Silence is Golden, Duct Tape is Silver {Eryk}

[©erridwen Corrigan]

Walking silently, normally, she would be talking to Eryk, asking him how he was, if he was alright, if he needed help. Nope. She was slightly agitated with him. Nat could spend all the time he wanted with Eryk because Cerridwen wasn't going to be talking to him. She was angry. He had just up and left, leaving her to worry, to have to team up with someone she hated, leaving Maelee with Minerva, her plants, her garden, everything, to go find him, only to see he was okay, and with another pack?

Having her arms crossed and holding at her sides, Cerridwen walked slowly, finally the weather had warmed up and she was able to wear skirts again. How she loved her skirts, currently in celebration of spring, and the warm weather, she was wearing a skirt, a long one as always, a bright green one that danced around her legs as she walked, the different layers mingling and mixing with each other as she floated about, almost as if she were walking on water. Though it wasn't hot, it was hot enough, to wear a short sleeved shirt, something she was currently doing. A blouse, a white one, very thin, easily seen through, thankfully there was a white tank top underneath that she could cover herself with.

Letting herself soak up the sun as she walked, she remained silent, thinking things over in her head. She hadn't said more then a few words to him, not since they found him. Why hadn't he even given her warning? She had been scared at first when they couldn't find him. And when they did...she was just, angry. Where had this anger come from? She hadn't even said I love you, I'm glad your alright, she had just given him...this look, this look that had come out of no where, and then she had just all of a sudden become mute and not said anything, and when she was needed she would speak...minimal.

This was rather depressing. All of it. She had what she wanted, and now...all of a sudden she didn't want it. She wouldn't speak with it, it was like a toy she really had wanted, she got it, loved it, and then lost it...found it a few months later and it just didn't...feel right anymore. Was she falling out of love for him? Was she just angry? What was it?

Shaking her head, she turned to Nat, "We're almost home..." She murmured, she ignored Eryk and looked directly at Nat, and with that turned again and kept walking. Lifting her hands, she delicately maneuvered them into her hair to readjust it as they walk, fix it and adjust the dragonfly clip was was currently holding her long inky black wavy hair back out of her eyes.

[eryk]

Ever sense they had reunited with Eryk, Miss Kitty had been in a sour mood, which tended to put a damper on the whole reunion thing. They had gotten Eryk back safe and sound, why wasn't she happy? He was ecstatic to have his friend back, yet she was acting as if she'd just found out someone had tinkled in her cream bowl. With her rotten mood he was having a time of it trying to get Eryk to smile. Her frown made Eryk worry which in turn made Nat peeved at the fact that she was ruining things yet again.

"Yeah, home for you though ain't it? I happen to live in the city." Normally he'd say we, including Eryk in that statement, but for once he didn't feel like making things worse. "Though I have to admit living in a snug cabin in the woods does sound cozy."

Nat leaned over passed Eryk to smile at her giving her eyes that silently pleaded for her to lighten up. They should be overjoyed with the fact that their gray pup was safe and in their loving presence once again. The two of them had searched everywhere they could think of, and even places they hadn't thought of. While scouting out a back alley out of the shadows came a gray, tail raised high, wolf with a canine smile. Natsumi had shouted with joy rushed over and hugged his friend tightly. But it wasn't him that that clear amber eye was focused on. Ever since then the two love birds had been on nails.

Well, wasn't this a lovely spot. Nat was behaving, Cerridwen was seething, and he was drowning in guilt. To knock it all off his stomach growled every few minutes in between the long silences of the three. Lucky for him Nat had brought him some clothes to change into even if the stripper had forgotten socks and shoes. For what felt like the hundredth time in the past hour Eryk chanced a glance at his girl friend. Still cross it seemed. He'd expected it somewhat, but not to this extent. Maybe a few choice words but a hug would soon follow. Nothing thus far.

"Um...yeah...So...uh...am I staying with you, Cerri? Or...should I go back with Nattie?" Eryk gazed at her with his deep blue eye hands deep into his dark, faded, jean pockets. If she was mad at him it wouldn't help to have him around. Even if he did want to spend as much time as possible with her she didn't seem pleased to have him back. What a welcome party...a nervous stripper and a scowling Fairy Princess what a lively group they were.

[©erridwen Corrigan]

Cerridwen looked into Nat's eyes but couldn't muster a smile. How could she? Not when she knew, that she couldn't. But...why? Why couldn't she even fake it? She had been able to fake it so many times before. Cerridwen kept walking forward observing her surroundings. There was grass below her feet, little short pieces of grass waking up, after a long, harsh winter, there were sprouts pushing their way towards the sun, and there were leaves that were growing off of trees. Spring was in full swing and she just couldn't force herself to be happy.

Finally sighing and slowing her pace, she sided up beside Eryk and leaned in and kissed his neck softly. "I missed you my love" She murmured rather tired. Maybe that was it. She was tired. Very tired. She was in a rather nasty mood because of lack of sleep, and that was it. That had to be it. This also had to work. She didn't want him upset, not at all, she was just in a bitter mood...

"Love...when we get home, you might want to visit with Maelee, I'm rather tired..." Cerridwen murmured as she let her hand drop down to his and clasp it. She was doing this for Nat...he better appreciate it. Though no smile was present, the lack of sleep wasn't present, so it might be an illusion, that she wasn't mad, just in a bad mood, cranky, tired.

Stifling a yawn, Cerridwen kept walking. She could see the walls of the Fae kingdom, and yearned for them to be closer, she was just needing to sleep on it, and then all would be better, they could talk, Maelee and him would get along, and she'd have her family back in order, because that's essentially what they were. Her and Eryk, raising Mae as their own. One...big...family. Right.

Taking a deep breath, Cerridwen kept walking at a dragging pace, she had kept to her promise, seven days she'd be gone...and all seven days maybe she had gotten a half day's worth of sleep. Not healthy, not at all, especially not when she was already in a fragile, delicate condition. She was still suffering from when Eryk had left for months at a time, she had stopped eating, stopped feeling, and though she's gotten better, not everything was fully healed.

"Are you staying as well Nat?" She offered up quietly.

[natsumi]

He nodded sharply straightening up as Cerridwen went over and kissed Eryk on the neck. His friend better not say Nat had never supported his relationship. His spirit had lifted considerably the moment she kissed Eryk's neck because the moment she did Eryk smiled. That boy's smile could make the sunrise blush in shame. Or maybe that was just how Nat felt personally. He drifted a bit away from the two as they spoke to each other. With a week at the Kitty's side he'd at least learned she did love Eryk. Even if Nat still wasn't too keen on it.

"I missed you too." He whispered his smile never leaving his face even if his gaze filled with worry for her. She had kissed him and had said those words. Even if she didn't mean it as much as any other time it was still there. Their love was still there through it all love. "We had to leave because they were after us. I'm so sorry I left."

"Tired?" Eryk gave her a mischievous grin. "Want me to carry you?" He stopped reaching out to grab her arm and pull her close. Eryk ignored the cough from the white haired lycan who promptly turned away to stare at the trees. "Yes, visit Mae, avoid your sister's deadly glare, and worship the ground you walk on."

Then she asked Nat to stay with them, and he couldn't stop himself. "What? You hate him!" Shock, and confusion dislodges the smile from the kiss. For his reaction he got a loud bout of laughter from behind him. Eryk turned quickly to find Nat bent over at the waist laying an egg over his friend's exclamation.

"Sure. Sure, I'll sleep in the living room with daisies plugged in my ears." Nat reached out for a tree his other hand clutched over his stomach. "No, thanks, Kitty, but I'll have to decline. I don't think your ice box of a sister would like to see me again so soon anyway."

Still utterly confused Eryk turned back to Cerridwen questions dancing over his features as his friend yacked it up only a few feet away. "What in hell went on while I was gone?"

[©erridwen Corrigan]

Cerridwen rested her head on his shoulder as they walked for a minute, though kept silent. He missed her too. She missed him, he missed her, she loved him, he loved her, this was how it was. Nothing had changed. Hopefully.

"Nooo. I don't need you to carry me" She murmured though her voice had grown considerably lighter when he asked that. He did care. Of course he loved her, her doubt that she may have had before was pushed away, though her doubt that her own love was there, was still lingering. She loved him. "I love you...always" Cerridwen said reassuringly to herself and to him and then looked up with a small smile. "Noooo, I don't need you to worship the ground I walk on, Minerva misses you around the house, she knows it, and Mae is dying to see you so you better visit her. I'll be upstairs for a few hours I assure you" Cerridwen promised. "Sleep is such a lovely thing..." She murmured nodding.

Out of no where, a laugh could be heard and she turned to glare at Nat. "Oh shut up dog." She rolled her eyes. "I've dealt with you for seven days, like I need anymore of you. I was trying to be kind, offer you some time to lay, I have a nice dog house out for you in the back, I was going to let you use THAT" She snapped. "But if you don't want it, I'll get you a bone and send you on your merry way"Cerridwen arched a brow and gave him a coy look.

When Eryk gave her a look and asked her what had gone on, she just smiled and shrugged. "Don't worry about it love." and leaned over and kissed his neck, this time nipping at it. How she had missed this. "Promise you won't leave again, not for a long while. I want to cuddle when I wake up.." Cerridwen nodding giving him an idea of what exactly she had in mind for them later.

Squeezing his hand, Cerridwen kept walking, her wings fluttering every so often, in a slow fluid manner. If she hadn't been so tired, she would have flown, she had no problem carrying Eryk, or letting him run, but alas, she had been to tired, and Eryk insisted on walking with her, making it take longer then planned to get home.

"Spring is here..." Cerridwen observed trying to make small talk. "Will you help me outside maybe tomorrow...or in a day or two?" She asked pressing the metal of the ring he had given her back in winter against his skin. She wondered if he remembered, if he regret ever giving it to her, ever regret telling her he loved her that first time. Did he ever...wish he had done something different? Not flirted with her that first day he fell? Not given her that rose? Wished that maybe he had just turned her away from the moment he saw her? Did he ever have those thoughts?

She didn't. She never would. Cerridwen loved him, and always would she, but was it as strong, and as there as it had been before? Or was she just growing weary of all the drama, all of the going on's, the dangers and threats that has put herself, and Mae in a very uncomfortable position?