The Waiting One Part II: Waiting for the End

Equal Parts

When Serronie arrived at Zachary's apartment it surely felt like home. There was a lithe calm within her chest. A tiny voice inside reinforced the fact that she was safe. That was a comfort she hadn't felt for a long time, and maybe it was temporary; but she was going to enjoy the moment. And she had Zachary back, which was perhaps one of the most surreal moments of all.

"Wow, you haven't changed anything in here at all," she observed. "Everything, I know it has been only three months, but I can promise my jacket is in the exact same spot that I last left it," she commented walking over and grabbing her grey jacket.

Serronie strolled through the living room and took a seat on the sofa. Zachary logged in behind her with cases and bags of luggage.

Yeah, Serronie was observant and correct. Zachary didn't move any of her belongings. He merely cleaned around them because he thought they preserved Serronie’s presence. But in a subtle act of dodging the subject he said, "I'm going to assume you did some therapeutic shopping while you were away," he joked through a strained voice as he placed her things down by the bar.

"Aunt Drae thought it was a good idea to get back in touch with some things I used to enjoy doing. I found it rather beneficial," she replied.

Success, she dropped the subject without a second thought. Then Zachary approached the couch and stood over Serronie, he put his arms out and gestured for her to stand up.

"Come here, I have a lot of hugs to catch up on," he solicited with that familiar gorgeous smile that Serronie missed so much.

She rose to her feet at once and threw her arms around him. She cuddled into his chest. Zachary, as always, towered over the short and petite, Serronie. He placed his arms over her shoulders and around her neck. She could hear his heart beating faster like he was anxious. She lifted her head and smiled at him.

"Honey, you don't have to be nervous, it's still me," she reassured him.

He was sucked down into her grey eyes. He felt like she was gazing through him, looking into his soul, and reading all of his apprehensions. She was right. He was nervous. He was worried about whether or not they would get back to normal, whether Serronie would ever be whole again, and whether or not he was stable enough to give her what she needed.

Then Zachary thumbed over her cheek and lips, "I'm not nervous, Ronnie, I'm just excited. I feel like we have a second chance to be happy again. I've seen us down in a dark place, and I want us to just run like hell to the light now, no matter what."

She squeezed the back of his ribcage and curled her lips at the corners, "I promise to try, okay? Not a day passes that I don't think about losing Linden, almost dying, and regretting the day I ever met Jesse; and, yeah, I hate it so much and I get so angry and sad, and I can't guarantee that I won't sink. If I should, please promise to throw me a life-line," she chided sweetly.

"I'm all the way in for you. We both have a ways to go, but long as I have my angel by my side, I'll always be hopeful, and I'll be your lifesaver," Zachary declared, kissing her on the forehead and squeezing her tightly.