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[thedescent_into]

Enough is enough.

That morning, she stands in front of the mirror, tracing the angry line of the scar stretching across her belly. It's healed, healed well, but she can feel the softness in her body. The weakness. She's relying too much on Adam. If something were to happen, she's not sure she could keep up. She's not sure she could protect her

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[beentodamascus]

He sits on the sand and watches her for a time, his chin resting on his knee. She's beautiful, he's always though it and now they have a daughter, too, two daughters.

He never thought he was going to be allowed to get that lucky again. He looks down at Harriet, kicking away happily in the shade under her canopy.

"Come and take a break," he calls.

[thedescent_into]

Dragging herself out onto the sand, she trudges over to him, her steps dragging but a bright, sunny smile on her face.

"I can't believe how amazing this feels," she tells him, adjusting the strap on her bright blue suit an sinking down onto her knees in front of their daughter. "It's been so long, I thought maybe I'd forgotten." An exaggeration, of course, but it felt true, all the same.

[beentodamascus]

She's dripping wet, salty and obviously weary, but he reaches out anyway, fingers pressing into her wet hair as he draws her into a brief, warm kiss.

"You never forget," he says, remembering times laid up in hospital beds. "We were just hanging out waiting for you."

[thedescent_into]

"I can see that," she says, leaning in for another lingering kiss. "Are you having a nice time?" she asks her daughter, though of course, expecting her father to answer.

[usethecompany]

"Miss, are you alright?" Archie asked worriedly, jogging up to the young woman he had seen all but collapse onto the shore. Styles, unhelpful but well-intentioned, pushed his way forward with keen interest until Archie grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled him back. Thank God she had managed to remove herself from the waves, but he had to wonder what had gotten her to such a state.

[thedescent_into]

"I'm fine. I'm all right," she insists, waving off his concern and giving him what is hopefully a reassuring smile. Laughing softly at the dog struggling in the man's grip, she says, "He won't bother me. You can let him go, if you like."

She's on her feet, trudging closer, her smile a bit sheepish when she admits, "I'm more out of shape than I thought."

[usethecompany]

Instantly relieved by her ready answer, Archie allowed his earnest worry to fade away and for his mood to become distinctly lighter and more in tune with hers.

"You look to be in the right shape to me," he joked, utterly free of lasciviousness. "And as for Styles, he needs to learn better manners around me." The dog did strain forward with continued curiosity, but did not struggle fiercely against his master's hold. A vast improvement from past times. "We're both grateful you're alright though."

[thedescent_into]

"I had my little girl three months ago. I'm still getting used to not having all that weight in front," she admits with a wince, "I'm sorry if I scared you both. I might have over done it."