This is a pregnancy- and baby-free storyline which picks up after Hole in the Heart... because there's more than one road to eventually.

MORE THAN ONE ROAD

I. The Moments That Were

He had lost himself in her milky-white skin, her softness, her grief, her warmth. Had lost one piece of him in each kiss, each caress, until he had been utterly and completely lost. In her.

She had found herself in his strength, his eyes, the safe circle of his arms. Had found pieces of herself, another self, though, in each kiss, each sigh, each touch. Until she was achingly whole. With him.

It had been a night fallen out of time. It had been an end, perhaps it had been a beginning. Most definitely, it had been a change.

Morning had come, finding two people beautifully entangled in each other. Daylight had shone at a picture never seen before, a sight so new to his eyes as he opened them and almost too big for her to take in when she had found his gaze on herself.

A smile, tentative but brave, had been the bridge; the bridge to a new day.

Then there had been breakfast. A fallen killer. A goodbye. A song.

And at the end of this day which had been so surreal and painful, he had driven her home, wishing goodnight while his fingers had grazed her knuckles. While his eyes had wondered if he could get another night of her. She had never been one for subtle, though, and since he hadn't asked to come in, she hadn't dared to offer it. Remembering two choices and a line. Wondering if that line had already been crossed.

Later that night, he was lying between her scent in crumbled sheets. She was hugging her pillow, soft but cool to the touch, a sad substitute for the warmth he had wrapped around her just a few hours ago.

Another day happened. And one more. Spring turned into summer. Flowers on a grave withered. Memories were buried, but they did not fade. Life happened.

There were moments, oh so very many moments when his eyes lingered on her, remembering her flushed face, the sheer wonder in her eyes. Moments when she caught a whiff of his scent and her stomach would clench in beautiful recognition. They didn't talk about it, though, this one night. Neither of them was brave enough to mention it, both of them too scared to gamble on such a precious memory. Not even for the sake of a blissful future. There was warmth, however, a new kind of warmth, and they continued their age-old dance around and with each other. But this time... their steps suddenly matched...

This is a story about a man a woman. She was beautiful, so beautiful, and he was strong and lionhearted. He didn't know that her beauty shone the brightest when he was around. And she didn't know that his big heart felt less empty since he had met her. But maybe... they were beginning to grasp it.

This is a story about roads and ends and beginnings. Because however freely you roam, touching stars, choosing paths, there are some things long decided. Moments you don't have to reevaluate because they were meant to happen no matter if you turn left or right. The only thing you may never do is stop. Give up. Because in the end, you will get there. Where? Well, that one you can only understand in the end.

Everything happens eventually?

By no means. The good stuff, however, it does.

To be continued...