Every Little Thing

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Written for theme #6: The space between dream and reality. Angstish.

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Puppy Kisses

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She knows he loves her. Has probably known since before he ever realized. That's why she tells him first. Finds him buried in puppies at his family's compound, laughing and smiling and being assaulted by innocent puppy kisses.

And while she knows he can tell something is wrong, he greets her as he normally does, tossing little dogs gently away and standing to take one of her hands and lead her indoors. And he talks past the knot she can almost feel growing in his stomach, and gives her sweets he made himself—they're rather awful, but she doesn't complain—and is so very him.

So when she tells him, she tries not to look at the way he fights to keep his expression from changing. Tries not to hear the way his voice isn't quite right when he congratulates her.

Because she does love him, she truly does. But it's not the same as how he feels for her. Maybe, maybe it could have been, if not for bright yellow hair and lovely blue eyes and the indomitable spirit she'd fallen in love with so many years ago.

It's a small space, between his dreams and her reality, and she knows he clings to it even as he smiles and jokes and asks if he can touch her stomach. Even though he knows it's much, much too early to feel anything.

And she hugs him tightly before she goes, and he kisses her forehead and demands they both come over later that week to eat because he's going to finally top his sister in their cooking contest and she has to be there to witness his triumph.

But she knows he's hurting, doesn't need her eyes to see that, and politely excuses herself. And from the sounds she hears as she leaves the compound, she knows he's back out with the dogs, receiving innocent puppy kisses and love that will never, ever be so complicated.