Just a little mini-series. This first part is based on the return. Read and you'll understand. ((Assuming he doesn't die)) Ignore her. Becca has no clue what she's talking about.


He knocked softly on her door, হৃদয় beating quickly. It had been a little over an ঘন্টা since he and his partner had returned to the base. She hadn't come out during that time, and he really wanted to see her. But he had forced himself to politely answer প্রশ্ন and talk to those that greeted the two when they had returned. Now he had finally managed to slip away and anticipated her reaction. He knocked a little louder on her door. No answer. He waited a few anxious মিনিট before opening the door. The room was emptied and dark. Only a few of her old trinkets indicated to this having been her bedroom. A thin layer of dust covered the floor and a few of the bigger pieces of furniture.
His হৃদয় sank to his feet and he entered the room. His footsteps seemed to echo in the room as he shuffled to the desk. The few things there were trinkets. A small key on a necklace, a few stones she had received from Cat, and a very tiny সঙ্গীত box. He smiled slightly. The সঙ্গীত box reminded him of the one from some movie she had forced him to watch with her. They had never finished the movie, but she had told him the ending. He picked up the cold box and just held it.
“Not what আপনি were expecting to see, was it?”
He turned his head. Devin stood in the doorway, a faint glow casting shadows in the room. He turned back to the little box and nodded.
“Where did she go?”
“With Becca.”
“Why did she leave?”
Devin stepped into the room. She took the box from his hand and sat on the bed. He sat পরবর্তি to her when she patted the spot beside her.
“Do আপনি know how Tara feels about you, Alek?”
“I believe she loves me.”
“Does that mean she's told আপনি how she feels?”
He nodded, playing with the নেকলেস he had subconsciously picked up. Devin opened the সঙ্গীত box and Tara's পছন্দ tune started to play. He could almost hear her voice গান গাওয়া the lyrics. Can আপনি turn my black ফুলেরসাজি red? Drowning in my loneliness. How long must I hold my breath?
“I know আপনি never meant this to happen, but...do আপনি know how আপনি felt being away from her for so long?”
He nodded again, remembering the pain and emptiness as fresh as that first day.
“Just imagine how much আরো it affected her.”
Alek looked up into the angel's face. Devin's composure was calm, but her eyes wore a pained look, as if it was Devin who had been the one in pain the time he was gone.
“You were the first male she ever trusted. She had been hurt দ্বারা so many, even Ciel at some point. She took a big risk trusting you. And your absence almost killed her.”
Alek swallowed, tears forming in his eyes.
“H-how do আপনি know? How do আপনি understand?”
“Before I was married to him, I had some...competition getting Fang. He was the প্রণয় of my life. Still is. But the period of time we weren't together, when I didn't know he loved me, it almost killed me too. But since I can't really die, I almost went insane.”
“What happened?”
“Becca intervened. She is a warrior, but she has a good heart. She kept me sane until Fang told me he loved me. I don't say these things to guilt you, Alek. I say them so আপনি know what আপনি are up against.”