I liked the ocean, the rocking of the ship on the waves helped me sleep. This night, with everything that happened however wasn't a night to sleep on. I liked my son's presence as well but him having to throw up constantly was getting tiring. I sighed and groaned,

"Boy," I mumbled while getting out of the hammock and casting a candlelight spell, "come with me. I'll help you get your sea belly."

"I'm-" he couldn't even finish he was so seasick. Paarthurnax obediently followed and the night was cold to the point that frost drifted down from the starry sky. With no wind, the mariners rowed and sang native ballads as I stood with my son at the railing.

"Look towards the horizon. That's what I did and it kept me from losing my stomach once."

"You-" he spat the taste out of his mouth and coughed, "never got seasick?"

"Oh I didn't say that!" I answered in all seriousness, "The first time I sailed towards Solstheim the captain probably thought I was some delusional milk drinker. I never threw up though and he knew then and there I meant business." I air quoted, "Divines, you're either the toughest or stupidest man on earth. I've never seen someone beat seasickness."

Paarthurnax laughed.

"I didn't want to say, hey I've killed dragons. Then he would have worried about me getting drunk on sea water."

Paarthurnax laughed and then coughed.

"You did good today, boy."

He smiled and spat overboard, "Your Thu'um was..." he struggled with thinking of a word, "loud. Very loud."

I stiffened.

"Did I scare you?"

"N-no," he mumbled, "I was scared for you. You're my father and there was so many of them."

I laughed in relief, "You should have been scared for them. Though I appreciate your concern, you don't know that my armor repairs itself, I have more than a dozen more shouts, and I am adept in all, and expert in some schools of magic." I bobbed my head in self-debate before adding, "Except alchemy, I'm okay in it but enchanting and crafting was more my flagon of wine."

Paarthurnax was quiet with a question in his eyes and asked,

"Will I have to do that when I get older?"

"Kill? Of course, I may be Dragonborn but I am only one man. Even if I did bring complete peace there's still going to be plenty of murderers for you to execute the death sentence on."

The boy frowned but it was the truth. I sometimes forget how young he is, he's much more mature than his peers at his age. The boy even beat Finnian at Deadman's Chess once. Now that is a day Finnian will never live down.

One of the admirals aides came to me and handed me a potion in a wine bottle. Looking at him the Nord's eyes were green, night-vision potion, I deduced. He spoke casually, like we were being watched and he was trying to hide that he knew to those watching,

"Sorry, to interrupt but our Khajit in the crow tower spotted something."

I sniffed the potion before taking a swig. I closed my eyes and felt them change behind my eyelids with a tingling sensation at the base of my skull. Once I opened them I saw a Breton in black, his face hidden by the hood of his cloak just standing there. It took another moment to realize that he was standing on the water.

I turned around casually, acting like I didn't see him.

"Have you ever seen that before?"

The Nord turned as well, and answered,

"The admiral was wanting to ask you the same question."

"Father," Paarthurnax's voice shook, "what is it?"

"Hush boy," then I answered the admiral's aide, "no, no I haven't. I bet Neloth might know."

"The vessel isn't equipped with enough provisions for such a journey."

"I know, I was just thinking aloud."

He cast a glance back, "Do you think it was a spirit? It's gone now."

I thought a moment and shook my head with a sigh, "Let us retire to Solitude."

The Nord, bid his leave with a salutary fist to his chest, "Aye-Aye mi'Lord. We shall return by the hour."

I raked my hands through my hair.

"When we get home we're going straight to bed, alright boy?"

"Yes father," my son muttered sheepishly, "but what if a dragon attacked?"

When I looked at him he had a mischievous smile.

"Your trying to see if I will keep my word, eh? One dragon could just be a few minutes so you still should get to bed."

He giggled and coughed before saying, "I just want you to practice what you preach."

I huffed, "You act like I am some priest."

I heard seagulls mulling about in the air, land was getting closer.

"You're a hero."

My hand unconsciously went to my breastplate.

"I can't save everyone, boy." There was a pause and then I said, "Sacrifices... were made to get me here."

Once the ship landed the admiral bid me farewell and Paarthurnax nodded off on the ride back. Home, a servant took Frostheart and Paarthurnax and I headed to our chambers. I opened the door tentatively and spied my wife Elisif sound asleep. Smiling I knelt down and darkness shrouded my visage and I crept into my personal armory and the washroom.

I shot a fireball lazily at the kindling underneath a tub and by the time I had my arms and armor off the water was hot. I washed but couldn't crawl into bed. No, I don't know if I could sleep right now and I stepped out onto my balcony overlooking the ocean.

I heard the crunch of an apple above me and a gag. I looked up at the noise as Serana spat out the bite of apple. Glancing at my wife and then her I shut the balcony doors and cast a muffle spell on it.

"Serana?! What the hell are you doing?"

"Horribly failing at a dramatic hi, lets talk?"

I climbed up the roof next to her and I nodded to the apple asking,

"Bad apple?"

"Just like you?" She said sarcastically before adding, "I don't know really, why don't you try it?"

I took the apple and bit into it. I blinked a few times and pursed my lips. My eye twitched from the horrible taste and I tossed it, croaking out,

"Horrible."

"You won't like, die from swallowing that... will you?"

I coughed, "I've had worse when I self-trained myself in alchemy."

Serana covered eyes from remembering something.

"Don't remind me."

"That giant's toe was the worst."

"Talion!" Serana laughed and I admired her laughing with the moon behind her before shaking my head. NOT like old times, I reminded myself, we're not lovers anymore. I sighed and then asked pointedly,

"Why are you here?"

She sobered and scooted closer to me.

"I heard about today and I wanted to hear it from you." She thought a moment before adding, "And from how shaken up you are I'm glad I came. It's troubling you."

I kept my eyes on the ocean.

"He was throwing fruit at my windows."

"And?" She pressed.

"He said I was cursed of Meridia. But some of the other stuff he said was true. How I can't sleep. How my sin's haunt me. He said-!"

I deflated, "Nothing."

"Hey, look at me."

I ignored her and she guided my eyes to hers. Impulsively I took her hand and her thumb brushed my cheek.

"H-he said my son was prophesied to kill me."

Serana's eyes widened and she withdrew her hand. Her voice was a harsh whisper,

"What did you do?!"

"Nothing!" I lied.

I looked back at the ocean but her hands guided my eyes back to her. Her eyes were closed as she debated in her head with a frown. I thought I saw water in her eyes when she opened them saying,

"If you tell me your secrets, I'll tell you mine."

I let down my head, and my hand played with her hair; should I tell her? These secrets inside were burning my soul like fire. I met her eyes and swiped at the moisture building up in my eye.

"Boethiah."

Her eyes widened but she kept quiet.

"I worked for Boethiah to get the armor and I had Hermaeus Mora help me defeat Miraak."

To the complete revelation she turned pale. I have never seen her turn pale, I noted as she scooted away from me and covered her mouth. Her free hand was squeezing mine and I said, assuming that I knew the secret she was talking about,

"You know, I've read about Molag Bal. You don't need to tell me."

She ignored me and was trying not to cry.

"Talion, you are becoming my father."

I blinked at her and withdrew my hand from her's.

"Me? Your father? Who risked his life and that of his own family for power from Molag Bal?!" I spat, "Impossible."

"Talion," she got up on her knees and took my hands, "you need to come with me-"

"Serana," I bit out, "my wife and son are asleep. You had your chance."

"Don't." She growled, "Go. There."

"Let. Go." I bit out.

"I know what you want."

"Let go of me." I hissed and she smirked.

"Make me," she challenged and a shout threatened to escape my lips but didn't. Did I still want her? Why don't I have the strength to turn her away like she did me? My voice cracked,

"Why did you tell me no, Serana?"

She brushed my hair away from my eyes and she sighed.

"Because I didn't want to become my mother."

"I am not your father-"

"Have you told your wife? Your son? About the cursed armor you so openly flaunt?"

I grew quiet but she continued, her grip on my head tightening somewhat,

"What will your wife say to you tomorrow? No doubt you will argue and what of your son? Will she approve of you taking him out to watch you kill and butcher in that cursed armor you so openly flaunt?"

"Serana," I lied to her and myself this time, "I'm not your father."

She picked up the lie and frowned as she shook her head.

"No, you feel worse than that don't you?"

"Get off." I scooted away and cupped my face in my hands. She sighed and shook her head.

"You know, marriage is less of a love thing and more of a commitment thing. We could have been-"

I turned on her and the look in my reddened eyes spoke volumes. She dropped the subject and sighed. Unable to meet my eyes she hollowly muttered,

"You know how much I wanted my family to be together and happy. Even though I knew how hopeless it was." She got up, "I at least want you and yours to be happy now. Even if it seems hopeless." She walked towards me tentatively and placed a kiss to my temple. "Meet me at my camp outside Solitude with all your gear you got from Daedric sources if you want help getting rid of them. It might help."

She got ready to leave and I said,

"You never told me your secret."

Her shoulders sagged and she choked, "Now's not a good time."

I chuckled and asked, "It's one of those things that have no good time to tell? Like mine, isn't it?"

Her silence as she descended from my palace answered my question.

???'s pov

With camouflage, muffle, high jump, and slowfall spells I followed the vampire. Serana, that was her name from what I overheard. Once she left Solitude and met with two other people I contained a chuckled. I think I deduced the secret she was talking about.