Elsa continues to walk through the slums almost absentmindedly. It isn't until she notices the locals looking at her strangely or just straight up flinching away from her that she realizes that she still has that look on her face from earlier.

Inwardly she is glad that she noticed now instead of completely spoiling her reunion with her beloved. She goes over to one of the abandoned houses and looks at one of its windows to see her face. She still has the wide grin on her face with her cheeks flushed like a schoolgirl.

Elsa puts a hand on her heart to calm herself down and starts fixing up her face because she wants to make the best first impression possible. She couldn't afford to miss this part up. It takes her some time to calm down and stop her heart from beating out of her chest. She couldn't blame herself for this kind of reaction because for her this was a chance for her to start off on the right foot.

That thought made her blink.

"How exactly do I start off on the right foot?" She asked herself honestly. Now that was a good question. She knew about the dos and don'ts but those were simply the bare minimum for him just to tolerate her.

Elsa's heartbeat quickens again and her chest tightens with anxiety. She hadn't really thought that far. In her short time being sent back, she was on the initial high of being able to meet you once more.

That thought makes her chuckle. "Aren't I pathetic?" she whispers to herself before sighing heavily and shaking her head in self-deprecation.

"I should stop worrying about making a good impression and just be myself." She knows that the people he works with probably aren't used to someone like her, but if they can't handle it...well then, too bad for them. "After all," she adds with renewed determination, "it isn't like I have anything to lose."

With that thought in mind, Elsa takes a deep breath and straightens up before continuing on her way towards the rendezvous point. It doesn't take long for her to spot him standing there against the fading light of the setting sun; tall, broad-shouldered and dressed impeccably as ever. As she draws closer, her heart begins to race anew at the sight of his familiar face.

"Shad...dit," she breathes out softly, taking care not to sprint over and tackle him like some sort of excited child. Instead, she slows down her approach until they're mere inches apart; close enough that he can feel the heat of her body, smell the flowery scent that seems permanently attached to her.

Without another word, Elsa reaches up with one hand and gently cups his cheek, revealing for perhaps the first time just how soft his skin truly is beneath those battle-scarred features. "I'm glad we could meet again." she whispers tenderly into his ear before pulling back slightly to look up at him from under her lashes, a small smile playing about her lips.

It isn't until now that Elsa realizes just how much she truly missed this man...how much he means to her and always has

After searching within herself to find a moment that felt right, she stepped forward again and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself as close to him as she possibly could. His chest rises and falls with each breath he takes; a testament to their shared humanity. "I missed you so much," she whispers, voice muffled against the fabric of his clothes. "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't been brought back...if I had lost everything because of my mistakes..."

Her words trail off into silence as she holds on tighter, feeling tears sting her eyes; something that hasn't happened in an eternity. Shadout is her rock, her strength when things got rough. She didn't know how many times he had saved her ass over the years, but she knew it was a lot.

As they stand there, their bodies pressed together under the watchful gaze of the stars and distant moon, Elsa tries to find the words that will express exactly what he means to her; what he has always meant. But in that moment, all she can do is close her eyes and bask in his warmth, savoring the feeling of being safe and protected once more.

"I'm sorry for everything I put you through...for how much trouble I caused," she murmurs eventually, finally managing to pry one eye open just enough to meet his gaze. "But I want you to know that I won't make those mistakes again."

Shadout looks at her intently, his expression unreadable for once; and Elsa suddenly feels self-conscious under his scrutiny. She knows she should have said more, explained herself better...but she doesn't know how. So instead, she leans up on tiptoes and plants a tender kiss on his cheek, feeling him

Her words trail off into silence as they share this moment together under the starry sky. It feels strange being so close to him after all these years apart, but also comforting. She doesn't want to let go of him, not ever again. As she stands on her tiptoes and leans closer, she becomes aware of a tickling sensation at the back of her throat; it feels like tears are welling up within her once more.

"I love you," she whispers hoarsely against his skin, feeling foolish for even saying it aloud after all this time. "I never stopped..."

Her words catch in her throat as she realizes what she's just admitted; and suddenly, everything seems to slow down around them. Time stretches out into an eternal moment where nothing exists but their bond and their connection. Shadout's fingers find their way up to stroke gently through the silvery strands of her hair, comforting her as much as reassuring himself that she truly means what she says.

Elsa closes her eyes once more, savoring the feeling of his touch on her skin; it's like coming home after a lifetime spent wandering in the wilderness. "I know I shouldn't have... but part of me thought maybe you would be better off without me..." she continues hesitantly, voice barely audible even to herself beneath the rustling of leaves and distant calls of night birdsong.

Shadout's touch becomes more insistent now, as though he needs to imprint himself upon her just as thoroughly as she does onto him. "No," he says firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "I am better with you." The words are almost a whisper against her ear, but they carry all the weight of a solemn vow; a promise made and kept for et

Her heart skips a beat at his words; they send a shiver down her spine that has nothing to do with cold and everything to do with pure, unadulterated joy. She lifts her head slightly to look up at him, their gazes locking in a way that makes the world around them fade into oblivion for just a moment. In this instant, there is no past, no present; only the eternal now and the promise of whatever comes next.

"I'm sorry," she whispers hoarsely. "For all of it." She reaches up with both hands and cups his cheeks once more, her thumbs gently wiping away a tear that has spilled over from the corner of his eye. The gesture seems so small, so insignificant in comparison to everything else they've been through together, but it feels right somehow; as if this single act can erase all their mistakes and begin anew.

Shadout brings a hand up to rest upon her cheek, the warmth of his touch echoing that of her own; as though they are mirror images of each other reflecting back across time and distance. "It's alright," he says softly. "We can work through this together." His voice is rough with emotion, but there is an undercurrent of determination there as well; a promise to face whatever challenges may come their way hand in hand.

For now, though, they stand here beneath the stars and bask in the moment; two souls who have found each other once more amidst the chaos of existence. Time passes unnoticed as they lose themselves in each other's eyes, their hands exploring every curve and plane of flesh that lies within reach. It feels like home - familiar yet strange all at once; like slipping back into a favorite pair of worn-

It's hard to describe what that moment was like; it felt like being plunged into an ocean of emotion, every sense heightened and every pore pouring with relief and gratitude. Elsa wanted to stay there forever, basking in the warmth of his touch and the sound of his voice, but she knew they couldn't afford to dawdle. There was still so much they needed to talk about, so many things that had been left unresolved when she was pulled away from this world.

Gathering up her courage, she decides it's time to broach one of the most difficult subjects between them: why exactly she ended up in this state in the first place. She takes a deep breath and looks him squarely in the eye, her expression earnest despite her usual disdain for such displays of emotion.

"Shadout, I need to ask you something... Something I've been wondering about since I found out I was brought back." There is a slight pause as she searches his face for any hint of anger or resentment; thankfully, he merely looks curious and attentive. "Why did you send me away in the first place?" She asks softly, dreading the answer but needing to know nonetheless.

His expression darkens slightly at the question, and he takes a step back from her, his hands falling to his sides as he seems to gather his thoughts. Elsa feels a pang of guilt at having brought up such a painful memory; she hates feeling like she's causing him any distress. But still, she needs to know the truth if they are ever going to move past this and truly be together again.

"I was angry," he says finally, his voice gruff with emotion. "I felt betrayed when I found out what you had been doing; how

It's hard to hear his anger and pain even after all this time, but Elsa knows she deserves it. She feels her heart clench at his words, a mixture of guilt and shame making her want to crawl away into some dark corner and disappear forever. But Shadout saw the truth; he knows that she never meant for any of it to happen. And now that she has a chance to explain herself, she doesn't want him to dismiss what she's about to say as mere excuses.

Taking a deep breath, she meets his gaze head on and starts speaking, each word slow and deliberate as if she were forcing them past the lump in her throat. "I was young, and stupid," she admits with a bitter laugh. "I thought I could handle it all; that I didn't need anyone else to help me. But I was wrong, so very wrong."

She pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts as tears begin to well up in her eyes once more. Shadout watches her silently, his expression still guarded but softening slightly with each word she says. "I thought if I could just find proof of your betrayal," Elsa continues hesitantly, "then everything would be okay; that we could go back to how things were before."

Her voice breaks on the last word, and she can't help but let the tears spill down her cheeks. Shadout takes a step closer, reaching out to wipe away one of the tears with his thumb before cupping her face gently in his hands again. "It was never your fault," he whispers, his voice raw with emotion. "You were set up; manipulated."

Elsa looks up at him, her eyes searching his for any hint of deception. She knows he's telling

"It was my job to protect you," she whispers back, her voice barely above a whisper as she stares into his eyes. "And I failed miserably." Tears stream down her face unchecked, but she doesn't bother trying to wipe them away anymore; they feel cathartic, cleansing in a way that nothing else has been able to for years.

"I want to make it up to you," she continues hoarsely. "If there's anything I can do, just tell me and I'll do it." Her words are filled with an earnestness that Shadout has rarely seen from her, and he can feel the sincerity reverberating through every syllable. It's as if she's offering up a piece of herself in exchange for another chance to prove herself; to earn back his trust and love.

He studies her face for a long moment, searching for any signs of deception or hidden agendas, but finds none. She truly means everything she says, and it's evident in the way her eyes shine with unshed tears and the tremor in her voice. Finally, he reaches out to cup her cheek gently once more before bringing her face close enough that their lips brush against each other, soothing away the last of her tears with the softness of his breath.

"You already have," he whispers into her ear, his own throat tight from emotion. "Just by being here." Elsa closes her eyes as Shadout's words wash over her; it feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and for the first time in what feels like forever, she can breathe again.

Slowly, he pulls back to look at her once more, his expression softening into something akin to approval. "I

It's...it's not enough, I don't deserve-" Elsa starts to protest, but he shakes his head gently and places a finger over her lips to silence her. "Yes, you do," he says firmly. "You were young and foolish just like the rest of us. And even though it caused me pain, I know that you never meant for any of it." He takes a deep breath before continuing. "But we can't dwell on the past anymore. We have to move forward together now; face whatever challenges come our way hand in hand."

Her heart swells at his words, and she leans into him once more, closing her eyes as their bodies meld together again. For a brief moment, she lets herself imagine what life would be like from here on out: living by Shadout's side, facing everything together as one. It's not the lonely existence she thought she wanted; rather, it's the family they could build and cherish that has her yearning for the future.

"Thank you," she whispers against his skin, her voice barely audible even to herself. "For giving me another chance." A part of her knows that their road won't be easy; there will be obstacles in their path and things they must work through together. But with Shadout by her side, she feels confident that they can overcome anything. And as the stars continue to twinkle above them, she allows herself a small sliver of hope; the beginnings of a dream where they find happiness together and make up for lost time.

Shadout's touch soothes something raw and aching within her, and Elsa finds herself leaning into his strength as if it were the only thing that can anchor her to reality. She wraps her arms around him tighter, feeling a rush of gratitude wash over her for this second chance at redemption, for the forgiveness he's offering even now when she's still uncertain whether or not she deserves it.

Her head rests against his chest, and she listens to the steady beat of his heart as if it were a drum guiding them through uncharted waters. "I don't know how I can ever repay you," she whispers, her voice hoarse from tears and emotion alike. "You have no idea what I went through...the things I had to do just to survive."

She pauses, taking a shaky breath before continuing, "But I promise you this: I will make it up to you. Whatever it takes, whatever you ask of me, I will do my best to give it back tenfold." Shadout's silence is almost as comforting as his touch, and Elsa finds herself leaning into him even more, drawing strength from the warmth radiating off his body.

Finally, he speaks. "You've already paid me back in full," he says softly, running a finger through her hair. "By being here, by wanting to be with me again...that is all I could ever ask." Elsa feels herself flush at his words, but she doesn't try to deny the truth in them. She has missed him so much; wanted this more than anything else.

"I want to make us work," she says, her voice barely a whisper. "I want us to have everything we ever dreamed of...

Shadout's laugh is low and warm, tickling her ear before it fades away again. "I think we're off to a good start," he whispers, kissing her temple. Elsa feels herself smile against his skin, though there's still a hint of uncertainty in the gesture.

"We can talk about dreams later," Shadout continues, his voice firm but gentle as he pulls back just enough to meet her eyes. "For now, I want you to focus on one thing: being here with me." He sweeps a thumb across her cheekbone, wiping away another tear that has escaped down her face. "We have so much time to catch up on, and I don't want us wasting even a second of it worrying about what might happen next or how we're going to get there."

Elsa nods, feeling her heart melt at the look in his eyes; the depth of love and understanding that seems to stretch on forever. She reaches up, tangling her fingers through his hair and pulling him closer still. "I want to know everything about you," she whispers, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw before trailing it down towards his neck. "All the places you've been, all the people you've met... I want to share your memories, even if they're bittersweet."

Shadout groans softly as her lips brush against the sensitive skin of his throat, but there is no hint of reluctance in his movements when he responds by deepening their kiss. His hands wander over her back, tracing the line of her spine until they rest at the small of her back, pulling her closer still.

They stand like that for what feels like an eternity; wrapped up in each other and oblivious to the world around