When Ruby's eyes fluttered open. And instinctively. She looked for him. He was there. Sitting in the same place. Watching. Waiting.
"You're awake," he said gently. She studied him for a moment. Something about him felt… Safe. Familiar. Even though she knew, somewhere deep down, that she didn't know him at all.
"What's my name?" she asked quietly. The question carried no fear this time. Just… emptiness. He hesitated. Just for a second. Then… "Amy," he said. Softly. Certain. "Amy Ross." She repeated it slowly.
"Amy…" The name felt strange on her tongue. But not wrong. Not entirely.
"And you?" she asked, her voice still fragile. A small pause. Then…"Maxwell." He gave a faint, controlled smile. "Maxwell Ross, your husband."
She looked at him for a long moment. Searching. For something. Anything. But there was nothing there. No memory. No past. No pain she could name. So she nodded.
Accepting it. Because she had nothing else to hold onto. "Okay…" she whispered.
