She started off to Benjamins quarters not hearing any of the background noise that normally filled her ears, not noticing the worried look of Julian as she passed the replicators. Once at his door she pushed the door chime hoping he'd let her in before her tears fell. Benjamin as always didn't let her down, he opened the door took one look at her and beckoned her forward into a hug. Somehow they ended up on his sofa, her cradled into his chest, his arms around her shoulders muttering soothing nothings into her hair.
"It hurts" she choked out past her tears, and she felt his arms tighten felt him frown into her hair. "I know" he said after a few minutes, her tears had turned silent "I know Jadzia, and it's going to hurt for a while, I wish it wouldn't. I wish she had stayed. That you were happy." they were truths, softly spoken and gentle. "But someday you'll be better again, and you'll love again. Your a tough one Jadzia, you'll make it back on your feet"
"I don't want to be strong" Jadzia admitted moving her face slightly to get it out of the wetness on his shirt, and it was true, she'd been strong so much. Overcame so much, even before she was joined, then she faced so much pain and challenges and normally she thought it made her better, but right now she wished she could be weak. "Then I will be strong for you until you want to be strong again" Ben sighed, unclasping her hair to run his fingers through it "but you will, you will want to be strong again. And when that day comes, and you love again, I'll be there too"
It wasn't perfect, she was still heartbroken and sore, still wishing Lenara would come back, still remembering the kisses and the sighs. However in Benjamins arms, being cradled like she was precious she felt almost at peace. And when Benjamin started singing like he would do for Jake she let herself be soft, let herself be sad. Cuddling further into Ben she whispered "I love you" and just before she fell asleep slouched over the sofa her head bent awkwardly into his chest she heard him say "I love you too"
