Another fork stuck in the road

When Siren's delicate ears flicked back and she looked away Dalila's immediate thought was that she was going to tell her no. She knew Siren was likely too sweet and kind to want to turn her offer down, but Dalila prepared herself for that eventuality anyway. She took comfort in knowing that the sting wouldn't compare to that initial hurt and betrayal. She didn't know what all had occurred with Siren between now and then. Maybe Siren had decided that she only wanted Chimera and preferred Dalila to just be her servant. She was prepared for that, but that's not what she received. Siren questioned her in returned and made her chest ache as she admitted how much she had missed her. Somehow that hadn't been a possibility that Dalila had been prepared for and that caught her off guard, shifting her gaze down to look at one of Siren's braids that was laying across the bed in front of her nose. I don't want to be apart from you anymore. It caused a pang in her chest, an aching and longing that she had tried so hard to ignore this whole time.

She tried to imagine how she would feel the next time she saw Siren and Chimera together, how she'd feel whenever they shared affections and she had to stand to the side and allow it to happen. She knew it would still not sit right with her and would still bring up that jealously that she hadn't even known she possessed before she started realizing these things, but in comparison to the loneliness and the sadness she felt denying herself the woman she loved... it didn't really compare. Her gaze shifted back to Siren's face, admiring her beauty for a few quiet moments before she finally inched closer so her nose could gently press to Siren's cheek. "We can't undo what's been done," she said softly, catching Siren's two toned gaze, "Things will obviously have to be different now... But I want you to be happy and not having you at all feels far worse than only having part of you."

It wasn't what she really wanted and having to settle for less didn't feel good, but she was willing to try for both of their sakes. She would find her happiness where she could get it, even if it felt like just a sliver of what she had before. Maybe in time she could learn to be content with this, which being the second choice in Siren's life while Siren was her everything, but for now she could at least enjoy these little moments they had alone. She stood and carefully climbed into the bed that had become so familiar and settled herself around the smaller woman, gently nuzzling into the side of her neck. There was a mixed feeling of relief and uncertainty as she slipped her forelegs around Siren and held her close for the first time in a while. Not knowing what the future would look like or how they would settle back into their relationship made her uneasy, but even just being like this brought back that familiar flutter in her stomach. "I've missed being beside you too," she said quietly as she kissed her cheek, gently squeezing Siren in her embrace.

"Dalila"