HEY. I know most people are like me and never read this beginning bit, but I do have a few things to say. This is a sequel to Covet With Compassion, but most things will be explained if you don't feel reading 80K words.
Also, due to my main inspiration being music, particularly for my Ikarishippings, I will be putting certain lyrics at the start of each chapter, so you can see where I'm coming from and feel similar emotions to me. Hopefully.
Also, as Covet With Compassion's chapters were titled with emotions, (and I was running out of synonyms for DEPRESSED) I've decided to go with actions for this one. You'll understand why once you've started reading. But anyway, if you are reading this, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the sequel as much as I'll enjoy continuing it.

Severed Ties.
Ikarishipping.

"I'm not a stranger,
No, I am yours
With crippled anger
And tears that still drip sore..." ~Cut, by Plumb

Things were pretty hectic in my head. It was hard to work out what I was doing, and why. My body was in auto-pilot. I hadn't felt this empty before, ever. I guess Ash had been right, for once, and so I followed his advice. I cancelled my previous plans, and headed in the opposite direction.

With it being the end of autumn, the cold was picking up, and it rained a lot more frequently. This was one of those times. My hair became plastered to my face, and I wandered through this unknown town with a disgruntled stare at the ground.

After being given directions, I headed in towards the white, cottage-like house. It was quaint and delicate, like it had jumped out of a storybook children would read. I stepped up the porch, which was lit with a porch-light, as it was early morning and therefore still dark. Hesitation kept my knuckles from hitting the white wood, but eventually I knocked. A shuffle of slippers across laminate flooring became louder, as the woman muttered something about always forgetting her keys. It swung open, and we both blinked in surprise. I'd definitely got the right house. The resemblance was uncanny.

"Hello." I bowed my head politely; "I'm-"

"I know who you are, come in!" She beamed at me, stepping aside. "She's not in right now, but she should be back soon."

I looked around the living room, the television was on, showing some morning programme I'd spent day after day watching not so long ago...

"I'm very glad you came." Her mother smiled as she entered the kitchen, beckoning me to follow. I did so obediently, sitting on the chair she pulled out for me. "Tea?" She side-tracked. "Please." I replied. She seemed pleased with my politeness. I realised I was being heavily judged.

"Dawn likes to go on walks every morning. I don't know where she goes, but she likes to get out. I guess you can understand." She smiled knowingly, and I wondered how much she did actually know.

After a few minutes of silence, she handed me the drink and we moved into the living room again. She turned the television off and sat in the armchair, leaving me to uncomfortably perch on the loveseat.

"Make yourself comfortable." She nodded to the foot stool with a warm smiled gracing her mature face. It was quite odd, to feel the welcoming care of a mother, having never known my own. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I settled for shuffling back.

She waited for me to drink a fair bit of my tea, and when she was satisfied I was comfortable enough, her face changed a little more serious. I tensed with nervousness.

"Now Paul," she began, sitting forward to make her look all the more business-like. "I know that you and Dawn are going through a difficult time at the moment, I just want you to know that you are most welcome to stay here as long as you like. I'm happy to support you in any way I can, to thank you for being there for Dawn when she needed you most."

During her little unexpected speech (I'd assumed the 'talk to my daughter and die' cliche to have come first...) I'd heated up to the point where my face was more red than the top of a pokeball. I was assuming she was talking about Reggie, (why everybody avoided saying his name I didn't know, may as well say it if you're bringing him up. I'll think about him either way...) I coughed awkwardly, and bowed my head again; "That's very generous of you, but..."

"Then it's settled! You can stay here as long as you want. I'll get the spare room set up for you." She stood up and started busying herself, fetching sheets from somewhere in the kitchen as she shuffled around in her slippers.

Just as she came back into the living room to head upstairs, keys rattled in the door. Once again the tension radiated through my muscles, locking me into place so I couldn't turn round to see.

The door opened, and cold rushed in. The fact that the cold did not stop told me she had frozen on the spot too. Slowly, I stood up and turned to look at her only to exhale in one long stretch. Damn, she'd never looked quite so amazing in my eyes than at that moment. Her hair dripping wet, and her clothes clinging to every contour of her body only to tease me with memories that were too long ago for my liking. My mouth dried as she frowned at me, and her eyes watered. I gulped, about to say something to try and break the ice, but she suddenly wheeled around and ran back out of the door, slamming it as she passed.

I blinked in shock. It wasn't quite the welcome I'd hoped for, but it should have been expected. I guess we didn't have a good reputation for introductions and hellos.

My eyes wandered to Johanna, who looked shocked. Her eyes met mine and she was apologetic. We didn't bother with talk, I just ran for the door too. I ran into the porch fencing, leaning over to look in all directions, hopefully to find her. She was nowhere, she could run bloody fast. It can't have been possible.

But then I spotted her in the corner of my eye. She hadn't gone far at all, just to the side of the door with her back pressed against the wall. She was staring at my feet, refusing to look at me.

"Hey." I breathed, scowling at my own anti-climax. The corner of her lip flickered upward slightly in a weak attempt to smile, but she didn't move. "I-err... Thought we needed to talk."

She laughed once soundlessly, and I grimaced. Had I ruined it? I had fucked up royally when I last saw her, and she'd given me many second chances. How could I expect another?

I hung my head as she walked towards the door, but paused at the handle. She said nothing, but turned to me and nodded toward the door. I sighed, following her in.

Maybe things could look up for me, eventually.

Yes, so I know it's short. But I wanted this to come out the same day as the Epilogue, and people were growing impatient so I stopped here rather than where I originally planned. :)

So what do you think of the narrative change? Would you like me to stay this way? I've never written as Paul so this is going to be a big challenge for me. Of course, I've made it easier for me because he's already changed from the cannon character he was. But still, he's got a little bit of angst in him.
Yay or nay? Reviews would be brilliant, so I know how you feel about this change! ^^