(Nikolai's POV)

Jenna and I enjoy a bit more refined lunch, hoping to undo my breakfast food choice blunder.

We have Zeama, which is a delicious, rich, chicken and herb soup, served with Salata Bulgareasca – a crisp, fresh Romanian salad, and some of Ursula's freshly baked Moldavian fluffy bread.

I normally don't eat like this...contrary to what I led Jenna to believe. I rarely grace this dining room, alone or otherwise, least of all to eat prepared food.

I prefer to hunt and fend for myself, most of the time.

In fact, all of the meat that has been prepared today, so far, was hunted and caught fresh by me.

It feels good knowing that I can provide for my mate, even in the smallest of ways... 

I inconspicuously watch as she eats, taking small bites. She's so small that she reminds me of a bird, picking here and there.

I could honestly watch her all day...web her...

"How is everything?" I ask, just wanting to hear her lovely voice.

She pauses picking through her salad and looks up at me. "It's wonderful, thank you," she grins. "It must be so nice to be able to grow your own fruit and veggies here."

"It is," I smile. "Though I'm afraid I'm not too big on eating them myself."

"Oh?" she asks quizzically.

"I'm certainly not...what do they call it...Vegan?" I chuckle.

"That's how my dad was...strictly carnivore," she says fondly with a small giggle. "Drove my mother nuts."

Strictly carnivore...she has no idea...

"Was?" I ask gently.

"He um...had a car accident," she frowns, "and died when I was 11."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," I say sincerely as I lean forward, wanting and willing to give her support, if she needs it. 

"It's okay...it was a long time ago," she assures me, but I can tell that it still bothers her.

I can understand. I never got to meet or know my father; just see him in old paintings and hear stories from my mother about him...though they weren't together long...

I've always felt like something was missing and yearned for him, even though I never knew him, so I can imagine how she felt and still feels after having him for 11 years and then losing him.

I wonder what's easier – losing someone you never knew that's a part of you, or losing someone you once knew or know.

Regardless, I just can't wait to be a father to my children – a father I never got to have. 

"Are you alright?" she asks concernedly, jarring me from my excited thoughts.

Damn...I must've been fidgeting around more than I realized.

"Sorry...I sometimes find myself unable to sit still for long periods of time," I rattle off lamely. "I have restless legs syndrome, I guess you could say..."

All eight of them...

"Oh, well if you're done, we can go," she says sweetly as she places her soup spoon down.

"No, no...please, finish your meal," I encourage with a smile.

"Honestly...I'm stuffed. I'm not used to eating so much," she replies.

"If you're sure," I grin as I stand before pulling her seat out and offering my hand.

I guide her back to my office and give her some business files that need organizing before excusing myself.

It's really just a ruse to keep her occupied, for a bit.

I rush outside and disrobe before morphing into my real form, and heading down to the gatehouse.

I feel horrible about robbing her of her sleep the way I did, so I want to do something...extend an olive branch of sorts. 

And I'm hoping that this will let her know that spiders aren't so bad...that we have feelings too.

I shrink myself when I arrive, so that I can fit inside, and scuttle up to her room.

She made the bed, but it smells of her...the whole place does, causing my venom to drip down my chin...

Must focus...

I don't have long, and I've certainly never done anything like this, but I need to spin my web somewhere she'll see it and put her at ease...let her know that I won't be bothering her at night anymore.

At least so blatantly.

I decide to put it between two beams near her bed where she'll see it.

I climb the wall and quickly get to work, spinning my apology as neatly as possible.

I'm no Orb Weaver, but hopefully this will do.

It takes me about ten minutes or so, and when I lower myself to the floor and look up, I'm pleasantly surprised.

My web displays one simple word – Sorry.

And I truly mean it.

Hopefully now she'll know that and won't be so afraid of the spider that lurks about her room.

Happy with my work, I hightail it back to the castle, morph into my human form, and quickly dress.

I stop by the restroom on my way and make sure I'm presentable.

As I look into the mirror, straightening my cravat, I wonder if she'll ever be able to see beyond this...the human man before her and see the real me.

Will she ever accept me?

Can she ever love me back?

All I can do is hope...

Hope...such a big word today that used to mean so little to me. 

But now I'm counting on it more than ever.

I enter my office to see her sitting behind my desk where I left her with all of the files in organized stacks upon my desk.

"Sorry it took me so long, but I had a call to take," I lie. "How did you do?" I ask, placing my hand upon one of the stacks.

"I...organized them alphabetically, or at least I think I did," she grimaces before looking up at me. "They're in Russian and Romanian, so..."

"Ah...well, we shall have to work on that," I smile. "I'll have you fluent in no time."

"Yeah...I don't know about that," she chuckles.

"I'm sure of it," I wink, causing her to blush.

I can tell she's a bit overwhelmed and needs a break, so I suggest taking her home and picking her back up at 7:00 pm for dinner, and she agrees...seems relieved.

I reluctantly take her home. It's hard to drive away, but I know I must.

Hopefully she'll see my apology right away and feel more at ease.

Better than flowers...

A/N : Poor, misguided Nikolai. 😅 How do you think Jenna will take the apology "gift" he left her? Is it better than flowers? Let me know! ❤️

PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE & COMMENT!!!

Before I go, I'm adding an extra little treat for all of my Serenade & Batty fans on my new profile pics.
This is me and my son Sebastian, aka human teen Lark from Serenade, together at the REAL Hobbit Land in Batty! We survived, albeit a mess, but didn't run into Ba'ki, Mot, or any Thorn Sprites thankfully. Let me know what you think! And btw...I'm not really that short – I'm 5'8"...but my son is nearing 6'4", making me look as short as a Thorn Sprite. 😂 

And here I am, harried and writing up a storm for you all! 😂😘❤️

FYI - This is my real life Bronwyn hair, when I don't straighten it.⬆️
*Forgive the poor quality. My hubby isn't very good with cameras. Lol