Malachai Swan ➡ Rebecca Butler

 "The cunning warrior attacks neither the body or the mind...."

Those words had stuck with him all his life as he folded the item carefully in the cloth. How would see respond to knowing this truth about him so many years ago. It was not time to unveil that to her and see the truth behind her heart.

Getting up early in the morning he sets out coffee for her and tea for himself, then waits patiently for her to wake and search him out, he knew it would not take her long to find him. Hearing her light foot steps finally he calls out without turning as he sits on the couch, holding the carefully covered package in his lap. "I am over here Rebecca Butler I made you some coffee, please have some and come next to me please I have something to give you and tell you."

 

The dawn found her slowly slipping into awakening and when she stretched, she noticed Malachai wasn't beside her. Sitting up, she ran her fingers through her hair as she slid out of bed, putting on a robe and closing it around her as she went into the kitchen and pouring her some coffee. "Thanks hun. Smells good." She replied as she walked into the living room and walked over to him, sitting beside him. "What's going on hun?" She asked, curious as to what he had to tell her.

 

Feeling her sitting next to me I take a deep breath while holding the item that is covered on my lap. "I have something to give you and after you open this you might be on a little shock." He gently picks up the item and places it on her lap.

 

She looked down at the package he sat in her lap and her eyes furrowed. Slowly opening it, her eyes went wide and she actually paled at seeing what it was. "Why....would you give me this?" She asked softly. Trying hard not to be both angry or nervous. Waiting to see why he would give her such a thing.

 

"the cunning warrior attacks neither the body or the mind." He let those words echo out a moment before speaking again. "Those words you should remember am I correct.?" Turning to her I look down at the whip and back up to her. "It was me all those years ago that stopped him, and that was what I carried ever since that day." He closes his eyes and breathes deep. "I wanted to give you that so you would know everything."

 

Her eyes went wide at hearing the phrase and for a moment, she very nearly freaked out! Panic gripped her chest as she was taken back for a split second to that moment in time and she found it hard to breathe. Until she heard Malachai's words and looked at him. "You....you stopped that Master?" She asked, breathless. "I thought....he just stopped cause he was tired....or was done with me..." She trailed off, not knowing what to think.

 

"Yes that is correct it was me all those years ago, no he was taught a true lesson. I couldn't tell you until now because of alot of things that was goin on and now I have a reason to tell you, I have to protect you after all because I love you." He places his hand gently on her lap.

 

She looked up at him, her eyes a bit wide at hearing his admission. He....loved her? Really? After all this time. Why would he wait till now, when they had known each other for years? Surely he had to have known about her affection for him. Her desire. It took her a few moments to try and figure out what he was saying as she bit her lip and looked at him. "You love me?" She asked, ever so softly. "You protected me? All those years ago?" She sighed softly as a small smile crossed her face. "Mal...after all these years.....I thought you knew...I love you too...."

 

"Something's you have to let run it's course before other things could be said. I was a different person back then, not the same person as I am now, as for why I couldn't say anything, well you know my secret that's why and until lately I was bound to be unable to say anything, well that's different now." Talking a deep breath before looking down at the whip. " Yeah it has been a wild ride and if I things have gone sooner back then you would not be who you are now, and you are stronger cause of it."

 

"I am...stronger because of my past, and I wouldn't change it for anything. Even though parts of it still give me nightmares." She said softly. "But...You'll be there, won't you? When they come?" She asked, all but asking him to stay with her. And not just for that. They had known each other for years at this point, and she never thought of him as evil or a monster, even though she knew now what he meant when he said it. She wanted him to be a part of her life, and her a part of his.

 

Nods my head and reaches over to pull you closer. "As long as you allow me to be I will be here, that is also why I told you what I had to tell you today, so now you can be mine and I yours" leans over and kisses you gently on the cheek.

 

She smiled faintly at him as he kissed her cheek and pulled her closer. She settled against him and kissed him back. "I want you...with me...forever." Her words soft, yet she meant them. every single one of them.