Smiling, Verona took his hand, and leaned up to kiss his forehead softly.
"From your wardrobe, this is about as good as it can get.. And really, sleeping wouldn't be so bad.. I'm tired too, keep that in mind."

Snuggling up to Ezekiel, she closed her eyes, and tried her hardest not to pass out.
Sure, she was hungry..but as of now, that wasn't helping her stay awake.
"Ezekiel my love, I'm tired.."

Ezekiel was dozing at this point and he looked like he wanted to sleep too. He had just nodded in response to what she had said and moved so his arm was around her shoulder in a protective manner. He'd have to ask his sister if Verona could borrow some clothing but not right now. He wanted to sleep.

It wasn't but a moment later that he managed to fall asleep and he looked peaceful for once. His expression was calm and he wasn't moving much except for the rising and falling of his chest when he inhaled and exhaled softly.

Verona had smiled a it at Ezekil's response, but soon was overthrown by her own urge to sleep.
She cuddled against him more, trying to get warm, and then eventually woke up.
She shook her head slightly, she crawled to the bottom of the bed, grabbing a throw blanket of sorts.
And then, she tossed it over Ezekiel, soon crawling next to him underneath.

Things were so peaceful now. It was hard to believe that anything bad had ever happened to the two of them. But they'd already bee through more in the past month or so, than people go through in their entire lives.
Tragic maybe..

It was one of the first times in what seemed like ages that he had a dreamless sleep. He looked like he was dead but then he moved slightly when Verona did. It was at that point when a dream, not a nightmare, entered his mind. It had been dreamless, if only for a moment, but he would not be aware of that fact.

(Time skip <3)

The next morning, the sun wasn't out, which was a bit odd. But clouds instead, replaced the happy disposition of the day.
And then there lay Verona and Ezekiel.

Verona was holding onto one of Ezekiel's arms, snuggling to his chest, with her head under the blanket.
It had been cold that previous night, and he made an ample heater. If not for all of his wounds, she surely would have been wrapped around the rest of his body.
She didn't stir much though, and seemed to be, if anything, in the deepest sleep of all time.

Ezekiel woke with a stomach that ached from hunger. When he sat up slowly he found that there was a suitcase sitting in his room that looked like it contained some of Verona's clothing. He moved to the closet he had and changed into new clothes. He felt a bit better but still not very clean at the moment.

He ignored it though as he went back to where Verona lay. He sat down next to her then and ran his fingers through her hair gently.

When Ezekiel had gotten up, Verona squinted through eyes shut. She didn't enjoy her heater wondering off like that.
But after a moment, she shrugged it off, and fell back asleep.

But soon enough, she was interrupted again, by a more pleasant reality.

Smiling softly, Verona slowly opened her eyes, to peer upon Ezekiel.
"Morning," she said in a whisper.

It wouldn't be long for her hunger to make itself known either.. Minutes maybe.

"They have some of your clothing here," he said gently.

It was at that point when he'd looked at the clock when he noticed the note. He picked it up quickly and studied it for a moment.

"Veronica wants to apologize to you for attacking me and hopes that you two can get along and apparently Eric is angry for not being able to have dinner with us and Maria is just her usual strange self, brooding over how rude she'd been to Mayhen's 'assistant.' Veronica left this morning to visit him though but I doubt she'll actually go there," Ezekiel explained. "My mother would like you to address the city on my behalf to prove that I didn't hurt you or take you against your will when you came to Helen's."

Veronica had left that morning but she was just sitting in Aldous' store staring at the wall. She was too afraid to actually speak to him now because the guilt rested so deeply within herself at this point.

Verona smiled, and left the bed, immediately heading for her suitcase as Ezekiel read the note aloud.
She began digging through her things, finding underwear, a bra, a brush, and a light pink dress. She would look, and feel so much better now!
She dressed quickly though, so Ezekiel wouldn't have to get poisoned or anything, and then plopped back down next to him.

"I'm hoping breakfast fits in there somewhere..?"

Mayhen had been on the couch all that night, and day. He lay there now, staring into space, chewing on his lip with a pout.
Melisse had cooked, and everything for him, but she didn't tell him about Maria's visit. He really didn't need more stress..

"Breakfast is supposed to be in a few minutes, with my mother downstairs," Ezekiel explained. "I'm to come with so we can discuss the subject matter of your address to the public. Eric will be there too and so will Maria but Veronica won't... obviously. Think you can handle my siblings?"

Veronica was close to giving up on actually succeeding in sharing her guilt with Mayhen when she realized she could just write a letter to him. She began almost immediately.

To the beloved Mayhen,
It is in my deepest regrets that I have even a reason to write you a letter at this hour. It is merely half past ten and I have still not eaten breakfast, though that is a minor thing compared to the guilt that seems to be wracking through my entire body at the present moment. If it weren't for a fear that you would reject the apology I would come and speak to you myself. I had merely intervened in the fight because I was scared for you life and I love you. I have never fallen in love before and it is the most painful thing that I have ever experienced. I cannot ignore the fact that I ruined your chance at getting back at someone for taking the person you truly do love.
Veronaca.

There were a few places in the note where she'd messed up slightly and crossed somethings out so that it could be spelled correctly. She was nervous and it was obvious because she hadn't spelt her name correctly and she only did that when she was nervous. She folded it swiftly and handed it to Aldous who agreed to bring it to Mayhen at the present moment.

Smiling slightly, Verona nodded. Of course she could handle them.. But.. a speech..?
Verona didn't particularly enjoy standing in front of the public eye.
"Uhh.. Ezekiel.. I don't do well with speeches. I tend to get a bit nervous.. I just can't."

She was ashamed that she was so camera, and crowd shy. She really was sorry. It was just one of those things for her.

Falling into the bed, she stared up at him with pleading eyes. "I can't do it."



Mayhen was still on the couch, staring into space, when he'd heard the knock. He groaned; Melisse had just left for groceries..
Getting to his feet slowly he slunk over to the door, and opened it.
"Aldous..?" He asked surprised. "What are you doing here..?"

He was certain that everyone would hate him by now. Especially Aldous, Veron, Veronica, Maria, Ezekiel, Eric.. Everyone.

"I can come with you if you'd like but I know my mother would prefer that you make the speech so that it doesn't look like I thought up this idea. It would look like I'm just trying to to clear myself so I can take the company," he said as he studied her.

He wasn't sure why she was so quiet but wasn't afraid of whether or not she would make the speech, though he easily jumped to conclusions quite easily.



"I have come here to give you a note from Veronica," Aldous said.

He wasn't quite confident in the fact that Mayhen might actually read it and he wanted to get away from them. He shifted slightly and just nodded slightly before leaving, that is after dismissing himself.

"I just.. I'll try Ezekiel but.. " She hated being up in the public eye like this. It was like both she and Ezekiel were suddenly famous.
"If I get sick, it's not my fault." That was all she needed. A ton of people watch her throw up on stage.

Taking his hand, Verona began to play with it like she often did. She traced the shapes, her favorites, like circles and hearts, into his palms.

"I'm just a bit nervous.. I would like you to be there with me.."

"We'll have to convinced them that I'm no danger and having me there might be the key. We'll need to keep close eye on my brother and having tighter security because there's a higher chance of someone killing me," Ezekiel added. "But I'll be there for you."

He could tell what she meant by getting sick and he understood the frustration. His sister was like that sometimes, though it was more because of guilt than anything else.

"I want you up there with me.. Right by my side, holding my hand."
She sounded like a little girl, wanting her mother to hold her hand as she crossed the street. Ezekiel was so much more than that to her though.. He was more than just a sense of security.. He was her lover, her everything, he all.

"And... If you're worried about him killing you... Why do you trust him so much now? He killed your father, he's killing your mother! And now you?"

Verona was terrified now. Ezekiel couldn't die! He just couldn't get hurt! She would kill Eric if anything ever happened to him. It would be his fault, she knew it. There would be no other way for him to just up and die, unless it involved Eric.

"I can't have you die on me! I just can't! I- I...!"

Verona was hysterical now, hyperventilating, and crying hysterically. She his her face from Ezekiel, trying to hide the obvious.

"Ezekiel! You're everything to me! I can't live without you!"

"I never said I trusted him," Ezekiel said softly. "And it's okay I'll have people watching him twenty four seven and he won't even know about this speech. I'll be fine."

He kissed her forehead gently before wrapping his arms around her in a secure hug. he didn't want her to be scared and he didn't want to be scared either. He was still sore but he ignored the injuries.

"I love you."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Verona buried her face in his body.
"I can't lose you!" She sobbed into his chest. "I can't!"

If she did, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. If anything did ever happen to Ezekiel, she would never be the same. He was what made her laugh, smile, bleed, and cry. He gave her every emotion anyone could possibly experience.. The good, and the bad... She loved it all.

Looking up to him, she wiped her eyes. This was terrible. They shouldn't have to live in fear like this... Eric needed to be straightened out.

"You're not going to lose me," Ezekiel reassured. "I'll be fine, trust me."
He smooth her hair with one of his hands, unsure what he could do.
He wasn't afraid at the moment and he knew what Eric wanted.
Eric wanted to own the company, but he also wanted to be part of the family.

"We should talk to Eric right now," he said with a slight sigh. "You need to tell him what you're thinking but not about the speech, if it can be helped."

"No!" Shaking her head violently, Verona covered her face even more.
She hadn't really spoken to Eric since that day... Ugh. The day he kissed her.. It was dreadful. She'd hated every second of that morbid moment. That was why she'd attacked him like she had in the limo. No one ever made her that angry.

"I can't talk to him Ezekiel, I hate him." She hated every blood cell in that mans body. "I can't, I can't talk to him, I can't look at him!"

Moving her arms down to his waist, Verona clung to him tighter, as if to reject being pried off. She couldn't allow him to do that.

Ezekiel let out a slight groan when she put pressure against one of the bruises. He hadn't thought defending Eric through very much, and maybe Eric deserved to be pushed around a little. He needed some sort of a punishment but he had no proof that it was Eric causing all the trouble.

"Alright, alright but you're going to have to loosen your death grip before you make any more bruises," he said with a sigh. "I'll talk to him without you."

He tried to move slightly but couldn't since she was standing next to him. He needed to get this over with so he could explain to Eric the consequences of setting up a trick like this. This was not including the fact that if he was charged for three or more deaths he'd be executed as an order from the king, which what was usually ordered in those circumstances.

"I'm sorry.." She said softly, pulling away. She didn't mean to be so forceful, and rough.. She just didn't want to be away from him now, and that was all.
"I don't want you by yourself with him Ezekiel." She didn't want anyone she cared about near him.
"If we absolutely have to talk to him, it will be together."
Having pulled away from him, Verona gripped the edges of his shirt in her hands. She wasn't pulling them very hard, but enough to keep him close to her. It was a sweet sort of grip.
Leaning up slightly, right on her toes, Verona kissed his neck. It was about the only thing she could reach anyway.

Ezekiel couldn't help but laugh when she kissed his neck. He turned though and kissed her, though he had to bend down a little because of the height difference.

"I promise that when we get married you will have a good pair of high heels so you don't have to stand on your tiptoes," he teased slightly. "But we should talk to him now because he's pretty quiet. I think he knows what's coming for him."

Smiling slightly, Verona embraced him once more. This time, more gentle than before.
"Okay.." She said in her small, wind chime tone. "But if he so much as even looks at me the wrong way Ezekiel.."
She'd behead him. Right then and there, by smacking.

Taking one of his hands, she smiled; signaling her readiness. She even wiped her face some too. Hey, she had some pretty odd mood swings didn't she?

"I know," Ezekiel said. "But he won't look at you, I guarantee it."

He led her down the stairs after that, towards the room he wanted to go to. He knew Eric was in there because Eric had always gone there when he felt guilty or upset about something. Maybe he did need some jail time to realize what he'd done.

"Just remember," Ezekiel said. "He knows what he's done."

Nodding, Verona sort of hugged Ezekiel one more quick time, before they would enter the room.
"Okay," she said quietly. "But I can't promise I'll be nice.."

Mentally preparing herself, Verona took Ezekiel's hand. She nodded, and then waited for a small moment to enter. This was it. Eric was going to get his, and then some, if he even tried to speak.. mainly if he said anything about being not guilty.

"I love you," she whispered.