Morningside Cuesta ii. nine lives

Grayday's jaw was wired shut. He didn't have it in him to tell her he'd always, always known that it wouldn't be the same. Of course she couldn't give him what Addie had. He'd never love her that way. And he'd thought - he'd thought she understood that. He thought that, when she told him she wanted his children, that that was why she hadn't asked for more - it seemed that she'd just thought his undying love was just part of the deal.

He didn't have the heart to tell her. If she didn't understand already, Day saw no use in trying to explain that loving Adeline had been a part of him long before he and Khoe had met, or that it would continue be long after the girl walked out of his life. It wouldn't help either of them, especially not in this state.

He finally looked at her, then - really looked at her. Her pretty face, those deep green eyes (and it was funny how he never thought of Adeline when he saw those eyes - only when he couldn't see them), the graceful point of her ears. He looked at her and saw the same Akuti whose heart he broke back at Easthollow, and he realized he wasn't the only one who had a good reason not to trust.

"C'mere," he said softly, shifting slightly to accomodate her, should she answer his beckoning. He made sure his voice was not a command; not even a request. He spoke the word like a cease fire, a peace offering.