His heart ached just looking at Oliver. Emmery took a few steps forward. "I talked some things out with Dyl ... It isn't over yet, that conversation, but it's over enough for me to have realized something." One more step. Another one. Emmery wrapped his arms around the dark haired Messenger.

He held him so close and tight! It was a wonder Oliver's ribs didn't creak and break. "I don't ever want to see that look on your face again. Hear words like that. It felt like I was being torn to shreds." He let go, and stepped back even though it felt wrong to do so. "Oliver, I still need to work through the feelings I have for Dylan. It's such a tangle ... But I don't think I could live without you. I think I care for you more then anything else in my life, even my art. Even if I don't know why. "

Could the Messenger forgive him? It was true, all of what Eddie had said. Oliver took things to heart. Took them in, and then let them soak into everything.