keep my hand in yours

She almost slipped away into a gentle slumber. Her limbs warm and heavy, soothed by the caress of his fingers over her skin, cheek pillowed against his chest. The steady thrum of his heart beneath her ear urging her to release all the remaining worry and simply melt into him. His voice stirred her instead, causing her head to lift as she looked down at him, brows knitting together to form a slight crease.

Her heart squeezed at his words, guilt swelling as he apologized, knowing deep down that she made it harder for him. Harder than it ever had to be.

Shaking her head, the One Shot lifted a hand to his cheek, "Please don't apologize to me, Noah... I didn't make it any easier for you." She murmured, lips pressing into a thin line, "Whether it was fair or not... I am your wife. Your partner. I should have been at your side willingly, helping you with your task, and being there when you needed me." A heavy sigh pushed past her lips, a tightening stirring in her chest and rising in her throat as tears threatened to slip down her cheeks. "If I had then maybe... Maybe you wouldn't have struggled so much."

The wave of guilt threatened to drown her, to pull her down so deeply she'd never see the light again. Here he was, laying himself at her feet, apologizing to her when she should be the one saying sorry to him.

Cordelia

My hand was the one you reached for all throughout the Great War