[h2]Esme[/h2]
 Esme took in Dean, sighing and squeezing her hand as she started to speak about how talking to Duke didn’t go well. She could also feel how his emotions changed as she continued speaking, but they were nothing compared to what she had already felt before entering the room. Esme could feel him trying to push them down, especially when she brought up channeling Duke’s frustration, making her half regret bringing it up, but Dean needed to hear it all. She didn’t want to keep any of this from him. However, she did wish he could understand what it felt like and why it affected her so much. When she was done and Dean began talking, she turned her head to look at him. Wishing she could believe everything that was falling off his lips, everything he was trying to rationalize to himself, but she couldn’t. Yes, Duke’s emotions were strong, just like Dean, but she felt like there was something else to them. Dean’s words about it might not even have anything to do with her rang in her mind, and it caused her to sigh, knowing that it was, and she shook her head when he was done. 

She watched him lean over on the bed, bringing his face close to hers, and asked her if she wanted to talk about what was said. Honestly, she didn’t want to talk about it, but she knew Dean would worry about it if she didn’t talk about at least a little of it. She sighed heavily through her nose and focused on Dean’s face. “He told me he wasn't upset about us giving him a warm greeting. That was a lie, but I understand why he’d lie about that.” she told Dean. “But the lie that slapped me in the face was him telling me his leaving had nothing to do with me, but it did, Dean.” Esme turned her gaze from him and back to the ceiling. “The moment I went out to talk to him, he felt off. Like it bothered him that I stopped him to talk, and then it got worse as we got into the part about him leaving.” She sighed heavily again, suddenly feeling like a child running to a parent and complaining about another kid hurting their feelings. But now that she had started, she felt like she had to give a few more details to Dean. 

“Then, when I headed back to the door and told him to forget everything, he followed me and stopped me. After seeing I was frustrated, he tried to smooth things over by telling me he wanted to be friends and talk things out later. That made my head spin. I’m part of the reason he left, but he wants to be friends.” She purposely left out the part of Duke saying he couldn’t explain things to her without making himself look horrible, not knowing how Dean would take it or react to it. “But whatever. I don’t want to think about it anymore. I just want to get rid of the lingering frustration and start feeling better.” she said softly. Esme turned her gaze back to Dean’s face, looking into his eyes. “And I don’t want you worrying anymore about how pale I must be.” She gave him a tired smile and lovingly squeezed his hand as she brought it up and kissed it.