That’s not- she started quietly, and Zevulun was, as always, immediately an attentive listener. She continued speaking, seeming to find her voice the more words that came out, and the sentences to follow made his heart lift clear up into his throat. Being with you is freedom, and joy, and love. I didn’t want to leave. He didn’t allow himself to run away with conclusions at what had driven her away, Zevulun only soaked in the absolute honesty that resonated in her words. With just those two sentences she gave him all the reassurance he would ever require, and it took everything to not push forward, throw his neck over hers and pull her tight up against his broad, pale chest.

There was still more she wanted to say so he kept himself at bay from wanting to grab her up, allowing the conversation to continue. I can tell you why, when and if you want to know. Perhaps there was a part of him curious to know, but at the end the truth was Zevulun was just happy she’d come back to his shores that he didn’t necessarily need to know where she had gone. If there had been any irritation in him at all for her leaving (there wasn’t) it would have evaporated instantly with her following sentence. But the short answer is that my daughter needed me, Zev. And I couldn’t let her down.

He breathed a low, slow breath that gently stirred her silvery white hair with how close they stood. “That’s all the explanation I’d ever need to know,” he admitted the truth with a kind smile, “But if you find yourself wanting to share the story, I’ve been told I’m a good listener.” It was said with his signature joking-tone. If anyone knew the capability of Zevulun to listen, it would be Sabriel. “Our children always come first when they need us.”

Speaking of children, Zevulun knew he could not promise her reunion with their son would go as kindly as theirs was, but it was one of the reasons he hadn’t yet brought the boy up. Lior had never indicated any hatred for his dam’s absence but, at times, Zevulun wondered if his sour attitude was a result of not having her here. It wouldn’t bring him to decide to blame Sabriel after all, Zevulun knew the children in the Prairie had extensive support and love, even when they lost one half of their guardianship. Too, as someone who’d grown up without his mother or his father, parental abandonment was not seen by Zevulun as a free pass to be an asshole.

Which, unfortunately, their son was sort of turning out to be.

“Come on,” he beckoned her with a smile, tilting his head inland, “Let’s get off the beach.” They could continue to talk as they walked or they could fall into silence as Sabriel took in the Prairie again. Either way, Zevulun was content to be beside her, occasionally adjusting his steps so some part of their figures would brush or even reaching out to lay an idle kiss against her skin as if he couldn’t stand going a minute without touching her.