2nd entry for Week 4 of the Drabble Competition

Characters, Musa, Riven: Prompt: Expectations

Word Count (minus A/Ns): 588

Her expectations of our relationship were high. Really high. She wanted a fairy tale prince to love and care for her. All she got was an amateur specialist.

But I loved her. I truly did. It was just that I hardly showed it.

It made her believe that I didn't care.

It wasn't my fault I had a difficult past with women. It wasn't my fault I was abandoned by my mother at birth. It wasn't my fault I found it hard to show affection.

Musa didn't understand. I could that see that she tried to but she couldn't separate her desires from reality. And that got in the way of our already cracked relationship.

However, I had an idea that I thought just might fix our issue.

I just hoped Musa would be willing to try it out.

We walked, side by side, to the place she called her second home. The garden behind her mother's grave.

It was where she went when things were tough. When she needed some time to unwind. When our relationship was almost at breaking point.

We sat by the big tree right at the far end. No one ever went there (at least, I hadn't seen anyone else there) so we had labelled it as ours. The branches drooped to cover the ground beneath it in shadow. It was calm, peaceful and secluded; the perfect place to work out all our problems.

'Musa?' I had asked, after taking a breath.

She turned my way, her eyes looking hopeful.

'I'm sorry,' I sighed. I just needed to get that off my chest.

She raised an eyebrow. 'What for? You've not done anything wrong.

My eyes widened. That was far from the truth – and she knew it.

'For being an arrogant jerk instead of the fairy tale nice guy you wanted. I know I don't always – scrap that, I hardly ever show you that I love you but I do. I…' My words caught in my throat. Why was I being emotional about this? 'I really do.

'You know I've never been good at being affectionate and for that reason, I'm really sorry. I-'

'Riven,' she whispered, silencing me. 'It's OK. I get it. You don't need to apologise. I know about your past. I know what your mother did – and it's not your fault. It's how you were brought up. And I wouldn't change you for the world.

'I know you find it hard to detach yourself from your own little world and I understand. But even then, I will always love you. Always.'

I had no choice but to give her one of my rare, genuine smiles – a smile reserved for her only. I took her hand, interlacing our fingers. 'Have I met your requirements for being a 'fairy tale prince'?' I asked softly. 'I know I'm not a real prince but-'

'Yes. You've done that and so much more. You need to stop putting yourself down, Riv. Because…'

She leant up to whisper in my ear. 'I. Love. You.'

Musa needed to stop being so amazing. Because if she carried on as she was, I would probably start the waterworks.

I turned to face her. She was smiling fit to bust, her eyes sparkling. Her smile was contagious – and soon I found myself following her.

I inhaled once again, before whispering something I never would have imagined me saying. 'I love you too.'

Then she leaned in. I was swept away in her love, her warmth and her beauty.

A/N: What did you guys think? You like? How about you take two minutes out of your life to leave a review?

There's four of us in the competition again this week. How about we make it five? (Or even more?)