#agentrayesmarion

Arianna remembered Rayes well, and followed him through the news when she could. So when she found out that he was playing at the House of Blues, she bought tickets immediately, determined to see for herself how he'd turned out.

She went by herself, driving from Stanford to Los Angeles in a day, renting a hotel room for that night. A part of her didn't know why she even went. He probably wouldn't remember her. He was famous. Nearly five years later..... and he was famous. Why would her remember a broken girl from the past?

But she went anyways, pushed her way to the front row (it helped that she could use her accent to get things), and watched him perform.

Her heart fluttered when he recognized her, in the middle of their song he looked at her, and smiled.

After the show, he invited her backstage, greeted her with a hug. She smiled at him, teasing him in Gaelic, knowing he'd know those particular nicknames.

She didn't know why her parents were so determined to have another kid her age in the house. "A good learning opportunity," they said.

When Rayes Marion finally showed up, Arianna hated him. She loathed him. He was loud, he was rude, he had no care for academics. All he wanted to do was sing or play his guitar.

It annoyed her. She was 15, and trying desperately to finish her last few years of college.

He was 13 and a pest.

By the end.... she liked him. He taught her how to have fun, as well as being smart. He taught her that music was emotional and incredible. He taught her that pain could be overcome, and that some people are bad and you don't have to let the bad people win.

And then he left, and life went on. She finished college, she got a job. She heard about him, occasionally. He'd become famous with his music.

Enough was enough. Arianna was sick of being a single mother. She was sick of being unable to help her husband. She was sick of said husband's behaviour. So it was time for things to change. Rayes needed help, and Arianna was going to make him get it.

She waited until Branna was asleep, before confronting Rayes.

How did we meet?

It's not particularly romantic, I have to say. We met at work. He was new, and just trying to meet people. I just happened to be one of the people he met.

((Talking about Ray?))

I think it's a little of both. I miss the fun we had. I miss the openness.

But I still love him so much. We're older now, different.

I made a mistake taking off that ring. I made a mistake telling him I hated him.

Mmph!: Our muses accidentally kissing.

It happened surprisingly often, actually. Ari would lean over to press a kiss to Ray's cheek, but he would turn his head and catch her lips on his instead. Sometimes, the kisses would turn heated and lead to other activities, but more often than not, it would be a soft quick kiss, full of love.

Together Or Not At All: Our muses dying together, telling all their secrets and confessing things.

Arianna clutched at Ray's hand, fear present on her face. They were dying, she knew that. Anthrax didn't cause a happy death. They sat against the wall, shoulders pressed together.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Rayes just shook his head, smiling slightly. "It's not your fault, sweetheart."

Arianna nodded. She knew that. She did. It was just hard, knowing that they were dying (because SHIELD didn't know where they were and didn't know that they were locked in the woods during their vacation). At least the baby (she was the baby. Last of four.) and her siblings were safely with their uncle.

"You know, I hated that time, six years ago, when we were so rough off. I hardly slept. Ellis told me I was an idiot. Pen called me stupid. The doctors told me it was the post-partum depression that made me do that."

Rayes didn't show his surprise at the topic, even though he was. They'd mostly silently agreed to not talk about it, especially around the kids. "Really?"

She nodded. "I thought it was all my fault. I thought I'd let our marriage fail."

"You didn't. It was both our faults."

Arianna grinned. "I know." She paused for a few minutes before speaking again. "You know, it was me who spilled the paint all over your white shirt. I blamed it on Branna because it was so easy, and I didn't want you mad at me, and I know you couldn't stay mad at her."

Reyes laughed, a full bellied laugh that turned into a coughing fit. "That was years ago! Why are you telling me now?"

And the mood soured. Because they both knew what was happening. Even now, Ari could feel the effects of the anthrax.

"I love you."

Ari's dreams were always vivid. Sometimes, it was incredible. All the wonders of her imagination, laid out for her to see. And other times, like tonight, it was a curse.

She could see the deep red of the drying blood, she could hear the  s c r e a m s

                                                                       help me please

                        {HELP ME}

-------------firefireburn---------

s c r e a m s echoing off the walls. The putrid smell of fire and burning flesh. She could feel the cold air, completely at odds with the h e a t.

She woke choking on a scream. She'd fallen asleep in the nursery, so she quickly stood, went into her room (their room) and to the bathroom to splash water on her face to try to rid herself of the feeling, the memory.

She crept into the bedroom. Looking for something.... safe.

{safe?}

                                   {what was safe?}

                                                                  b

                                                                      l

                                                                          o

                                                                              o

                                                                                   d

                                                                                       y

                                                                walls

                                                                sheets

                                                                blood

                         covering her [h a n d s]

She blinked, choking back another sob

            {Why cry little girl?}

                                                     before crawling on the bed, running her hands (Were they covered in red? dark red bloodredredredreditsallherfault) along her husband's body, not caring that she woke him up. (After all if he was awake he was

{A L I V E}

                {So alive}

okay.)

He looked at her

                                                      {No fear just concern}

                         and opened his arms, inviting her to come into them, to protect her from the world.

{But what about her M I N D?

               her mind is a prison

                                                  burning flesh

            N    O    T   S   A   F   E