Moonlight came in through the curtains of the small Inn room, rays of soft white light hitting the floor and parts of the bed closet to the window, but looking up at the dark sky and bright little stars speckled across the sky, Rose just felt more alone than ever.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFAOPdHrvJ
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIVHlStImS
"The burden of the Sheperd must be difficult," people would say, and they would smile and go on and on about how amazing the Sheperd is, but no one truly understood the burden. They couldn't, no matter how much they tried to imagine it, they could only just imagine the burden, the pain and the hard work. And they didn't know how lucky they were, how thankful they should have been for Sorey, how thankful they should be to Rose, Lailah, Edna, Zaveid, Mikleo, Symonne and Alisha.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC2x9X1ZSb
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvO0y9GDFq
Maybe that's what left Rose feeling so empty tonight. The thought that maybe her comrades were the only ones who understood what she was going through. They understood the pain, they understood how she missed Sorey, just like they did. They knew her. But sadly they couldn't still travel around the world like they once had, they couldn't always be together like that.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6cBgRjl4n
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG69ws1xwN
Mikleo had checked in once in the span of months to make sure she was feeling okay and handling things alright. And he had been gone since then. Alisha, being royalty, couldn't come along with Rose everywhere. Symonne, despite having joined them recently, still wasn't really part of the "family". She worked with them alright, and Rose had a bit of a soft spot for the girl who was so damaged, but it hadn't been long enough to consider her any more than a helping hand—especially after Sorey left, it'd feel like replacing him.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh1dJ1qmxt
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BNH0gAcOj
But other than Symonne, her team now only consisted of Lailah, Edna and Zaveid. It felt like the other half of her was ripped out. Like parts of her—important parts of her, were ripped away, leaving a nasty injury where it was torn from her.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJk5EVksez
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfbZN6KEIo
Perhaps that's why she couldn't sleep. Why she laid awake at night so many times recently. Because she wasn't healed yet. She would never be completely better, left with the scars from where parts of her had healed up, where her heart had slowly healed. They were battle scars. Scars that would change history.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp1ZnZ6tVV
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ADm0eVBDG
Quiet footsteps behind her had her glancing back to see Lailah, the Prime Lord's beautiful long white hair flowing behind her as she stepped over, sitting with Rose on the edge of the bed. There were two beds in this Inn room, the first one was being occupied by Edna and Symonne, the second by Rose and Lailah, and Zaveid slept on the floor of this Inn room because "It felt nice", or so he said.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolqLDFqnjf
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuBQsy98cz
"Can't sleep?" Lailah asked softly, her voice smooth and kind as always. Rose glanced at her, her green eyes vibrant and yet hiding secrets. As always.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy3c1GxYoI
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8iysZCteN
"I guess not," Rose mumbled after a moment of thought, "I guess I just feel...hopeless."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCZSvvioAo
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnn1eG579G
Lailah frowned, but her eyes still shined with child-like naivety. "How so?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ulwMQrNGz
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dAK9BY4yM
Shrugging, Rose struggled for a way to word it, but nothing she said ever sounded right. It was impossible to properly get her messy thoughts out with rambling. "I guess, even though this is more than I ever thought I'd be able to help with, it still...it feels like it's not enough? I'm an okay Sheperd, I guess, or I'd like to think I am, but if Sorey were here—"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjGvPfypS3
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM16Uzzidr
"Sorey would be proud of you, if he could see you here," Lailah interrupted softly, "I'm proud of you."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00YrQPiMfG
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3u74KDQov
Rose smiled at that, despite trying so hard not to. She liked making Lailah proud of her though. She loved how rewarding it was to make her happy, to make Lailah say such things. It made her feel special. Even if Lailah did tell the others the same. There was always something special with their relationship. It was different, more honest.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiQ58GJmFT
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbNe2QMLmX
And quiet nights where they couldn't sleep, the silence filled with their soft voices were the best. It didn't mean she felt better about being Sheperd. It didn't mean she didn't still want Sorey back. Because she did. But Lailah was her only escape from reality. She wanted to live in that child-like happiness forever, with Lailah at her side. They could forget the world together. Leave it all behind. Who needs it when you have someone so special?1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74tICyRLSN
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpS2atdTXx
"Thanks." She muttered, shrugging slightly since she wasn't sure what to say. Lailah simply smiled, "One day, Rose, we will have more people to help us. We'll lead them."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx39qsm7hgZ
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5N0RAV49T
Lailah looked excited, but the thought had Rose's stomach churning with nervousness. Yes, a larger group of people spreading the message they had, and helping people like they did would be amazing, but...sharing Lailah with so many other people would be a headache. She already had to share her with the others, and sometimes Mikleo whenever he showed up—or if he showed up? But this was a larger scale.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gs3o5jmvf
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJMYf55DbC
"You're worried about something." Lailah stated, staring at her wearily. Rose glanced at her quickly, swallowing, "I just—will you always—I mean, be my Prime Lord?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJs2IniTzY
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhDwM1eNGB
Lailah smiled softly, looking a little amused as she grabbed Rose's hands in her own, leaning forward. "Why wouldn't I?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3ObWAllRL
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9qhNo7No4
Rose intertwined their fingers. "I mean...if we recruited more people, would you stay with me?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgQUQDh5SK
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAAVwpPjg3
"'Stay with you'?" Lailah giggled quietly, "Of course I will."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ioAYUd6nt
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74BhoLo9sJ
Rose smiled, "Promise?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDbwYPrYoi
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bLsTV0pCI
Lailah stopped giggling, then, looking more serious, and she smiled softly. "I promise."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLEJbEi9j9
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb99fgBk3tn
"So...are you two gonna like, kiss now?" Came Edna's monotone voice from the other side of the room.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qP4YAcxzP
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DkIhnM12W
Rose turned red and quickly flung a pillow in her direction, missing horribly and hitting Symonne instead, who let out a high-pitch yelp.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh37Tyvhpd
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HBnl3XmnX
"Shut up Edna!" Rose snapped before the girl could say anything else. Edna smirked at that, turning away and pulling the cover over herself. "Not my fault you're both so loud."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8nPV64PEA
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsbciYYvxK
There was silence, but Rose still felt extremely embarrassed at the comment. She glanced back at Lailah who just looked amused, "Well?" She asked quietly.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBhPLI7sGS
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbY9shGGgI
Rose blinked, "Well what?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl90O8aX5Qt
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9WqIRlV67
"Um, nothing," Lailah laughed shyly, "I just thought...you asked me to stay with you forever?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRK5KizYQv
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0eOQYFQNx
"Yeah, but, I mean—" Rose stammered, not knowing what to say. Yeah, she'd been thinking that way too, but wow, talk about too much confrontation.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEvBaFRo6D
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zjO2Mnv1a
"So...did you not want to then? Stay together forever? Or as long as we can?" Lailah asked, the older woman looking way too serious for Rose. Or for Rose's heart.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk5VB3W8qD
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8IV0Mj9OK
"But you—you wouldn't...I would die, one day." Rose mumbled.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCvs7LABaJ
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduK25uBf6a
Lailah stared at her, looking sad at the thought. "I could stay with you until then."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBalyiZPIxc
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O9O2fB96g
"Lailah—I couldn't..."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEQkdcDUdU
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBER4LRoNRZ
"I've learned to enjoy the time I have with people, Rose," she mumbled, smiling softly, "And I enjoy spending time with you. However long that time may be..."1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEanBGweQoH
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsDIBrDGlH
Rose stared at her, hardly believing her ears. "Well...well then..." She grabbed Lailah's hand, pulling her out of the stuffy Inn room and out of the Inn, into the night. She smiled like a little kid, turning to look at Lailah, her white hair a contrast again the night sky.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna5SiuYoRi
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CfDZt4E6K
"Say it." Rose whispered, staring at Lailah.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBGjVZ47td
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcqR5lyjZM
"Rose, will—"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tME5cvHyF
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoo6wsJKYl
"No, the proper way!" Rose interrupted excitedly, grinning. Lailah smiled and laughed, getting on her knees before Rose. She grabbed Rose's right hand, "Rose...will you...stay by my side, and let me stay by yours, for however long we can?"1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurfweIb5dF
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq86oTBm8Gr
Rose giggled, pulling her up, "Yes!" She said loudly, probably too loudly for the town residents, but none of that matter. She pulled Lailah close and hugged her, "I love you." She mumbled quickly. "I love you too!" Lailah embraced her in return before pulling away, and Rose quickly leaned in to kiss her for the first time.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrntVnaTfd
1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAsHa8Qui8
It would be the first of many.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO8vzoet0L
I might do a another chapter of this once I'm not too busy. ^^' But yeah, hoped you liked it! Hopefully it's good, even though I don't remember the details of this stuff very much.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQUavnzPZx
