Reassurance

They sat in silence for a while. Helen had her arms wrapped around his shoulders and Eric had his hand slowly rubbing up and down her back. Neither of them could understand what it was about the other that made them feel so connected so quickly. But they both knew one thing deep in their hearts and in their heads: they didn't want to be apart.

Helen finally relaxed her arms and pulled away slowly. She still couldn't look him in the eyes so she just looked at his chest and felt him looking at her. Then her last worry bubbled to the surface of her thoughts and she almost whispered "What if...they don't like me?" She was afraid to ask him because she didn't think she would like the answer.

He placed his finger under her chin and gently lifted her head up until she was looking straight into his eyes. Those brilliant, shining eyes. "If they don't like you then they have two options. Learn to like you, or deal with me leaving." He quickly pecked her on the lips and smiled softly down at her.

Her eyes started to fill with tears again but she kept her eyes on his. Those three words were sitting right at the back of her throat but she couldn't bring herself to say them. She opened her mouth then closed it. She did it again and her head dropped a little until she was looking at his chin. She started to mutter and stutter under her breath. "I...I...Er-..." just before her head dropped to staring into her lap, he lifted her head again and looked into her eyes. Those eyes full of a troubled past and tears but still full of drive. He pulled the words out of her head and made them his own.

"I love you."

He brought his lips down to hers and kissed her deeply but softly. He didn't expect anything from this kiss. He didn't want it to lead somewhere. He was just kissing her to kiss her. To show her he really meant it. She closed her eyes and sank into the kiss. It was wonderful. She felt her hands searching for his almost like she had no control over them anymore. They found what they were looking for and wrapped around it, holding it tight like it would disappear if they let go.

He finally pulled away from her lips and she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. He smiled and reached up to push her hair behind her ear and she leaned against his shoulder. She kept looking up at him as she softly asked "When do we leave?"