with her since I’m always here with you.” She smiled at him. “I wouldn’t avoid you even if I was mad at you.”

Leaning over she planted a kiss on his cheek before resting her forehead against his temple. “I was scared though. I will admit I didn’t know what was wrong and it bothered me but like I said I didn’t know where the boundary was. It probably sounds silly, doesn’t it? We should be able to talk about anything with each other.” Her thumbs gently rubbed against his skin as she thought about it.

“I missed you so much…”

He hadn’t meant much by it, but Krys was glad that Liz was comfortable in her clothing. “No, no, I understand. It’s be hard to get around with one anyway” He laughed a little before the conversation turned more serious.

He tried to hide his worry, but it was in vain- it was as clear as day for her to see how nervous he was about this but he pressed onward. He did stop in the middle of talking to her about Moliira and looked curiously at her. He had to remember that Liz was never courted and was still not used to what they had. “It’s fine. You can talk to me about anything, and I should be able to do the same with you.” He chuckled at the realization of that, and at his own folly for not following that. “There’s nothing to worry about though, I care about her deeply but…things with the two of us can’t be as they were.” It was a bit bittersweet, but things were vastly different now than they had been and he couldn’t pretend to go back into the past. He had to move forward. Surely Liz would understand that since she was in the same boat.

His hands fell into hers as well and the physical comfort grew more in him. “Well, I’m glad that you weren’t and was helping your little sister. I’d imagine that it was a big job to handle.” Krys smirked at her as her words eased him well. “I just hope your mother understands that it wasn’t intentional- we just end up spending plenty of time together and you even stay here often.”

He hadn’t really thought it was strange that she would stay here with him, especially at night when they curled against one another in bed at night without anything really happening. He enjoyed her company and felt something strong for her, beyond physical attraction. He received her kiss and felt her warmth against him as she drew closer. “No need to be scared, or at least not by yourself anyway. We can that way together, silly.” He smiled, flashing his pearly whites before pulling her into a hug. “You can tell me anything, I think we reached that point now. I just wanted you to know since I hate keeping secrets. Have done that plenty to others in my youth and life’s too short for those sort of games. Just wanted to be honest with you.”

He pulled away from the hug enough so that he could kiss her lips tenderly. Krys just felt like he had to so that they could both be grounded. “No need for us to have to worry about missing each other since we are here now… “

Moliira.

Her throat went a little more dry. “I was a bit worried when you brought her up Krys. I thought you would tell me that you were leaving for her. In all honesty, she would have that right… If she wasn’t dead and she was your mate.” It was more like a hierarchy she supposed with wolves. They were ever loyal but Krys made her heart skip. “But… I won’t say I’m not happy… I’m thrilled you want to stay with me.” But she also understood that Moliira most likely hurt from his choice.

Together they held hands and she smiled at him as they both eased. “Not at all… Just a tad awkward. She wanted to know how to initiate… uhh…” Liz blushed a bit and chuckled. “Sexual relations with someone who thought she was too innocent and never asked her about how she felt.” Though she nodded about her mother. “I think she knows. She is grateful that I’ve been home more since we started to court.”

She chuckled a bit as they snuggled together. Her arms went against him tightly as if she were scared to lose him. “Krys…” She blushed a bit before they kissed and put her forehead against his. “I’ve been struggling to not say something for a while now.” It was hard even now. “I didn’t know how you would feel…”

She bounced a bit and kissed him again before blurting. “Krystopher Wintercrest I love you.” Her face was bright red and she froze up when she heard someone yell.

“Get a room.”

“BLAINE!” Liz picked up a heavy flower pot and hurled it in the direction of the voice. “BUTT OUT.” She was bright red from the embarrassment. “I think that you should… Uh… Move in with me at the Purple Court so these things stop happening so often.” She blinked a few dozen times before looking up at him. “My room is bigger… and the house is nice and quiet from there not being a lot of people and we can be there to help my mother if need be. They got enough people here and Sparrow keeps everyone up at all hours of the night. But I don't want you to feel like we have too… It's just a suggestion or rather offer. I already talked to my mother about it beforehand before I made any plans."

Krys knew that there might have been some worry installed in her once he brought up his former flame into their conversation. He still loved Moliira but it wasn’t quite the same after the separation. He had struggled to get better after that and Liz was a big reason why he thrived through it. He owed her so much for it but it wasn’t that what led to the two of them being here right now. He did genuinely have feelings for her.

Had the conversation never became too serious for them, then he would have burst out laughing at Crystaline’s situation with her suitor. Instead he snickered a bit before regrouping himself. “Sorry, just wasn’t expecting that really. Didn’t think you were the expert in that field; now that I have to see.” Of course he was joking with her, but he himself had been curious about…things between them. They didn’t seem to make it to that part of their relationship yet and things were moving slow. Not that he minded it, of course. In some ways it was a lot better for them in the long run.

They were in their own little bubble in the world, the outside factors didn’t matter to him. All he could hear and see was Liz but then she said three words that caused him to looked down at her. “Well…that’s a mouthful… I can see why you’ve been struggling for a while… “ He was about to speak further on the matter but then his baby brother had to come out and spoil things.

“We aren’t in your house!”

“Still on my property, you two! And I heard that, Liz!” Blaine looked over sternly at them before he noticed something more disturbing. “Toya! Don’t you dare! Keep Sparrow away from those blasted dragons!” He scurried off to stop his crazed wife and baby and Krys shook his head with laughter. “Move in? You sure?” Her tone certainly met it and he thought about it for a bit and nodded. “Sure…if that’s what you want. I would like that, really.” He was grateful that her mother approved- he didn’t want to intrude his presence there without her approval and soon he was up and off to his room. “Guess we should go pack then.” Coming inside, he found Blaine still trying to get things in order. “Hey, I’m moving into Liz’s house.”

The younger wolf looked at the both of them and shrugged, “Alright, about time I get back that room.” Krys knew that the only importance that room had was it was merely another one that Blaine and Toya could…play in. It didn’t matter too much for him though as he made his way upstairs and packed up the few things he had before he was ready to head out with Liz.

“Don’t do anything we would do, you guys.”

Krys ignored his calling and waved at him before taking off for the Purple Rose Court. “Love you too”, he said to her as they walked through the streets.

Liz chuckled a bit and shook her head. “Crystaline didn’t want to talk to Mother about it and I’m really the only one she can talk to who won’t go back and tell Colden.” Her and Krys were going real slow possibly slower than that of Crystaline and Colden. It didn’t bother Liz at all. Matter of fact she just liked being around him.

“Good, you nosey bastard,” Liz growled in his direction. His brother and sister in law had totally completely ruined the moment that they had tried to set. However soon she was laughing with Krystopher and she held onto his hands.

“If I wasn’t sure… I wouldn’t have asked you.” She chuckled a bit more. Liz was right behind Krystopher as they ran into Blaine. “Don’t worry we won’t. I don’t think we plan on having a whole hoard of crazy lunatic children.” Liz waved her hand at them and stuck her tongue out.

She had some things of Krystopher’s in her arms as they walked down the street. Her face flushed a bit and she reached up to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad you do. I was beginning to worry that you forgot I said that.” The half wolf teased her mate as she laid her head against his shoulder.

Once they were in her home she took him up the stairs. The house was oddly quiet after all it was only her mother and staff that were here at the moment. Her room was on the far corner of the house overlooking the gardens in the back courtyard of the house. It was a large spacious room with one of the largest four poster beds most had ever soon. Gentle orange fabric hung down off of it in a canopy. There was a balcony to the back of the room. The room even led into a nice personal wash room.

“This room had me and Coriko in it when we originally would come to visit. So it was large enough for the two of us. I figured it would be good for the two of us as well…” The walls were decorated in fine acrylics like most of the house and the bathroom had tiles of marble and granite. Not to mention the tub inside was made of the same marble. “It’s also quiet here so you can get work done in the study if you want…”

“Yeah, well, you’ll be in for a shock. Wintercrests have the craziest children! Look at me and Krys!”, his brother threw at them before he went off back inside to celebrate with some breakfast.

While they walked, Krys glanced over to Liz. “Nope. Was going to say it earlier but then Blaine ruined it.” It felt surreal that they were going to do this- have him move in her so soon but then again, he held no regrets about this. Likely she didn’t either from the sound of it. After all, she had prepared everything according for this. At least they weren’t rushing things like they could have. Slow, steady and stable was what he needed. When they made it to her home, they immediately headed upstairs without pause. The silence made the house seem so empty yet he did catch a few glances of staff about, busy with their work. He was also sure that her mother was around somewhere and perhaps her sister, if not busy with her suitor. Her room was utterly amazing and he dropped his bags as soon as they entered. Krys went to investigate immediately, giving the room a look over. “Seems like a private little section for you… and him.”

He remember Coriko yet his name seemed like a distant memory to him. It had been ages since he recalled his name coming from Liz ever since they met. Coming around from the bathroom, he looked over to the balcony before coming back into the bedroom. “Yup, you were right- this room is far better for two people, but to be fair, I wasn’t exactly planning for a nightly visitor showing up often back at Toya’s.” He laughed and sat upon the comfy and lavish bed. “Good to know. I hope that my presence can help to make this place more lively for you…” He patted at the spot near him for her to come and sit by him. “Now we don’t have to worry about sneaking in and out of the house anymore and the hunting grounds are much closer and we can have all the private time we can handle without worrying too much about interruptions. What do you think?”

Liz put the stuff she was carrying down and smiled a bit. “Coriko.” She knew that she hadn’t talked about him a lot and had no trouble helping Krystopher remember his name. “I know I don’t mention his name often but…” She pointed over to a painting of Liz and a baby. He had brilliant white hair. “My mother got me that… Sitting still for it was a pain in the ass though.” She chuckled a bit. “Coriko always slept well though so he slept right through it.”

“Oh well forgive me for starting to spend the night with you Old Man.” She chuckled a bit before she came over to him. “Aye, I think it will help everyone here. It’s lonely here sometimes.” She smiled at him as she sat on the bed by him. “No one will complain if we come in and out of the house here. We won’t get bitched at for being all lovey dovey with each other.”

She chuckled a bit more. “I like it… the only thing this is missing is magic sound proofing for when we finally reach that point in our relationship. Not that we’ve ever really talked about it.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I guess Crystaline’s question got me thinking about it more.” She blushed and looked away from him. “We spend all this time together and we never really talk about our relationship. We just spend time together. Hell, it took us this long to say how we really feel about each other. Slow and steady indeed.”