As he spotted her standing on the stairs, something about her posture, the way she was moving her legs nervously
made him think of the fifteen year old girl she once was, abandoned, alone. His heart broke for that girl, but his heart was
also swelling with pride for how far she had come in the three years since they had started working together.
Three years ago, she wouldn't have taken that risk. She wouldn't have thrown herself into the fire for the man who had
abandoned her so many years ago. She had grown so much over the years, and the change in her was almost as organic as
the change in their relationship. He had so much respect for her in that moment, and so much pride in knowing of her journey,
that he could barely hold back the tears. She turned as he approached. He didn't even have to say her name. Somewhere
along the line they had built such a strange and beautiful connection that no words were needed. He pulled her into an
embrace, and the person who had once shied away from hugs, worried that it was a sign of weakness to need someone in
that way, now felt so comfortable in his arms that he didn't want to let her go. Later, when she was hugging her father, and he
had stepped away to give them space, he had to fight back the tears once again. The mixture of emotions that he had felt on
the stand had all slipped away, and the only thing he felt as her gaze held his, was love.