Ethan’s eyes met Arizona’s, and he opened his mouth to speak, to apologize, but the words died in his throat. In the heavy silence, a realization settled between them—this was a battle they couldn’t afford to lose.

Arizona turned away, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. His words had struck her deeply, just as they had the last time he’d lashed out. Ethan felt a wave of guilt wash over him, knowing that his anger hadn’t been directed at her but at their shared frustration, their inability to see a way through this. Seeing the woman who had been his rock these past few weeks now crumbling under the weight of fear made his heart ache..

Gently, he approached her from behind, his hands reaching out to caress her shoulders and arms.His heart was heavy with the fear that they might be fighting a losing battle, but he couldn’t let that uncertainty overshadow his support for her.

“Arizona..." he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper

"Yes"she responded barely turning her head towards him

He took a deep breath, his words coming slowly, deliberately. “I was reckless, and I let my temper get the best of me, again—just like that night when you came to save me. I know you’re being cautious to protect us. I see that, darling, I do. But I’m so desperate to make things better for everyone at the docks, for everyone caught in this chaos, that I lost sight of what really matters. My anger wasn’t at you, but I know that doesn’t excuse how I spoke to you.”

He paused, his voice thick with emotion as he continued, “I’m terribly sorry, Arizona. You deserve better from me.We will work togheter.Please do forgive me for pushing you."

"Ethan, you can't keep losing your temper like this. It’s not just about what you say; it’s how it affects everything around us. We can’t afford to fall apart, not now. But I should have handled it differently too. I let my own fears take over, and that didn’t help either.”

He needed to be close to her, to bridge the gap that fear had created between them. His own anxiety about confronting Conrad—about the risks and the potential for devastating failure—was overwhelming, but holding Arizona, offering her his embrace, was a way to show his unwavering commitment to their shared cause.

Arizona turned slowly to face him, her eyes red and glistening with unshed tears. The vulnerability in her gaze met his with a profound sadness that only deepened his resolve. As she moved into his arms, their embrace was both a refuge and a promise. He held her tightly, his own fears and worries melting away in the warmth of their shared moment.

Arizona turned slowly to face him, her eyes red and glistening with unshed tears. The vulnerability in her gaze met his with a profound sadness that only deepened his resolve. As she moved into his arms, their embrace was both a refuge and a promise. He held her tightly, his own fears and worries melting away in the warmth of their shared moment.

Arizona looked up at him, her eyes filled with both sorrow and longing. “I wish,” she said softly, “that we could just forget all of this, even if just for a moment. To escape from the chaos and the fear, if only for a little while. I want to feel like it was before."

Her voice trembled, and she buried her face in his chest, clinging to the comfort of his embrace.

Ethan’s attempt to lighten the mood began with a soft hum, gradually giving way to a gentle, calming lullaby. His singing was soothing, meant to provide a momentary escape from their overwhelming fear. He looked at Arizona with a small, reassuring smile, trying to offer her a sense of peace amidst the chaos.

Arizona pulled back slightly, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Ethan, what are you doing?”

He offered her a small, reassuring smile, trying to infuse some lightness into the heavy atmosphere. “Music has always been a way to let go of fear. Sometimes, it helps to drown out the chaos and remind ourselves that there’s still beauty in the world.”

As he continued singing, a playful glint appeared in his eyes. “Besides, if I’m going to be stuck in this mess with you, I might as well serenade you. It’s either this or a magic trick, but I’m afraid my disappearing act might leave us both in a bigger mess.”

Arizona’s lips twitched into a faint smile despite her worries. Ethan, ever the optimist, added a bit of dancing to his serenade—swaying and twirling in a way that was endearing if not graceful.

“This is my apology,” he said with a laugh, playfully nuzzling the crook of her neck. “I’ll admit, I’m better at serenading than dancing, but I hope this helps.”

Arizona looked up at him, her eyes softening. “It’s hard to stay angry with you when you’re being like this.”

“This is my apology,” he said with a laugh, nuzzling the crook of her neck. “I’ll admit, I’m better at serenading than dancing, but I hope this helps.”

Arizona looked up at him, her eyes softening. “It’s hard to stay mad at you when you’re being like this.”

“How so?” He chuckled, pausing his light-hearted dance.

“You have a way with words,” she said with a teasing smile.

“Well, thank you, but I still know I was wrong,” he said, his tone becoming more serious. “Remember when we agreed to let go of our masks?”

She nodded, gently resuming their dance and humming softly.

“Both of us know we didn’t keep that promise,” he continued, his voice tinged with regret.

Arizona sighed. “You could say that.”

Ethan’s gaze softened. “Look where we ended up. I don’t want us to keep arguing. We need to be honest with each other if we’re going to get through this.”

Arizona looked up at him with a playful glint in her eye, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Alright, Mr. Forest. No more silly arguments, and no more losing our tempers. Pinky promise?”

Ethan grinned, his eyes dancing with affection. “Pinky promise,” he said, holding out his pinky with a mock-serious expression. “But if you break it, I’m bringing back the dance routine.”

Arizona looked up at him with a playful glint in her eye, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Alright, Mr. Forest. No more silly arguments, and no more losing our tempers. Pinky promise?”

Ethan’s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with affection. “Pinky promise,” he said, extending his pinky with a mock-serious expression. “But if you break it, I’m bringing back the dance routine.”

As he took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles, his voice softened. “I have to admit, I kind of like this dance routine.”

Arizona’s eyes brightened at his words. “Well, if it means I get to see more of your dancing,” she teased, “I’ll try my best to keep us out of trouble.”

In the warmth of their embrace, the weight of their earlier argument and the looming threat of Conrad’s plans seemed to momentarily dissolve. For a brief moment, they found solace in each other’s presence. The fears of their battle against Conrad and the strain of their recent clash were still present, but they were overshadowed by the comfort and strength they drew from one another.

Their closeness was a reminder that, even amidst the turmoil, they had each other—something to hold onto as they faced the challenges ahead.

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