Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always. A promise. Like a reward for persisting through life so long alone. The belief in each other and the possibility of love. A decision, to ignore or simply rise above the pain of the past. The covenant, which at once binds two souls and yet severs prior ties. The celebration, of the chance taken, and the challenge that lies ahead. For two will always be stronger than one. And love...will always be the guiding force in our lives. For tonight is mere formality...only an announcement to the world for feelings long held. Promises made long ago - in the sacred spaces of our hearts

Dante

Her weary body sought the support of the doorframe as she silently watched him, lulled by the melodic tones of the lab. She found the soft rhythmic consistency of his methodical movements strangely comforting, indeed a sanctuary from the outside world that she had had difficulty finding recently.

Whether oblivious to her presence, or more likely, unwilling to disturb her momentary serenity, he continued on with his work, each deliberate action obsessively calculated and executed.

The spell was only broken by the shrill ringing of her phone. Without even checking the caller Id she sent the call to voicemail. Suddenly aware that she wasn't sure how long she had been standing there, she glanced quickly around to see if anyone had noticed her. But she needn't have worried, it was late and the only two people in the lab were in that room.

Uncharacteristically hesitant she began, "what you did today…it was…"

"It was my job" he offered, spinning to face her in his chair, but only raising his soulful eyes to her at the last minute.

Flushed by the conviction in his voice she momentarily stumbled with what she wanted to say, averting her gaze "but…you didn't have to…I know its your job, but its not always what you do that's important, but how and why you do it" pausing to let the depth of her words resonate, and finding confidence in her assertion lifted her head to meet his gaze, "and for that I wanted to say thank you"

"You really don't have to thank me you know," and with that he smiled. He smiled for the first personal words that he had received, he smiled for the first ebb of acceptance that he felt radiate from her presence, and he smiled for the compassion and faith in her eyes that was his, that was for him.

She couldn't help but smile back at his infectious grin, as she felt herself being lifted back up by the lightness in his features. Relieved by the distraction from the darkness of the previous weeks she felt the first tingling of life in places that had been dead for so long.

"No, I do…because around here it doesn't get said enough, not nearly as often as it should do. And every chance you get you should say it, not just for this time, but for all the times when you don't say it…I promise I will always try and say thank you, but if at any time I don't I want you know that I am thinking it, I want you to…"

Pushing herself gently off the doorframe, no longer carrying all the weight on her shoulders, she looked at him one last time as if she were storing the image painted before her, before turning to go. Her final words thrown back over her shoulder to keep her wall intact, a wall that she knew she would not be able to keep up forever.

"I want you to remember tonight…"