The Raven days are over, but no matter how many years pass, Rue still can remember them clearly. It makes no sense to dwell on painful memories, she has a new life now, one filled with happiness, love and more friends than she could ever imagine for a person like her. Still in spite of that, or maybe for that entire reason, she can't help but relive all the pain Kraehe caused. She not only hurt Ahiru and Fakir, but Mytho of all people. In this idyll dreamland it can be hard to remember, but she can still imagine the taste of lips and the feel of his heart-shard in her hands as she ripped it out. That memory makes her sick. She hurt him in the name of love, but she hurt him all the same. How can she deserve forgiveness and a life like this?

Her first reaction was to keep the issue locked up inside her like she usually did. Verbalizing problems like these wasn't her strong suit, and it washer problem, it belonged to no one else. However Ahiru's words ring loud and clear in her mind, even though her friend hasn't held her voice since those Raven days. Talking this out might help.

But who to talk to? Maria and Issac are near and dear to her heart, but they could never understand what it was like in Gold Crown Town. Besides she is afraid they'd hate her if they knew the truth about what she had done to everyone's beloved prince. The only person here at the moment is Mytho, so that night as they lay in bed, she spills out all the worries that have plagued her these last few days.

He listens as he always does, attentive and understanding. For a few seconds, he contemplates her words, and in those moments, Rue worries she has finally lost his love.

"Mytho, I know you know I regret my actions, but even then they're inexcusable. I don't deserve your forgiveness nor expect it. It doesn't matter I changed, I-"

"Rue," He squeezes her hand, gently but firmly, interrupting her train of thought. "Let's dance."

They both lack the proper footwear, and she is clothed in nothing but her nightgown, but she complies. They dance, forgetting everything else but each other. It is soothing in a strange way. Her fears linger, but they no longer seem so unconquerable.

"Rue," Mytho's steady voice breaks the trance they've both entered. "You may have hurt me, but don't you remember that I've hurt you as well?"

"Yes but that was under the Raven's blood-"

"The Raven's blood changed me, but it was still me who committed those atrocities. A me that still exists, in the deepest darkest recesses of my heart," His scowl burns with righteous fury, and it pains her that it is directed at himself.

"I have hurt you as well, therefore I don't deserve forgiveness either."

"I see the point you're trying to make," Rue sighs as she looks up at Mytho. "But do you think our love is strong enough to make up for our mistakes?"

"I don't know," He shrugs. "But if we've made it this far, than why shouldn't we keep trying, together?"

"I don't see why not," Rue finally smiles. "Thank you, Mytho, for everything."

"Even if I could rewrite the past, I wouldn't change a thing. Now let's get some rest."

And so they did, and for the first time in what felt like forever, black feathers haunted her dreams no more.

A.N. Ruetho is very important to me as well, showing an abused woman being worthy of love and all, still it is very interesting with the shifting roles of powers throughout the anime and while I think in the end they would work, I wish more discussions with Mytho about the fact Fakir and Rue were pretty problematic at first took place (also Unfinished Business by Mumford and Sons is where I got the title, v good and appropriate)