“Elise?” Both Loriel and Dante paused their attacks at the sight of her. She winced her eyes in concern because both Loriel and Dante were injured beyond belief and yet immediately stayed away from each other.

Alexei, who opened up the portal, flew off in Dante’s direction and as soon as the older god was within his reach, he threw a punch across Dante’s face. “You lied to me all this time, you bastard!”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he deliver another blow, which Dante didn’t try to dodge.

“Alexei…” The older god looked at Alexei with regret in his eyes. He could guess that Elise must have told Alexei the truth and now the young man was mad at him.

Well… Dante couldn’t blame Alexei for his punches. He knew he deserved them.

“I am utterly disappointed with you,” Alexei said with gritted teeth. “If you didn’t raise me, I would have killed you on the spot.”

Alexei threw Dante a  reproachful glare, and then looked away. 

Dante rubbed his bloodied temple and walked slowly toward Elise. Soon, he ended up at Elise’s feet and he dropped to his knees.

“I… I’m sorry, Elise. I really am,” Dante smiled sadly as he looked at Alexei, and then at Elise again. “I was selfish. I didn’t know you would only suffer more because of me… I looked for you everywhere for fifteen centuries. I wanted to make up for what I did. I also brought your son to see your family. I tried my best to give him a good life.”

Elise bit her lip and looked away. She knew how good Dante treated her son while Elise was away. But  Elise wouldn’t have left in the first place if Dante didn’t mess around with her life.

She clenched her fists to the sides and when she finally spoke to Dante again, her voice was cold and filled with anger. “I cannot forgive you… but I will do it for the sake of my son.”

“But what about our friendship?”

“I cannot trust you anymore.” Elise stepped away from him. “I would like it if you stay away from me and my family from now on.”

Tears glimmered in Dante’s eyes. Alexei looked sympathetic but he said nothing else. Even he didn’t know if he would ever forgive Dante after all that happened, much less his mother.

“Elise… please…” Dante still tried to beg Elise, but when he scooted closer to her, a strong arm appeared before him, and Alexei’s voice stopped him in his track.

“We have reported you to the gods’ council. They would want to talk to you about your crime,” Alexei said flatly. It was obvious that he tried so hard not to blow up in rage. “Don’t you come near my mother again… Or else.”

Dante looked up and saw the handsome face of  Alexei looking at him with a very disappointed expression. That made his heart feel so upset. Dante felt disappointed with himself.

Finally, he threw Elise another gaze, longingly, and in the next second, he disappeared.

After Dante was gone, eventually, Elise looked in the way of her husband.

Loriel noticed how Elise talked to Dante as if she knew him and his heart also stopped when he heard Elise referring to Alexei as her son.

Her son…? So, did that mean… HIS son too?

Alexei was his son?

So, their baby was saved???

Tears slowly formed in Loriel’s eyes. He couldn’t believe this. He was badly injured and his body hurt everywhere but this revelation brought him so much joy that it felt like his heart was filled with happiness to the brim.

He was finally reunited with his beloved wife, and their son was here too! This was the happiest day in Loriel’s long life. Even if he had to die today, he would die with no regret because he had finally found the two people he loved the most. His wife and child.

Loriel cleared his throat and asked Elise. “Do you remember everything now?”

Elise slowly nodded. “Yeah.”

Overjoyed and filled with relief, tears streamed down hard on Loriel’s face as he ran to his wife and threw his arms around her. “I’m so happy that you remember me now, wifey… and yet I understand if you hate me. Please tell me if you do.”

Elise stayed silent for a moment and then said. “Get on your knees, Loriel.”

Loriel knelt at Elise’s feet and looked up at his wife. There was a tired smile and he would only wait for what she wanted him to do.

If Elise wanted him to kneel so she could slap him then Loriel would accept everything.

“The two of you are nearly destroying the world and yet you both didn’t stop.” Elise sighed and yet when she saw the injuries on her husband’s face, she was moved and would step closer to him.

Loriel didn’t move as Elise touched his face and then felt the warmth of healing energy seep into his skin. It only took a few moments before he was healed.

“I am so sorry, Elise,” Loriel repeated his words again. “I should have told you the truth right away… I should have been a better husband. There are a lot of things that I should have done.”

“I just want to go home, Loriel,” Elise told him. She felt so tired and just wanted to lie down and gather her thoughts. 

“Cretea?” 

“The penthouse.”

“Ah, then I can take you back there.” Loriel nodded and then looked awkwardly at his son, Alexei.

Gosh… now that he looked at the younger man properly, Loriel realized how much Alexei looked a lot like him. How could he not recognize himself in that boy?? Stupid Loriel!

He realized he was really such a bad father. Not only was he a lousy husband, but he was also a bad father to their child. Loriel felt so disappointed with himself.

“Alexei…” he called out to his son, awkwardly. “Do you… want to come with us?”

Alexei’s face was dumbfounded at that question. He groggily shook his head and said, “I… I think I will have to catch up with you guys after this. You both go ahead.”

He opened up a portal for them and into New York. Elise wasn’t happy, but she understood why Alexei wanted to stay. So, she nodded. “I will see you soon, Alexei.”

“Of course.” Alexei nodded weakly.

***

Loriel and Elise stepped into the portal and soon found themselves outside of their penthouse. Alexei actually sent them here.

Awkwardly, the two of them would head back into the penthouse and were greeted by Horatio and the sight of the two cats.

“I… I am not sure if you want me to be here, so I will leave you alone and give you some space for now,”  Loriel said. “I think I will go find my nephew and stay with him.”

Elise stared at her husband but then nodded again. 

“Thank you,” she croaked a reply.

The apartment was actually in a mess and the cats had grown thin, so Loriel cleared his throat. “I will clean up the penthouse and prepare some food if you get hungry.”

“Okay.” Elise walked into her room and Loriel heard the sound of it locking.

A sad smile crossed Loriel’s lips but he decided that he would do as he promised. He would give her space to actually let her take in everything.

Once Loriel was done, he stepped at Elise’s door and gently knocked on it. “I will be leaving now but I left some food for you if you have the appetite to eat.”

After that, Loriel headed out of the penthouse and finally left his wife. 

  ***

Inside Elise’s room, the woman had sat on the bed and had been crying for the last few hours. Silent sobs had wracked inside of the room but she finally came to a stop.

Elise did her best to be strong when she was with Alexei and tried her best to be a good mother. However, now that she was alone, all of the repressed tears came out.

Everything was a lot to take in and yet after some time, her tears finally dried and she picked herself up again.

Loriel was already gone and she had let her husband leave again. He left to give her space.

Did she really need the space though? Elise asked herself. It suddenly felt so lonely, being on here all by herself. 

“Even now, it’s always him or me who runs away from each other,” Elise said to herself and shook her head. “This can’t go on anymore.” 

She pushed herself up to her feet and stepped out of her room. She looked wildly across the living room and noticed the food on the kitchen’s island along with a note.

The two cats were resting nicely on the couch. She rubbed their fur and picked up the note to read what was written on it.  It was a short message from Loriel which also included the address to Marc Sanderman’s penthouse.

Determined and finding strength, she would head for the door and throw the door open.

CREAK.

Elise stepped out of the penthouse and was ready to walk to their private elevator when her movements halted. Instead of seeing an empty hallway for her to step into, she saw Loriel was actually sitting on the floor and didn’t leave at all. The man looked up in surprise as he saw Elise closing the door behind her.

“Loriel… y-you didn’t leave?” Elise asked in shock. “What are you doing here?”

Loriel smiled wistfully. “How could I ever actually do that again? I did leave to give you space, but I have learned my lessons and I would never leave your side ever again. Even though I said I will be away, but the truth is, I will always be near you so I can be there whenever you need me.”

.

.

______________________

From Missrealitybites:

This is actually the chapter for tomorrow, but I became too excited after I finished writing this and want you to read it as soon as possible.

So, with this chapter, finally, Loriel and Elise are reunited. And we can see how Loriel has learned from his past mistakes. He no longer left her alone when conflict arose.

What do you think about their reunion?