He was frozen. A part of him was still amazed that they found Nora and that she became a Capital, yet another half of him wanted to disappear for the pain he inflicted on her as well. He could still hear her beg him to stop. To have them all stop and to let her be, that she had been through enough. His mind faded back to the memories of the day.

Hearing her take a breath was the greatest thing on earth at that moment. He felt as if everything was falling into place. That there would be no more issues or worries. The ear pieces screamed out his name as the others tried to find him, tying to beat the aerial strike that was soon approaching.

He had to move her and get her out of here. Gathering her in his arms, he heard her intake a sharp breath as his hand grasped one her legs. He looked down upon her again, realizing what would need done. Carefully wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her against him as he went to find the others. She groaned and whimpered against him as he maneuvered around the halls and back to the main entrance where everyone was waiting.

"Oh, my god." he heard one of them say as he went by.

"We have to hurry, she's healing." he told them as they finally left the hideout.

It wasn't long before they were back at the building, down in the medical staffing half of it. Dorjee was the first to see her, his eyes holding the truth Yao knew too well would happen.

"Her hand must be done by surgery, Kachina can do that with no issue and set everything back, but you and I know too well-"

"Yes." he cut him off, "I know what is to come."

Even nations had to hurry and reset bones and joints before they began to heal, it was something they learned all over time and how to fix it alone as well. Yet he didn't want to hurt her any more than she was. Laying her on the table, he prayed it would be fast and quick for her, that it wouldn't linger. But when Dorjee took her foot in his hand, she gasped and tried to move away.

"Gǒupì." he muttered under his breath.

He held her against him, keeping her arms snug to her body as he attempted to hold her still for them to set the bones back. She knew it was coming, she tried to move away, telling him with what little voice she had to not do this. It killed him, listening to her beg to not let this happen, and he was powerless when it began.

The sounds would echo in him for all eternity as the bones came together and joints aligned, yet her screams of agony would be the strongest. Pleading and begging in a mix of Chinese and English for him to stop, that she had enough, and almost wishing death. He felt like a monster, letting this happen yet knew things would be ok after all was done.

Yao shook his head of the memory, he hated how it got to him so easily. He had Nora and that was all that mattered. Picking up the cup, he made his way to their bedroom as he tried to think of what else to do to make her comfortable, only to find an empty bed.

"Nora?" he spoke in curiosity, slowly growing into panic, "Nora?"

He searched the room for anything out of order, and trace of someone else within his home, yet there was nothing and she was nowhere in sight.

"Nora?" he ran out of the room, trying to think of where she could be.

Panic and fear were settling in as he tried to find her, each room he looked in empty of life. She couldn't have gotten far, it wasn't possible but as he searched the last room, she was still nowhere in sight. He frantically went back to the bedroom, hoping he missed something, yet there was nothing there.

"Nora! Nora where-" he ran by the entrance to the back courtyard to finally see the red silk standing out in the rising sun.

Walking outside, he saw her sitting at the stairs edge, her eyes fixed near the small pond as she listened to the magpies sing to her. Yao couldn't help but awe over her, how the light gave her a subtle glow, her hair long and flowing past her shoulders, the bruises and cuts upon her body now a forgotten memory. As of now, her one leg was specially wrapped to help her muscles and her hands still bandaged from the multiple surgeries. As much as he wanted to stare at her, he knew she needed to be resting inside.

"Nora, what are you doing out here?" he went beside her, "You should be inside resting."

"Sorry Yao, I didn't hear you come out." she replied, "I'm fine though, don't worry over me."

"I can't help but do so, so please come in." he said placing his hands on her arm.

"No Yao, I'm fine I swear."

"Nora please, just-"

"I'm tired of being in the dark Yao." she told him, "For so long that all I ever saw. Nothing but a dim room. I want to be out here."

He was silent, he really wasn't sure what to say. He never asked or questioned her captivity nor to what they did to her. He never pushed any of it, yet he was pushing her to go and be isolated within a room that was slightly darker than the rest. He listened to what every medical Capital said to him and took it all to word, he just didn't think it would affect her in a way.

"You did nothing wrong Yao. You were just trying to take care of me, I know that and I'm thankful for it too." she assured him, "I just want to be outside."

With a sigh, he sat down beside her, pulling her close to him as he watched the birds bounce back and forth between the magnolia branches, following close to their mates as they gathered things for their hatchling not far away. He noticed that Nora's gaze followed the birds, her gaze trying to pinpoint them in the yard.

"Nora, what can you see now?" he asked.

She smiled, "I can see the outline of the garden, the silhouette of the red bridge to the pagoda, and the wall of the home. I can see the colors as well, not fully defined yet there. It's still blurry but better than it first was."

It amazed him how the Capitals could heal so fast like them. When he brought her home, she could barely move any part of her body nor see anything as well. Now she could grasp the cups, limp lightly around the home and now see more defined things.

"Yao, I want you to tell me the truth."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"How long?"

Oh that. A while back, she had asked how long she was gone. He didn't have the heart to say exactly, for most people never lived that long in that type of captivity, yet she withstood hell itself to live.

"Please Yao, I just-"

"Almost five months, give or take a day." he replied, "Then after we got you, you were in and out of consciousness and the hospital for a month."

"So, six months I have missed" she looked down at the ground, "Is that all it really was? It felt so much longer."

"Do not dwell on it Nora, there are so many better things before you now. You are home and safe, that's all that matters."

"Six months? Wait, the girls!" she exclaimed, "The girls and children, how are they? I missed six months of them, tell me Yao. Tell me!"

"Calm down, don't want you hurting yourself." he chuckled at her. "Well, Thomas is doing quite well. His heart seemed to heal itself along with his eye, doesn't have twenty/twenty but still much better than thought. His right arm is messed up due to the attack, but unless you are on top of him, you'd never notice it. He just can't straighten his arm out and he only has four fingers upon his hand, doesn't stop him from crawling into trouble. With that, Arthur and Juliet have thought of having another baby and Alfred and Amber are expecting one as we speak."

He saw her eyes light up with the news of the Capitals and Cities, "And little Grigori was born first then little Pierre not long afterwards. Both Ivan and Francis are happy with the girls. Alexei is taking being a big brother well so far as do the Bonnefoy children. Adeline is running around and starting to mimic her father and uncle which terrifies Marie to death, but both are doing good."

Her features changed for a moment, "Marie was expecting when it all happened, what happened to the baby?"

Yao gave a saddened sigh, "The attack on Berlin was too much for Marie's body and she miscarried. But I do know that they are trying again, so maybe they'll be another one on the way."

"Poor Marie. I can't even imagine." was all she said as she looked at the ground. "Yao, what have the doctors said about me, after..."

"Don't say anymore, please." he asked knowing what she meant, "You are fine. Both within and outside your body. Do not worry over that. You need to heal and that is what we will focus on."

Nora leaned against him, resting her head against his shoulder. He gave her a small hug, holding her tight to him as he took in her scent, kissing her head. He didn't want to let her go, couldn't imagine doing so.

"Maybe once I'm all healed we can focus on something else."

"And that would be."

He heard her give a small chuckle, "Little feet."

He smiled at the thought, she was more eager than him it seemed, yet he couldn't complain. Cupping her chin, he raised her face to his, placing a well-deserved kiss to those sweet lips he missed so much of.

"Once you are healed, Tiánxīn."

Giving another kiss to her, he pulled her against him, just to watch the magpies fly off to their next, back to their awaiting hatchling and giving Yao the greatest amount of hope he could ever have.

Fin

Epilogue

The water lapped at her legs as she sat upon her board. She watched as the sun slowly drifted down below the horizon as she waited there. She knew it was coming, it was a never fail. Every day at the same time, no matter the weather, it was there. Calling out to her to grab and show her the man once again.

"Oi Harper, get your ass out of the water. Curfew is gonna be starting soon." someone yelled from the beach.

She turned the board to see her best friend standing on the water's edge, "I'll be out in a moment, Scarlet."

"Come on Harper, I'm getting the shits of you in the water like this every day. I can't hack it much longer."

"I said I'll be in, just wait."

"Quit being a sook and get your ass in here!"

Harper flashed her the finger as her eyes scanned the water again, "Rack off."

"Fine then, let the blue heelers find you and give you a bashing."

Harper turned to see Scarlet leave as the heavy thought of getting in trouble laid heavy with her mind. Ever since that Genesis group made itself knows, countries have locked up their borders and made a curfew to follow to be safe. She knew Scarlet was right and that she had to get out of the water. Sighing in defeat, she started to paddle inward, just to hear the light whisper call out.

She shot up, looking all around, finally her eyes landing on it. Making her way over to it, she grasped the little piece within her hands, finally making her way to the beach. Once she secured her board within the hot sand, she sat upon her knees as she looked at the little blossom in her hand. Her dreams full of the flowers and trees that lines the streets, the sweet smells that filled her with memories not her own.

But of all things was the man she saw. The warrior, strong and confident. She wanted to know so much more about him and each blossom that came to her, just gave her glimmers of him as she held it. Showing so much of him of multiple years and eras. This one seemed different, more recent as she saw him stand at a rivers edge, whispering to the blossom. He placed a small kiss to its petals and dropped it into the water below.

Harper could almost feel that kiss as she held the flower within her hand. The more she found these the more her mind was being made. She was going to go and find him.

"What secrets await me in Japan, little blossom?"