Minerva caught a glimpse of the new puppy that was sniffing around her legs, its tail wagging furiously and she absently patted the top of Octavius' head when he grew near.
She inhaled, able to smell Atlas' warm scent of musk and sandalwood and the sleepy, maleness of him that made her want to bury her face in his chest.
"I don't even know why I'm crying," Minerva admitted, her voice just a whisper when he wiped the moisture from her cheeks. Her eyes searched his face; her tongue snaked out to run over her lips.
"I want to try. I want to be with you. Just you. I've been so stupid, Atlas and so afraid that maybe I fucked it all up completely and I can understand if you don't want me anymore because frankly I wouldn't want me either, but I miss you and there hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't thought about you at least once."
Minerva knew she was babbling, but she couldn't help it. It just all started pouring out of her, along with the tears.