Page 71 of Rogue’s Reckoning

"No... please... stop..." she mumbles, clearly in the throes of a nightmare.

My heart clenches at her obvious distress. I approach the bed cautiously, not wanting to startle her.

"Willow," I say softly. "Little Flower, wake up. It's just a dream."

She doesn't wake, instead letting out another whimper that tears at my soul. Unable to stand seeing her in such pain, I make a decision.

Carefully, I climb onto the bed beside her. I gather her gently into my arms, cradling her against my chest.

"Shh, it's okay," I murmur, stroking her hair. "You're safe. I've got you."

Willow stiffens for a moment, then seems to relax into my embrace. Her breathing slowly evens out as the nightmare releases its grip on her.

I continue to hold her, my cheek resting on the top of her head. The familiar scent of her shampoo fills my senses, bringing back a flood of memories.

After a few minutes, I feel Willow stir. She lifts her head, blinking up at me in confusion.

"Rogue?" she whispers. "What...?"

"You were having a nightmare," I explain softly. "I heard you as I was passing by. I hope it's okay that I came in."

Willow is quiet for a moment, and I worry that I've overstepped. But then she surprises me by laying her head back on my chest.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "For being here."

I tighten my arms around her slightly. "Always, Little Flower. I'll always be here for you."

We lay in silence for a while, neither of us willing to break the moment. I can feel Willow's heartbeat against my chest, steady and reassuring.

Finally, Willow speaks again, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was about that night. When Storm..."

I tense, anger flaring at the mention of that bastard's name. "I'm so sorry, Willow. For everything that happened. For not protecting you."

Willow lifts her head to look at me, her eyes shining in the dim light. "You're here now," she says softly. "That's what matters."

Before I can respond, she stretches up and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is gentle, tentative, but filled with a warmth that spreads through my entire body.

When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. "Willow," I breathe, my voice rough with emotion. "Are you sure about this?"

She nods slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. "I'm tired of being afraid, Rogue. Of letting the past control me. I want... I want to try. With you."

My heart soars at her words, but I force myself to remain calm. "We can take it slow," I assure her. "There's no rush."

Willow smiles softly, tracing my jaw with her fingertips. "I know. But right now, I just want you to hold me. Can you stay?"

"Of course," I say, settling us both back down on the bed. I pull her close, reveling in the feeling of having her in my arms again after so long.

As we lay there in the quiet darkness, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in years, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

"I love you, Little Flower," I whisper into her hair, not sure if she's still awake to hear it.

But a moment later, I hear her soft reply. "Thank you, Ezra."

It may not be the words I want to hear, but she said my name, something I haven’t heard in five years. I close my eyes, finally allowing myself to hope for the future I've always dreamed of—one with Willow and Wren by my side.

As morning comes, I wake to find Willow still nestled in my arms, her breathing deep and even. For a moment, I simply watch her sleep, admiring how peaceful she looks.

Then reality comes crashing back. We're still in the middle of a war with the Shadow Hawks. Willow and Wren are still in danger. And despite the progress we've made, I know we still have a long way to go to fully rebuild the trust between us.

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