"Neal." she whispered.

"Emma." he whispered.

It was just before dawn, but neither had slept. They'd made love for the first time the evening prior after sneaking into a hotel room, and each had spent all night thinking of the other. Mostly imagining ways to say "I love you". As can be imagined, it was long overdue. It was not in Emma's nature, nor Neal's, to admit feelings quickly.

"I really... really, like you." She declared.

"Good," he said quietly. "'Cause I really...really...really like you." Her smile seemed to light up the bug, causing his cheeky grin to double the illumination.

"Yeah?" she challenged. Although it was pitch black, he could see her eyebrows raised and hear the elation in her soft voice. "Well, I really... really... really... really like you," she mused. He chuckled.

"Hey, Emma?" He took one of her hands in both of his. "I love you." She felt the swelling of joy in her heart finally burst and pervade throughout her body, causing a faint tingling in her extremities. Because he was holding her delicate hand so protectively, he knew she was reacting. He had to imagine it was a positive reaction; after all, she did really, really, really, really like him.

"Neal, I love you, too." she exclaimed gleefully, searching for his hair and pulling his face in for a passionate kiss. Once she had climbed onto his lap, their mouths moved in harmony and their hands grasped at hair and skin alike. The kiss fizzled down, until he was stroking her hair and she curled up to his chest. In that moment, at 5:30 in the morning, cuddling in a beat up, stolen stolen car, they knew their love was endless.