Time in present stood still. Romanov's forehead pressed against mine, I stared at his closed eyes as he stayed the same, knelt in front of me, foreheads touching, his hair falling in front of his face, between our faces.

My heart was palpating, but my breathing had stopped. He cared. It was so clear he cared. But did he really... believe in Lady Edika?

"You believe in her?" It was more a statement than a question. The whisper sounded foreign, alarmed. I could barely recognize my voice.

Romanov's eyes snapped open and I gasped when I realized there was a halo of gold that surrounded his black orbs. How had I missed that before?

"Yes,"

I blinked. Romanov continued to watch me.

Suddenly it dawned on me.

We stood stagnant. We would forever stand stagnant. Suddenly everything he had done after saving me, his refusal to give me his name, his refusal to admit, his refusal to stay.

We were soulmates, yes. But he was doing what Dominic's soulmate had done unintentionally.

He had been trying and was trying—still—to reject me.

"You saved me. You marked me. But you never stayed. You called me, because you couldn't keep yourself from knowing if I was okay. But you didn't tell me who you were. You showed yourself, because this mark draws us closer. But you refused to know me, know this—" I touched his mark and Romanov's dark eyes zeroed on my neck.

"—I came here and when you finally showed up, you tried to tell me. But did you really want to? It's one step forward, two steps back. Always. —" I couldn't help but let out a broken chuckle, shaking my head I turned my cheeks away when he cupped my face with his right hand. Sighing I looked into his eyes.

"— Tell me honestly, we're always going to be this way, aren't we? Just like this. With no name, no label. Just standing in the dark. Standing on ice."

Romanov's golden halo grew, and he looked away, his palm fell away.

My stomach fell. His silence supplied his answer better than his words ever could.

My vision blurred, and I looked away, unable to keep looking at him.

"But you're never going to let me go, are you?"

Romanov's fingers found my chin and he turned me towards him, I blinked, and the tears slipped down. His golden orbs blazed.

"No,"

"So that's it then, no name, relationship, no—" my eyes turned blurrier, thinking about the future, "—No marriage, no babies...—"

Romanov's eyes widened and burned brighter on babies, but I continued. My voice a cold whisper.

"—just... just this cowardice."

The room stood in silence, even the breeze had stopped dancing in from the open balcony door. Suddenly Romanov stood, and at once I closed my eyes and turned away. The flashes of his hard torso burning itself into my memory.

The sound of his feet slowly walking away thumped around the room and I let out a small sob when I heard the door open and shut close. The tears began streaming down as soon as I opened my eyes and dropped my face into both my hands.

What had my life come to?

When I had been in high school and mum and dad had died in that accident, I had known my life would never be the same. But the ray of hope had always shined through, Elizabeth, my sister had always been the first to tell me how mum and dad would never had wanted me to wallow. How they would have been ashamed to see me wasting away. Elizabeth had always given me hope.

And when Elizabeth died, my plans for my future and little Letty gave me hope. Prue gave me hope. I had never been one to dream of weddings and babies, white weddings, colourful weddings, court weddings. But sitting here suddenly realising that I may never experience those joys had me feeling the gut wrenching pain of emptiness.

Suddenly a door opened, and I looked up shocked when I realized Romanov had gone into the closet and not out. His eyes widened slightly but he continued to stride towards me, now wearing a pair of blue sweatpants.

He has his clothes in there too?

Reaching me, his arm slipped under my thighs he quickly picked me up, I couldn't help but bury my face into his chest. The sobbing never stopped, I just held him close. He was supposed to be my soulmate, my perfect half. The only half that could complete me. But he couldn't.

He held me, against him, just standing there swaying as he waited for me to calm down.

The sound of the room's door click open had Romanov go still. I froze in his arms, my face still buried against his neck, I waited for him to speak.

"Thank you, Sophia, Olivia and I will have dinner out tonight, please tell Rose who's hiding outside to let all the help know not to open closed doors without knocking, and never to open closed doors when my m—Olivia and I are in the room."

A slow second passed before the door slowly shut closed and Romanov's hands around me tightened.

"I'm not an easy person to live with, Olivia. And I've never come with instruction manuals. I am crazy, and short-tempered, I am impulsive and disastrous. I am a selfish beast Olivia, and possessive can't even begin to describe me. This is how I am. This is who I am. This is how it'll be. I will never let you go."

I didn't reply. I couldn't. My tongue felt tied, by an aluminum wire. My mouth full of sand.

Still in his arms, Romanov moved us towards the open closet door. Moving in he placed me on a couch and quickly walked over to a section. I watched as he picked out a white sleeveless T-shirt and a long-sleeved blue sweater.

My tears had dried and I watched blotchy faced as he walked towards me with the blue sweater. He placed the sweater in my hand, putting his tee on himself, before taking out and putting on a black pair of sneakers next.

"Where are we going?" I mumbled lowly, still seated on the couch, now wearing his oversized blue sweater.

A small smile shadowed Romanov's expression before he scooped me into his arms again.

"Taking you to McDonalds." He replied casually, his lips brushing my forehead.

Immediately I froze in his arms, "I don't even have shoes on!"

Romanov shrugged, "And my back isn't broken."

Walking out of the room he leaned into a wall and turned off all the lights, closing the closet door after. In the dark, Romanov began striding towards what I hoped was the room's door. He turned and twisted the door open, a small dash of light filtering in.

I however stilled, my eyes frozen on the silhouette of a woman who stood on the balcony, looking straight in.

Suddenly Romanov's grip on me tightened and my eyes snapped towards his, at once snapping towards the balcony again.

A breath released itself from my lips.

There was nobody there.

Corridors passed, stairs taken down, spirals after spirals. The living room came into view and my eyes widened when Dominic and Grayson looked up, a set of cards in each of the boys' hands. A pile of candy on each boy side of the table.

Grayson studied us for a second before he shrugged and threw his card on the table. Dominic however cocked an eyebrow up as he watched Romanov march towards the door with me in his arms, I sent him a half glare when I noticed his hidden smirk.

Soon the smirking face of Dominic disappeared, and I sighed as Romanov turned around the corner, towards the hallway leading to the main door.

"Thank you, Orik." Romanov spoke out when a surprised looking Orik who was standing near the door talking on the phone, saw us and pulled the door open.

Walking out of the castle, during the darkening hours of the night wasn't something I was comfortable with. Everything beautiful during the day, turned out to be just as scary during the night. The stairs that lead to the separate maids' quarters in the right, or the alleys and pathways that lead to places I had planned to discover, during the day that is.

"Buckle up," Romanov mumbled as he placed me, still barefoot, into the passenger's seat of his Lexus. Closing the door, he moved over to the driver's side and got in. 

The silence the car seemed biting. Streetlight after street lights passed and I held the chips between my fingers awkwardly before glancing at a silent Romanov for the hundredth time.

Going through the 'drive thru' had been easy but driving around while being told to eat was awkward. A bite in, the awkwardness settled in.

Glancing at Romanov I sighed, and this time, I brought the chips out of its bag and moved it in front of Romanov's lips. His eyes darted to mine and I motioned to the chips with mine. His eyes moved to the chips and making me release a sigh of relief he leaned forward and carefully took the chips from my fingers. Munching slowly.

The warmth in chest spread and blossomed and I blinked when I found myself smiling. Looking back at Romanov I brought another chips to his lips.

He seemed as surprised as I felt but leaning forward, he took the chips from my hands once again. I smiled and brought the next chips to my lips.

"Don't think I'm going to share just because you have,"

I stopped, and then gulped the chips down. Turning to sneak a glance at Romanov I rolled my eyes when I saw him smirking.

I shrugged casually, "I'm not saying that I'm a thief. But anything for that Big Mac."

Romanov chuckled, shaking his head. He stopped the car at a red light.

"Why not study in London?"

I blinked.

"I wanted to completely concentrate on my studies."

My turn.

"Why keep the scar on your back when it could have easily healed and disappeared?"

My eyes snapped to the traffic light when it turned green.

Romanov began driving again.

Suddenly the car bellowed with my iPhone's ringtone and I jumped in my seat.

Romanov looked at my iPhone with narrowed eyes and I sent him a sheepish look before quickly accepting the call without looking.

"Hello?"

"It's me, I've been wondering if after all these years you'd like to me—"

"Don't complete that line, Issy" I groaned into the phone.

On the other side of the line Isabelle let out a giggle and I heard her move about, "I was seriously wondering if you'd like to meet."

I blinked, my mouth falling agape. Romanov's fingers found my jaw and I closed my mouth, blushing beetroot red.

"Yes!" I exclaimed excitedly, "When are you coming?"

Isabelle let out her sweet laugh and I smiled, it was rare I found her smiling like that, that was why her smile was so sweet to hear.

"Tomorrow. I'm taking the flight around noon."

"That's great! I'm so excited! I'll pick you up at the airport, all right?"

"Alright! I'll be going to bed now. You know me, minimum ten hours of sleep a day or endless amount of hell the next,"

I rolled my eyes, "Sweet dreams, princess."

Isabelle groaned and chuckling I ended the call.

Instantly the phone began to ring again. My eyes widened when I read Prue Calling...

Oh God, is something wrong?

"Prue?"

I heard as Prue sighed and I cringed when she began speaking.

"Livy, I was wondering if you got my text?"

I frowned. "No."

She sighed again. "I'm leaving. For London. Tonight?"

I blinked. Ignoring Romanov stealing my burger.

"I'm leaving tonight, Livy. For the meeting? You have to stay home with Letty?"

Turning towards Romanov I mouthed a please when I saw him watching me. The car was now parked on the side of the road. I smiled when Romanov nodded.

"Okay, I'm coming over right now."

The silence had crept into the car again when I remembered Romanov had not replied to my question yet.

I turned to him and watched as he visible sighed. Knowing exactly why I was looking at him.

"I kept the scar because I thought I didn't have a mate. And when I met you, I knew I couldn't keep one, because of the curse. It was certain to me, I'd never see you again. So, I kept it. As a memory."

~^~
I had forgotten the key back at the castle. I groaned for the second time since getting out of the car and pressed the doorbell.

Romanov still sat in the car, looking back at him I smiled when the warm feeling in my chest came back again.

The sound of the door open had me turning back and I let out a happy laugh when a giggling Letty almost jumped into my arms. Prue's short shoulder length hair pulled up into half up-do, I smiled at her apologetically.

"Sorry! How are you going to the airport?"

Just then another car made its way into the driveway and I a smirk formed on my lips when I noticed whose car it was.

The fresh and dressed up man strode towards us and smiling brightly I moved into his arms when he reached me, hugging him.

"Hey, Vic!" I chirped as I man pressed a kiss on Letty's forehead.

"Hey, kid." He chuckled as he pressed a kiss on my forehead too. My dad's best friend, Victor, had always been a constant in my life growing up. Another constant that had hung around Victor had been his love for Prue.

Looking at the blush on Prue's cheeks I realized that Prue was finally giving him a chance.

"Oh, all right then! Have a great trip! I'll see you in three days!" I chirped excitedly as I turned towards Prue and gave her a hug, pressing a kiss on her cheeks.

Turning around I hugged Victor again, "Take care of her,"

He grinned and pat my hair. "I will."

Letty giggled in my arms and I smiled down at her as we both watched Victor pack the luggage in the boot. Closing it both Prue and he got into the car and waved us goodbye.

My smiling face turned towards Romanov's Lexus and I smiled as I walked towards it, Letty now tangling my hair between her tiny grubby fingers.

"Hey," I smiled when I reached his side.

"So, you're staying here tonight?"

I sighed, nodding. Smiling awkwardly.

Romanov seemed to think, before pulling out his iPhone he began typing something. Slipping his phone back into his pocket he reached over for the meal bags and got out of the car. Locking it.

His eyes met mine and he smirked.

"I'm not leaving you, alone."

The warmth returned, and I smiled as I watched him walk over and lock the gate.

Something had changed. Something had changed this afternoon, something that brought the warmth everywhere Romanov was.

And as warm as it felt, I was scared to know what it was. 

"So, she'll sleep here?"

Tucking in a sleeping Letty into her crib I turned towards Romanov.

"Her name's Lolette if you're wondering, and yes, she'll be sleeping here," I answered back tiredly as I pulled my hair up into a loose bun.

"I'll sleep on the sofa," Romanov muttered as he moved towards the tiny sofa. I cringed.

"You can sleep in the guest room?"

Romanov shook his head, and I quickly looked away when the warmth began in my chest, pulling his sweater over my head I folded it neatly and placed it beside me.

I stilled.

The room stayed only glowing slightly. The light source my bed lamp. Glancing towards Romanov I cringed when I saw how large he was on the sofa. I glanced at the expense of bed unoccupied beside me.

"Romanov," I mumbled slowly. Almost too low to hear.

However, he did. Moving himself to a sitting position he looked at me curiously.

I gulped.

"Can you come over here, please?"

I heard as Romanov let out a huff of breath and his heavy footsteps became closer and closer. His black eyes blazed and I watched as surprise slowly shadowed his features, golden flecks flashed in his Iris and I shivered as I quickly turned over and turned the side lamp off.

Darkness washed over the room and I reached and touched the wooden crib placed on my side, all the while hearing Romanov pulling his t-shirt off, he got into bed and my breath hitched as the bed dipped beside me. I stared into the darkness, knowing full well that Romanov was as sleepy as I currently was. Which wasn't at all. I was wide awake.

The silence hung, and I waited, for him to talk, or move, or fall asleep. Suddenly he turned, and I held my breath as I felt him move closer, slowly his arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me back into his chest.

The warmth moved back into my chest and I automatically smiled, liking his warmth covering me.

It was simple really. There were things that I wanted, and things that I did not. Things that made me happy, even though they confused me, even though they made me cry, they made me happy. And then there were things that just hurt.

There were also things I could choose to stay with—or leave, and things I could not. Choose. At all.

I didn't know if I could choose with Romanov or not. But being this close to him, made me happy.

He made me mad, he confused me, he made me cry, but he made me happy. Holding him, being in his arms, it was only then that I knew, the warmth he brought to my heart was a warmth only he could bring. No one could ever make me feel this way.

Moving my hand away from the crib I placed it over his hand, snuggling closer until I felt him completely pressed against me.

"I'm your soulmate, Romanov. And one day, one day you'll admit it yourself."