🥺🥺 I love her, look at her. She has my heart. Please look at her...I just...*gently holds*🥺

And I'm aware I don't draw her with a tail usually— I just don't like the aesthetic of it. Honestly, you could picture her w/ or w/o it.

Aria's POV

As soon as Xander disappeared Alastor rushed towards me, looking over every inch of my body.

"Aria, are you ok? Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?" He asked me frantically, his voice sounding beyond worried.

I squirmed against him and swatted his hands away, stepping back.

"I'm fine, he didn't do anything," I said, and Alastor sighed, seemingly relieved.

"Who was that?" He then asked me, and I shrugged.

"He said his name was Xander..." my voice came out sounding slightly annoyed, I'm still upset with him. He either didn't pick up on it or he didn't care.

"Well what did he want? Why was he talking to you? And why are you even back here, it's dangerous out, dear," he said, chastising me lightly.

I felt a bit guilty after he asked me what he wanted.

My brows furrowed and I sighed.

"He wanted to make a deal with me..." I muttered and Alastor froze.

"He what?! Oh please tell me you didn't, darling, you know better," he said, slightly exasperated, and I scoffed.

I know better? What is that supposed to mean?

"I nearly did," I spat back, "he gave me a pretty good offer."

Alastor's eyes widened and he tilted his head.

"What could he have possibly offered you?" He questioned, shaking his head.

I hugged my arms and looked up into his eyes. Mine were probably glossy and bloodshot, but I didn't care.

"He offered me something I asked of you just a bit earlier. To give me my memories back."

Alastor's eyes widened and he turned about ten shades paler.

"And in return all I had to do was never talk with you again. I see no issue with what he offered. All you've done is hurt me," I accused, my voice breaking.

"All you've done is confuse me, all you've done is lie to me!" I said, my tone raising with each word.

He stood, staring at me with a look on his face like I'd just slapped him.

I sniffled, and laughed bitterly, looking at the ring on my finger.

"But this stupid ring stopped him," I grumbled and Alastor looked directly at it.

His lips parted and he looked back to me, still wearing the ghost of a smile.

"I gave you that ring..." he said softly, and I froze.

Protection...

"I've had this ring since the day I got here, how could you have given it to me?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

He just stared at me, keeping his mouth shut before his eyes lowered to the ground.

I shook my head and growled.

"This is what I mean! Instead of just telling me, you say things like that that confuse me!" I shouted, and then turned and stormed off, away from him.

"I'm leaving. I'm through with all of this," I said, wiping the angry tears that were falling from my eyes. Near the opening of the alleyway stood Charlie and she tried to stop me.

I pushed past her.

"Bye," I said sharply, and she let me go, stepping back and putting her head down.

"Aria!"

I kept walking, hearing his voice follow me, and his steps just a little behind mine.

"Aria, please, just trust me, I want to tell you but I can't!" He said, his voice sounding broken.

I scoffed, throwing my hands up as I walked, "you can't tell me about my own past? My own memories? If you were a part of it, why wouldn't you want me to remember!"

"That's all I've wanted since the day I found you!" He yelled and I felt like my heart stopped.

My steps ceased, and his did, too. I spun on him and pointed.

"I wish you had just left me be!" I screamed, "I was better off without you. None of this started happening until you showed up! That man has been stalking me and I feel like it's all your fault!" I yelled, and he narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean stalking you? Is that not the first time you've seen him?" He asked me, and I sighed.

"Earlier when I was crying, that was why...he was in the club..." I said, and then turned around again, beginning to walk away. His steps started up to follow me.

"Why wouldn't you tell me! I could've done something," he said, and I chuckled dryly.

"What is your deal with me? I'm not your problem, I'm not your responsibility, hell, you're treating me like we're dating!" I said sourly, and he growled.

"Aria you should've told me!" He said, sounding frustrated.

I'm frustrated too.

Because this entire time, I'm not wanting to leave his side. I've not once wanted to leave, I just want the truth and he's not giving it to me. He's hurting me.

"I didn't tell you because I figured you'd just think I was crazy!" I called behind me, still walking away from him.

Demons cleared the path for us, mostly for him I think, but I'd like to think my expression was enough to scare them.

"Why would I ever think that!" He asked desperately, and I spun on him, making him stop cold.

"Because all you've done this entire time is make me feel crazy!" I screamed, "you know something about my memory that I don't, and every time I get close to my past, it's like..." I lost the words and just shut my eyes tightly, gritting my teeth together.

"I just don't understand why everyone seems to know something about me when I don't even know how I fucking died!" I screamed, my voice cracking, "how is that fair?!" I sobbed, tears falling from my eyes quickly.

As soon as I said that his expression dropped and he looked so broken.

I was crying heavily, finally letting go of all the anger and frustration that had been building up.

"You're a coward!" I screamed at him, "you're a fucking coward, you're hiding! Hiding behind the wall that I can't see past! You're hiding behind the fog in my mind, and you could help me clear it but instead you're hiding!" I cried.

With each word his expression got more hurt, and he looked like he wanted to say something.

He looked like he wanted to say anything.

"If you know something that I don't, just tell me! Just tell me!" I raised my voice, not caring that we're doing this in the middle of the street.

"There's so much I wish I could tell you..." he said sadly, his voice much quieter than mine.

"Then why don't you! What are you hiding from, Alastor, what are you avoiding!" I yelled at him, and he stiffened.

"What are you so afraid of!" I screamed and that snapped something inside him.

He started coming towards me quickly, and my heart dropped, a small gasp leaving my throat.

I stumbled back away from him, thinking I set him off, and he snatched me by the wrist.

He pulled me forward and I shut my eyes tightly, waiting to feel the pain of being torn to pieces.

But there wasn't any pain.

My eyes shot open, the feeling of his lips against mine feeling new, but at the same time so warm. So welcome.

Like I'd been missing this for a long time.

Everything in my head, all the noise, all the sadness, it cleared away.

And so did the fog.

It was as if months returned to me, rushing through my head and overwhelming me. Moments...good, bad...all of them returned in one second, the moment his lips met mine.

My hands went up into his hair, and I pulled him closer, letting my eyes close as I deepened the kiss.

His hold on me loosened, and he wrapped his arms around my back, supporting me gently.

Suddenly, it makes sense why he smells like home.

He was the one to break the kiss, and when he did he kept me close to him, resting his forehead against mine.

"Losing you again..." he whispered, and then sighed.

I hummed softly, and ran my fingers through his hair before bringing them to his face and running my thumbs across his cheeks.

His eyes that were cast down widened and he slowly looked up at me.

"Aria...?" He breathed softly and I smiled at him.

"You know, you broke your promise..." I started, and he just stared at me, frozen.

"You didn't meet me down here, you prick." I said, laughing softly.

He stared a moment longer before his eyes filled with tears and all the air was squished out of me as he hugged me tightly.

He fell to his knees and took me down with him.

Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes, and he buried his face into my neck. I did the same to him, shutting my eyes tightly as I squeezed him back.

"Oh, I missed you..." he whimpered into my skin, "I missed you so much..." he sobbed softly, and I nodded.

"I know...it's ok," I replied softly, "I missed you too..."

My fingers ran through his hair, and down his back.

I pulled away from him, and took his face into my hands, looking up into his eyes.

"I want you to promise me something to make up for the one you broke," I said to him, and he shook his head.

"Anything, peu d'amour..." he said, resting one of his hands over one of mine.

"Don't ever leave me again." I said, then pulled him down into another kiss. I felt him smile into the kiss and he chuckled.

"You won't need to worry about that, I'm not going anywhere," he laughed.

When we pulled apart, I stared up at him, and for the first time I felt whole again. All of my frustration melted away as I looked into his eyes, and that puzzle piece I'd been looking for clicked into place.

I pushed his hair away from his face and smiled, running my fingers down his cheek.

"And you wanna know something?" I asked softly, making his eyes train onto mine.

I couldn't help but admire him. Admire this man that I'd been sure I knew the entire time.

"I still love you."