and the blood run stale --- [libby]

Georgia gave him a quick glance as he corrected her. Maybe she hadn't ever told him how much she had treasured her step-mother, despite the fact that they weren't genetically related. She didn't care about genetics, Elise had done more for her than her true mother ever had. "Parents," she whispered softly. Being defensive of Elise was something that the demigod always hoped to be, because the girl didn't know who she actually was until after her step-mother was dead. She would've lived just fine thinking that Elise actually was her mother.

She almost smiled at his response, about feeling responsible. "You can't save everyone, Christopher," Gee muttered, raising an eyebrow at him. She should be taking her own advice, being a medic and all, but she couldn't help it. Beating herself up for over a century about the same situation still hadn't gotten her anywhere, and the girl decided she had to live with it. Not forget it, but realize that her parents were still with her, in a way.

Felling his hand stop her braiding, she frowned slightly. She wasn't done with that. Maybe she needed to find new nervous habits, ones that didn't make her seem like an appearance-obsessed teenager. Georgia flicked her jaded gaze over at him, his smile making her nervous. People didn't normally smile when they apologized. "Okay," she responded, going back to her braiding shortly after her short statement.

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Georgia continued in her braiding escapade, trying different methods as she went along. She tried making things continuous, and similar. At times, she felt like the world was so messed up that it needed some consistency, like the even parts of her braid; but there was always the uneven, or skipped parts, that made her question why she chose that type of braid. The silence that filled with conversation was a little unnerving, somewhat thanks to her. Maybe the demigod's lack of reply was rude in some sense, but she didn't know what else to say. She wasn't sure about anything right now, possibly due to the side effect of the medications pumping through her veins.

Flicking her eyes up at Christopher, she wished she had something to say to him. Really, her feelings were either one extreme or the other, but her heart wasn't exactly on the same page as her head most of  the time. She could feel his eyes on her, a kind of comporting feeling that scared her and saved her at the same time. Yet, Gee couldn't bring herself to any words.

Hearing his familiar voice, she looked over at him once more, waiting fo something, anything really. Georgia wasn't in the mood for fighting anymore, everything had already been said. There wasn't anymore guess work in their relationship, it made sense, mostly. His comment only made her smile, a sad kind of smile that surprised even her. "I just need time," she said, squeezing his hand lightly. "I'll be fine, I always was," Georgia added, bringing his hand up to her lips as she kissed it. "Okay?"

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Georgia simply smiled at his remark, enjoying the view of his face lightening up. She hadn't seen him like that since Jesse's death, and the sight made her feel a little better about the situation. Sure, the world was still missing one of the finest young boys that it ever had, but at least the people who knew him were wishing he was still with them. They were also moving on, and continuing their lives. She hoped that Jesse wouldn't mind.

Feeling chapped lips on her smooth skin, the demigod shut her eyes, like it would make the rest of the world, except for them, disappear. She regretted their argument, but knew that it would've come out eventually; most likely sooner than later. Most things said with an angry tongue were normally untrue and rash, which applied, at least for Georgia. She knew that there were reasons for everything, even if it was out of her understanding. At least, she hoped there was.

Opening her eyes, Gee glanced over at Christopher, not sure of what to say again. She could apologize, like he had, but she couldn't find the words. Maybe she was becoming too prideful, too sinful, impure and too adapted to this century. She was becoming like this generation, typically arrogant and cocky. Georgia wasn't sure if she liked that side of her. Sure, the confidence was great when she had it, but the best of things always fade.

Hearing Christopher's voice once more, the demigod shrugged in reply. She let the hand that he was holding stay limp in his grip, not wanting to rid herself of the physical contact. There were times that she would've loved to freeze, and stay in that moment forever. Her first kiss with him, the moments before her brothers departed for war, the days her parents were healthy. Now? The demigod seemed to have time to lose. "Sometimes," she admitted softly, tracing a finger from her opposite hand over his knuckles. "But I have all the time in the world now," Gee added, looking up at him.

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