Mercy didn't know what to say to Orion. Orion kept saying I'm sorry and he was waiting for her to respond.

Mercy got and walked to the window. "How could you leave me like that? Especially when I needed you the most."

"I've said I'm sorry, what else do you want me to do?" Orion replied.

"Do YOU realize that Celly beat the living crap out of me. I've had cracked ribs, bruises all over, and I was knocked out again."

"I'm sorry, I had no idea."

"That's right you don't because you were drunk off your ass again. When are you going to take you job as Guardian seriously?"

"If it weren't for Anaera, Suzanne, Meredith, and Roger, I would be still lying on the ground knocked out in a hell of a lot of pain. Lucky for me Anaera healed just about everything."

"Just about everything?"

"I'm still a little sore and I still have a few bruises left."

"Gomen ne, Mercy."

"Stop saying that, I'm tired of hearing *I'm sorry*. I want answers dammit and I want them now!!!"

"To tell you the truth, Mercy, I think Celly and Nyx had a bigger part in this then you realize. I believe they used Seth to get me away from you so I couldn't help you. They must know my weakness for the bottle."

"Orion, everyone knows your weakness for the bottle."

Orion got up and walked over to where Mercy was standing. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her towards him.

"Mercy, I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you. I swear from now on I'm not going to touch the stuff. I don't want to see you get hurt again. Please forgive me."

"Whack" Mercy's hand flew across his cheek.

"How can you say *please forgive*. The fact of the matter is you SHOULD have been there."

Tears began to well in Mercy's eyes after realized what she had said and down to her Guardian. Slowly, the tears began to roll down her cheeks. Orion pulled her into his arms and said "I'm sorry" one last time. Mercy began to sob and whispered "I forgive you"......

TBC