The escape into the outside world beyond the Tawdry proved helpful, and certainly, the cold night air helped chased away the stuffy nose, and the flush on her cheeks were cooled. With his hand in hers, they walked without direction. While she had wanted to apologize again for her rude actions, Shay began to explain himself abruptly. She listened on in silence, considering each word he uttered as the truth. It made perfect sense, his reasoning behind his emotions. The very act of casting him out of her home, was just like Sam had said. She rejected him, just like he had dealt with all his life, even his sister. Part of her felt guilt that she had acted irrationally, like a complete idiot. 

	What garnered an intrigued expression from her was the revelation of his emotions towards the von Goethe’s as he moved in front of her, preventing her from taking another step. She gazed up intently at his blue eyes, as if hearing him truly for the first time. When he finished speaking, reached up and grasped his chin, just like Sam had done just an hour earlier.

“Shay…” she began, her eyes searching his, as if she would find the answer there, to which she did. She released his chin, and instead, slipped her arms around him, holding fast to him in a tight embrace. He was taller than her, so her head came to rest on the breast of his coat. “I’m sorry too. I’ve never known a pain like yours, one where everyone hates you just because of where you’re born, where no matter what you do, it’s never good enough. I’m sorry that I never thought to ask you how you felt on this job, or even stopped once to think of you. I’m sorry that I can be a little hasty and reckless in my words. But I can promise you one thing… I will love you no matter what, because I love you for who you are, not what you are.” She lifted her head up to gaze at him, a look empathy in her eyes as a tender smile made the corners of her mouth raise. 

	And then… she kissed him. Timidly at first, for she didn’t know if he would reject her sudden expression of love, for there was a small twinge of fear that still lurked inside.