It's been only a few days since he had that run in with Sam.

And Alice has refused to go out of his apartment since then.

Of course he's taken showers, eaten properly, but he's refused to come out.

He called Lucien too, left a message asking if he could come over. His voice had been so quiet, so helpless, he hoped that Lucien was able to actually hear him. He hoped Lucien would come over, he even left the door unlocked, but he wouldn't blame the other if he didn't want to see him or something.

Despite all the stress he's been though, he still looks gorgeous, if a little wary. He's sitting on his loveseat, legs curled up. Silvery hair loose and pooling around him. He has a very loose cashmere sweater on, pink, soft and fluffy, it falls down one shoulder, revealing his bare skin. Grey, girl style sweat pants, tight, and he didn't even bother with underwear. But he has white socks on.

He has a cup of cocoa beside him, and a book in his hands, which are nearly completely covered by the sleeves of his sweater.

He looks so small.

Lucien was enjoying the pleasures of a simple bath. The week had been long and he was soaking away all his troubles. He was infinitely glad for the hot water but unfortunately, his relax-time was cut short with his phone ringing off to the side.

Climbing out of the bath, he only got to the message. Alice?

Sighing, he shook his head as he loosely tied back light blonde hair and pulled a white t-shirt over his head. He figured he'd dress casual with clothes that were easy to remove. He mused while pulling on jeans sans the underwear that Alice seemed to gain a significant amount of comfort with skin to skin contact.

Quickly snatching a coat, his cell phone, and shoes, he found him not finding himself much alter in front of the other's door. Things were not always well between the Angel and the Demon, but he would never deny Alice when he needed him. After all, Alice hadn't pushed him off his door step after the attack of Logan.

Trying the door, he simply let himself in and dropped his cell phone, shoes, and coat he just acquired on the floor and meandered around the apartment, blue eyes searching for a familiar face, "Alice?"

Alice's book was titled 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories', by Tim Burton. It was both depressing and interesting. But it certainly didn't do much for Alice's mood.

He was contemplating taking a bath when he heard his door open. First instinct was to run; what if it was someone dangerous? He was paranoid, yes. But he calmed himself down when he heard objects being dropped to the floor.

Then he heard Lucien's voice, and he sat up, book dropping on floor and bumping the table.

"I-in here..."

He swallowed thickly, hair in face, he looked miserable.

Hearing Alice's tone, Lucien's steps retreated back to the door. Though, he wasn't leaving. He felt it was best that he reached over and locked the door before finally making his way into the room. Lucien stopped at the door way and took in Alice. He looked as bad as he sounded. He wanted to know what happened- but wouldn't dare ask 'til Alice opened his own Pandora's box.

Moving up, he wrapped his arms around Alice and kissed his forehead, "Hello Alice."

The angel waited expectantly for the other, frowned when he heard steps to the door, tensing, then relaxed some more. The demon was simply locking the door. He looked up to meet the other's gaze when he entered the room, but couldn't stare long, eyes drifting back down out of shame. He felt weak, he wasn't supposed to be weak, he-

He forgot what he was thinking of when the other kissed his forehead, whimpering even and raising his arms, wrapping them around Luci - clinging. Normal Alice doesn't cling, content Alice doesn't cling. The only time he had ever clung was when he was much younger, after visits to his home. He was afraid.

A muffled sob against the other's chest. He was trying to say something but he couldn't get it out right, a jumble of words mixed in his sobs, tears beginning to fall down his face. He was terrified and now, after holding emotions in, was finally breaking down.

It broke his surprisingly gentle heart to hear Alice break down. He couldn't make out any the words, but he knew what was best to do at a moment like this. Gently, he picked up the man and craddled him bridal style as he quickly crossed into his bedroom and laid down Alice, his arms tightly wound around him.

"Cry all you want." He leaned in and kissed his forehead once again as his hands found themselves underneath Alice's shirt, rubbing his back. "I won't leave."

And for the next 10 or so minutes, that is all Alice is doing.

Clinging to Lucien, face buried in his chest, crying his heart out. Pent up emotions just pouring on out. It wasn't really Sam anymore, she was just the key to opening the door, to all the feelings he's shut up inside. One could think of it as a healing process, this crying, and he was really quite grateful for Lucien to be there.

Lucien.

He molded himself foreward, the skin to skin contact helping, it always does, for some reason. Thank goodness Lucien knew him so well, he was truly grateful.

"Here.. Let's remove these." He chuckled, kissing his cheek, "We need to wring them out anyways." Slowly, he pushed off his shirt as well as working on Alice's sweater, "It'll be much better when these are off."

He ran his hand down Alice's side and rested on his hip, watching him with a tiny smile, "You can trust me."

Alice, now beginning to calm down (just a little bit), he nodded mutely, face still wet. He was staring at Lucien's chest, watching the other take off his shirt. The scars, like the one he made of the heart...he gave a near innoticable smile, lifting his arms for Lucien so the other could easilly slip off his sweater.

Shivering just a little, despite the warm apartment, Lucien was warmer, and thus he leaned back into the other, slowly relaxing from the comfortable feel of their bare chests against one another, such a soothing feeling.

"I trust you..."

Just a couple words, so soft, but trust is important for their relationship. Alice once again trusts Lucien. That's a major step.

Lucien smiled. He has been waiting for those words for a long time.

Though, he sadly moved again, chuckling, "I'm sorry Alice, I can't seem to stay on one place, but let's work out your muscles. They seem stiff." Even where Alice lay, Lucien's hands roamed over his chest and back, gently rubbing, "I want to make you completely relaxed." He leaned down and kissed his shoulder, "If you have any requests, do speak up."

Alice nodded, arching forward into the massages, turning around so his back was to the other. It felt so nice.

"Mm...this is fine..."

Slightly quivering, muscles so tense he's ticklish, especially in the stomach area. He's squirming just a little bit, letting his head drop back. He's like putty in the other's hands.

Lucien sat between his legs, rubbing at his shoulders, "The snow started to fall when I came here." He leaned over and very gently placed a kiss between his shoulder blades, "The sky was clear when I came in." The weather seemed like a safe topic for now. He really wanted to ask, but.. Alice seemed so comfortable right now.

His kisses increased and followed down his spine, "Your body looks healthy. Verkur hasn't been around much." Just a simple observation.

"I wish it was spring..."

Alice shivered slightly with the other kissed him, it tickled. He leaned back slightly, just a little, more comfortable.

"No, thank goodness, I haven't seen him in a few months in fact..."

He looked back at the other.

"She was just like /them/, Lucien."

Lucien should remember who they were. Those women...Obviously Alice is willing to talk.

Lucien's hands stilled a moment, but soon, they started up again, himself needing a little distraction. "Who was 'she'?" Leaning down, Lucien's kissed the back of his neck, "Do you want me to just hold you while you talk?" For now though, his hands roamed down his back, working the knots on the small of his back.

"She's a girl...didn't seem like trouble...then she turned into one of them...motherly and..."

He was shaking again, reaching back, pulling Lucien's hair to cover his face, breathing in the other's scent.

"Hold me..."

Lucien moved from his back and moved to lean against the head board, pulling Alice into his arms, "It's okay. She won't be bothering you now." He kissed his forehead, hugging him tightly to his chest, "It's all in the past." He continued to rub his back, smiling ever so gently, "You're stronger than all of your past."

"No! I don't even know that...she still lives here..."

He was shaking again, turning around so his face was against the other's chest, burying his face against the other's collarbone. His arms winding against the other. It's true, he is stronger than his past but he couldn't...the women...Mother...

"No I'm not...I'm still weak..."

Unlike Lucien. Lucien has always been the strongest, hasn't he?

Lucien shook his head, "You're strong. Very strong."

Running his hands down his back, Lucien brought one up, stroking his jaw line, "You -are- stronger than all of this. I promise it to you. You can overcome it." Lucien's other hand left his back, curling his fingers around Alice's hand, "But I'm completely happy if you need me to stay with you for awhile."

Alice was clinging to Lucien.

It did not make him feel strong...but...

He felt safe.

He always did with Lucien.

Alice's blue eyes closed almost completely, face tilted up at Lucien's.

"Of course I need you..."

He then buried his face in the nape of the other's neck.

"Always do..."

Weak, but safe.

He smiled and kissed his forehead, "I'll stay." Although, sternly as one could say while concerned about a loved one, Lucien used that tone, "But I won't let you get off easy. We will take walks outside. Maybe not right away, but we will." He hugged him to his body, smiling, very quitely whispering against Alice, "But most of all, I want you to know-"

Pause.

"I love you."

Alice nodded, giving the tiniest of smiles, but a smile nonetheless, holding onto the other more in a hug than a cling. He was relaxing slowly, and he wasn't shaking as bad as he had been. Even when the other mentioned going outside.

"As long I'm with you..."

He really depends on Lucien, how could the other stand him? He blinked and his face began to flush, looking up at the other. Why, of all times, did Lucien have to say that now? Get him crying again from guilt. He looked down, eyes watering.

"Love you too..."

Lucien brushed his fingers over his cheek, "Don't cry. That wasn't my intention, Alice." He pulled the covers tightly over the man, running his fingers through his hair, "Get some rest. It's been a long day for you." Day, week, whatever- it seemed long and Lucien really didn't want to see him cry.

"Only if you stay and sleep too..."

Alice mumbled, his eyes closing and he was trying to re-open them. All the stress, and then the crying and release of stress has exhausted him. He could barely stay awake as it is.

His hand was slowly raised and it was set against the other's chest, trailing down because he couldn't even keep it up.

He chuckled and nodded, "Of course." He held picked up Alice's hand and held it on his chest, smiling, "Now, it's time to get better." He leaned over and pecked a quick kiss before laying down, quite comfortable.

To be cliche, the sun will come up tomorrow.