Loid rubbed his hands together, warming them in the cold night air.

Though the days had become progressively sunnier and warmer, the claws of winter had not yet let go of the nights, and Loid counted the minutes until he could be back home with his family.

Home. With his family.

It wasn 't that long ago that Loid would have chastised himself for those words, for thinking himself weak and soft for letting his emotions get the best of him. The corner of his lip curled into a small smile, thinking about how he wouldn 't change it all for the world. Well, maybe some things - like protecting Anya, and making sure that she would never be hurt again '

A woman 's voice floated towards him, silken and fluttering.

'Well, isn 't this nostalgic? '

Nightfall stepped out of the shadows, looking as severe as ever. Her low-lidded eyes fluttered with snowflake eyelashes, and the cut of her silver hair emphasised her blade-sharp jaw, as it always had.