The Sprite

Part 22

Neena woke up and, for the life of her, couldn't remember a single thing. She remembered following Adrian and seeing him on the ground with a dryad, but everything got hazy after that. She knew immediately that she was back at home in her bed, but couldn't remember how she'd made it here. A little shift at her side made her turn her head.

"Hey, you're awake," said Adrian. He was propped up on one elbow looking down at her with a smile. He was wearing something that looked suspiciously like Naomi had made it, which was even stranger than his being in this particular setting right now. She squinted hard, trying to concentrate.

"How long have you been here?" she murmured, her tongue feeling thick.

"Watching you or in the room?" he asked.

            "Both."

            "Hours for the first, days for the second. Was starting to wonder if you were ever gonna wake up." She felt his fingers twine into hers and was puzzled.

            "Weren't you NOT talking to me the last time I saw you?" she asked, trying to place when the change had occurred.

            "Yeah, well, saving a person's life kinda bridges the communication gap, hon," he chuckled.

            "You saved me?"

            "No, you saved me and then I saved you. You did this magic thing to me and gave me all your magic, but then that turned you to crystal on me, so the dryads found Turlock and Naomi, who found us after the brownies started hassling us and then I gave it back to you just laying here, see?" She frowned and he added. "You're cute when you're confused. Don't you remember any of this?"

            "No," she said, still frowning at him. "I DO remember you being an ass to me."

            Now he frowned. "Well, I was wrong about all that, okay? I realize that now. Let's just forget it happened and move on, okay?"

"So, you want me to forget that you're a fairyhunter?"

"I'm not anymore, I swear!"

"And I'm supposed to just believe that?"

"Well…yeah!"

Neena laughed derisively. "Surely you're not this stupid all the time!"

Adrian glared at her. "See, here I am trying to make amends and you're making fun of me!"

"Because you're being stupid!"

"I'm TRYING to make up with you!"

"Well, maybe I don't WANT to be with you now, huh?" she snapped.

Adrian's mouth clamped shut angrily. "Fine," he finally let slip, then stood up and stalked away from her across the bed. "Don't know why I EVER got mixed up with you, you crazy mothwinged…"

Neena grumbled to herself angrily. Perhaps she was pushing this too far. HE was, after all, here and making the effort. The thought that she might have to swallow her pride was hard, but the thought that he might not come back was harder. Slowly, she leaned upward, ready to try again.

"Adrian? Look, I'm sor…Adrian?"

He was no where to be found.

She looked around her and didn't see him anywhere on the bed, then looked over at little Brennan, who was cooing in his crib, but looking at the side of the bed intently as if watching something. Almost immediately, her mind made the connection…he hadn't remembered how tall he was! Neena jumped up, still groggy, but worried now and staggered to the edge of the bed and looked down. Sure enough, Adrian was clinging to the blanket in a panic trying not to hit the floor.

"Neena! Help!"

Quickly, she started to flutter, but stopped, realizing her wings weren't up to it yet. She then threw herself flat on the bed and reached over the edge with her arms. "Grab on!"

"I'm trying!" Slowly, using his arms, he pulled up to her and grabbed her outstretched hand. "Oh, god, don't let me fall, please…!"

"I'm trying, hold on! Don't let go!"

"I'm not!"

"You're slipping!"

"Don't let me slip!"

"Push up with your feet!"

"Pull me up!"

With a sudden burst of cooperative energy, the two heaved and pulled Adrian up onto the bed again. For a moment, they could only lay there panting in a panic. Then, slowly, the two looked at each other and began to laugh breathlessly.

"Nice exit," Neena chuckled.

"Yeah, the drop over the bed was an unexpected twist, but it worked," he agreed. The laughter died away and the two sat looking at each other intently. Neena had so much she wanted to say to him, to ask him, but he began first.

"I really did quit. I know it's wrong now. I know this is hard for you to believe, but I honestly never knew until you. I just thought…well, never mind what I thought. I don't think I'm ever gonna get the guilt of all I've done out of my mind, but I'm gonna try to make it right, I swear. I know how the guild works and I can mess up any trap they've got. Plus, I know where I've sold most all of my captures, so I'm gonna go back and try to get them back. The crystal ones can be changed back, I know now, so I can do this. I'll spend my life doing this. It'll never take away what I did, but it'll save a few lives, I hope." He took a breath, then took her hands in his. "I don't want you to forgive me, I just…want you to try to let me start over with you. That's all I ask. My life is going to be hard enough trying to live with the pain of knowing how many lives I helped enslave and even end, but I'll never make it without you, I know that now. I need you almost as much as I want you, Neena."

Neena bit her lip and closed her eyes. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a chasm and about to fall. The feeling was frightening, almost unnerving. Just as her mouth was about to protest, he leaned over, drew her in for a hug and kissed her, long and hard. All protest died on her lips and faded from memory as he finally added, "Just say you'll try, mothwing…please? I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you."

"Stupid flyboy," she whimpered, clinging to him.

He smiled. "Good enough," he replied, kissing her once more.

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