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It was done. The deal that brought him into this entire thing was done and over with. It had been for some time but with Heliodora's death, it was truly broken.

Jeremiah did not know how he felt about it but he had long since reached a point where he knew it would have to happen. He had just not expected it to be this soon but then again-

He should have expected it.

Oddly enough he did not want to go seeking her out at the beach, he felt as if he owed her more than that, but Jeremiah was looking for Sunny. It was why, without thinking about it, he had taken himself to the Shore mansion or, rather, the place it had been.

It was supposed to be her home, one that was now gone. The mansion still lingered in other ashdown but it was no longer present on this side. Which made him wonder, had she lived there in it in other ashdown? It was not the time for introspection, Jeremiah turning on his heel to head to somewhere else he had heard Sunny had been lately.

"I would have much preferred to see them home but things have gone a different path." Jeremiah turned towards Sunny, letting out a breath and sliding his hands into his jacket pockets.

"I honestly believed I could do so." Bring them home as he had said he would. Jeremiah did not often break promises and this one- This was one that was one that was not meant to be broken. "Yet, if anything, it seems as if this particular me has done nothing but let you down." It was not self-deprecating, not anymore, but the truth.

He looked up towards her in the tree, blue-green eyes watching her. At least his head did not spin like it had at the ball when he looked at her now. "The sword has been shattered, the crown was broken, the stars fell and I'm here to see you."

Because if there was a price to pay for this, for their deal being broken, then he would face it and not run for it.

A few months ago he might have flinched, now he just inclined his head and watched her as she dropped and-

Jeremiah gasped - a choked noise of pain - but did not crumple, did not even reach a hand up to grab at her wrist. Instead his eyes glinted and focused on hers. "I'm not begging you for anything," he breathed out, face pale. "because if you're going to do it, you're going to do it. You can eat now, can't you? I've still got that recipe for hearts in my pocket."

Just like he still had that callalily pinned to his coat; a constant reminder. Like this he couldn't move, not with her hand on his heart. Not with it fighting to beat. "The only thing I can do is say we make a new deal because the old one was shite."

"Then let's rectify that, shall we? I'm done with that." If he's got a problem with what she's saying, he's not showing it. Jeremiah is still pale but even with her hand squeezing his heart he is not backing down. There's strength in his voice that hadn't been there before.

"Apparently I've never had the spine or the heart," the look on his face, "to do it but-" His eyes glow briefly because magic is finding it's way here more often. "Things change. What I am offering is that when the time comes, whatever needs to be done in regards to you? I'll make it happen."

Jeremiah is very aware of his position, of her hand on his heart, of the fact it's fighting to beat in her grip. "Protect you, kill you- whatever, Sunny. Friendship is off the table but I can do everything else." Understand or safeguard her, Ezra had said months ago but he was adding to that. Jeremiah Mercer would champion what needed to be done because he was through backing down.

"No," he replied, "and I didn't even think you'd take the deal. I just wanted to make it clear." His face is pale and there's still fire in his eyes because he's not backing down. Jeremiah gasped when her fingers pulled from her chest, watching the blood drip from them.

Then he blinked and actual fear creeped in, flashing there in his eyes. Did she- Not his heart beating in his chest but-

"You-" he choked a moment, unable to speak. Jeremiah would have to- "... what happens?" As he was taking this as not his actual heart but someone who held it. It was a small list of people, a very small list.

Not he expected her to say but he could hope because there was a name on the tip of his tongue.

Jeremiah laughed, a choked noise pulled from his throat.

"Offering, right. I'm not willing to lose anyone but I don't know that you're going to give me that choice." Still- Who could he let go? Someone that would do better without him? Who might have a- There were few people that immediately come to mind. One he could never let go, another he could not part with because there were things left to be said, and yet-

"You," he said. "I'm tired of trying with you, Sunny." If he was cutting someone out then it would be her. Jeremiah still hoped and cared regardless of everything that had happened. "Might as well give actual proof that I'm shite at being a father figure."

... and that line was telling of who was really on his mind.

"That would actually be where you're wrong. I do give a shite." It was absolutely true. The small things he had left, the fact that he actively campaigned for people to see her and not the stories that were told about her.

... yet she was not a heart. Perhaps she had been another time but this time she was not. The remark about daddy did not even get a twitch from him.

Silence reigned, Jeremiah acutely aware of the heavy feeling in his chest where her fingers had been wrapped around his heart. Something was breaking, snapping, and he could not say what it was. Was it that he had failed and now he was truly failing. Proving her point.

"Zac."

"I made myself, Sunny, I'm well aware of that." Sunny had guided him in the beginning and then he had floundered for a while until Ezra had given him true guidance. Jeremiah made himself, no one else made him walk this path but himself. There was no wiggling out of it but there was no point in responding to that. Sunny would do as she wanted and his words were meaningless to her.

The smile should have made him flinch but he did not, instead he smiled right back at at her. It was better than showing what was under the surface. The wreckage she was making. Jeremiah did not shake, did not flinch, and when he felt her fingers pressed to his eyes-

Just like Ezra and his mother. Sunny's words made the words of the bone ring come to mind, how Ezra missed his mother's touch.

Fear set in but he wouldn't show it. His body reacted without him controlling it, hands closing around her wrists - so small, but strong - but they simply held and did not try to pull away. Instead he was focusing on the fact that it felt as if his head was trying to not explode.