[center] Christian was careful to speak, unwilling to start a fight when the man had that many acquaintances under one roof - and he knew full well Clara would intervene. So he sat still, eyeing the male with a new disdain the entire time he’d spoken. He’d seen his expressions, tried to read him, however, his words were hardly satisfactory. Hell, Christian hadn’t known why he was giving the man even an opportunity to let Clara down once more - but at the end of it all, or even anywhere along the way he’d regret it if he’d make another mistake. 

“See to it that you do try to fix it.” Christian bit out, coming to a stand as Kieran had. He did not speak further, watching the other male as he left the room before he slowly headed upstairs himself. He was full of frustration, knowing exactly what he’d wanted to do to keep Clara from him. He didn’t need the female to get hurt any further and he seriously doubted that Kieran could do anything to try and heal their situation. No good could come of this. And if it had failed, just as he thought it might, he would take her far, far away again where Kieran couldn’t find her; where he couldn’t hurt her again. 

He had paused at Clara’s door momentarily, his hand wavering above the knob in a moment of hesitation. No, he probably shouldn’t wake her if she’d fallen asleep -- perhaps the alcohol would have done her some good that night and she was able to find solace in that. 

With a slow sigh, Christian headed towards his own room before settling carefully into bed. This definitely had changed things, he thought, and he wasn’t sure how everything would play out over the next few days. Clearly, Christian’s relationship with Kieran had suddenly shifted, and he wasn’t sure if he could stay around the male for too long. Silently, he wondered if any of the others really were aware of who Clara was, especially to Kieran, or if they’d assumed she’d been a local who wanted to help. Either way, the man had eventually drifted to sleep and was up early for coffee once more. 

-
The next morning Clara had risen late yet again, the feeling of exhaustion still heavy on her bones. She was finding it more and more difficult to sleep there, and she almost wondered if she should ask Christian to find another place to stay. Her thoughts ate at her endlessly, offering her no relief of the day come night time. 

With a frown, she’d stepped into the shower, allowing the hot water to envelope her. She’d been in there for far too long, perhaps, before she’d decided to leave it’s comforts, slowly dressing and brushing through her long curls again. She’d pushed a stray one out of her face and back into the haphazard up-do that she’d placed it in, before slowly headed downstairs in search of her own coffee - her steps quiet, not a word to be said.[/center] [@Arista]