Change comes in many forms.

There are events which change us for the better, as we recognise those who are beside us as we win or lose, fall or grow stronger.

Then there are those obstacles we strive to overcome to gain back that sense of familiarity; a love which we treasure.

And finally, one fine day comes along filled with emotions of triumph and heartache and we want to reach out and hold onto what is familiar; what is safe.

Change was difficult for me to deal with. I avoided change as much as I could, especially when it came to love. I knew what I wanted; security. But how would what I want in life matter when what I needed had powers so great they could make me forget my own name?

Need. It came in the form of one man. Will Schuester.

'Here, I got you an apple juice', Will spoke quietly as he passed the juice bottle. I hadn't even heard him return from the lobby, where he had gone to call Mercedes to update her on the progress of Kurt's coma-ridden father.

'Thank you, Will. You shouldn't have worried about me. I'm fine.' I sat up straighter than I already was in the vinyl covered chair and accepted the refreshment, which he handed me with a small smile.

'Yeah? You looked like you were having trouble keeping your eyes open before I left.' He took a seat next to me, separated by an armrest.

'It is late.' I nodded toward the clock hanging on the opposite wall, reading 12:57.

'You should go home, Em. I can stay here in case Kurt leaves his dad's room. I just want to be here for him.'

'You're always there for the kids, Will. Let me stay. '

'Let's both stay,' he grinned.

'Alright,' I blushed, averting my gaze from his penetratingly lustful gaze, as I placed my apple juice on the seat next to me.

We sat in silence for a few seconds before Will spoke.

'Remember last year when Sarah Booker's Mom was in here?'

'Yeah, that was my first day.'

'I know. Lucky you, right?' Will chuckled lightly and I groaned at the memory.

'I was glad she was in your Spanish class at the time and you came with us, because I could not stop the girl from screaming,' I added to the conversation.

'And her Mom was only giving birth.' I giggled at his words as he let a foolish grin spread across his face.

The grin slowly disappeared as I sat up taller in my seat, attempting to avoid his flirty antics and he sensed this.

'I'm glad you got the call today though.' His sincere whisper caught me by surprise and my eyes were drawn to his. 'I'm glad you're here with me. I don't know how to handle situations like these very well.'

Slowly, his hand reached out towards my own hand in my lap, his beautiful, brown eyes drawn to my long fingers. Fingertips lightly traced the back of my hand, and my own eyelids closed as I was overwhelmed once again with the familiar intensity of being touched by Will. His long, gentle fingers intertwined with my own and I opened my eyes to see his thumb brushing the back of my hand softly.

'Will.' The intended tone was supposed to be cautious and defiant. Instead, his name escaped my lips in a whimper, as we both gazed at our joined hands.

'Shhh, Em.'

I glanced around at the elderly woman and her middle- aged daughter across the room.

'Not now, Will.' I drew in a shaky breath as my gaze was drawn to his face.

'Please, just let me hold you.' I wanted to give in; I wanted so badly to be held by him. I wanted more than this. His thumb drew circles on my hand. 'Your skin is so soft.'

My eyes closed slowly as emotions overwhelmed me. It was hard to think, as the man I refused to admit to love showed his affection so publicly.

He buried his face in my neck as he breathed in my scent. He heard him place kisses in my hair and suddenly his lips brushed my neck gently, placing light kisses below my ear.

I turned my head sensually and whispered rejection softly in his ear, 'Not here.'

'Come with me.' His voice was husky and promising and so, like all of the other times in my life, I followed him.

We walked down the hallway, hand in hand, and we approached a door which had a small plaque on it reading 'Quiet Room 2'.

Will turned the knob and ushered me inside, removing his hand from mine and placing it on the small of my back. I led the way into the small, dimly lit room, barely the size of my office, with pale blue walls and a pair of couches against the walls.

I didn't know what to expect from our little escape from the waiting room. As I tried desperately to get my breathing under control, I heard Will close the door softly and the lock turn.

I felt him come up behind me and his fingertips sensually brushed my flaming, red hair from the side of my neck, granting him access to place a single kiss against the spot between where shoulder and neck joined.

I whimpered again.

I was frozen to the spot. I couldn't move to tell him that this was too much for me; that I wasn't ready to get messy; that I felt like I was cheating on Carl.

And suddenly, I didn't have to.

His arms wrapped around my waist from behind and he buried his head in the back of my neck, his forehead lowering to rest on my shoulder. Silence consumed us, the tension in the air threatening to burst at any moment. And then, so help me God, he lifted his lips to whisper in my ear.

'I just want to hold you.' His warm breath against my freckled skin sent every nerve ending in my body on fire and all thoughts of boyfriends and ex-wives and coma-ridden parents vanished from my mind.

"I just want to touch you.' He groaned, and I felt an emotion that I didn't understand consume me.

'I want you to want me to touch you.' The feeling continued to grow as he spoke a monologue.

'I do,' I interrupted, unable to help myself.

'I think of you every minute of the day, Emma. I can't stop thinking about you. You drive me crazy. I don't want anyone to touch you but me. You get me so worked up, I can hardly function. I imagine what it would be like to look into your eyes and know that you want me as much as I want you.'

'You know I do, Will. But I can't. I just can't.'

He raised his body and I buried my face in his neck.

'Can we just stay like this then, just for a little while?' he asked pleadingly.

'Yes', I breathed shakily, as he turned me around to face him.

And we stood there like that for a while, his arms wrapped around me, holding me to his strong, firm body. If he wanted to unzip my dress and hold me to him naked, I would have let him. I was so safe in his arms; I was wanted.

It could easily have been a year ago, standing there in this situation, with Will married and I desperately in love with the man I had placed on that heaven-high pedestal. But we were so different; developed as individuals; stronger. And now he needed love more than I; he needed to be wanted. I felt empathy for him, as I realised if my conscience let me a year ago, this could have been me, desperate for touch, and not the other way around. Touch plagued our thoughts.

And that's what we did; we touched each other. His hands roamed over my back, down my spine along with the thousands of nerves that were ablaze in my body. His strong hands traced the curve of my lower back and over my behind and I only pressed myself further into his touch. It felt wrong, and yet so right.

It was the most erotic thing I had ever done, and I was too overcome with the mutual feeling of intimacy that I felt empowered to let him touch me wherever he wanted.

And I did the same thing, too.

Breathing heavily, my nimble fingers discovered his well built torso over his sweater, the hardness of his thighs, as his hands travelled up my back and over my shoulders to venture down my arms.

His fingertips stoped at my elbow and travelled across my stomach inching up ever so slowly until his hands reached the underwire of my bra, which he could feel through my dress. Over clothes; it was always over clothes.

I pulled back slightly as our eyes locked. I expected to see that look of desire that I knew so well, but instead I was met with a tearful gaze. I nodded, blushing, and his large, soft hands moved slowly to cup the fullness of my breasts. As he buried his face in my neck again, I felt his tears flow freely into my hair and onto the flushed skin of my neck.

We were in love. We were so in love.

His hands massaged my breasts through the fabric and I felt arousal and guilt consume me at the same time, as his own arousal pressed into my stomach.

'God, Emma', he growled as his hands lowered to my hips, as he knelt before me. He rested his ear against my navel, and I ran my bony fingers shakily through his curls, as he turned his head to kiss my stomach.

'I want to make love to you, Emma.' I let out a shaky breath as he spoke in earnest. I realised the hurt I had put him through, though I reminded myself of my own pain after his trysts with other women.

'One day,' I whispered softly.

I gained no response, but for a moan against my lower regions, which now tingled with arousal and desire.

'I'm so sorry, Will. But I can't deal with being hurt at the moment', I started. 'You're still a mess and I can't bear to imagine what would happen if it didn't work out between us. I'm just so lonely.' He stopped his assault of kisses and stilled, looking up at me.

'So am I, Emma. I understand.' He slowly stood, cupping my face with his soft, magical hands.

'One day, I promise,' I whispered, ducking my head to kiss his palm.

'So do I.'