She sits in the bay window, cradling her coffee cup in her trembling hands.. while tears pour down her cheeks in hot torents. she cries silently.. letting her pain flow down her till she can not cry any longer..angry and hurt at the way The First has struck at them.. turning she looks upon the form in the bed.. so handsome.. strong even in his sleep.. wanting her.. needing her.. turning to gaze out into the early morning sky.. filled with stars that seemed to mock her with unfulfilled wishes.. shattered dreams.. leaning her head against the cool windowpane.. hoping to cool her burning cheeks before he wakes and sees her in her weakness.. she lets her thoughts drift.. pulling her first memories of him out of thier safety.. letting them breath their life.. their hope into her once again..

She was a flirt.. a slut many had said.. maybe even a whore.. but the truth was she just enjoyed the war of words.. the seduction of the whispered innuindos.. the satisfaction of momentary fulfillment.. she would sit on the bar.. swing her legs.. watching the world and taking what happiness she could.. then he came.. when thier eyes met she found a friend.. just a friend which was new for her..they engaged in the words.. but never once believed it would come to the brief interlude as the others unfailingly did.. he intruguied her.. he listened to her.. he scared her..

They spoke often for a while.. eventually her working behind the bar she sat upon so often.. they talked of many things.. of everything.. and she grew under his words.. blossomed into the person that he had always believed her to be.. she made friends.. took a lover.. remained faithful.. they ceased to work at the same time and saw less of each other.. but always she basked in the sunlight of his approval..

There came a day in which they stood together to protect the lives of thier friend and her childern,. their godchildren.. in hiding they began to talk again, as if the had never ceased to speak, the words flowed in comfort.. easily spoken.. sharing joys and pain.. the hope of the relationships they were in.. the pain of knowing they were not what they needed.. she learned much of him that afternoon and felt a stirring deep within that she could not, would not define.. then the danger passed..

They sought each others company again soon after.. sitting together and talking.. they spoke of everything while skipping the most obvious.. the stirrings of desire for one another... he curled up with her.. took her hand and she trembled.. lacing their fingers together in a perfect fit..her heart skipped a beat with each move he made.. each word from his mouth flowed across her being..as gentle as a butterflys caress.. she trembled with her desire.. her soul recognizing a mate.. her mind refusing to acknowledge it.. her hidden shyness dictating each move.. threatening to fold around her and hide her forever..but he would not let that happen..

They spoke of love.. of lonliness.. both of those they commited to so far away physically, mentally.. she spoke of pain..of an ache that only one would sooth.. one she wasn't sure would recognize her if he saw.. he took thier entwinded hands and raised them to her cheek.. caressing softly.. waiting till she looked into his eyes.. he whispered..

What have i done to cause you to ache so? are you so shy with me? do you not see the want, desire i feel for you also? i see you.. and i know..

She trembled as he spoke.. her mind still refusing to accept what she so desperately wanted.. needed to hear.. he sensed her hesitation and took her face in his hands.. slowly he moved.. bringing his lips to her's.. giving her the time to pull away if she wanted to.. she watched almost in wonder as he closed the distance between them.. lost in the depth of his eyes.. brushing her lips with his.. he claimed her with the simple caress.. her soul cried out with joy in the deepening kiss.. knowing she had finally found a heart that would beat with hers.. dancing the sweet cadence that she had been looking for.. filling the void in her soul that she had not known she possessed..

The figure on the bed stirred.. bringing her back to the present..to her now cold coffee.. she smiles softly and turns to look out into the brightening sky.. her heart lightened in her rememberence of him.. she had expected the pain from the ones she hurt.. the lovers they left to fulfill thier dreams.. she hated herself in part for causing so much pain.. but as she told The First when she left.. one does not dictate the way ones heart will fall.. there is nothing she wanted more then to save The First this hurt.. but she had to follow her heart.. as he did his.. or remain empty forever..

She sets her coffee down and running her fingers thru her hair she moves quietly to the bed.. sliding under the covers softly so as not to wake him.. he reaches for her in his sleep and she moves willingly into his arms.. curling close.. still amazed at the perfect fit of her curves against the leaness of his body.. he whispers her name and she lifts her eyes to his.. lacing thier fingers together he caresses her cheek.. and whispers..

'Why do you cry..'

With a smile..her heart skipping a beat at the tender touch she whispers in return

'I cry for the happiness you bring me love.. for the joy i feel here with you..'

Their hearts forever beating in tandem.. the perfect words flow between them as one..

'I love you.'