It had been four weeks since I had left like Mirage demanded. It wasn't personally, he's hurt and he needed space. If I can give it to him by leaving then I will. Being home wasn't too bad either. I missed the quietness.

I just settled on the couch in my comfy clothes and case files as the doorbell rang. I got up,— opening up for whenever was on the other side. I was slightly surprised to see Mirage. He was a train wreck. 'Hi...' I stepped aside to let him in. 'Come on in.' I let him pass. 'You're okay?' He shook his head. 'No, of course not. She played me, cheated on me and got an abortion twice... you didn't tell me.' He strode into the kitchen. 'Do you have alcohol?'

'I don't drink, and you already smell like alcohol so no... you get soda, sit down.' He obligated and flopped on the couch. I got him a glass of soda and settled beside him. 'What brings you here?' He fidgeted with the glass in his hands. 'You... I realized that I missed you. More than ever and I send you away. The person that I trusted.' He turned his gaze. 'I trusted you!'

'I didn't cheat on you, used and betrayed you on several levels, Mirage. You can blame me for not telling you and be mad about it, but don't blame me for something my sister did.' He turned his head away. 'It's easy to blame others, especially now she got arrested and is held into custody.' Mirage met my gaze. 'She killed our baby, twice.'
'Yeah, she doesn't want children. She hates them and let's be honest, would she be a good mom?' He shook his head. 'Probably not...' a silence fell. 'Would you?'

I snorted. 'No, I don't like children and I don't want them.' Mirage nodded slowly. 'Being a mom isn't for me, especially with the life I'm having and besides that... I'm not fertile. Makes it a whole lot easier.' I got up and grabbed some cookies. 'Yeah, I guess.' I offered him a few. 'I don't have a boyfriend or husband, so I don't have to argue about it.'

'Right...'

He eyed me. 'I'm sorry for reacting my anger on you. You didn't do all of this, I was mad at Kammie and that you kept it from me. That's all.' He offered me a wry smile. 'Yeah, it's fine.'
'No, it's not. You were just trying to protect me.'
'Really, it's fine. Forget about it, okay?'
'Can you come back? I really need a friend.'
I cocked a brow. So now we were friends again. I surveyed him closely, noting the wary eyes, purple surrounding the underside of his eyes, his sun kissed skin much paler than I remembered. My heart broke from him and I couldn't stop myself from grasping his hand,— squeezing softly. 'I could easily ignore your order for me to leave, but you needed the space, the peace and not get reminded by me of what happened. I left because you needed it, not because I was mad at you or felt insulted. I let you be angry with me, because that's better than feeling nothing. I wanted you to be mad at me. You can snap and yell at me whatever you want the next few weeks, months even... and I won't shred a tear about it. What she did to you... the way she broke your heart, your trust and manipulated you for information— I would've buried a bullet between her eyes for that. I do have your back and I always will have your back.'

He smiled at the words and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer in a hug. 'I'm sorry I doubted you, I know you tried ti spare me from pain.' I rubbed my hand up and down his arm a few times before slumping back, surveying his handsome features. 'She never deserved you anyway.' He snorted at that, staring at the wall before taking a sip of his soda. 'I still need a drink though.' I shook my head. 'Absolutely not. You've had enough. I don't want a drunken male in my house.'

He looked around. 'It's nice, to have a place to retreat to, I mean.' I followed his gaze. 'It is. Just a bit lonely sometimes.' He blinked and met my gaze. 'Then why bother staying so isolated?' I sighed. 'My work. Brings people at risk and things I love tend to get taken from me, so... living isolated seems the only solution then.' He hummed softly, focusing back on the wall. 'Stay for tonight. I've a guest room you can use. We can drive back tomorrow but I feel you really need some sleep.' The grateful smile said enough and he nodded. 'Ugh, I'm exhausted.' I jerked my chin towards the stairs. 'Come, I'll show you.' The spy hoisted himself up and followed me upstairs, the glass still in his hand.

'This is my room...' k gestured at the first door at our left before stroking down the hall and opened the door to another room. 'As if you prepared for me.' I shrugged. 'I knew you would come, so yes, I did make it ready for you. Just in case you needed your own space to retreat to and sleep.' Another grateful smile. Hr looked around. 'I have towels on the second drawer in the bathroom and extra blanket in the armoire if you need it. There's also some of your clothes in it. If you need anything, just give an shout,'
The male smiled, nodding. 'Thank you.' I hummed and turned around, closing the door behind me. I headed downstairs to get him some food. He must be hungry after driving for hours.

((Mirage's P.O.V))

The female left me in this generous room. So large, so bright. The light casted in from the four large windows. The bed was large enough for two, the shelves were filled with books of all sorts. A desk, drawers and this large modern closet. The bed was the most appealing. I wanted to pull away the blanket and curl up between the pillows and beige quilts. I turned towards the door, peering into the attached bathroom. Large enough for a bath and shower it seems. The marble floors were so clean that I could see my own reflection in them. How was she even able to afford this place? What kind of missions had she done to earn so much money?

My body ached to go down and ask. To get her to yield and tell me all her stories, adventures and missions. To share her professional opinion about cases and missions. I had someone I could soar with, bicker with. Who understood what being a spy meant and what it cost. She was the type of person I could turn to, fall back on. This all, preparing a room for me, taking some of my clothes without my knowledge proved she'd known I needed space and she was prepared to give it to me, no questions asked.

The carpet was so soft as I stepped out of my shoes. I instantly wished I could live here, in this peaceful neighborhood. A private spot in the garage and safety of this room. I peeked off my clothing, dropping them on the marble floor before stepping in the shower. Perhaps e day I get the change to try out that luxurious bathtub in the corner. The bathtub that seemed more like a small pool and no doubt would also be a whirlpool.

After my shower in the spacious marble shower stall, I dressed up in sweat pants and a tanktop. The female had left me some food on the desk while I was showering and by the smell of it, she made me some soup and garlic bread.
Such a rich flavor. I almost moaned at the taste. She never told me she was a good cook. In fact, she barely even told anything about her life here. I devoured the food before shutting the curtains and crawling in bed.

My exhaustion took over immediately. Everything that had happened faded to the background. All my senses narrowed to the light touch of the guilt and soft pillows and mattress around me. I was out in just a matter of seconds.