Death By Princess {Complete}

CH 8

Almost as soon as Link lied down on the couch, he could hear Lillian snoozing away. She was heavily intoxicated when she fell asleep so her snoring comforts Link as it reassures her safety. He soon begins to drift off too, his breathing now in sync with her hypnotic gentle snores. Until she is silent, which then throws Link's breathing off track pulling him out of sleep.

Concerned, Link peeks into her room. He can see her chest rising and falling with each inaudible breath. Link hovers over her and gently rolls her on her side. Her cheeks are flushed and skin is clammy.

Link sits on the edge of her bed and gazes at his old friend. She is always social and chatty with a smile on her face so it's not often Link gets to see her in such a vulnerable state. He wonders if she is ever haunted by the demons of her past. By the peaceful look on her face, she doesn't appear to be right now at least. Link ponders how things were for her when her father's abusive state escalated and there was no one for her to run off with in the late hours of the night. Did she cry? Was she scared? Did she long for him to come back?

Is it self for me to say that I would rather you here and miserable than away and happy?  She said that to him humorously but it pains Link to think there is some truth to her words. She needed him even after all this time. She just needed a friend.

In her sleep, she puts her arm over his lap and rests her head close to him. Link sinks down a into her bed and places his arm around her, allowing himself to get comfortable. It's the least he can do after all these years of being away.

He closes his eyes with the intention of staying there only a while but he is jolted awake by a shriek.

"What's wrong?" he says jumping to him feet expecting to confront anything.

"What hell are you doing in my bed?" she says pulling her bed sheet around her torso.

"I. You. What?" he says as he recalls what happened between the two of them last night.

"I did not give you permission to sleep in my bed," she says.

He rubs his eyes. "Actually," he says leaving it at that in hopes she can remember for herself.

She notices her dress on the floor and the little clothing she is wearing. "You mean I..."

Link nods.

"Oh, shit. I can't believe I did that," she says rubbing her forehead, embarrassment showing on her cheeks. "Did we have -- "

"No, no, no," he says with his hands out to reassure her.

"But I asked for it--"

"More like begged," he says.

"Watch it," she smirks. "But you didn't. I appreciate that. I would have regretted it this morning."

"Thanks," he says flatly.

"Not because of you. It's because I was drunk. Reminds me too much of my father," she says shuttering. "Bringing home woman after woman. I'm not like that and I wouldn't want to subject you to that."

Link smiles somberly. "I know you're not like that," he says. "But I will say you can be a wild child when you drink."

"You best believe," she says proudly. "So."

"So?" he says.

"What were you doing in my room this morning?"

"Must you ask so many questions?" he says.

"Oh yes." She smiles biting her bottom lip.

"I just came in to check on you. Make sure you didn't choke on your vomit," he says bluntly.