It was hard to leave her but it was harder to keep her hold off my hand as I lay her down on the bed. I smiled at her simple action.

"I'll be back." I whispered before kissing her on the forehead.

"Congratulations." Kyle greeted as I went downstairs. They saw me carrying her and they seem to be more excited than I am.

"When can we celebrate, huh?" He asked.

"Shhh. She's sleeping."

"Sorry." He mouthed.

I walked in my office downstairs where he kept on bugging me. Mentioning that there are more things to celebrate now, so it deserves a grand party. He knows I hate parties but it won't hurt because the reason is justifiable. Even so, I need to ensure that it's fine with her. She also did not display any liking to gatherings, but preferences may change.

Hours later and I stood up to visit her. She has not made her way here. I kept my door open just in case. Kyle is with me and Fionna is going around the house. It's safe now. I was used to the constant trouble that it will take a considerable amount of time to get used to this silence.

The door was open to my room. No, did she- I scurried inside only to find Fionna... combing her hair. Both stared at me.

"Are you okay?" Fionna asked.

"I thought...Why...?"

"Oh this? She was peeking by the door so I asked her if she needs anything, then I don't know, I ended up combing her hair. She looks like she loves it."

Thalia... smiled agreeing. Did she just smile? No malice, no sarcasm. Just a pure smile.

"Hey, Sorry to interrupt." Kyle appeared beside me with Jack in tow.

"Hey Luna." He waved at her and... what is happening? She covered herself with the blanket. Was she embarrassed? But- why? Was it because of all of what happened?

"What happened?" Kyle asked clueless.

"You did not take a bath." Jack commented.

"Hey!"

And Jack changed too. People change. With love anyone can change.

"Why are you two here?"

"Francis is asking if you can extend the deadline for the delivery. It was so sudden that he does not have enough people or resources at the moment."

"Hmmm... Alright. But not for another week."

"You're stingy." Jack left with that.

"And you?" I asked Kyle.

"Signatures. Paper."

"tsk. I need a minute."

"Okay." He run off.

Why are these people acting different all of a sudden?

Anyway, I turned to my blanket... my mate now peeking thru it.

"I'll leave you two." Fionna exited but I asked her to come back to check on Thalia.

"Hey there." I smiled, kneeling on the ground to reach eye level.

"I brought you home, I hope you don't mind." She took off the blanket on her head.

" I just came to check on you. But i need to do some paperworks, okay? I'll be back later." I pat her hair, standing up with my body half stepping away but she grabbed the edge of my shirt.

"I know." I held her hand. "I'll come back later. I promise." With this, she let me leave.

My tone is different too? I don't know why but it sounded right.

As always, hours feels like eternity. Moments away from her lasts longer than the tick of the clock. I tried to make work as quick as possible. I even ate my lunch on my desk while reading a contract. I used to not hate this but every second is killing me. I need to be with my mate.

I sighed as I sign the last paper for the day.

"Finally."

'Our mate.'

'Yes, we will be with our mate.' Rion has been silent for a while. We both knew that if he kept on bugging me, it will take longer until we can be with our mate.

'No. She's... different.'

'Yes she is calmer now.'

'No. She's different.'

'How different?'

'Go to her.'

Yes she's different but that is because of the change in circumstances, isn't it?

I opened the door and found her sitting on the floor staring to a... colored... children's book.

I was to step forward when Rion stopped me.

'Call her.'

'Huh?'

'Call her real name.'

'You mean Winter? Why?'

"Winter." I called. But she did not look. My voice is audible, isn't it?

"Winter." I repeated but she continued staring at the book.

"Winter?" Is something wrong?

"Thalia." And she turned to me. What? Does it mean? I immediately sat in front of her.

"Thalia?" She blinked at me then smiled.

The Thalia I knew is not like this. Could it be? But how?

"Are you Thalia?" She seemed clueless at first but nod. "I mean... the human Thalia. Not Winter. Just Thalia."

She nod again. How in the world? I am happy but how? Now that she said it, her brown eyes appears to be lighter than usual. She also was acting strangely and I was too focused on how she managed to change back.

"Where is... Winter? Can you change with her?" She might know what happened. But more to my surprise, she shook her head no. What? Her mouth moved... forming words.

"W-win..ter... nap...ppy."

"Huh?" Her sentence or words are that of a child.

She pointed in the book.

"Win...ter...nappy." There was a sleeping child in the picture..

"Winter is sleeping?"

She nod.

"But can you at least talk to her? Or ask her to come up for a second. It's okay, I'm here." She blinked for a few times then frowned. She shook her head no.

"Winter... nappy. Thal...lia wakey. Winter wakey.. Thal..lia nappy." It took her a few seconds to utter those words. Does she mean to say that when she is awake, Winter is asleep and vice versa? But how? How could we know what happened?

"Do you know what happened? Where did you go? How did you come back?"

"Hmm... Thalia.. weak so.. go nappy." She furrowed her brows. "Winter.. strong. Thalia and Winter... live. But... Chase calls.. Thalia. And .. And.. Winter wants... nappy. So... Thalia come back." She struggles to enunciate but I think I understand.

They were going to... not going to survive so Thalia chose to let Winter take control. I remember how she always faints when she's with me. Was that because Thalia is resurfacing? The bond did not break because she did not accept? I called many times... I woke her up. But Winter is not conscious. Rion and I love both our mates. I don't want Winter to blame herself. Because of her, we met. Because of her, Thalia also survived. They both live. I love her, I love all sides of her.

"Chase.." Her soft voice is new but refreshing and calming.

"What is it?"

"No .. leave. Thalia." I smiled at her patting her hair. "Thalia... no.. re...re..reject Chase." She really heard it. She did not give up when I did. I melt at her affection.

"I won't. No matter what, I will never reject you again. You will always be my mate, my love. I promise."

When Thalia came back, she needs to learn from Winter's memories. The latter's promise to live a normal life brought Thalia to know of many things.

Day by day, she learned. And love.

Winter may have fallen into slumber but it won't be long before she wake up. In that moment, Chase is ready to accept her.

-fin-

____________

(╥﹏╥) Please forgive this one if this is not the ending you expected. Afterall, stories never really end.