Merry Christmas, CeCe! I'm a bit early this year, but regardless, have a very merry Christmas, and an awesome day! I hope that you like this little giftfic! I hope that you have a wonderful rest of day. (It's strange how much time has passed since we first met!) Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this gift from me!

She laughs; it tickles his throat.

He knows better than to think he's the only one and the only one that matters in her life.

Her arms so much darker than his, lift up and nearly melt against his sides.

All he can do is breath her in as if it is there last time, his last visit, and as if something may creep up on them, destroy the last dignity that they have.

He thinks that he loves her in these moments; she's entwined all around him and so sweet to the touch that he can't help but long for her more than anything.

Julius longs for a day that he could slip in for a day, perhaps dinner just the two of them, and end in the most precious of moments.

He knows better, because surely he'll disappear again, not strong enough to stay by her side, and he misses her desperately once they are pulled apart.

His eyes stay locked on hers, so deliciously brown and beautiful, so much prettier than chocolate.

Julius reached out to hold her closer as if these moments were to always remain fleeting despite his love and passion for her.

He stared at her, the beautiful woman from Seychelles who unlike anyone he'd ever met or known managed to be timeless in the most beautiful way as if they would have had a chance to be together sometime when he was actually alive.

Julius stared at her, so beautiful, so captivating, and utterly his for a moment.

Pain may chase its way through later and perhaps guilt from leading this beautiful girl into his arms when he knows better and knows its too late yet here he is with her, feeling as if his heart still beat in the most addicting way.

Julius holds her as he can't help himself and longs for a day when he can rightfully call her his own even if he knows its impossible.

She'd already wormed her way into being the center of his heart, warm and alive, beating despite everything, and the absolute joy of his being.

She was all he longed for.

So what if his words tumbled out with an, "I love you, Michelle?"
The only pain in that would be her tears and the knowledge that they both understood that this could not be, not like this, never like this.

Julius holds her close if only for a moment as he finally fades, heartbroken and all.