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Seren was sitting up in bed, gazing quietly at Na... Rhys. She has to remember he was Rhys now, so that she did not use the wrong name. He was beginning to adjust to the change he was going through, but it was not easy on him and she understood that.

His entire world had changed. They had even moved, in a rush. Dai had arranged for them to live in his other apartment, and had handled actual contract with the movers, though she had paid for it out of their account. She was going to miss their old place but all of their things were here, at least... And Rhys was beginning to seem like he was at least accepting his new life.

And Remy was always so happy to have him here.

Best of all, the masks were off. She didn't have to lie to him anymore, and they could work together...

She might have gotten further lost in thought but she saw him shifting like he was going to wake and she smiled softly.

Falling asleep wasn’t so hard to come by, but staying asleep continued to prove itself an elusive b*****d. He only ever got as far as the first few minutes of the sweet darkness of it before images began to flicker through his mind. A steady, seemingly unending stream of faces, all too vague to be identifiable yet were still somehow familiar. Guilt swept through him like a cold wind through a desolate stone hall, and then a shiver ran slowly down his spine. He let out a sigh as he opened his eyes and started to turn onto his back.

He felt her eyes on him almost immediately, and a sense of safety and security helped to ease him as he settled on his back. “Can’t sleep?” he asked, slowly moving to sit up as well.

Seren had been…endlessly patient with him, as full of love as she’d always been despite learning who he’d been and the changes that needed to happen in the aftermath of everything. Remy had been much the same despite the new face he’d come home with, which was…interesting, but he’d been grateful all the same. He’d very efficiently upended their life together, the small family of three that they were, and he felt awful for it. Everyday was a constant reminder of that, but the pangs of guilt were eased by her smile or her laugh, or their pup’s happy yips and barks or the sound of his tail thumping against the floor in his eagerness for a meal.

They were his world again, and while there was still everything else to sort in the background he’d decided to do his best to focus on that for now.

So he very carefully found her hand and slipped his into it, bringing it to his lips for a little kiss.

Her smile warmed further and when he kissed her hand, she gently caressed the back of his. She was happy to see him awake, late though it was. "Mmmm just had a lot in my head tonight, with everything going on in life right now."

And it was not just what was going on around him... (And explaining to Dai had been interesting, though it helped that... She had recently found out about his own Senshi situation, so they did not have to lie about what was going on...) It was also work ramping up on her thesis project, and her own Knight situation. She felt like she was close, so very close, to something and she needed to finish that.

She leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead, her eyes filled with love for him. "How goes getting your paperwork, love? I know getting a new life set up isn't the easiest part, but once you do... What do you think, time to try to fulfill that med school dream? Help people heal?"

He closed his eyes briefly when she kissed his forehead, using the moment as an opportunity to try and shove the guilt away when she mentioned their currently very eventful life keeping her up. He sat the rest of the way and leaned back against the headboard, shifting so he was holding her hand with both of his. His eyes steadied there as he took a breath, considered her question quietly, and then let out another little sigh.

“It goes, I think,” he said, not entirely sure what else he could add to the comment. He wasn’t able to really keep up without giving himself a headache, so he was mostly just waiting to hear back from the Mauvian who was helping him out. “Still waiting, but I’m kinda looking at it from a ‘no news is good news’ perspective.” His lips went a bit lopsided, the expression a more honest reflection of the uncertainty that he felt.

“As for what comes after that, maybe. I was thinking I’d take some time, though?” He shrugged, gave her hand a little squeeze. “Maybe make up for some of the time I’ve been away before I jump into something that’ll pull me away for hours and hours again…”

She listened, smiling as he sat up, and just leaned gently against him, her head coming to a rest on that broad shoulder. She listened to his words, all of them, before responding, and even was silent for a moment to consider it all thoughtfully.

After a moment, she had her thoughts in order, and her smiled turned just a little amuse, thinking that her habit of doing this lately would help her when she went to go defend her thesis. She stayed focused, beyond that light thought, though and simply said "I trust the Mauvians. I have made a friend or two amongst them, and I believe that if one has said he will help you, he will. Or she. They're clever folk, after all."

Her finger caressed the back of one of his hands before she continued. "And that makes sense... And I wasn't thinking you should jump right in, both feet. I was thinking that during the day, when I'm at school or work, maybe you might start taking some lighter classes to get back into the habit of going to school? Maybe even nothing related to your planned degree. You could maybe see if there's some local crafting classes, find a creative hobby?"

She paused, then laughed a little. "I am not trying to force you, of course. I just don't want you feeling cooped up at home, and you can only spend so much time doing gym stuff before it's counter productive."

He wrinkled his nose, a playfully defiant smile on his lips. “Gym stuff, counter productive?” he said disbelievingly, but left it there and gave a nod despite the words. “I could probably start looking into things, though. See what I’ll even need to get started.”

Formal identification, for one, but he imagined that would come with time. He had gone over the details of what he wanted still in his paperwork—his history as a paramedic, for one, his medical history (though with the addition of a formal accounting for his various scars) and, if at all possible, his family history. He wasn’t sure how much of his ask could be accommodated, but he figured it was worth asking.

His eyes had somewhat glazed over, his gaze falling on their joined hands as he quietly, without really noticing, sank into his thoughts about his past. What was still there, anyway, but he also lingered on the bits that had gone hazy or were now complete blanks…

“It’s been ages since I went to school though, so that’s gonna be an adjustment,” he said, eventually coming back to the present. “I mean, on top of adjusting to everything else.” He tried not to sound frustrated, but there was still a slight edge to his tone despite the effort.

"You know as well as I do that there's a point where it goes from 'good' to 'bad' very very suddenly." She said, in a softly chiding tone, because the last thing she wanted was him pushing himself until he collapsed. It would be... Too... reminiscent of the past they had just escaped.

"A good idea to do. Whoever you spoke to, I think you should contact them again... Or I can try, since you don't have your Signet yet." She brushed her finger over the ring she always had on her, even if it was hidden away.

She watched his face, and saw the way he glazed over, the way he got lost in the past again. She wished she could fix it for him, make it go away. All she could do, though, was be there for him and do her best to help him through all of the emotions he had to deal with in relation to all he had... Lost.

His comment had her considering him in a bemused way. "It's why I suggested the light classes... Take something fun, so it's not so much pressure, and once you're back into it, go for the Real Deal."

“Something fun…” he repeated, pulling himself back into the present and focusing again on their joined hands. A quiet sigh escaped him as he gave it some thought, only then realizing that he’d never actually done anything school-related just for fun before. He’d always had some kind of goal in mind, something that kept him motivated to do well.

“I wouldn’t know where to start with something like that, either,” he said after a long moment. “Nothing really seems like ‘fun’ to me right now. Except– well.” His cheeks flushed slightly, and he left it there.

“Anyway. I don’t feel cooped up or anything. I can go out and do stuff,” he made a vague gesture with his free hand, “it’s just nothing forward-moving, if that makes sense?” He paused at that, considered it, and then frowned. “Which I guess can be bad…”

She watched him thoughtfully as he spoke, her finger rubbing against the back of his hand, wishing to just give him a soft bit of comfort and love, without interrupting him or distracting him.

When he finished, her brows rose, just a little, and she gave a slightly surprised laugh. Not surprised at his less then subtle hint, but surprised he brought it up in relation to school and class options. "Well I am grateful to say that I do not think they have any classes on that in a sense that would be fun. Health, and related, sure but... Mmm no. That does not mean you couldn't find something you would enjoy."

She shifted just enough that she could press a kiss to his forehead. "I know I've been working with you, to teach you to cook some but... I bet there's some local cooking classes you could take? Maybe on cuisines I'm not as familiar with. Give you a chance to surprise me sometime?"

Maybe something like that would help? She knew her man well, and she knew he sometimes found motivation in things if he thought they'd make her feel happy. "And I'm glad you don't feel cooped up in that sense. I guess I kind of meant it to also include like... Trapped in place, the not moving forwards thing. Not feeling like nothing is happening for you, perhaps?"

The corners of his lips lifted slightly when she laughed. He didn’t actually think they had classes for that kind of thing, at least within the context he was thinking about, but she said something fun! Which was why it came to mind at all. He didn’t respond, though, and instead opened up his hand and adjusted his hold on hers, quietly listening to her suggestion for him to take a cooking class as he twined his fingers with hers.

“Yeah, I could do a cooking class,” he said after a beat. “I love surprising you, and I like the idea of being able to help in the kitchen more so you’re not always doing all the cooking.” It was a thought he vaguely remembered having years ago, but then work somehow got in the way and…

“That’s kinda three birds with one,” he mused, somewhat to himself as he continued to think on the option. It was a good, and ultimately he gave a decisive little nod. “Yeah, okay. Cooking class, then.”

She saw the small hint of a smile at her reaction, and was pleased at it. It felt like he did not smile enough lately, or at least that's how her brain felt it. It might be hold over from. Before. Hard to say for sure, really. She shifted a bit to cuddle a little closer as his fingers twined through hers.

"Mmmmmm that would be nice for sure." She leaned again and this time pressed the kiss to his lips. "I have no idea where to look for cooking classes, to be honest... I could help you search if you want?"

She was also ok with him doing it for himself, of course. She just wanted him to know she was always happy to help him with whatever he wanted or needed help for. "Also, I think Dai might like to have us over for a meal or two. Do not know that he would be cooking either, but I know he wants to host us, spend more time with us now that we're here."

He hummed lightly after the kiss, then smiled and leaned in to kiss her in turn after she offered to help. “Lemme try on my own first, and if I get stuck I’ll let you know?” Not that he would’t enjoy her being involved, but he wanted to try in his own first. Maybe it was because it was the first thing he was doing for himself in his second chance at life—and it was something that had so far always just been a plan.

“And okay. I mean, my shedule’s wide open so.”

The second kiss got a happy sound from her, and she closed her eyes for a moment. In some ways, part of her round itself being reminded of when they had first been together, how free with affection and happy they had been, and inside a little bit of her was scared it would start to vanish again. Those past few years had been hard. But the rest of her slapped the fear back every time, and it never showed on her face. All he would ever see was her joy at the way they were again. She had missed him being there, being able to be free and happy together.

She gave him another smile, warm and encouraging, at his words. "Of course, babe. I just wanted to be sure you know I'm always happy to help, always happy to be there for you. But I also understand the desire to take control of your life, and support your desire to do what you want and need."

And that last statement had a bright smile appearing again, and she nodded, glad to think they were able to do things like that again.

His expression brightened some and her gave a little nod before leaning in for another brief little kiss. “Thank you,” he said. As he pulled back he glanced toward the clock, and then let out a little huff as if to punctuate the conversation. “It’s pretty late though. We should probably try to get some sleep?”

At that he let go of her hand and started to scoot back down the bed. “We can figure out a time to have dinner with Dai in the morning, probably. You have work tomorrow?”

She made another soft, happy sound at the latest kiss, and blinked when he made the huff, before glancing at the clock herself. She chuckled at his words and shifted down as well, moving to cuddle up against him as she preferred to do when they were settling in for the night. "Mmmm I suppose so, sleep is pretty important."

His question had her smiling a little. "Half day, yeah. Summer session is always a little weird, after all."

He slipped his arm around her, the motion still second nature despite the recent years. He was looking forward to falling back into things with her though, to how things were like between them in the beginning. And he was looking forward to their future, and to building a life together with her.

It felt like a lot sometimes, when he thought about it. To start over. To rebuild. But he was lucky enough to have gotten a do-over, lucky enough to not be alone, and luckier still that Seren chose to stay with him after everything he put her through.

Another sigh slipped past his lips, and he held her a bit tighter against him before turning to press a kiss to her hair. “Okay. Mm.. is there anything I can do for you in the morning? Like maybe make breakfast, or pack your lunch or something?”

She snuggled in just a little closer, her smile bright and warm. This was how it should be, should have been all along. And she was going to fight to keep it this way. Part of her regretted not seeing that something was actually wrong... Even though she knew that there really was no way for her to have actually known. The damn glamour was so useful most of the time but here...

Here it had protected the problem, and so he was trapped in it.

But she didn't say anything, instead just holding on and smiling like none of those thoughts slipped through her mind.

His question had her chuckling with delight. "Mmm how about you drive me to work and pick me up? That way we could maybe go out to lunch together after?"

He considered for a second before giving a small nod. “Okay. I should probably get some sleep, then.”

With one more kiss to her hair he finally closed his eyes, feeling the day suddenly catching up to him now that he had a task to complete the next day. Purpose was a good thing, after all.

“Night, babe,” he said. And after a beat, in a slightly quieter breath, he added,”Love you.”