God it was early. And it seemed earlier because she could not sleep that entire night before.

She had rehearsed it thousands of different times, but those words were as lost to her as were most of her High School elective classes. She had stayed with Lanta for the night to Rest which was simply to think and let it sink in that she was in fact.. here. That this was hers again, and she wouldn?t have to fight for her own body, her own mouth, and her own soul. It was a lot to take in at once. Not only that, but she had so much to do. So much to correct. To clarify. And that Scout.. That poor, poor Scout.

And when they became children again, she had fallen in love all over again at the age of 10. She didn?t think kids could, but before she knew better, before she remembered him and their past... she fell for him.

She had liked the little boy named Brandon Holyfield. He was a good boy, through and through. She had so much on her mind, and the power to put her money where her mouth was. Chase was having a problem saying it. Even if she had practiced and thought and thought, she knew all those words would leave her the second she?d see him. But she still headed for? Wait. Where could she go? She grew more worried that she would not find him. That he had changed since she had been herself. She was headed for the penthouse, if only to gather her things. And get a change of clothes before finding him. She had no idea what to wear, and was considering while she walked through the newborn day?s dim light.

"God damnit, Carl!" Brandon growled and marched over to where Carl stood, the hose that fed the mulch in his hands. Brandon kicked the mulch that had landed on the concrete walkway and he threw his hands up. "You're wasting my money and my God Damned time! Clean this shit up, now!" The crew watched with slack jaws and concerned frowns on their faces.

Brandon used to be the best guy in the world to work for. He was laid back and enjoyed the company of his crew. But as the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months since Chase disappeared and then turned on Brandon, work had been hell on them all.

Brandon turned away from Carl and marched back towards his truck. He was seething, red faced and angry. His hands trembled and clenched and unclenched into fists. The truck door was yanked open and Brandon jumped inside. The bottle that was hidden under his seat was grabbed. The top was spun off and he took the first lethal hit of the day.

The yelling man was heard before he was seen. And that voice was not recognized. It was angry, snappy, and short tempered. Her lips puckered together in a face she made. She passed him casually, looking toward the ground as her arms crossed. She looked like she was in hurry, but not a compelling hurry. She was anxious, not in a rush. That speed was hard to read, and she simply wore a wife beater that hugged her skin snugly with torn jeans. And her boots that she was lucky enough to have found at Lanta's. She didn't remember what she brought and what she didn't anymore.

The man was such a downer, such a drag, and a stick in the mud. Not a good way to start the day, she thought to herself. But she made way for the penthouse that was just around the corner, slowing her walk while she looked around the familiar but rarely visited surroundings. It was like coming back from a long vacation and looking at your home for the first time in many months. This, evidently, was the story for this renewed Trickster. Sure, she was Marked and had more things to straight away before she could say she was Free and Clear, but she felt that very condition's entirety today. She yawned, and ran a hand through her hair in nervousness. How would she do this..?

Brandon was taking his third drink when the rainbow hued woman strolled by. His eyes widened and then narrowed. Only one woman had hair like that. But which personality was at the helm? As of late he couldn't be sure. The one blended into the other, as far as he knew. Still, he couldn't resist. Carrying the bottle with him, he left the cab of his truck and strolled along behind her. He couldn't help himself, no matter how miserable he was; he still loved Chase. So when she stopped in front of the penthouse building, he stepped up to stand beside her. "What are you doing here?" His voice wasn't exactly cold, but more along the lines of cautiously reserved. His arms, already tanned and muscular, folded over his chest.

She was about to walk toward the stairs. She wanted to take the stairs and not the elevator. The feeling in her stomach when in an elevator reminded her too much of the feeling she felt when? it was coming over her. But she couldn?t move anymore. A voice held her like a wall being in her way of brick and mortar. She turned, and saw the man that was yelling. But now that he wasn?t yelling and cursing, he sounded familiar. The face of Brandon was there, though. It made her mouth part with shock, and her eyes widen and shrink. It was the damage she had caused. She had made him this way.

But that guilt, that hurt, was all torn aside. She darted toward him, and lunged to wrap her arms around his neck. She breathed out a ghastly surprised, ?Brandon!? And she hugged him tightly. A kiss might have been too much at this time. But she held him a long time. ?Brandon, I?m so happy to see you. I.. It?s me. I?m here. I got it taken care of.?

She was going about this all wrong, but she couldn?t contain herself. Chase was too excited, and too happy, to try and be strategic. Her hand, after she freed him from her hug, stayed on his shoulders, and she kept her hands on one of his elbows. ?It?s me, Boy Scout. Remember? I?m Girl!?

Brandon stiffened when her arms went around him and he stood stock still. His eyes closed and he held his breath. She felt like Chase, smelled like Chase and even sounded like Chase. But he'd been tricked before, and fear rushed through him that he was about to be tricked again. Her words were music in his ears and he longed to believe her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her how much he'd missed her. That he was overjoyed that she'd been able to come back to herself, and to him.

But he was scared.

He trembled and when she pulled back, he looked down into the familiar sight of her magma eyes. Though he barely moved, his eyes gave away the tug of war going on inside of him. "I remember," he whispered, then set his jaw. It seemed a cold move and a cold thing to say. She'd ripped his heart out and ate it for supper that night, months ago. Would she have it for breakfast now?

She could feel that he didn?t hold her. And it made her throat choke. But she knew why. He had to be that way to have survived this long and still stand the sight of her. She couldn?t help but look defeated at his stiffness. She cleared her throat, and looked into his eyes. There was the guardedness there, and that smell. He.. he had begun drinking?

She stuffed her hands into her pockets, and looked toward the ground a moment. She knew this would happen. Blank. Nothing was in her mind to say anymore. ?You were such a nice kid, schway. It was nice to see you that way, a little boy. Wish I had seen y?while you were a teenager.. I?m sure y?were cuter than a bug?s ear.? She laughed nervously, and came a step closer. ?I.. I?ve made a deal. And she?s gone, that bitch.. Whatever she was, Loo helped me.? She was hating this encounter. It wasn?t the way she pictured. Not the way she hoped.

?I made you drink. Lookit you, wetter than a fish right here and now before work. But I?m happy I?m seeing you.? She shook her head, practically able to cry at this point. She was happy, but felt horrific, and felt sad for a Scout gone rogue. ?Pretty eyes.. They look sadder than I?ve ever seen ?em..? She didn?t like how guarded he was, no matter how justified it was, and she walked away from him to lean on the wall of the entrance of a hallway, increasing their distance. Hurt begets hurt.

Brandon's hands were limp at his sides as he stared down at her. He made no outward signs of relenting his granite stance as she spoke. Inside he was a whirlwind of emotions. Afraid, euphoric, sad and ecstatic all took their hands at spinning the wheel in his mind. He felt dizzy and sick to his stomach when her face clouded and then she turned away. He watched her, his heart breaking all over again. The anguish that was so clearly written on her face was mirrored in his own. "Chase," he whispered and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Tell me it's really you. Please, don't be that thing. I can't take it anymore."

She couldn't imagine what he had been through. And she couldn't fathom sticking so tight after all that fuss and hellish treatment given to him so coldly by the very face he'd expect it from the least. She leaned that shoulder against the wall, and searched him. His face felt so hurt. But his voice made her smile. It wasn't sadistic, nor cold nor horrifically amused. It was weak, but emotional.

She was so very glad to see him. To hear him. And to talk to him. Even if he were crumbling this very minute. This moment, where he hung in the balance. "It's really me, Scout. It's me. I promise." She nodded hurriedly, smiling hopefully. "I know it's hard to believe me now.. But.. Just tell me what to do. Tell me what I need to say, to prove to you that it's me. She's gone, baby. You've just got me. If you'll still have me." She nodded, only a small grin of doubt etching away at her smile. "..If you still want me. And god bless ya, I'd understand if'n y'didn't, mate. I would."

Brandon blew out the breath he'd been holding. He could hear his mother's voice saying 'If it's too good to be true, then it's probably a lie.' He didn't want to hear that. He wanted to believe. With everything that was in him, he wanted to believe. He tore his gaze away, conflict building within him. He knew what to say. He knew what to do; but lacked the nerve to do it.

That is, until she spoke the last sentence. He turned his gaze onto her and stepped towards the woman who had his heart still in her hands. "Kiss me," the words were blurted out, gunfire style. It were as if he forced himself to say it. And once done, it was easier the second time around. "Kiss me."

She swallowed hard when he came close. Even if he was a love she wanted for hers again to resume, it had been months since she'd been even close to him with her side involved. She still was against the wall, looking into his eyes while he talked. Seeing it, even if he had said that he hated her and never wanted to see her again, was worth it. It was worth being there. Just to walk herself away and live the way she wanted without feeling a prisoner in her own body. It was worth it. But then he asked. She got her window of opportunity. It was her chance. Would she blow it?

All of a sudden, the woman who would kiss a stranger at a passing wink, was nervous about kissing a man. She felt it to be the first kiss all over again. But even that was nerve racking. Chase pushed herself off of the wall, and uncrossed those inken arms. She just had to remember. And she can finally do that. Her hands came to his bare arms to pull him closer. And her own steps into him made him closer still. And she looked up. Their noses touched and she closed her eyes. He was so close, just right there, and she could have already been happy enough to have been turned away. She canted her head to one side and kissed him.

And it clicked like instinct. How she took his lips, how she posed when she kissed him this way, and how she even curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. There was no thought to it when she touched his lips.

Brandon's heart went to his throat and he lost the ability to breathe on his own as he watched and waited. His eyes widened when she pushed off of the wall. He panicked in thinking that she was going to turn away and kill him all over again. But then she stood in front of him and the breath he'd been holding came rushing out of slightly parted lips. She moved, she smelled and when his arms went around her, she felt like the love of his life. They clicked together, the physical kinetics that had been there all along had no barriers and no boundaries now. This was right. This wasn't going to hurt anymore!

His heart raced and his arms grew tighter around her tiny frame. He didn't know his own strength as he celebrated the return of the Queen of his Heart. His mouth melded with hers in their timeless and unique way. And in that moment, the dams that held back the fear, the agony and the depression for months, finally let loose. He allowed himself to cry, unable to hold back the shoulder wracking sobs as he poured himself into that kiss. It had been a risk, a very high stakes game of poker. And this time, Brandon came out the lucky one.

Chase's lips parted from Brandon's when he cried, her face smiling with rawness while her hands cradled his face. "It's like ridin' a bike, isn't it?" She was crying too, but moreso leaking out of the corners of her eyes and talking and less sobbing. She smiled, kissing the corners of his mouth. The cards were turned into stacks of poker chips and they were pushed Brandon's way. It only took for-bloody-ever, but it happened.

He was 4 inches taller than she, but she knew just how to maneuver herself to keep herself close to him. "I know, baby. I'm so sorry.." She apologized into his chin, and continued to stroke the sides of his skull while he let out everything that had come to rot and decompose over those months. "I know.. Let 'er rip.. I'll catch y'tears like I shoulda been doing." She came to sweep the water from his eyes with her rough fingers, and cradled his cheek to keep wiping the tears from his eyes.

Even when she stepped back, Brandon kept trembling as the tears were squeezed from his eyes. He didn't want her anywhere that wasn't within his arms. He felt like a baby, yet unashamed as the months of distress were finally being relieved. His arms found her again and the kiss that was brought down on her was so wrought with raw emotion that it would leave bruises upon them both. His arms squeezed her, terrified that this was a dream and she would simply vanish into thin air. He couldn't believe how incredible he felt to simply be holding her, once again. And her kiss was pure as the driven snow to him. No mockery, no tom foolery.

She was the real deal.

Chase wasn't far, when she stepped. But it was too far, and she kissed him with matched emotions. His happiness was equally moving, and they stormed together. She hugged him tightly when he snatched her into his arms again. Nothing hurt and she was not sick! And she was able to talk to him. And he listened to her. That was worth dropping dead right there. She was still too-warm, but for a different breed of Heat to deal with. But she would have time to discuss that later.

His kiss hurt, but she pressed all the harder against him to plea for that masochistic relief. She surrendered to him long ago, but was able to express that. And that was the feeling she missed. He was crying from all the damage she had done. This poor soul didn't deserve that sorrow or the habits to have been born from it. She breathed hard through her nostrils to keep up with his ferocity, holding her own fairly well. She remembered how he tasted, and sifted through that alcohol sourness to find it.

Slowly and very reluctantly he did finally relent on the kiss and lifted his head. He gasped for air, even as he continued to hold her as tightly as he could to his chest. "It's you, it's really you. I've waited, so long. It's really you." he blew out a breath and then laughed maniacally. "It's really you."

Chase's eyes stayed closed after he parted from her lips, and she finally reopened her eyes to smile. The sadness was so much less on his face, billions of percents less than just a few moments ago. The difference made him even more familiar. "Yeah Pretty Eyes, it's me." She laughed with him, jolly and quiet with the emotions that were flowing from her face. She was so warm with life, and carefree of the many petty weights from before.

"We don't have to worry anymore. Y'don't have to worry anymore. Y'won't see her no more. She's long gone.." Chase said to him with exciting promises of truth. "Y'didn't have to wait for me. But y'did.." She began to cry again, and laughed at the same to with that true blue joy colored across her face like a stamp.

"I couldn't even think of not waiting. You're my girl," it was as simple as that. "And I knew you'd come home." His tears were drying up and the riverbeds softened as he smiled. "I just knew you would. That thing couldn't come between us. And you warned me, you told me to wait. In my dreams, you told me. So I did. It's been so lonely and miserable without you. But now you're here and..." He stopped and laughed at himself. Rarely did he say that much in such a short amount of time. "Cutter, he's upstairs and would love to see you again."

Her eyes widened, causing her to halt her glee and tears. She paused. Her face went bare in awe, and leapt to climb up onto him. Hugging him again. "Y'heard me.. Oh god, y'heard me! I didn't think it would get through t'ya but here y'are telling me about it without me mentioning it. I reached you..!" And she laughed, but those laughs were mixed with sighs. She landed on her feet again, smiling up to him. "Aw, how is m'boy? He get any bigger?" She looked back toward the now bright morning air, and looked back up to him.

"Y'have to work, don't you?" She felt like she was being escorted to a place, and then to be left again to live and get back to being used to on the outside again looking out.

Brandon couldn't hide the glee that came pouring out with each laugh, with each sigh. Every time she spoke, he had to look twice; just to be sure. He pinched himself, too. "I thought it was just my over active imagination. But if you're telling me you tried to reach me, then that has to be true. You did. She did, too. She interrupted, a lot. But you, you came through and I heeded your warnings, I stayed true and I waited."

There was so much to catch up on, but that would have to wait a few minutes as she reminded him that work was to be done, still. He kissed her cheek and then fled from her side. He felt lighter, less weighed down than even this morning. Once he returned to the work site, he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. "Take the day off, boys. And the drinks are on me." He laid out a roll of crisp bills into the hand of his foreman then took off back towards Chase.

The crew were slack jawed in awe once again as they stared at the money, then at their boss. The general consensus was that the man had absolutely lost his mind. And he just may have. He got back to Chase, breathless and smiling. He didn't hesitate, no feeling of doubt in his mind as he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. "We've got a lot to talk about, and the rest of our lives to do it."

Chase watched him run, a confused but patient stare was there. She wiped her tears away, and crossed her arms again while she waited. Laughter was in her voice, and she did a cartwheel while she waited. Then she hopped like a boxer for a moment or two to get that ridiculous energy out of her system before he returned. Only for her to be scooped up just as spontaneously proud as he was before things had gone the way they had. Chase wrapped her arms tight around his neck and squeezed, not to choke him, but virtually ram pressurize her chest to his. "Aw Scout.. I can't tell ya how impossible I thought this would be. Right now, this." She kissed the side of his face with that same hardness of before, even if it made her wince a bit.

He smiled when she kissed his cheek and he proceeded to carry her into the building. "I had to keep the faith, for both of us. Your job was to fight, mine was to pray. We both did our jobs and it's paid off, big time baby. You're here, you're really here and I'm never going to let you go, ever again. I was stupid to do that and I'm so sorry for it."

Brandon had said the magic words. The classic 'open sesame' to her quiet little doubts that had been so costly to them both. "I forgive you." And she did. She had every single night again and again, to the point where she barely remembered his name to forgetting it altogether. She kissed him again on his cheek, stroking his hair and the back of his skull to treasure her ability to touch it because she wanted to. The returned feeling of simple control was all too new, still.

"We did it.. I can't believe it's even happening. I was thinking of you more a dream than a real fella of mine. Something I came up with that made me sad for a reason I didn't know. But I woke up, and made a deal to get me back, and then get to you in time." She hugged and hugged him, a sigh coming with incredulous laughter that expressed her disbelief. "I love you, Brandon the Scout."

"Both of our dreams are coming true." He spoke it as he kicked open the door to the penthouse. Cutter, a bit larger but no more less enthusiastic about his master coming home skittered over and began to leap up with energetic bursts. "Look who came home, boy!" He gently put Chase down so she could get re-aquainted with the family pet.

Chase's hand lingered on Brandon's body, longing to keep contact with him until the dog dominated her attention. And like the dog and she knew and loved, she was tackled. She tumbled with the dog and horse-played with it happily, laughing with giddy hilarity while that dog licked her face and rolled with her across the floor. Soon Chase subdued the dog, while it rested on her lap and the Gypo drummed his ribs in pats and rubs. Cutter looks happier than ever, looking to Brandon with a sparkle they both shared. Chase smiled, standing up again to look around at the penthouse. Her eyes made wet with a glassy film while she walked further into the penthouse slowly. It was a timid gait, while she glided her hands along the furniture.

Brandon watched as she and Cutter played until Cutter was too exhausted to do much more. He couldn't help but smile. His family was whole again. That thought brought the mist back to his own eyes. And as she rediscovered the pieces of the home that they'd built together, he could understand why she took it slowly and the mist in her own eyes. Memories turned dreams turned reality had a way of doing that to a person. Quietly, he moved behind her and put his hand to her shoulder. The squeeze given was gentle and supportive.

She looked around, and absorbed the images. She remembered the bigger picture by the fragments that were left behind after her Abuse. But the pieces were filled in, and colored with this. She turned toward him, and smiled warmly. She looked and looked, and took in a deep breath of the air. Chase kept moving, to the bedroom, and frowned. The last few days she spent her before being mistakenly let go was in pain, in darkness, and at wits end with Brandon. But she was still happy to see it. She would be free of that pain. It would never happen again.

The bedroom was just as she left it. He'd had the bed made, but he hadn't stepped foot in, much less slept in, this room. He leaned his head down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I know," and he did. He completely understood. While so much good had happened in that bed, the ending was marred with a dark curtain. Only time and patience would get that curtain to raise. Brandon was hopeful, he could see lights through the tapestry.

She had been ill in the bed, and had gotten more ill til she was finally.. She shook her head. She remembered the red flannel of Brandon's she wore the night before she had gone. Chase walked into the window next to the bedroom, and nodded to herself. This was real. She was here. And the Other was gone. The woman was no longer part of her. It was a miracle. Chase turned toward him, and slowly came to sit on the edge of the bed. Hopefully, she would sleep some tonight. But she was still taking all of it in.

Brandon stepped into the bedroom as if he were walking aboard a lavish yacht. He was seeing the colors of the room, a room she decorated. There were little blue flowers on the bedspread, ones that matched that first bouquet he'd ever bought for her. When she sat, he moved to sit beside her and wrap an arm around her shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Her arms reached for his own sunkissed skin, pushing the arm around her shoulders into herself with a self induced squeeze of her hand. "Yes. So much better.. Jus' gotta get back into the rhythm of things. Ain't a worry in the world. I still can't believe I'm here." And she looked into his face. "I see y'got some color, I'm jealous." She joked.

"I can't believe you're here. I keep pinching myself. So the color is from all of the bruises," he teased right back. It felt so natural to just be there, holding her in his arms as if nothing had ever happened. He bent to kiss the corner of her mouth, loving the taste of her smile.

And a smile he did taste. She canted her skull a little but was caught too late. Their lips were both slightly swollen, and felt tender. But curved they did, and she nodded. "Y'better get used to me. Cuz I'm here t'stay." Said so plainly, so easily." A hand came to his knee to pat his knee.

Brandon still didn't believe his eyes or his ears. "Pinch me, and make it hard. I want to know that I'm not dreaming." He searched her eyes and found himself feeling at home for the first time in months. He wet his lower lip in anticipation and waited to see if she would.

And Chase grinned mischievously. She rubbed her hands together and reached for his arm. And she PINCHED! It was hard, with a twist, and she yanked it away harshly. "How's *that* for a pinch, schway?" She was nearly proud.

"Yeow!" he howled and grabbed his poor arm. "One hell of a pinch!" He grinned at her proudley and held out his arm to her. "Now kiss and make it all better." He was grinning like a buffoon.

Chase had that fiery glance again livened in her gaze when she leaned down to his arm. She traced a tiny tip of her tongue on the skin before her lips pressed her pillowed kiss on his arm. And a fond smack was given to that very same one. Fond and gentle like a lover one second, but harsh like an athlete the next.

Brandon couldn't help but laugh when she smacked his arm. She was beginning to amaze him, all over again. There was so much to catch up on and he couldn't wait to start doing it.