Sanctuary II

Ruby the Dragonet was flying happily around the atrium of the labs. It was 'nighttime' and most of the staff were in bed, aside from Roisin and Keegan, the two were sat on a bench on the upper balcony, watching Ruby fly happily in the air.

"Did she come visiting today, then?" Keegan asked.

"Who, Varla?" Roisin asked in return.

"Yeah" Keegan nodded. "She'd have some nerve to do so, if she did after yesterday's events" He added.

"Well, she's got a hells of a brass neck on her, 'cause she did" Roisin replied. "I, however, showed up over an hour and a half late" She smirked.

"Ha! Nicely done!" Keegan laughed as he put his hand up for a high-five, Roisin did the same.

"What's more, I left in the middle of her self aggrandising speech" Roisin chuckled. "She was not happy, I watch her pounding on the energy barrier over the cameras for about twenty minutes" She added. Keegan smiled at looked back at Ruby who was doing somersaults in the air.

"I know I've said this a number of times..." Keegan began.

"And I've forgiven you every time, Keegan, stop beating yourself up over it" Roisin interrupted.

"I just... can't believe I... hated you so much, every time I remember it, I can't help but feel sorrowful and angry at myself" Keegan sighed.

"You were kidnapped and lied to, Keegan, you are a victim. People manipulated you and took advantage" Roisin said as she looked up through the glass roof. "I know what that's like" She added.

"Maybe. But I still killed my adopted mother... that's on me" Keegan frowned. Roisin sighed and held Keegan's hand.

"Syl assisted Arranthian in destroying Avadey, it's something he regrets too" Roisin smiled weakly. "It doesn't make him a bad person... in my eyes. I love him, he's family, and I'd never turn my back on family. Ever. I'd die for them, I'd die for you" She added. Overcome with emotion, Keegan embraced Roisin in a hug.

"Roisin, thank you" Keegan smiled, as tears formed in his eyes. He slowly let go of Roisin, who smiled at him. "Growing up in Aranei, I... wasn't ever really shown any kind of love. My whole life I was an outsider, made to feel like I was less than everyone else. To them, I was the weird outsider kid, and was treated as such... I don't say this to excuse what I did, of course, I just..." He continued.

"I can't imagine what it was like for you. I had a pretty cosy upbringing, until everything kicked off. I wish that you could have been there too" Roisin sighed, before smirking slightly. "You could have helped me beat Syl in the racing video games" She joked.

"Nah, I would have beat you both" Keegan proudly declared.

"Oh really?" Roisin smiled as she raised an eyebrow.

"For sure!" Keegan nodded, confidently.

"How about we test out this hypothesis tomorrow, at noon" Roisin challenged.

"It's on!" Keegan laughed. The two chatted for a while longer as Ruby watched, perched on the balcony, eventually the two headed to bed. Ruby spent a while longer, flying around in the atrium, practising her flying and chasing her tail. Eventually she began to get sleepy.

Ruby flew down the maze of corridors, to a door that said 'Roisin's room' in red paint on the door, she landed on the control pad outside and booped the control panel with her nose, as she did, the door slid open. Ruby flew inside happily, before the doors closed behind her.

Roisin was fast asleep on her bed, a soft smile formed on Ruby's face as she flew over and landed on the lower half of the bed, she stepped around in a small circle, before curling up and lying down, with her small head facing Roisin. She chirped softly, before nodding off to sleep.