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| - Reaver looked around and found himself floating in a dark purple mist. He knew exactly where he was. It was the dream again...the one that had plagued his existence for over 300 years. The mist set him down softly before a small cottage, with heather and lilac growing along the outside. He could practically smell the sweet scent of flowers mixing with the earthy smells of Oakvale. He waltzed right up to the cottage and took a look inside. There was a young woman, and a small boy who was stubbornly refusing to wake up. Reaver smiled as he recognized the youth. "And you always did..." Reaver fought to keep up with the three children, but they ran from him, and the purple mist picked him up again, eager for the dream to continue. When the mist cleared, Reaver looked around and saw the youth, now a teen, with a small rosebud in tow. Reaver looked longingly at the young girl he was about to hand it too. "I remember that day, even after 300 years, I'll never forget it." Reaver desperately wanted to tell the young man what to say to win over his fair damsel, he had even tried shouting it to him in past dreams, but the young man and womans scene moved forward as if it where a play as the forgotten couple began their courtship before his eyes. The bittersweet memories flooded Reaver's heart. He knew that it was only going to get harder to watch as the dream went on. He broke free of the mist in time to see himself, now a man, down on one knee, holding up a gleaming ruby ring in his hands. Cammilia was sitting on a chair and he was at her feet, begging, it seemed, for such a perfect creatures love. But she had always loved him, and so of course, she would comply. He could only look on in awe. It pained him that he would never have a romance like that again. "If I had somehow been able to keep Connie, but now she will never love me again, she thinks that I am a monster. I know it." He rubbed his temples and watched as the mist set him down into the next phase of the dream. "He was a hell of a brother -even after 300 years I still am glad that he died." Reaver scoffed in a laugh, a rare happenstance in this dream. But he knew that he would only be laughing for so long, before THEY showed up... Reaver fought back the tears. "Your one hell of a father..." He cursed himself. "She trusted me, they all did. And why wouldn't they? I was their hero. I protected that town, they had never known fear because of me." Then the pain returned as the mist came for him again. Reaver struggled harder than ever before to fight it. "No! Not to the next scene, please. Let the dream end here, let my memories for once remain untouched by what I have done. Please, I am begging you!" Reaver lashed and fought in the darkness, but the mist picked him up as if he had been completely willing. Reaver started running as fast as he could towards the old farmhouse in the distance, determined to get there just a few seconds earlier, to stop what was about to transpire. To get his wife and his little Opal to safety. Just a few moments was all he needed, but when he arrived, the scene was already in motion. The other him, the old him, had just come through the farmhouse door. Connie was awakened by the sound of Reaver yelling. She rushed up onto the deck, but he was nowhere to be found. She cried out for him, but there was no answer. Lance followed her around the deck of the Reaver II, and finally into the master suit. Reaver was sitting atop his luxury double bed, drenched in sweat with a look of frozen horror stamped to his face. Connie approached him with caution. "Reaver? Are you ok?" Reaver remained frozen, which prompted her to become very worried. Never before had she seen the brave Reaver so terrified. Even in the Shadow Court, he had been extremely brave and bold. But now, it was as if he had just encountered his worst nightmare. Connie reached out and touched the kissmark on his cheek. Reaver still remained motionless, but finally spoke. "...She was all that I ever needed..." His voice trembled. Connie knew in an instant that he was talking about Cammilia. "I know Reaver. She must have been very special to you." She offered. Reaver turned to her and his eyes grew dark. "That wasn't what I wanted...they tricked me. They took my wish and twisted it to fit their own evil desires. They took everything from me that day. And even now that they are gone, it still haunts my every dream." Connie looked at him. "Dream? You had a dream?" She asked. Reaver nodded slowly. "For 300 years I have had but one dream. That dream. You only know a tiny portion of what really happened that night Connie. The full truth is more painful than you could ever imagine, and I choose to spare you." Connie was over being angry with Reaver, she now realized that his story was all true, and that he had not fooled her. Now all that she wanted to do was comfort him. He looked up, unsure what to say next. "Reaver. I had no idea that you lost so much..." Reaver looked away from her and down to the wooden floorboards. "I was such a fool...I had hoped that you would give me another chance, but now it would seem that I have killed that too..." Lance came up and licked Reaver's face, and to Connie's surprise, Reaver didn't try to stop him, instead he involuntarily patted the wolfdogs warm white fur. Connie slid her hand in his. "I love you. I want to help you get this out. Please Reaver. Please trust me enough to tell me the whole story." Reaver shook his head. "Perhaps someday. But I am not ready today." Connie stroked his hand with her own. "Reaver. I forgive you. Please. Lets start anew together ok? I love you and I want nothing more than to spend my life with you." "Really dear? Even after all I put you through?" Connie smiled happily. "Of course. I behaved rashly. I'm so sorry Reaver, for not believing that you cared for me. You gave up your immortality for me, you saved my life, you left your mansion and everything you owned just to be with me. I love you and I want to be with you forever, our own personal forever. However long it lasts." "Connie, I haven't been a good, trustworthy man for 300 years. But I want to be that man now, for you."Reaver embraced her passionately. Connie felt her body soften at his warm touch. She let her eyelids close and lay down upon his lap. Reaver stroked her long hair as he watched her body rise and fall. "You truely are a remarkable woman Connie." He spoke softly.
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