Bedroom - 1:23 AM
Emily lay in bed, Thor sprawled at the foot taking up far too much space, Timothy's arm around her waist. She tried to quiet her mind, to let exhaustion take over.
"Timothy?" she said softly into the darkness.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you. For everything. For protecting me, for supporting this insane revenge quest, for not telling me I'm crazy for trying to take down an entire regime."
"You're not crazy," Timothy said. "You're a queen reclaiming what's yours. That's not insanity...that's justice."
"Still. Most husbands wouldn't..."
"I'm not most husbands," Timothy interrupted gently. "And you're not most wives. We're building something together, Emily. Not just a marriage, but an empire. And when you take back Norvale, when you sit on that throne again...I'll be beside you, supporting you, helping you rule with the wisdom and strength you've earned."
