[they had always helped each other and that had not changed. what Maria doesn't seem to understand is that their relationship has changed. they don't just rely on each other for distractions anymore and that hadn't been the case ever since they'd learned about each other's darkness. nothing could stay the same when you saw such an ugly part of someone and said you still wanted to be by their side anyway. who would stay the same? it would have been impossible for two people like Maria and Vander.

and yet understanding this was a natural evolution for their relationship seemed to pass them by. Maria thought that showing him her weakness, her own fears and dark feelings, just made her a little too real. not the kind of woman you had some fun with. even though Vander must have known that once he saw the monster, once he learned what she was. instead here they were, trying to make sense of each other.

but they don't want to lose each other. Maria had been scared of that but Vander made it obvious how much he did appreciate her and how much he didn't want to lose her. Maria needed to focus on that and try to believe it even if a voice inside of her told her that there was no way a man would just keep her around. even if they continued having sex, Vander had other sources. what good was she?

stop, she tells herself.

instead she does laugh.] Yeah, bit of a mess is a way to describe us all right. [she doesn't sound very amused either, though, and she sighs.]

I'm happy I can be there for you, Vander. I don't think you've ever gotten much of a shoulder to lean on. You're a big guy, you want to protect other people. But who's protected you? And I like being that for you. I like helping you. I mean that. You're so important to me and you're always going to be one of my greatest friends. I can't see that or how I feel about you ever changing.

And I don't want it to. You could keep punching that bag and wake me up and I'll still offer to come hold you through the night. That's always on the table.