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So what would she really have chosen if it was up to her?

Aeryn had to think that her behavior over the last nearly seven hours told her more than she wanted to know on that topic.

And as much as it had hurt two years ago, she knew that he had been doing her a kindness. She hadn’t wanted to see it that way. It was easier to blame him than it was to accept the unfortunate reality that there were too many external forces working against them. There were too many reasons why they should have shaken hands that first night and then never allowed themselves to be in each other’s presence again.

First she had fooled herself because she had been so in love with him. Then she had continued to fool herself by allowing herself to hate him so thoroughly.

Now, one of her deepest, most secret wishes had come true. He was the Christmas present she never would have dared to ask for by name. Deep down, she had always believed that she would see him again. That nobody could love the way they had and be parted forever.

Aeryn let out a long breath, and heard how raw it sounded in the quiet of the bedroom.

She felt restless, as if her skin was no longer quite doing its job. She snuck out from under the heavy weight of his arm and pulled her clothes on once again. This time foregoing her nightgown and getting back in that loungewear set from before. Because she thought she needed a little more armor to handle this situation. She pulled on warm, fluffy socks and then padded over to the window that had a wide bay and a soft bench where she liked to sit and read.

Today, she curled up on the cushions and watched the Christmas sun rise over a city stuck deep in the snow.

There were deep tire marks on the street outside, but she suspected they came directly from Vesuvius’s men. Because no one else seemed to be stirring.

She sat there as little flurries still came tumbling down, and understood that having this most secret wish of hers come true had finally cured her.

Not of loving him. She thought that would stay with her forever. But she was certain that she was finally cured of believing in this fairy tale of theirs.

Or perhaps of imagining that they were in a sweet Disney version of a fairy tale when it had been Grimm brothers all along.

She sat there for a long while, watching the snow continue to come down. Watching people start to emerge from the homes and slip their way down the street, as the city tried its best to come alive, digging itself out of another snow dump.

Luckily, Chicagoans were used to it.

But that didn’t make the snow melt any faster.

And as the morning took hold, she could feel it was Christmas down deep in her bones. She could feel the magic, the longing, and yet she felt resolute at last.

Aeryn felt tears prick at the back of her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She kept them to herself.

Because, finally, she was ready to face reality.

When she heard him move in the bed, she took a breath, then let it go.

He rose like a god, the way he always did. He looked sleepy and intent and beautiful, a masterpiece in male form. Aeryn worked in a museum. She had forced herself to spend time in the statuary, like some kind of aversion therapy, but it hadn’t worked.

There was only one Vesuvius and no stone or metal could capture him.

He came over to her and when he reached out a hand, she took it.

Vesuvius settled himself on the bench beside her, that too-knowing dark hazel gaze moving over her face.

“Where did you go?” he asked.

She knew he didn’t mean, when did you leave the bed?

“I didn’t know how much I needed you to come here,” she told him, getting the words out before she decided she had better not, and then started the cycle all over again. “I’m so glad that we had the opportunity to talk about these things and to come to some kind of resolution. I think we both needed that.”

“Aeryn,” he said quietly, outrageously warm beside her. “What are you doing?”

She smiled at him, and she held his hand between hers, and she let him see all of her. She hid nothing. She wasn’t sure she even blinked.

“You should get to know your daughter,” Aeryn told him. “You should be a part of Faith’s life, whatever that looks like for you. I want that. And I know she deserves it.”

“Thank you,” he said, a frown gathering between his brows, “but—”