"Honey?"

We were sitting in bed at the end of the day as was our daily routine. He was reading a potions magazine on the left and I a fictional novel on the right. Small alarm bells went off in my head as he had never called me honey before.

"Yeah?" I saw him put down the magazine out of the corner of my eye. I closed my book and turned to look at him.

For the second time since I had meet him, his eyes were openly drowning in doubt and pain. My eyes widened.

"Why do you love me?" His voice was soft yet emotionless, as if he was asking me to cook a meal. The last time I had seen him like this was when he first had said 'I love you'. Once again, the topic of love troubled him.

"Severus, you know why. Why on –"

"No. No I don't know why." His body was completely stiff at my response. I must had said something wrong. "Why would I be asking if I knew? Just to hear it again? Just to be glorified?" I felt as if he was stabbing us both with his bitter words. His eyes had turned to stone.

I treaded carefully. "No." My voice automatically lowered at my hurt. "Well…" I reached out my arms to curl around his neck but he shook his head and said a simple 'don't'.

"Do you want physical or personality wise?" I stared into his eyes.

"Both."

"Well personality wise, you can be very caring when you want. You have a dry sense of humor that I like. You're rather protective of me which makes me feel wanted and valued." Severus relaxed as I spoke. He seemed satisfied that I wasn't lying.

"Physically you are fit, minus the scars but you know I don't mind them. I love your eyes," here I paused and hesitantly reached out and tucked his hair behind his ears so I could see them better. He remained a statue. "They rarely show emotion but when they do, they look quite beautiful doing it. Your nose gives your face character and I like looking at it, you probably think I'm lying but I'm not. And your hands. They're gentle and precise. At times. Your mouth, however, is not always gentle."

I looked down trying to let the tears dry. Severus was mute but after a long silence, his right hand cupped my cheek and pushed my face up. The tears had dried but I had no doubt he knew I was hurt. He leaned closer to me and kissed my left cheek for a long time.

"Thank you."

I nodded quietly, wondering if he really believed me. No longer in the mood to read, I placed my book on the nightstand and turned off my light. Closing my eyes to the left side of my pillow, I could tell that Severus's light was still on and would probably be on for the rest of the night.

"Night," I murmured, emotionally drained.

"Night." I felt one of his hands start rubbing my exposed left shoulder. Just before I fell asleep, I felt him plant a light kiss on my forehead. "I love you."

AN – One shot