Chapter Title: (12) Revelation 16:16-02

The beach is quiet today, relatively. There were a couple dozen of their peers lounging in a similar manner, but no music or shouting. It was peaceful. "This is what I thought of," she murmured quietly, feeling his hand circle around her free one, "when things were...hard. Just, hearing this all the time. Seeing this view. It's truly breathtaking." His thumb rubbed circles on the back of her hand. She knew what he was about to do. Gently prod, poke at small ripples in her exterior. Try to get a glimpse. "When you were younger, or more...recently?" He murmured tentatively, not wanting to push. But Detective Bryan's words floated back into her ears again and she knew that Aiden deserved the truth. That she deserved to lessen the burden of not carrying this all by herself. Besides, there was no pressure here, not with Aiden. Ever. "Both," she replied quietly, keeping her eyes locked on the waves, his thumb still massaging gently, "It's...it was too much being in the dark and not having...