92 My Husband is Alive...

Dawn waited on Raven to start speaking. He was just staring at her. Then he reached and took her hands in his and spoke in a soft voice, "Why?"

"Why what?" Dawn felt confused. What was he meaning by asking her why?

"Do you really not recognize me at all?" A frown tugged at his lips.

She had no idea what he was talking about. What did he mean by recognize him? She had never met him before that day on the beach.

His frown deepened. Then he removed his hands from her. There was something despondent in his figure and he seemed a bit confused.

"You really don't, do you?" Now his voice went a bit flat. But there was a trace of hurt in it.

"Raven? What are you going on about?" What was with this friend of hers lately? "Look, I don't really want to deal with this right now… I am still upset with you, you know? So-"

Raven's mouth twitched, and now his smile returned. A mischievous grin. "About what? Me kissing you?"

Dawn just glared at him, unwilling to say anything to him about that.

He laughed, soft suppressed sound, "I have every right to kiss you, Dawn."

Dawn stood up, feeling more than a little angry and wanting to just leave him her. But his next words stopped her.

"After all, isn't that my right as your husband?"

Dawn snapped her head to look at him. "What did you just say?"

"So why can't you even recognize me?" He balled his hands into fists, "Didn't you love me? Your grief doesn't seem faked."

She took a step closer, reaching for him. She could not help the slight hopeful feeling that came to her. As well as a realization, "Your eyes… I've never seen them…"

He looked at her confused. "What are you going on about?"

She looked at him. And then she reached for the cloth he was wearing on his head. "Can I?"

He nodded, though he seemed entirely confused why she was wanting to.

As she removed the barrier, she found herself looking at those eyes she had always loved. She didn't know what came over her, but she burst into tears and fell directly into his arms.

"Dawn?" His voice was uncertain. But he patted her head as she buried herself against his chest.

"You stupid shapeshifter. How would I recognize you?" She lifted her tearstained face and glared at him. "You don't look like yourself. At least not how you liked to appear…"

"…I'm a what now?"

At the sound of surprise in his voice, Dawn snorted. Stupid amnesia. She understood his confusion now. She spoke tersely though to him, "You can change your shape, and it isn't like you even look like your more preferred look, either. How would I recognize you when you hid your most recognizable feature. I mean, just the fact you kept your hair black… it's an extremely common hair color…"

He didn't say anything. Just held her close. After a while, she got control of herself, and pulled away from him. "It's late. We should go find a room and get some sleep."

"Alright."

It did not take Dawn long to find an empty bedroom. She held onto his hand the entire time though and refused to let go. For just a second he paused at the door, before seeming to realize that she wanted him to come in with her.

She saw his mouth quirk up as he realized what she wanted and he stepped in with her and shut the door.

Dawn released his hand and instead reached up to grasp his head instead. Pulling him close, she kissed him. Harshly, wanting to feel his presence. Just to know he was really there with her.

His hands wrapped around her waist and she felt grounded.

After a while, he pulled back. Then he kissed her on her cheekbone near her eye. "You're tired, my queen. You need sleep."

He was right. She was exhausted. Physically. And emotionally. She had pretty much just cried her eyes out. So, she took his arm and pulled him to the bed with her.

Tucking herself against him, she whispered. "Even if you wake up before me, don't leave until I am awake."

"I'll be here."

She felt his lips press against her hair softly. And his arms encircled her, making her feel like everything was going to be alright.

She did not want to go to sleep. She wanted to just stay in his arms and listen to his heartbeat. She did not want to fall asleep, because what if it wasn't real?

But his steady heartbeat and his quiet breaths against her hair lulled her asleep, whether she wanted it or not.