Celia was unaware that she had spoken aloud. The voice in her head prattled on telling her she was a totally pathetic worm and that no one in their right mind would ever love her. But the expression on Mistress' face as she helped her from the floor and into a chair, then sat opposite her, made her mother's demon irrelevant.<br/><br/>"M... Mistress? What's wrong? I... Did I... I said it didn't I. I finally said I love you. And I do. I love you more than anything Mistress." She clamped her mouth shut. "Sorry..." she murmured, looking down at those pretty knees, now covered once again in cloth. "I was prattling. But... Mistress, I need to know, do you love me too? It's okay if you don't - I love you enough that I will still let you have me even if you just despise me. But it would be so much better if you did love me?"<br/><br/>She stopped, and dared to raise her eyes again, to see that expression of tenderness and concern on Mistress' face.