Willow stood in the kitchen staring blankly into the emptiness before her. She'd spent the entire day running around the Las Vegas valley. She'd decided to risk taking Gimli, Legolas, and Maia on a sightseeing adventure. They'd gone to the Hoover Dam, the Fremont Street experience, and the Mandalay Bay Aquarium. Maia and her favorite new playmate, Gimli, were having the time of their lives. Gimli had learned how to take selfies and became a new sensation on her Insta. Willow initially worried about what their first experiences with technology would be like. Gimli always had so many questions about how things worked. Questions she found she could not answer. So, she resorted to telling them it was all magic. It was all they needed to know to accept the fact that things did what they did and accept it without question.

Legolas kept a trained, impassable face despite the fact everyone around him was jovial. As much as she tried, she couldn't read what was going on behind those indifferent azure eyes. He'd stolen glances at her all-day particularly when he thought she wasn't looking. She had given up hope of getting to him in the last few weeks. His cool and aloof responses had hurt her the most. 

The cabinets, their contents, kitchen utensils, and doors rattled, as the soreness of her heart pained her. She took in deep breaths to quiet her wayward powers as a few renegade tears escaped and traveled down the smoothness of her cheek. As a couple, they'd always been so passionate about one another right from the start. She had always been sure of his love and now she was on the brink of losing him. A sigh of disappointment streamed through the air. She had not noticed she was no longer alone. 

"Damn, living so close to a faultline we keep having these tremors," Amber said as she sashayed into the kitchen. She noticed as Willow wiped at her eyes, trying to hide her pain behind a smile. She stood in front of Willow with a tender smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"Darling, if you're going to cry and try to hide it. At least be discrete, the kitchen isn't exactly the place to suffer in silence," Amber wiped away Willow's tears deftly, gently removing them with the back of her fingers. She clasped Willow's hands in her own.

"It's nothing, Amber, I'm just feeling a little emotional I guess," She lied, trying to avoid Amber's discerning gaze. 

"Will, you don't ever need to hide anything from me. I can pretty much tell what's going on. I was gonna start wearing my new Gucci jacket in here as cold as it's been between you and hubby dearest lately." Amber placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Willow looked embarrassed, "I suppose things have been a bit off between us since he came back. It's just this whole thing with Brom." Willow dropped Amber's hands and walked around the kitchen island to sit on a barstool.

Amber turned to face her across the counter, "What about Brom? You always said you didn't like him like that and you didn't want to be with him. Did something change?"

A look of conflict crossed Willow's face. "I meant it. I don't want to be with Brom, I don't love him. At least I don't think so. In the time that Legolas and I have been apart, his help has been invaluable. He's been there for me and for Maia. He stepped up in a way I never expected. I care about Brom but I don't want to lose Legolas. I keep thinking that Legolas will never understand and he doesn't want to. I scared that we'll always be at odds because of it."

"Don't worry babe, it will all work out. Legolas seems like a decent guy. I think he'll live up to your expectations. I mean, Jesus girl he should be paying you to be his hypeman with everything you've said to me about him. He knows you love him and no one else," An amused expression lit Amber's face. Her green eyes were fixed expectantly on the doorway.

"Lady Amber, May I have a moment with my wife please," A disembodied voice interrupted. A chill shot down Willow's back,  as the warmth of his voice settled on her. She knew that voice better than she knew her own.  

"I think I'll leave you two to talk," Amber reached across the counter and gave Willow's hand a gentle squeeze before rushing out of the kitchen. 

Legolas stood leaning on the door frame with arms folded. His hair looked almost platinum in the kitchen lighting. His muscular arms strained against the cotton fabric of his button-up shirt. His grey skinny jeans made him look even taller than usual. She had chosen well. The grunge look suited him. Involuntarily, she licked her bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth, between her teeth as her thoughts turned towards the lascivious. His eyes watched her carefully, not missing the subtle changes in her heart rate, the flush in her cheeks, or the way she watched him through hooded 'fuck me' eyes.

"So, I guess you're not giving me the silent treatment anymore,"  She said forcing her eyes to tear away from him. 

He neared the counter and stood at the stool adjacent to hers. "I'm sorry, Willow I never meant to hurt you but I admit my pride would not allow me to forgive you. And for that, I must now beg your forgiveness."

He moved closer, placing his hand underneath her chin, bringing her eyes to meet his own, "I was bullheaded and refused to see things from your point of view. I never considered what you were going through. That you'd feel lost and alone. That you might meet and grow to care for others in the time we were apart. That your life could move forward with me. It felt like the worse sort of betrayal.  I never meant to cause this rift that would nearly tear us apart. It is not what I want. In our previous lives, I followed you through the void of death itself to find you again. You know I will always find you.  My life means nothing without you in it."

She released a breath she did not know she'd been holding. It felt like his words had redeemed her and her world which had tethered on the brink of destruction was right again. The tears that came then were not from sadness.

"There is nothing to forgive, I hurt you and I am truly sorry. But, do you...do you forgive me," She was almost afraid to ask. 

"I did long ago." He said, his beautiful smile seemed to make the room brighter. 

Moving quickly from her stool she tried to go to him. Her feet caught on the legs of her barstool, the floor rushed up to meet her. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for impact against an unforgiving tile floor when she suddenly felt his arms surround her. Her body jolted to a sudden stop, hovering above the floor. She looked down to see the floor was mere inches away. She turned to see him hovering over her. His eyes scanning her face worriedly.   

"Willow, are you alright? Can you stand?"

With a whimper, she replied, "Stand? If you want I can fly." 

Their eyes regarded one another as he held her above the floor.  She was so close, he could smell the wine she had earlier, as her warm breath fluttered against his skin. He eased her body to the floor. With their gazes still fixed, he slowly covered her lips with his own in a gentle kiss. He started to move back when she had reached up and pulled him down to her, and his thoughts were lost against her persuasive mouth. He continued to kiss her gently, carefully, but it wasn't gentleness she wanted, not now, not after all this time, and she knotted her fists in his shirt, pulling him harder against her. He groaned softly, low in his throat, and then his arms tightening as they circled her, gathering her against him, and they rolled over on the floor, tangled together, still kissing. He wound up betwixt her legs and her hands clasped in his disheveled hair. 

"Ahem!" A voice called out attempting to disrupt the intense lover's embrace. "Oh, my giddy aunt! Will you two stop that curfuffle this insistent!" Gimli shouted stunning Willow and Legolas. They stumbled apart quickly, jumping to their feet. Gimli stood grimacing as he carried little Maia on one arm whilst covering her eyes with another. 

"There are children about! You two should be ashamed, going at it like wanton barn animals. At least have the decency to warn a body before they bloody well walk in on that." Gimli stated trying and failing to avoid a smile. 

"Sorry G. We um...got carried away."

"I should say so."

"I say, Gimli, would you mind giving my wife and I, a few hours to...er... um"

Gimli rolled his eyes hard, "You," He said pointing to Willow, "Don't burn the bloody furniture. I don't think the humans take well to that sort of thing. And I'll not have any noise disturbing me afternoon stories. Amber and I are going to watch a 'Game of Thrones' on the magic mirror. I'll be right brassed-off if I miss it on account of your shenanigans."

As Gimli left the kitchen, Willow turned to glare at Legolas who gave her a nonchalant shrug before pulling her into his arms and racing up the stairs.