So much for staying out of this for a while. I couldn't let Orion's relationship with Melanara go unexplored. Let's hope this is better than the rest of my stuff here.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Melanara.

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Orion gasped as he jerked awake from another bad dream. Standing at the end of his bed stood a figure he kept seeing in his dreams.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be dead." he said. A laugh fell from lips he once kissed.

"Sorry, because of my past misdeeds, I'm doomed to walk the earth for all eternity. Or some shit like that." the figure said, walking around to sit on the edge of his bed. He moved away and saw her faint look of frustration.

"But we're in the Watchtower. This isn't Earth." Orion pointed out. The figure laughed again.

"Since when have I ever followed the rules?" she asked, laying next to him on the bed. This brought a flashback, a good memory, though still tainted.

----------------------------Three months ago----------------------------

"Mmm, that was fun." Melanara said, laying against Orion. He had his arm wrapped around her.

"First time?" he asked. She laughed at him.

"Oh, come on, after that, you think I was a virgin?" she snorted and moved away, swinging her legs over the side and standing up, leaving the blanket behind.

"Not really." Orion said, watching her walk over to the bathroom, his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and breathed out in satisfaction. A few moments later she emerged and walked back over, climbed back into bed and settled next to him, her head on his shoulder.

-----------------------------Present Night------------------------------

"Never." he said, staring at her, through her.

"'Rion, it had to end like it did. It always did. There was never any other way for it to go." Melanara said, reaching for his hand, but stopped just short of it.

"I don't believe that." he said, rising and walking to the other side of the room.

"Dammit, Orion. If you want the truth, I knew what was going to happen the moment I took control. The power was too much, it had built up too much steam. Darksied was just the catalyst." she said and picked up a pillow. Orion stared at her in shock.

"I thought ghosts just passed through things." he said. Melanara shrugged.

"Residuals of my power allow me to touch things, but I can still walk through walls and all that." she said. Orion walked over to her and kissed her softly on the lips.

"How long can you stay?" he asked, his voice low. Melanara's reply could barely be heard.

"As long as you want."

------------------------------Three hours Later------------------------------------

"I have to go." she said after what seemed like an eternity. She stood up and began to pick up her clothing. Orion watched quietly as she dressed and before she walked out, he called to her.

"Wait." she stopped and waited for him to speak. "Did you ever love me?" he asked. She turned and he saw that she was fighting with herself.

"Once upon a time, Orion. Once up a time." she said and walked out of his room, closing the door behind her.

The End

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