Title: "So Much More"
Author: Kat Lee, formerly known as Pirate Turner
Rating: PG
Summary: For her, they're so much more than just three, little words.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, names, codenames, places, items, fandoms, titles, and etc. are always © & TM their respective owners, not the author, and are used without permission. Any and all original characters and everything else is © & TM the author and may not be reproduced in any way without the author's express, written permission. The author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: 244. That's the number of stories that were sitting on my hard drive collecting dust because I lack the energy and time to take care of them as I once did. My betaing pattern has always been to write, then type up if written on paper, the story, read it aloud to my beloved Jack and our children, editing as I go, and then finally format and post. Sadly, this part is simply taking too much of my time and energy, and my beloved Jack and I have too little time together in person these days to be able to keep up with my stories. So what to do? Give up writing? I actually considered it for a while, tried to make excuses to myself other than the large number of stories collecting cyber dust on my computer, as to why I lacked the energy and Muse to write new tales. And then, with the turn of the new year, I decided to stop running and face the problem. The problem is, quite frankly, that once one gets so bogged down in formatting and editing that writing is no longer a pleasure but the actual posting of those writings becomes a hassle and - egad! - work, it's time to cut something out, and that will never be the writing process. So, in short, yes, there will be mistakes in this tale. Yes, it's missing about half of the header information I usually include. But I wrote it for pleasure and am posting it in hopes of sharing that pleasure with others. Do with it as you will.
The first time he said it, she stilled instantly, expecting a trap or worse. It was only when he didn't speak again, giving her the time to consider his words without rushing her, that Emma sensed the truth not just from his mind but from the heart beating softly beneath her ear. "Me, too," she murmured.
For a change, she wasn't lying to him. She did love herself. There were those who thought she didn't, those who believed she should hate herself, but Emma had always had a certain fondness for the strong and beautiful woman she was except after losing her Hellions.
She caressed his bare chest, wishing she'd the courage to take a chance and also had heard those words before. Her family must have said them at one time. They were, after all, an ancient ploy to make a child feel guilty or loyal. Yet she could not remember having heard them said to her ever before. He stroked her back. They lay there, cuddling, both wishing that, one day, she'd be able to say those words and love back. They were just supposed to be three, little words, but in truth, they meant so much more.
The End