Waking up

Helen woke up in the morning warmer than she was used to. She grabbed onto whatever was wrapped around her and pulled it tighter, trying to snuggle up and fall back asleep. When she felt something rubbing against her arm, she froze. Then the memories of the night before flooded back into her head and she relaxed and smiled. She snuggled into his chest and laid there in silence. He finally broke the silence with a soft whisper.

"We should probably get up and figure out what we're going to do." Eric gently rubbed her shoulder as he spoke. "There are some things that I am supposed to get done while I'm here. Then they want me to head back so I can fill them in on the situation here." She froze again.

"You...you have to go back?" Her voice was weak and her speech slow. She felt so many emotions hitting her all at once that she couldn't keep track of any of them. She kept her eyes looking anywhere but at him. Then she felt him sitting up. He kept his arm around her shoulders and when he was fully upright, her legs were draped across his lap while she sat beside him.

"I do. I was sent here on a mission and I have to tell them what happened." She pulled away from him slightly but he reached down and took her hand in his. "However, there is more than enough room for a guest in my car. And there's either enough room back there for another resident or enough supplies that could be spared for another area."

She kept her head down. She still couldn't meet his eyes. She felt so stupid for thinking and feeling these things after meeting this stranger only yesterday and then doing...that stuff with him and sleeping in the same bed as him last night. But there was something about him. She couldn't tell even herself what it was but something drew her to him. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, he spoke up again.

"Helen, if you don't want to go, I won't and can't make you. But I would love to spend more time with you, get to know you more, and, honestly, just be around you." He gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb while he spoke softly. If the situation was any different, it might have sounded condescending. But to Helen in this situation, it was the most sincere, caring thing she had heard in a while.

She didn't speak as she carefully climbed into his lap, still sitting sideways, and wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders. She wanted those things too. She felt safer near him, even out in the open, than she did in her secret hiding place. She wanted to be by his side always.

"If I come back with you, can you promise me that I'll be by your side?" She spoke with tears starting to fall down her cheeks. He gently pushed her away from him and she saw him smiling. He gently reached a hand up to her face and wiped away the couple tear tracks from her cheeks.

"I don't care what it takes, I'll make sure of it." He pulled her in for a tight hug and held her against his chest. He knew he wanted to do everything he could for her. Even if it meant giving up a lot. He didn't care.