I can still feel her lips on mine as I attempt to keep my mind on my work. The fact her fingers are running through my dark hair is not helping at all. Was our kiss a mistake? I sure as hell don't think it was but her thoughts are hard to read. Pulled so far from this world I never really can tell what runs through her head. This is frustrating to an extreme.

"I like your hair longer," Flyfern whispers in my ear.

For a second I have to close my eyes, breathing in the sent of her raspberry shampoo, cinnamon and wild flowers. It takes a great majority of my self control to not turn around and kiss her again. I don't want to push her though so I open my eyes and make a few unneeded tweaks to the security system.

"What are you thinking about Soldier Hawthorne?"

"Guess," I reply turning to face her, smirking.

"I don't know."

She looks so cute with her bottom lip stuck out, grey eyes wide, "You."

"What about? I can't really be that interesting that you spend large amounts of time thinking about me."

She hasn't a clue what she's really like. Brilliant and kind and vulnerable I feel the need to comfort her even if she's fine. This girl drives me crazy.

"About something," I answer not getting to the point for a reason.

"Gale, please tell me," Flyfern whines, giving me her pouty face.

"This," I respond covering her lips with mine drinking in her taste, trying to imprint this moment into my brain.

Flyfern pulls away looking confused, "Why did you do that? I told you I made a mistake kissing you the first time."

"No mistake, Flyfern. Not doing it would have been a mistake."

"You don't really like me like that."

She steps away from me, looking out the window. Why did I have to go and screw things up? I should have let her do it again if she wanted to but I've forced her. Now I've probably lost her for a while. She's so sensitive and naïve, I took advantage of this. God I'm an idiot.

Later that night

She doesn't come next door to my room like normal but I can hear the whimpers and cries in the night and it pains me. Stopping my pacing for a second I let my fist connect with the wall; ignoring the pain. I know it's not that bad. I feel sick but no matter what I do I can still hear the screams; it makes me ill. A sweet, innocent girl like Flyfern, not even seventeen yet should not have to bear that kind of mental and emotional pain. She's so young.

"Gale!" I hear her cry out and it's all I can do not to tear through the wall. She needs me…wants me there.

Hurrying out of my room I barge into hers, knowing she never locks the door. I enter to a scared girl with tears streaming down her face, knees pulled up to her chest. There is such a fear in those beautiful eyes. I should have insisted on staying but she's so headstrong.

"Gale," she whispers, arms reaching out for me, she sounds surprised that I'm here.

"I'm never leaving you again," I reply pulling her frail body close to me, her head collapsing onto my chest arms wrapping around me.

"Please don't. I had the most terrible dream. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."

"Do you want to tell me?"

Why would she want to? Flyfern is angry at me but so frightened of the images in the night she just needed someone by morning she'll have kicked me out. She doesn't really need me. So conceited of you Gale Hawthorne to even think she needs you my conscience jeers.

"You. They took you away from me. I didn't know what to do. I was so lost, Gale," Flyfern starts to cry again.

"They can't do that. I'm not leaving you. I'm here…you'll be alright."

Taking a shaky breath she turns to me, her lips meeting mine. She's shaking badly but this kiss is just as good as the first. Her hands find their way to my hair, holding me to her. I didn't make a mistake. She knows how she feels and it isn't just friends. Flyfern loves me just like I love her.

I cradle her as she falls in and out of sleep. Each time she finds some part of my skin to kiss before whispering nonsense then falling back into unconsciousness. I refuse to fall asleep, worrying I might miss a time she awakens. I recall something Flyfern told me a while back…We are the only one's that actually understand…the only one's who know how to take the pain from the other. We need each other, Soldier Hawthorne. She was beyond correct. She takes my pain away from me and I take hers but in the end we just remain in pain. I suppose if you've lived through something like the war there is never any real way to escape the pain. Yet, if you find someone who is really willing to take on this pain you can find happiness.

"Yes," I whisper to the sleeping girl in my arms. "I'm aware I make no sense."