A/N: This is the kind of next chapter for 'Swept Off My Feet', written specially for Sarah and Alana84.

Disclaimer: Own none of the characters, but plot is mine.

And My Heart Skipped A Beat

I didn't know it then, but someone I met two years ago made my heart skip a beat.

I didn't believe in love at first sight. I don't think she did either. But everything changed after meeting her – my outlook on life, my treatment of other people…

The only thing that didn't change was my personality. I think that annoyed her the most. And I'm pretty sure it still is.

I knew from the start that this was the person who was going to cost me a lot of tears and a lot of pain. I didn't care. I thought she was going to be worth it.

I'm not so sure now.

The fights, the subtle hints, the suggestions – they were all taken with a punch and a bit of salt on an old wound.

As O.C. once remarked to me in one of her rare completely-drunk-and-past-the-point-of-no-return occasions, "Homegirl wouldn't see a romantic relationship with you, baby boo, if she walked into it and then it hit her a couple o' times around the face with a mallet."

Trust Cindy to always be frank.

Naturally, my pet obsession tried to change me. What she didn't notice was that I had already changed.

For her.

If she did notice, she didn't show it. But it was working. Soon, I could count on the fact that if someone ever asked her whom she trusted the most; she would say my name on reflex.

Sure the 'mutual trust and respect that are building blocks for a good friendship' is fine and all, but I don't want that. Not with her.

But she doesn't seem to notice anything I try or do. Sure she appreciates the odd job I do around T.C. for her without being asked, but nowadays she's finding things – little things – to obsess over.

It's as if she's making a deliberate move to stop seeing me all the time.

And only because of that moment of no self-discipline. That moment of barriers coming down. That moment of giving her more than a subtle clue as to what I wanted.

That moment when I found her on the brink of falling asleep.

"Alec, I promised myself that I would make T.C. a safe place for all transgenics. If I manage to do that, I can die young but happy."

Why did I have to let that stupid sentence out of my too-big mouth? Why didn't I just keep my mouth closed? Why didn't I just make some typical 'Alec' comment?

Why did I have to tell her that I needed her?

That gave her more than a jolt. She seemed to have developed some sort of sixth sense as to when and where I was coming or going. Whenever I tried to corner her, she managed to slip away.

She doesn't trust me anymore. She doesn't talk to me anymore. She's never in a room alone with me anymore.

I could feel myself starting to die inside. It was as if I had no reason to live.

That's when I heard a little voice inside me whisper, "The person who made your heart skip one beat in the first place can make it skip every beat for the rest of your life."

It was right, whoever it was.

All my heart needs now is a skipping rope.