Pao
Just after dinner the two of them had slipped into the bath to relax a bit more before bed. These hot baths they were sharing now and again were starting to spoil him a little, he thought, though he definitely wasn't complaining. If anything, it was the closest the could really get while fully naked without him freaking out...

He hugged her close, chin resting on her shoulder as he continued to ponder about her exes. Mostly the "why" behind their ending, so after a while he ran his hands down her arms and took hold of her hands before wrapping his arms around her again. "So why did you and your exes end things, anyway? I just...keep wondering, is all...sorry I keep bringin' 'em up."

Aria
She was sitting against him, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the feeling of relaxing in the hot water, snuggled against him. When his hands slid down her arms, her eyes opened again to watch them, curiously. When he took her hands and held her, she just smiled, happy to have him close like this.

His question, however, caused her to stiffen her back for a long moment, and her face to go into a blank mask. Finally, she took a long, slow breath, trying to relax as she considered the question. "I... Hoo boy. Ok that's a bit of a story. Involves my parents, and my dropping out..." She slowly leaned her head back so that it rested against his shoulder, trying to draw comfort from him as she tried to figure out where to start.

"So, I met them when I was fifteen, working at my first job. I didn't know them, despite going to the same high school... Well it wasn't like I was going out hunting for friends with how things were... So, they met me on a cheap date together. Decided they liked me, became friends, then more..." Her fingers tightened in his. "Things went well for a good while... Then I turned 16. Mical's mother had found out I'd never had a... A proper birthday. So they all got together and planned a party. It was wonderful... And then Mical walked be home."

She was silent for a long moment, then said "For the first time in my life, my father was waiting for me on the porch. He yelled at me, accused me off dishonoring the family, other such things. I lost my temper... Yelled back that why did he care, when they didn't care if I starved, stuff like that... Said it wasn't his business, and fled to Mical's house, where I crashed for the night. The next day, when I got home... My keys no longer worked on the front door. There was a note addressed to me taped to the mailbox."
She took a breath. "Short form is... My parents were basically disowning me completely. They were giving me the basement room I'd been living in until I was 18, but they're boarded up the door to the main house. They had even included early grad forms so I could apply for and take the test."

She stopped, shivering despite the warmth, needing a moment.

Pao
He felt the sudden tension in her body as soon as he asked the question, and almost as soon as he did his heart sank. He knew the story would be a hard one to tell, so when she leaned het head back he hugged her just a bit tighter, nuzzling into her neck and closing his eyes just to listen.

It started out okay, and then by about the middle he squeezed her hands gently to try and offer a little bit of added comfort in case she needed it. By the end he opened his eyes, his heart fracturing a number of times as she explained what her parents did over something so...normal for any other teenager. He nuzzled into her neck a little bit, quietly whispering what words of encouragement he could think of.

And then he waited patiently, silently, in case there was more she wanted to say, all the while just holding her, occasionally adjusting to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Aria
She took a few more breaths, then began to speak again. "So I took the test, passed, and dropped out... Because I had to support myself, now. Technically, they gave me $50 a month to live on... Reality is they'd leave a note claiming my utility use exceeded that, so I didn't get it. I took on two more jobs, and sadly... I had to spend more time working then I had for anything else. I had no chance to go to college, now, because I would only have been able to do so if I could get an educational scholarship for my grades." She leaned her face into his neck, sighing softly, trying not to cry at the memory.

"Mical and Terri couldn't handle it, that I had no time anymore. I spent every free chance I could with them, but... It wasn't enough, apparently. They felt neglected and disconnected." Her voice trembled a little as she continued. "So... one night, they came to me and... ended things. I... Nearly gave up, because at that point in time, they were the one good thing in my life at that point. My parents had banned me from seeing Dai, so I couldn't do that... I wouldn't let him come visit, no matter what. I didn't want them to... punish him. They didn't have me to... blame, so much, anymore." She bit her lip, and said "I think this was the closest I ever came to..." She mumbled a little "suicide...." Her voice went back to normal. "I almost gave in, but... then I got angry... And decided to save up every spare penny I could to get the hell out of that town."

There was a pause, and she added "Then, on my 18th birthday, they showed up, tried to tell me they missed me. They gave me a gift... One apparently they'd worked with Dai to get." She was silent, then said "The two necklaces I tend to wear, and the other star clips, were in it. The clips were from Dai." She thought for a moment, then said "I have been thinking about not wearing the necklaces anymore. I was wearing them to remind myself that I needed to be strong, and to not let others that close again."

Pao
For a while it was all he could do, comfort her with hugs or kisses or nuzzles of affection, to remind her he was here. Despite the anger he felt and his heart breaking at just imagining how much pain she must have been in all that time. Alone and abandoned and just...

When she mentioned suicide, his hug tightened just a bit as he whispered, "I'm glad you were able to push past that," during a pause. Now, given that they'd met and actually fell in love he just couldn't imagine his life without her in it.

And then she closed things out with the presents and he...had mixed feelings. On the one hand she was his now, on the other at one point these people had cared for her just like he did now and it didn't feel fair to ask her to toss them. So he nuzzled in and sighed, planting soft kisses along her neck as he thought on it for a little while.

"Still feel like you need that reminder these days?" he asked, eventually.

Aria
She snuggled in closer, her eyes closed tight as she took comfort from his words, and his presence. She wanted to turn, to face him, but knew that right now that was a terrible idea. The kisses on her neck, at this time, didn't do more then comfort her, and she sighed softly. She might hate thinking about that time, but if it hadn't been for those two, she might not have ever believed anyone COULD want her... So her being here, in his arms, happened in some ways thanks to those two.

His question caused her to smile, a little. "No, babe. You're a better reminder of why I can let people in." She said, softly, to him. "I probably... will put them away, with the photo album that's on my desk, to store. I don't... want to get rid of them but I think... I think it's time to stop wearing them."

Pao
He smiled softly and gave a little nod, both at being a reminder as well as when she made the decision to stop wearing the necklaces. Rhys nuzzled in again, still kissing along her neck and shoulder in what was meant to be a comforting manner. "They sound like they'd have sentimental value, I get that, “he said quietly. "Anyway, I'm just happy you had good things for some of that time you had to deal with your...them."

Aria
She made a soft, content sound at his comforting, her head tilting just a little in response to his kisses. "Yeah, that would... cover it. The clips from Dai, of course, are still important to me... The only gift he was ever able to give me that lasted." She sighed softly, and smiled a little. "He always wanted to give me things, but... He had to sneak them down and it was usually treats, because they were what he could easily get." She paused, then turned her head to kiss his cheek softly. "The rest of it can... be put away, somewhere safe but not out where I have to see or deal with them regularly. The photo album is just bittersweet anyways, since it's photos of them and Dai. I might take one of Dai out, and get it framed, though."

Pao
His form of comforts didn't stop, though he did pause now and again to nod so she didn't think he was getting lost in what he was doing. And then when she kissed his cheek he pulled away so he could look at her, smiling a soft but still bright smile. "Whatever's good for you, babe," he said as he leaned in for a kiss.

When he pulled away he let go of her and moved his hands to her shoulders, just starting to massage her gently. Work the tension out from talking about this. He knew it was hard, likely as hard as it had been for him to share bits and pieces of his own past, so he hoped this would help. If he didn't have issues with her touching him too much he would have been happy if she'd massaged him a bit more, too.

"But you really love that kid brother of yours, huh? He sounds like a good kid. If I could meet him I'd wanna thank him for caring about you even when they told him not to."

Aria
She kissed him back, eyes closed, and cuddled against him, glad, in some ways, for the chance to tell him. It hurt, it really hurt... But it also, now, made her feel... better. Like she'd helped purge some sort of poison that she hadn't realized was sitting in her, making her life more miserable, and more painful.

The massaging, however, had her head dropping forwards, a soft, happy sigh escaping her lips. He was so very good at this, and if she wasn't just that touch possessive, she'd suggest he do masseuse work. However, there were things of him she did not want to share, and this was very much one of them. It just felt so amazing, and to know this was something he did for her felt... very good.

She wished she could return it more often, though, and resolved to at least give him upper back massages whenever she could. Someday, though, she'd be able to return the favor.

"Mmm... Yeah. Dai... was probably the only reason I didn't go completely insane as a kid, honestly." She said, softly, her hands resting on her knees. "I don't know how he managed to avoid the poison they whispered in his ear, but somehow he did... He was... is very strong willed."

Pao
Even if she did suggest he do masseuse work he probably would have declined. Much like she enjoyed only cooking for the people she loved, typically he only did massage when it was for her, because he loved her and was more than happy to give her a full body massage whenever she wanted one, or if he was currying favors for future use. And even then, he drew a line to people he didn't think were complete asses.

He leaned down to give the back of her neck a little kiss before he moved a little further down. "You mean he's a little like you?" he chuckled.

Aria
She mmm'd softly at the kiss, her arms moving to lean on the edge of the tub. As his hands moved down, she somewhat instinctively leaned a bit forwards, making it easier for him to reach, then blinked some, and went "Eh? Like me?" She sounded curious, and confused. "Not sure what you mean, love."

Pao
He smiled at her reactions, and with the extra bit of room she gave him it got a lot easier to find the knots he knew were just lurking around. "Yeah, like you. Strong and sometimes stubborn. Somethin' I've always seen in you is that strength, actually, and it's something I find really attractive."

As he worked through the knots he sometimes would lean forward, peppering kisses onto her back, over each scar that he saw. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask about these. Not now, probably not even today, but maybe sometime in the future.

Aria
She blushed at his words, the red tone spreading a bit to the back of her neck and a little down. "Ah... I... guess I never saw it myself. Always felt I was right on the edge of breaking, in my head but... I'm glad you see it, even if I don't." She said, soft and earnest, and grateful.

The kisses to her scars were a strange sensation, unnerving somewhat, and yet at the same time, they felt incredibly good, a reminder that he saw them, knew they were there, and didn't see her as ugly for them. She was glad she was facing away from him, in that moment, because he wouldn't see the few tears that slipped out, happy tears because of how strange and yet amazing it felt.

Pao
"I'll have to keep telling you 'til you see it for yourself, babe," he said between kisses.

When he had kissed as many of her scars as he could reach he just focused on massaging her, not realizing how those kisses had affected her at all. The brunette kept on massaging, moving just a bit further down to her lower back. The blush had him smirking; as always he found it incredibly cute and, in this particular situation...a little more than that.

But he didn't say anything about it, just admired it and kept on massaging until he was done and he slipped his arms right around her waist, gently pulling her back so she could rest against him again. He leaned back against the tub as well, relaxing in the warm water. It was actually starting to get cold, but not enough to make him want to rush out. And he sighed, very happy with where they were, not in just a physical sense but in their relationship as well.

Aria
"Mmmm you're just as determined and stubborn, you know. I'm just glad you choose to focus some of that on me, love." She shivered a little at some of the kisses, especially any that were right on her spine. Her back was, despite the damage done to it, still fairly sensitive.

The massage left her feeling limp, like a cooked noodle, but in a good way... Relaxed, so very relaxed, and she wasn't sure she'd ever been that relaxed before in her life. Beautiful, caring, talented with her hands... How did she get this damn lucky?

She more then willingly leaned back against him, eyes closing again. The water getting colder wasn't her favorite, but she was fine with it as long as she was snuggled into him. If nothing else, it made it easier to deal with physical responses to being close to him. His sigh had her gently tilting her head to press a loving kiss to his neck, not quite having the energy to lean up for his lips.

Pao
It was an incredibly late response, but once they were all relaxed like that he smirked and shot back, "Am not stubborn," before chuckling. The kiss had him smiling still, though not for a whole lot longer. The water just gradually kept getting colder and colder, and while snuggling up with her was as perfect as perfect could be, the water really was...not ideal.

"Babe, we're gonna be frozen prunes if we don't get outta this thing soon," he said, chuckling but shivering as he sat them up. "To be continued, in bed?"

Aria
"Of course you're not." She said, in an amused and loving tone. "I can't imagine what would have made me think that about you, love." She started to shiver gently in the water, so his next comment made her smile a little. "Mmmm wish the water stayed warm longer, but yes..." She slowly stood, and undid the plug, then grabbed for her towel, getting out of the cold water quickly. "Yes, bed sounds like a wonderful place to continue."

Pao
He followed after her, still amused as he grabbed his towel and started drying himself off. It was freezing so he moved quickly, slipping into just his pajama bottoms before getting into bed for the sake of warming up as fast as humanly possible. And also so she could slip into an already warm bed.

Aria
She was toweling herself off still when he slipped off to the bedroom, but she followed after as quickly as she could once dry, slipping into the nightshirt she'd packed because it was the easiest, and not bothering with anything else at the moment. When she saw him waiting in bed for her, she slipped under the blankets and sheets, snuggling right up to him, giving him a loving and grateful smile.

Pao
His arms automatically just found their place around her, pulling her in for warmth as much as for snuggles. He smiled lovingly down at her as well, then pulled away just enough that he could kiss her. A good night kiss...probably one of many before their night ended.

He pulled back and sighed, whispering, "Love you, babe..."

Aria
She made a soft and happy sound, kissing him back and sliding her arms around him too. His presence there in her arms made the worst nights better. She was glad he hadn't had to deal with one of her nightmares yet, but she knew that would come eventually, and might lead to more questions after. In the meantime, she was safe and secure and happy.

"I love you too, Rhys." She murmured, and leaned her head to kiss his jawline, softly.

Pao
He scrunched his nose up playfully at that kiss, curiously getting tickled by it because of his beard. In return he nuzzled his beard softly into her forehead.

"This thing's never bothered you before?"

Aria
"What, your beard?" She says, in surprise. "Why would it bother me? It looks good on you." She slides an arm up to run her fingers along it, an amused look on her face. "I like it." She then slides her arm back to holding him, and shifts to tuck herself in against him a little more, her face against his neck.

Pao
He grinned, enjoying the way she just ran her fingers along his beard. "I dunno," he said, letting her get settled before resting his cheek against her hair and getting comfortable. "Lot of guys I knew before said their girlfriends hated scruff." Then he pressed a kiss to her hair and sighed rather happily. "Glad you don't think so, though. I like my beard, too."

Aria
She chuckled a little and closes her eyes. "It's not scruffy, though. You maintain it, rather then letting it get messy and unkempt. You... don't let yourself get scruffy, as I've seen, and I like that... You take care of yourself." She gave a slight shrug, and began to drift a little, knowing she would be asleep soon... Indeed, only a few minutes would pass before she fell asleep in his arms.

Pao
"I do like my beard neat." He smiled, obviously a little proud of that little fact, then kissed her again, then drifting off soon after she did.