Ethan Anderson: Ethan bumbles his way downstairs, frowning slightly. He'd overslept. A lot. And, as such, he was clad in not much more then a pair of faded flannel pajama bottoms, the hems raggedy from being stepped on as they were a few inches too long on his petite frame. Yawning, he rubs one hand across his sparsely furred chest and steps down to the main floor.

Ethan Anderson: ((color!))

Aerin Thomas: He's on the couch, taking it easy for the morning. White tank-top and shorts, socks and sandals. He had to go check mail, but that's about it. His hair is unbound, frizzed out and messed up. Did he even sleep? Hard to tell. CNN is on...ahh, the morning news rush. He looks up as Ethan comes down the stairs, smiling his way. "Mornin', sunshine."

Ethan Anderson: "Morning hon," he murmurs softly, glancing around quickly before padding to the couch to hug Aerin from behind, kissing his neck softly.

Aerin Thomas: "Mmm..." He tilts his neck to the side a little...yes, the man who's (for-now) mate is a vampire counts his neck as a weak spot. "Sleep well?"

Ethan Anderson: "Apparently as I wasn't up before the crack of dawn." He chuckles, gives another little kiss and reluctantly draws away, hands sliding across Aerin's chest to his shoulders and resting there before finally falling away. "Did you sleep at all?"

Aerin Thomas: "Meh." He shrugs a little bit. "I had a case of insomnia. Hey, have you heard of Yoga Bootie Ballet? I think it may be the worst thing ever. Definitely a Wyrm by-product." Ahh, forced lightness to deflect. Yes, he's off his game this morning.

Ethan Anderson: "Love you," he says gently, a warm, sweet smile in his voice as he begins running his fingers through Aerin's hair, trying to settle it and comb it into place. "What's going through your head, baby?"

Aerin Thomas: A little sigh, eyes on the TV, as he leans his head back into Ethan's soothing fingers. "That I'm running out of time. And I'm going to have to find the nerve to do this, before I lose it."

Ethan Anderson: He sighs and nods slowly, fingers continuing their gentle work. "Are the papers ready," he asks, licking his lips.

Aerin Thomas: "Almost. I have...a couple of people I need to notify, still, so I don't get hunted down. Beyond those few that are in the know...when this goes down, I'm not going to try and...defend myself. So I need to make sure that certain people don't go hunting for my hide. Because I know some that would."

Ethan Anderson: He nods. "And then we just need to let her catch us," he murmurs. "She's going to fight this if she doesn't have proof...doesn't see how in love we are." He says that last with a bit of a sigh. Aerin loves him, yes...but he knows that the only person the man is in love with is his Mate.

Aerin Thomas: His eyes shut, swallowing hard. "...yeah." There's a little sigh, shoulders slumped a little. "I don't know whether I'm dreading it more or just wanting it to happen so it can be done."

Ethan Anderson: "You're giving up the love of your life and your children to protect her...Its probably equal parts of both," he says softly. "I wish I could make it easier but I can't...and I know that after it happens...For a while at least, I might be your least favorite person in the world."

Ethan Anderson: ((To protect them))

Aerin Thomas: "No...I sincerely doubt that." He shakes his head. "I...very sincerely doubt it, as a matter of fact. He leans his head back to look up at Ethan. "I couldn't see that ever happening."

Ethan Anderson: He smiles at that, a little bewildered but there's love in his eyes, so much that it hurts. He leans down and kisses Aerin, a soft, nuzzling brush of lips.

Aerin Thomas: He leans his body up a little to meet that light kiss, sighingly incredibly deeply. "Thank you. I know...I know I've said it a lot, but I mean it. Thank you, Ethan. So much."

Ethan Anderson: "There's nothing to thank me for, Aerin," he murmurs. "I wouldn't even have a life if it weren't for you. I wouldn't feel as alive as i do, if it weren't for you..." He bites his lip slightly and pulls back to rest his forehead against Aerin's, hiding his face from the other. "I thought it was l-love with Joey...I was so so w-w...w..."

Aerin Thomas: "Shhh....shhh." He twists his body around, rising as he dies, to face Ethan, arms slipping around his waist. "Hush, Ethan. It's okay."

Ethan Anderson: "I know," he says, smiling shakily, tears in his eyes. "I just...part of me feels guilty Aerin. I get what I want...And you lose the love of your life..."

Aerin Thomas: He's quiet. He doesn't have any pretty words for this...he doesn't have the heart to lie and say it will all be fine, 'cause they both know it won't. But it will work. "I'll get by. And I'll move on...and I'll have you. I'll need you, Ethan. More then I ever have. I...I don't know if I'll be able to do it without you," he admits, quietly. "Hell, I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep my resolve throughout as it is."

Ethan Anderson: "I'm not going anywhere. You know that," he says. "No matter what I'm not going anywhere. And if you lose your resolve...I can't give it back to you but I know that things can't keep going on like the are. Its not good...Not for you or me or ITa...And she and Joe love each other. You can see it. And she loves you...SHe'll be happy with him, once she heals. You'll be okay with me but not necessarily happy but I won't stop trying to make you happy," he promises.

Aerin Thomas: "I know." He looks down at Ethan and smiles a little bit. "I know it's not good...and I know that this is the best thing that can happen. I'm going to try to hold it together. I just hope I can."

Ethan Anderson: He rubs his knuckles against Aerin's cheek. "We keep going like we are and she'll find out sooner rather then later. We're way too...casual about touching each other." He sighs and smiles softly. "Not that I'm complaining."

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles a little bit. "Well...just a few more days, hon. And then we'll be home free."

Ethan Anderson: He nods and steals another kiss before pulling away slowly, his smile almost teasing. "Think you can last a few more days?"

Aerin Thomas: "I think so." He nods a little, sighing. "I can try my damnedest."

Ethan Anderson: "Okay...I was t-trying to lighten the mood there." He snorts softly. "We'll be fine. We will."

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little, smiling slightly. "I know we will." He looks up at Ethan, eyes warm, adoring. "Everyone will be okay."

Ethan Anderson: "Because they have to be." He pauses, brow furrowing. "Aerin...Are you sending Tori away too," he asks suddenly. "That's the one thing that's kind of bothered me. She's not Ita's."

Aerin Thomas: "No." He shakes his head. "Tori is kin. And she's my daughter. She's..." He blinks a couple times, and shakes his head, looking down. "No way."

Ethan Anderson: "I'm glad," he says, fingers rubbing the man's chin. "I can help with her...I can take care of her..."

Aerin Thomas: He nods, taking a deep breath. "I'm really gonna hurt her." It's quiet, almost a little kid-like. "I know it's for the best, and it's to save her, but...I'm really, really gonna hurt her."

Ethan Anderson: "Yeah, you are,' he murmurs, moving around the couch to sit down and draw Aerin into his arms. "But she'll have Joe and Archie...She'll have the dogs and the crows...She'll survive and m-maybe she'll understand someday that you did it because you love her."

Aerin Thomas: "I hope so." He leans into Ethan, drawing his knees up to his chest. "I'm just worried that even all this won't be enough." He sighs. "I'm taking steps to cut off contact. Changing my cell...I'm gonna move out of the apartment in the city. I've already talked to Jody, and will be resigning from the Concerto in the next day or two."

Ethan Anderson: He kisses Aerin's head gently. "You m-may have to be mean...You m-may have to make her want to go away." Ethan sighs. "What good will quitting your job do though?"

Aerin Thomas: "She knows I work there. She's stubborn enough to try and find me there." He sighs. "Besides, I have enough to live on for a while. And I can always find something else in Security work, or go back to bodyguarding. Might not help to know that my one client is dead...though to be fair, that happened AFTER he fired me..."

Ethan Anderson: He nods, curling his arms around the other man. "I can get a job. Try and work opposite your schedule so that someone's always with Tori. That'll work out. It'll all work out, Aerin."

Aerin Thomas: "There's also Bliss," he points out. "He's got room at his place...I think. If we have to, we can move in there if he doesn't mind...it'll save us all, and we'll always have someone there then. And Liam and Eddie will still sit for us, I'm sure." He's just throwing stuff out at this point.

Ethan Anderson: "What about this place? Micah's horses," he asks slowly.

Aerin Thomas: A hand runs through his hair, lips pressing together. "Ita's really good with the horses. I'll..." he shrugs. "I'm signing this place over to them. The horses will...I guess they'll be hers. I can't be around them...I don't know where else they'd go. I'll have to...fuck." He blinks. "Micah's...plot. It's in the back yard."

Ethan Anderson: Ethan bites his lips gently and says nothing for a long moment. "Can you leave him?"

Aerin Thomas: He lets out a slow, shaky breath and shuts his eyes, drawing inward on himself. "I don't want to think about it now. Not anymore, not now. The details will kill me. ...later."

Ethan Anderson: He nods and curls himself around Aerin, just holding him.