They stopped for a rest at a lake. The sun was lowering slowly to go to বিছানা and the two hadn't stopped moving since they left the town. Becca pulled the water from her pack and refilled it. Then she slipped off her shoes and placed her feet in the cool water.
“We can't stay too long.”
“I know. But my feet are killing me.”
“I know what আপনি mean. Still, we need to be hidden before we actually rest.”
She nodded and tipped her head back.
“How long have we been here?”
“Only hours in the time. Maybe a দিন in our world.”
“I want a bath.”
“Count me out.”
She laughed a little and looked at him. Her face turned suddenly serious and her eyes were filled with questioning. He looked back at her, eye brows raised slightly.
“Why are আপনি here?”
“What?”
“Don't আপনি have a wife to look after অথবা something? Why are আপনি here? আপনি didn't have to come.”
He looked at his hands and slipped the ring off his finger. He handed it to Becca before speaking.
“I did find her. After searching so long, I found her. But she was different. At first she didn't know it was me. So we fought. She almost killed me.”
He paused and Becca slipped the ring into her pack.
“What happened?”
“After she figured out who it was, she let me go. She asked why I was there, as if she'd already forgotten me. When I told her I had come to bring her home, she....she ব্যক্ত no. She ব্যক্ত she couldn't go with me. Then she was gone.”
“...that's why আপনি have all these scratchings.”
“Yes. I did that. Because she could never প্রণয় the real me.”
She laid a gentle hand on his arm and then she was holding him as he wept in his hands. She buried her head in his neck and felt tears sting her eyes. He wasn't weeping hard, but she knew how bad he must feel. Her own experiences with প্রণয় had not always gone well. She wanted him to know she was here but what could she say? An idea hit her.
“You know, a lot of people asked why I broke up with Robin, Nightwing, whoever he is now. I loved him. But...I wasn't good for him. He was so sane and I was so dark. I was filled with so much hate and bitterness. I would only send him down a path that would make him into what he isn't. So, I let him go. I don't know what Blade's reasons are and, at the moment, I almost hate her. But I know you. So I'll just say this. If not her, then a different rose.”
He had sat up sometime during her small speech and now she held out her hand. A bit of magic climbed up and formed a rose. His fingers caressed it a little, eyes staring at it. Then he touched her fingers and cupped her hand closed. His broken ice eyes looked at her.
“No. No আরো roses. Fairy tales are lies. And this isn't a movie. Let's be honest, Becca. No one can প্রণয় a beast. And I was foolish to think someone could.”

I TOLD আপনি IT WOULD TIE INTO FANGS!!! *hides*