Her voice was so soft in the air, it was almost lost to the wind rustling the trees. His ears flicked and at first he thought he was simply wishing so hard his mind was trying to set him at ease by playing tricks on him. It would not have been the first time he had imagined she had come back and whispered his name, only to find the whispers had not been real. But she speaks his name with a soft volume his consciousness could not replicate.

Golden head whipped around, his blue eyes snapped instantly to her. His legs nearly gave out from under him at the beautiful sight of her. The rush of emotion overwhelmed every fiber of his being, freezing his mind while his body still tried to lurch forward to be instantly closer to her. Stumbling over the sandy beach, he needed to pause after his first trip to clear his mind and order his legs to work properly. Dizzy from his flying thoughts, he could not rush to her side as he deeply desired to do. Still, he was there in a few thundering heartbeats, his own thoughts starting to be drowned out by the sounds in his chest.

Siobhan. he breathed gently into her mane, his soft velvet nose reaching out to touch her, still scared she was a dream and he would wake again into a nightmare. At last he brushed his lips against her neck. His strength broke and tears fell from his eyes. He could not find the words; even if he could, he knew nothing he could say would be enough to speak the depth of his love for her. She had returned, she still called this place home and still carried his name on her lips. That was all he needed from her. That, and assurance she was there.

Breathing in her scent, he shifted to offer his body to her to embrace. The sand clinging to her skin and the trails of tears over her face were not lost on him. His deepest desire was to hold her in the closest embrace. He only held himself back out of concern of her exhaustion and clear condition. Still, his lips touched at her locks and neck, beckoning and welcoming her home and closer to him. I love you, Siobhan. Welcome home.

They could talk about the child she carried later. He knew it was a child created from hate and viciousness. His concern was less about the child in the womb, but more the mare who carried it. He ached to run his touches over her body, remind her he would still touch her with love and care. He wanted to sooth away her pain and pull her back to the warmth and comfort she had found with him. Looking at her face, he caressed her cheeks, kissing away the streaks her tears had left through the sand.

What do you need? He asked quietly, his voice just above a whisper as he continued to inhale her scent. He would do anything for her. Call their children, leave her to rest, stand over her while she wept, endure her angry lashing out, hold her while she assured herself he was there as he just had. In whatever way he could, he would always be there for her.