Chapter 5

After a small breakfast the pair got started on their work. His first letter was to the periodical that publish his photos and writings from his adventures. Violet remained stoic in her appearance while inwardly she felt like something was gripping and twisting at her heart as Leon went over in detail the events of the avalanche. Once he recovered some from his coma he discovered that two of the ten man team lost their lives.

He spoke slower than he did when they worked together before, and this time she noticed his voice and how much she enjoyed listening to him speak, even if the context was not the most pleasant. She sometimes waited for him to finish his thought before typing just so she could listen.

His voice had gotten serious and low as he spoke of his lost team members but as he came to the end his letter some light came back to his voice. "I request that there be a memorial page for the team members I lost. If my request should be denied I will go somewhere else for future work."

Violet's heart felt warm from his commitment to his lost friends. She handed him the letter to read over. As he looked it over an eyebrow lifted and a smirk raised the corner of his mouth. "You've made me sound a bit more pleasant I think."

She nodded with a slight smile. "Honey attracts more bees than vinegar." She teased and he laughed, more so from the surprise that she teased him than from the quality of the joke.

When he settled she asked him who the next letter was for. He smiled. "You met him. Kyle, my old roommate at the observatory. Last time I heard from him he was still in contact with your fellow doll, Iberis. He said they've been trying to plan a place and time to meet in person again, and they finally settled on some plans... by now they either met or they chickened out..." his eyes dropped to the ground remembering that he had suggested the same thing to Violet in his last letter.

"Or maybe one of them got caught in an avalanche." Her eyes were glued to the page she had already started, but he could see the humor in her bright blue eyes.

He carefully adjusted to sit up a little more on the couch. "I'd like him to know what happened... why my letters stopped. He would probably like to hear that you and I have run into each other again, even if it is like this. I'm also curious if anything has developed between him and Iberis..." there eyes meet before she starts to type.

Her brows are slightly knit and her curiosity shows in her voice. "Why would he want to hear about us? And what's wrong with how we met again?"

His heart starts to race and his palms get a bit sweaty as he thought about all the letters he sent Kyle and that all of them had something about Violet in them, even as small as 'I hope she's okay.' Kyle encouraged Leon to try to orchestrate a meeting with Violet and repeatedly told him he should tell Violet how he feels about her when they meet again. "If him and Iberis did meet up he would probably like that we both got to see our project partners again."

"And if they haven't met up?" Her eyebrow lifted a little. "Couldn't it hurt him?"

Leon smiled. "No. It would make him happy. Kyle is like that. He's always searching for the positive things to hold on to. I think it stems from his miserable childhood, he doesn't ever want to be that unhappy again."

Violets eyebrows lower. "I wasn't aware he had a sad childhood..." she began to type.

Leon bit his lip as he thought about how much he should share. "It's his story to tell really. Let's just say he can relate a bit to you and I when it comes to parents."

There were several other letters to be completed, but just as he was finishing reading over the letter for Kyle the sound of a car approaching pulled their attention. Leon groaned as he got up from the couch, not so much from his injuries, more so because of the impending arrival. As Violet began to rise he spoke in a firm voice, reminding her of when they first met. "Please stay in here." And he made his way to the front patio.