I'm super super sorry that I'm updating so late. BUT, this time, thank God, I have an excuse. I was sick. Like super sick. Not even the kind of sick that normal people are. But a virus that probably even Superman wouldn't have been able to fight. #Truth.

So, forgive me?

Maybe I'll reveal more than I should in this chapter and that way we can all go back to being in love again! <3

The song is Don't Let Me Down by Chainsmokers. Something about it reminded me of Amour. *smirks while letting that sink in*

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I stayed quiet, letting Kylee absorb what the C'Riel nurse had just said. When the nurse looked like she was about to continue, I surreptitiously shook my head at her. She immediately quietened, realizing her patient needed some time to get acclimated to the idea that she was...more than three months pregnant.

Like Rafe had promised, the nurse came straight to his room and spread out a bunch of instruments, that I wouldn't have been able to recognize even if I had a manual with me, and got down to checking Kylee. Then in a matter of fact tone, she told us that she could give us only the basic information because she didn't have all the equipments she needed. When Rafe nodded-because that was who she was addressing her statements to-she revealed to us that Kylee had started her second trimester.

My eyes had immediately flicked to Kylee, who froze, her gaze glimmering with unshed tears. I waited for a few more minutes before I realized that she was probably in shock.

I let out a breath and nodded at the nurse, "Please continue."

Again, she looked to Rafe for confirmation; I watched as Rafe's eyes narrowed at the obvious disrespect she'd just shown to me. I sighed.

"This is really not the time for this. Please continue." I said, my eyes lingering meaningfully at the nurse's letting her know that she was annoying my ethrés. Her eyes widened and she looked away, clearing her throat. She then squared her shoulders and continued to speak.

"It would seem that something has accelerated the growth rate of the fetus. The growth rate does not match the gestation period that was calculated when the possibility of inter-species copulation arose."

I made a face at the her choice of words, but she ignored me and continued, "The approximate estimate had been a year. But this..." she paused, her eyes flickering to Kylee-who was staring absently at the wall, her thoughts God knows where.

"This is...too fast." she said, her expression betraying her wariness and worry.

"What do you suppose the reason for the faster-than-normal growth is?" I asked softly, my eyes flitting worriedly to Kylee and back to the dark blueish eyed C'Riel before me.

Her eyes flicked to Rafe, who was standing beside me while I sat on the very human sofa. His arms were crossed, his skin almost glowing in the light. He still hadn't suited up and frankly, I wasn't sure why.

Were everybody allowed to see his marks now?

I shook my head. Now was not the time. We had more important things to do.

"Nothing you have not already concluded, I'm sure." She told Rafe, as if he were the one asking her questions. I sighed, when he shifted beside me, his muscles bunching. I looked up and caught his gaze, hoping to convey that I wanted him to be patient. He stilled when he met my eyes, his own slitting before he tossed a curt nod my way, letting me know he understood.

"What conclusions?" I asked, my eyes shifting from the nurse seated before me to the man standing beside me.

Rafe's expression became thoughtful and he looked at Kylee.

"Kylee," he called and to both the nurse's and my surprise, Kylee turned to look at him, seeming more herself than she did a mere few seconds ago.

"Has he been giving you something?" he asked.

I turned a confused gaze to Kylee. Her expression made it very clear she understood what he was asking her.

She nodded.

Rafe's arms dropped to his side.

"Do you know what it is?" he asked.

Kylee shook her head, "He just told me it was something all C'Riel women drank during their pregnancy. I didn't...It didn't occur to me to question it." She looked away, her gaze far away, her voice even more so as she added, "I had no reason to."

Had. Past tense.

It pained me that she had to go through something like this, but I realized it was better she let go of-

"Sir, if I can attempt to reverse some of the long term effects if I am allowed a sample of the concoction." the nurse said.

Rafe looked at Kylee, who slowly looked away from where she was staring and looked at Rafe and shook her head sadly.

"I don't have it. He would give me a cup every morning." She looked away again, sounding lost, "I came to think of it as our routine."

Rafe rubbed his index and middle finger against his forehead, between his brows. I leaned back, catching the fingers of his other hand, that was near his thigh, with mine. He looked down at me and I smiled up at him, fitting my fingers in the spaces between his.

I let my eyes linger on his and watched the most gut clenching transformation on his face. It went from blank and annoyed to heated and aware. He tugged on my fingers and I stood, letting him draw me into his embrace. He buried his lips in my hair, letting out a soft breath. I ran my hands over his back in a soothing gesture, but Rafe shuddered against me and a wicked smile split my face at that. I had forgotten how sensitive it was.

I don't know how Rafe knew I was smirking, but his deep voice and teasing tone let me know that I hadn't hidden my glee all that well.

"Temptress." he said.

I chuckled softly and turned my head to the side, resting my cheek against his warm skin, soaking in the comfort I found in his arms, as he slid one arm up and down my back, his other locked on my waist.

But the action so to it that I also managed to catch Kylee's expression before she saw that I had noticed and turned her head away.

It seemed almost vain to put a name to the expression she had, but if I didn't know better I would say she hated me. Hated what I had.

I cleared my throat, realizing I was possibly being insensitive in her perception, except I wasn't. I could...somehow sense that something about this was bothering Rafe a lot. Not like it was bothering me, but on a more personal level. Maybe he perceived this whole thing to be an insult to his race? And it just was that he was always my first priority. I would always be aware of him, be sensitive to him.

But at the cost of someone else's feelings? I asked myself.

I slowly let go of Rafe, who narrowed his eyes at me. I tilted my head inconspicuously, towards Kylee and expected him to look her way. But he didn't. His gaze was locked on mine as he slowly let me go, holding on to only my hand. He looked at the nurse.

"You may leave." he said.

As she started collecting her things to leave, I quickly added, "Thank you," after tossing Rafe a look for not having thanked her. He raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Your Majesty finds it hard to be grateful to his subjects?" I muttered at a low octave, sarcastically.

He seemed to have caught it, because he smirked even as he listened to whatever else the nurse was saying to him. He just nodded at her and she took it as her cue to leave. Both of us looked at each other after the nurse left, wondering how we could handle this now.

And with the look in his eyes, he'd already come up with a plan. I sighed. I wasn't going to like this.

"You and Kylee stay here," he told me and before I could object, he continued, leaning forward and catching hold of my chin and lowering his voice, "I need to find-."

My brows furrowed when I didn't recognize the word that Rafe said. Then my confusion cleared. He had probably said the asshole's name.

"Asshole, you mean?" I asked, grinning when he smirked at my reference.

"I thought I was the asshole?" he asked me, pulling my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to the centre of my palm.

"You're my asshole," I murmured, smiling, "There's a difference."

He tilted his head, seeming to think about it. Then, he nodded, accepting my statement.

Pressing a kiss to my lips, he headed to the exit, the suit finally spreading to cover his torso. As his hand trailed over mine and our fingertips kissed as they separated, something clogged my throat as I watched his retreating back. I swallowed, locking my arms around myself at the sudden foreboding that spread through my chest.

I don't know why he didn't stop and come back to me, because I know he knew what I was feeling. But he just continued to walk away and I was left staring at the wall that had closed in on itself as he left.

I swallowed and shook myself out of my sudden thoughts. I turned to Kylee and tugged her to a bedroom-not the one Rafe and I slept in...I just couldn't share that.

She cried for a long time and I rubbed her back, which was all she allowed me to do. She turned away from my embrace and my reassurances, curling into herself with her back to me.

I don't know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, I was disoriented and the feeling was accompanied by a pounding head. Slowly, I sat, rubbing my eyes, wondering why the hell I had gotten up, when a computerized voice finally slipped into my consciousness. I only heard the tail end of the sentence but.

"..visitor who requests permission to enter."

I swallowed. Who could it be?

I thought about the last 'interaction' I had had with someone who I didn't know and had entered my room.

"Who is it?" I asked cautiously.

After some time, the computer replied, "He calls himself a messenger."

My brows furrowed, "Message from whom?"

A few more seconds of silence before the voice filled the room, "I believe he is known to you as Ace."

I hopped off the bed immediately, somehow all of me told me that I could trust Ace despite all the accusations and evidence that were directed at him.

I walked to the door, but paused. Suspicion at the possibility that maybe I should be careful anyway had me calling out for Ryx. As if expecting my call, the door to his little room opened up and Ryx all but bounded to my side, his hackles were raised letting me know he was feeling very guarded. I walked with him to the door and gave the computer the permission it required so that the door could open.

As soon as the door opened, I came eye to eye with a light haired C'Riel with red eyes. He looked shockingly like a younger version of-

His eyes flicked to Ryx, who had gone silent, watchful, by my side, before looking back at me. He handed me a data pad. When I took it from him, I said, "It won't blow up in my face, will it?"

His expression cooled, "Like the good my brother did for you blew up in his?" the young C'Riel asked me, before turning on his heel and stalking away.

I knew it.

He looked so much like Ace.

Wait, what did he mean by what he said? What had blown up in Ace's face?

The data pad in my hand lit up and I looked down. It asked me for identification and I pressed my bracelet to the screen. Immediately it cleared to a picture of Ace.

My gasp would've shocked someone who couldn't hear, because it was so loud.

Ace looked like shit.

He was beaten up. Badly. His right eye was swollen, so was his lip. There were bruises in his jaw, on his cheek. He was bleeding from his nose, mouth, forehead.

He looked like he was in some cell. Locked. Like a prisoner.

When he started speaking, his voice hoarse, I realized this was a video.

"Would you come to me if I told you I had something to say? A story, if you will." he asked.

"My brother is waiting outside for you. Get onto the Hover with him and come here. We need to talk. Come if you trust me."

The video ended as he hacked up blood. I stayed still for a few more seconds, tears streamed down my face before I stood up and pressed a kiss to Ryx, asking him to stay and keep an eye on Kylee even as my heart broke when he whined as I left the room.

I walked right out of the building and got onto the Hover Motorbike that Ace's brother was sitting on. He didn't even look at me, his eyes trained forward, but as soon as I got on, he shot off. He drove just as fast as his brother. Something that squeezed my heart with pain for my friend's situation.

"Will Rafe find out that I'm going to see Ace?" I asked, belatedly, realizing the possibility that I could be getting Ace into more trouble. I ignored that my voice shook, coming out meeker than I was. Sounding weaker than I felt.

I didn't think he would answer, but something in my tone seemed to have pushed him to reply.

"No, I removed my visit from the logs."

I stayed quiet for sometime, before whispering, "You hacked into his security system?"

I seemed to have said the wrong thing because Ace's brother's back muscles bunched before me.

"He has got my brother arrested and beaten like some common criminal. I could have done much worse." His voice was like a whip, lashing out at me. I winced.

I didn't speak a word after that.

Rafe had gotten him arrested? When? He was with me the whole tim-

The soldiers, I realized. He had ordered them to arrest Ace while we were distracted by his parents.

A sliver of doubt had me sucking a breath in.

Had he orchestrated the whole thing with his parents to keep the truth about Ace's imprisonment from me? To keep me in the dark because he knew I would object?

I shut my eyes, pressing my palms to it. Even the lashing wind couldn't dry the silent tears that poured from my eyes.

What was happening?

A thought, unbidden, filled my head.

Was my situation no different than Kylee's?

Was I, like her, a victim to circumstances? Being able to do no more than endure? Have no control and just watch as my puppet master manipulated me with the strings tethered to me. Strings I had so willingly given over. Had I? Was this all just a butterfly effect of all my selfish needs and desires for what I love that has pushed two best friends to walk away from one another?

There was only one way to find out.

I steeled myself, straightening my shoulders, wiping my face dry and hardening my spine. I was stronger than this. I had survived the apocalypse. I got a stubborn C'Riel, who was prejudiced against my kind, to love me. Surrender to me. I could do this too.

When the Hover stopped before what looked like a single isolated block, just about bigger than my bathroom stall, I hopped off the Hover and bounded to the entrance. When I saw the Identity Screen, I stopped, waiting for Ace's brother to catch up. He walked up to me and slid his bracelet over the screen. As soon as the door opened, I rushed inside.

There was nothing in this room. Nothing.

Just walls. And a wounded friend.

I walked to him and dropped onto my knees before him.

He'd been leaning his back to a wall, one leg folded beneath him and the other bent at the knee perpendicular to the floor with one arm propped on it.

He'd been staring away at the wall to his side, his gaze far off. He didn't look at me as soon as I came, but I didn't rush him. He seemed to be thinking. And in a place like this, the mind was one's only solace. And at the same time, a personal unescapable purgatory.

When he finally looked at me, every move of his indicated that he was in tremendous pain.

"My sister was reading a human book," he murmured, his eyes trailing away from mine to stare at the wall again, thoughts elsewhere, "And she quoted a line from it to me. It makes sense now."

I was almost afraid to ask.

"What was it?" I asked, anyway.

He was silent for a long time and I wondered if he hadn't heard me or if he didn't want to answer-and the scariest of it all-if he was lost in himself.

"That the path to purgatory is carved with good intentions." He said.

My heart beat.

"What do you mean?" I whispered.

He just laughed, blood spurting from his mouth at the action and started coughing. My arms itched to help him somehow, but I silenced them. It would not be accepted. He would not receive it well. Especially when he was so vulnerable.

"Ace?" I whispered again, "What happened?"

He looked at me, almost lazily wiping away the blood from his mouth. But I knew he was moving so slowly because it hurt to move faster. My heart twist itself in my chest.

"If I confess, will you listen to me anyway?" he asked.

Warily, I asked, "Confess what?"

"The truth." He said, simply.

I nodded, "I will."

"Can I hold you to your word?" he asked, his head tilting, almost curiously.

I swallowed, "You can hold me to my word."

He looked at me for sometime silently, before he said, almost in a rush to get them out.

"I ordered the attacks on you."

I stared at him, my throat dry. "Wh-" I cleared my throat, "Which ones?"

Despair crawled its way into me, betrayal stinging my every pore.

"The shooting and the bomb." he said.

I swallowed, "And the attack in my bedroom?" I asked, knowing that his answer to this would change how I felt about everything.

He shook his head, "I had nothing to do with that."

I trusted him. I don't know why. The man told me he had tried to kill me, but I believed what he had just said anyway.

I licked my lips, readying myself for the harder part of the conversation now.

"Why did you have me attacked?" I asked, the words scraping my throat raw. The pain of truth was truly something only the brave could handle. And I wasn't all that brave. The hurt that my friend ordered attacks on me wounded me deep, shaking the foundation that I had built who I was and what I evaluated people to be, on.

"To save you." he said.

"How?" I asked.

His eyes flashed up to me, "By attempting to force Rafe's hand in surrendering to you."

"How will that save me?" I asked.

He turned away, "Because it ensures your survival."

I didn't know what to make of that.

"What endangered my survival?" I asked.

Silence.

"I can't understand if you don't talk to me, Ace." I told him.

"Rafe's desperation." he finally answered.

"Desperation for what?" I asked, afraid. So, so afraid. Always afraid.

His jaw clenched.

"That is not my story to tell." He said.

My head was pounding and my eyes were tired, my body ached and though the wound on my leg had almost healed, something like phantom pain instilled itself there.

"What is your story then?" I finally asked, my frustration pouring into my voice and words.

"My confession." Ace corrected.

I sighed, "What is your confession, Ace?" I asked.

"That to protect you, I had to cause threats to you life."

"Why do you want to protect me?" I asked.

Ace seemed to think about it. Then he seemed to have an epiphany of sorts.

"You are right. It is not you I want to protect. It is Rafe."

My pounding headache worsened.

"Protect Rafe from what?" I said.

"Himself." Ace said.

I sighed, "You're confusing me. I don't understand."

Ace's eyes focused on me and I knew he was very much there.

"Think about this, why would a man with a laser gun stand less then five feet away from you and miss his shot?"

"Because Rafe pulled me out of the way.." I said, almost numbly.

Ace shook his head, "The shooter had aimed for your arm and he got it. Rafe was not fast enough. He was distracted. I was counting on that. I wanted him to think that the shooter had aimed for your chest and missed. I wanted him to think that your life was in danger."

I swallowed.

"Why would anybody instill a warning tune into a bomb, that sent out a very distinct tone before activation, if he wanted his targets to die?" Ace asked.

Was that what Rafe and Ryx had heard that day? It had given them more than enough time to ensure my safety and their own.

"I don't know, Ace. You tell me." I said, carefully.

"Because my intention was never to cause harm." he said.

"You could've fooled me." I muttered.

Ace tossed my a wry grin, which dissolved to steely determination.

"If this is the price I must pay for Rafe's soul, I will." He said.

I rubbed my forehead, "Did you tell Rafe all this?" then I amended my statement, "Rafe's soldiers, I mean."

Ace shook his head, "No." He said.

"Telling them this is your only way out." I insisted.

Ace shook his head, "If I had told them this, I would not be alive now."

"Then why are you saying this now? To me?" I asked.

"Because once I tell you this, there are better chances I will live."

I was so frustrated I could scream. "If you weren't already so wounded, I would've kicked your head into your skull."

Ace ignored me.

"Listen to me. There are some things I wish you never had to find out. But, my survival is based on you. It is only you who can get me out."

"How?" I asked, immediately. He had ordered attempts on my life, but I after what he had just told me, I realized there was more to this. More than I knew. More than I probably should know. And I had a feeling that it was something I deserved to know. If not to save Ace, then to understand what was happening around me. To me.

"Confront Rafe. Ask him about Operation S." He said.

"What makes you think he knows about it?" I asked, my throat dry, my eyes drier.

Ace let out another laugh, blood spurting from his mouth again, before he looked at me... with pity. And it scared me. Why would a man wounded so much he had to be in excruciating pain, locked in a room, prisoner to his best friend's orders, pity me?

It drove a stake of fear into my heart. But it was nothing compared to my fear when Ace replied.

"Operation S is Rafe's brainchild, Amour."

All the way back to the Resting Station, I was silent. I don't even remember most of it. I only remembered looking up and around and realizing I had walked into my room. Not Rafe's. And a part of my heart broke that, when I was feeling vulnerable it wasn't him I turned to anymore, it was me again. Loneliness crept into me sidling along with wariness and caution, colliding with a dash of fear and the weight of guilt, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I felt like I was betraying Rafe somehow. But, God help me, I loved him just as much. I couldn't help it.

I cried myself to sleep, unsure what was happening. When sleep invaded me, I wasn't grateful, not when the last feeling I had was that I was alone in this world. It was alien to me once more.

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There are no accidents, guys. At least, not where Ace is concerned.

Whatcha think? I feel that turned out better than I expected. *pats back*

<3 Until Next time, darlings!

Thank you for your patience and ignore typos.