He'd managed to get his own trousers back on, but that had quickly become only a minor hurdle compared to what lay before them. As he fumbled with the buttons, he felt Ari move away from him, his focus entirely on his wife. And why shouldn't he be focused on Dionisia? She was obviously the victim here. He knew this rationally and that still didn't prevent the unpleasant jolt in his stomach as he watched Ari leave him — he'd only left his side, but what if that was the last moment he would ever be there? Ben wanted to freeze this moment in time, to reach out and take Ari back into his arms, and completely disappear with him.

But that would be selfish - Dionisia didn't deserve that and what's worse is both of them knew it, and it was their fault. So maybe it was the fact that Ben felt the need to repay Ari for everything that he'd done for him (healing him, for searching for him and dragging him back to the magical world, staying by his side while he regained his memory back, for giving himself so selfishly while all he, Ben, did was take, take, take) that propelled him forward.

"It's my fault, Dionisia," He choked out, his gaze desperately moving from Ari to Dionisia; the horrible feeling in his stomach had risen to his heart as he watched the guilt on Ari's expression take hold. "Please, don't blame him, it's —" Where was he going with this? "I told him to not tell you, I...I forced him not to tell you, it was me, please don't be mad at him." Lies, lies and more lies — she deserved the truth! — but this was the moment where every sense seemed to abandon him in favor of trying to settle this, to take the blame away from Ari.

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