I didn't remember the journey home.

It felt like with one blink I was walking from the studio floor and the next I was sat on my new sofa with Lucius' face hovering mere inches from mine. There was a deep furrow between his brows as his gaze bored into mine. I found that I couldn't turn away from his stare. I had forgotten how comforting it was to be the sole focus in his world even if it was only for a moment.  

Instead of pulling away like I had done so many times since my last talk with Binah, I stretched up my free hand and used the tips of my fingers to smooth the frown from his face.

"Don't frown." I chastised softly, "I don't like to see you upset."

My words seemed to break any composure the man had held. His body seemed to fall in on itself as he leant into my touch.

"I'm sorry," he murmured as his eyes fluttered closed. "I shouldn't have pushed. I shouldn't have made you go on the show. It was too soon."

"Shh," I soothed, finally releasing the disc from my grasp so that I could cup his face with both hands. "It's okay. It's not your fault. I couldn't have predicted it and neither could you."

A shiver coursed down my spine.

"I don't want to feel that way again Lucius. The horror of it all is just too much to bear." I pressed my forehead to his and drew in a shaky breath. "And yet I know that my future will be full of pain and suffering and there is nothing that I can do about it. It comes with the job."

Lucius opened his eyes and stared deep within mine.

"No it won't. I won't let it."

There was a time when I might have believed his words because they held so much conviction. Lucius was adamant in that moment that he could save me from it all. Yet, as much as I wished he could make it happen, he was just one man. He may be the Devil but there were so many more people in the world who were willing to cause harm.

I smiled softly. "Okay."

We stayed like that for what could have been a few minutes, or even a few hours. Staring into one another's eyes and not saying a word. With that shared look we were saying so much - it was more intimate than any conversation we had ever had before.  I felt vulnerable and exposed under his penetrating gaze but I wouldn't draw away. I don't think I could have pulled away even if I had tried.

The loud grumble of my stomach finally drew us apart. My cheeks grew hot with a blush and I avoided Lucius' gaze like a giggly schoolgirl with her first crush.

It was only with half of my attention that I noted that the house was gloomier now that the skies outside had started to darken.

"Let me cook us some dinner." Lucius offered. His voice was gentle but no less captivating than usual as he spoke. He pushed to his feet and stroked his fingers over my cheek before taking a step backwards. "We can watch the disc while we eat."

I glanced down at the spot beside me. Picked up the DVD delicately between my fingertips, I held it at arm's length as if it might explode at any moment. What would it contain? Elaine didn't appear to be the vindictive type. She wouldn't intentionally set out to hurt a person.

Or would she? The thought popped into my head unbidden. Distrust was so easy these days.

"Here we go." 

I jumped and stared at the steaming plate of pasta that had been thrust into my line of vision. It took me several seconds to realise why it was there. I blinked up at Lucius and then back down at the proffered plate.

"Thanks." I muttered, accepting the plate and cutlery with one hand.

"Give me the disc and I'll put it on."  

Absently I placed the case in his outstretched hand before setting my attention on the food before me.

It was easier to focus on something so simple that to pay attention to the fluttering in my stomach. Nerves could be detrimental to my appetite but the smell was irresistible. Placing a forkful of the cheese and tomato covered pasta between my lips I tried not to groan out loud. My taste buds came to life as it touched my tongue. I had been so numb in the past few weeks that everything had become bland and tasteless. It was like waking from a dream. Finally I could relish the flavours of this simple dish.

"Good?"

I glanced up, a forkful of pasta in my mouth as another blush made its way onto my cheeks.

"So good," I replied around a mouthful of food.

 If my mum was still around she probably would have scolded me for my lack of manners. As it was I snorted and returned my attention to the pasta. Now that I could actually taste the food I was suddenly ravenous. I shovelled another forkful in and ate it with gusto. I had never been a noisy eater but I found myself groaning in delight at each cheesy piece of pasta that teased my taste buds.

The sofa dipped beside me but I did not look Lucius' way again.  Instead I lifted my gaze to the TV before us as the video started to play.

The screen was blue for several long seconds. I almost thought that we had been given a blank disk when the screen flickered and three people appeared on the screen. There was a bearded man with the first spattering of grey at his temples, a beautiful dark skinner woman and a younger, smaller version of the woman. It took only seconds to recognise that the small family.

As the camera rolled, the mother's hand stroked at her daughter's braided hair in a loving gesture of comfort. Her lips brushed an absent kiss on her head.

Watching them all made me ache for my own son, the one that was so far away from me and so untouchable.

"Hi Savannah," the man spoke into the silence of my living room.

 I jumped at the sound of his voice, pasta falling from the end of my fork and to land my blouse.  

"You may not remember us. My name is Patrick and this is my wife Solange and our daughter Naomi. We were in Times Square on that night. You saved us."

"You saved our family."  Solange cut in, her lips pulling up into a smile while her eyes grew watery. Her husband lifted their entwined hands and kissed the back of her hand. "We just wanted to thank you. Despite what is being said in the paper and on the internet, we believe in you. If it wasn't for you, we would have been killed that day." Her hand paused in its caresses so that she could clap a hand over her heart. "I know it down to my heart and my soul that it would have been our deaths that day if it wasn't for you. So we all just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. There is nothing we can ever do to repay you for this gift. Thank you so much."

"Hi Miss Savannah," the smallest voice chirped, Naomi's hand waving frantically at the camera. "Thank you. I hope you like your picture."  The little girl picked up a piece of paper and waved it around before the camera but too quickly for me to see the details.

I felt my own eyes fill will tears as I stared at the happy smiling faces on the screen. There was no doubt that the events in Times Square had touched their lives irrevocably, it was clear to see in the depths of Solange and Patrick's eyes but still they smiled. Still they thanked me and showed gratitude.

"And we're not the only ones who want to thank you and your people."

The camera flicked to a new shot. It was Times Square but there were no signs that the destruction and death had ever taken place. Everything had been repaired and cleaned, the stage taken away. Now the space was filled with perfectly alive and healthy people.  Hands were waving, people were cheering and many held banners above their heads with more kind words written on them. So many people all united together to thank us.

I placed my hand over my heart as a tear leaked from the corner of my mouth.

"Those are the people you helped to save Savannah. I know you see just the deaths of the battles we have fought but this is what we do. We stop the death so that people can survive, so people like these can live." Lucius wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side as more and more people came onto the screen, cheering and clapping.

"The others should see this too. They don't get enough recognition for the things that they do." My voice trembled as I spoke, the emotions overwhelming. It was so difficult to look at the place that had given me nightmares and to feel something positive from it. It was painful and yet at the same time I felt something within me healing.

"I'll make sure that they see it."

After another minute, the video came to an end. Lucius and I sat there, food forgotten on our laps as we stared at the screen in silence. Every few seconds I sniffled and my body trembled as it tried to cope with the emotion.

"Here, take a look at this. It was tucked inside the case."  There was a crackle as a piece of paper was unfolded.

I glanced down as my dinner plate was replaced by a drawing.

My fingertips traced the lines with reverence as I felt a smile tug my lips.

"It's like she knew." I murmured, as I stared at the sticklike person labelled 'Savannah'. She stood tall, sword in hand while her beautiful rainbow coloured wings protruded proudly from her back.

"Kids are smarter than most adults."

"That's true." I stared at the picture for a few seconds more. "But she may have the foresight. She's a Halfling. I recognised it in Times Square but I kind of forgot about it with everything that is going on.  She could be the real deal and she could be in danger."

"I'll get someone on it. We'll make sure she is safe. For now, it is best that we keep as much attention away from us and them." Lucius rubbed a hand down his face and met my stare. "If we establish a connection between us and them that is more than the one that already existsl it may put them in danger."

My eyes widened.

"You don't really think people would hurt them."

Lucius looked away.                                                                                                                      

"Tell me."

"Yes, I think they could be in danger if people realised what she was. There has always been a danger to the Halflings but in these times?" He paused. His dark hair fell over his eyes as he tilted his head forward. "I think there is more chance of danger and death than ever before. People still don't know how to react. Even the ones who are smiling and acting nice to us at the moment have the ability to become the enemy just as quickly as they became a friend."

I gulped and looked back down at the picture in my hands. It was the kind of thing that Danny would be creating in another year or so. Should people know about him, he would be as much of a target as little Naomi with her beautiful smile and the happy eyes.

"Do what you must to keep them safe Lucius. They have been through enough."

Lucius took my hand in his and squeezed it gently.

"I will."