Short but very sweet : )

(I didn't post two chapters, for the people who got two alerts. I noticed some bad mistakes and had to correct them, so apologies for any inconvenience.)

The rest of that day was quite strange. V and Evey were both not sure how to act around each other. Wasn't there so much more to discuss? After all, he'd just admitted pulling himself out of a moving train for her sake, and although she felt flattered beyond understanding Evey wasn't exactly sure what he desired from her. To be fair, she regretted holding back her feelings in the way she had. Every impulse in her being was willing her to open her mouth and say 'I love you' but after hours of painful deliberation, she came to the conclusion that she was scared of the consequences. He had only been able to say it when he had because he wasn't expecting to come back and face the reaction.

Evey was sat in her own room now. Despite V insisting that she take up permanent residence in his bedroom, she was determined to make a point by spending at least some of her time in the little book-filled room that was technically hers. It was possibly rude to be sitting in here while V cooked dinner in the kitchen, but she needed some time alone and it was the first opportunity she'd had all day.

After their discussion they had sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes and then V promptly excused himself, striding out of the room. An hour or so later, she had heard him fighting with the knight in the living area. Getting out some stress? Understandable, she reasoned, seeing as he'd probably expected her to tell him she loved him. Evey felt nauseous now. Maybe he thought she didn't love him at all…and that 'I don't want you to die' meant just that and nothing else.

She curled into a ball on her bed, lying on her side. She felt a few tears slide down her cheeks but thought nothing of it, wiping them away with a freshly bandaged fist. V had tenderly cleaned her grazed knuckles and wrapped her hand in gauze and thick bandages, to the eventual effect of it resembling a small boxing glove. She admired his caring instinct and the gentlemanly manner in which he treated her; keeping a respectable distance between the two of them at all times, opening doors, standing to attention whenever she called him. However, a part of Evey wanted to know more about who he was inside. Not just his true face (which she doubted he would ever show her) but his past. Earlier she'd scolded him when he'd avoided explaining his history, but now she had a curious nagging voice at the back of her mind that compelled her to ask him more.

'Evey?'

She sat up with a start. There had been a small knock on the door and it was ajar. She rolled her eyes at his impeccable manners. She would have to be careful not to act too much like herself, because he was a gentleman and she was in no way a lady.

'Come in,' she called. He entered, not wearing that hilarious apron but a silk black shirt instead. She raised her eyebrows, impressed and slightly embarrassed…because that was the same style of shirt she'd been sleeping in. However, while it was hugely oversized on her it subtly highlighted his muscular physique.

She'd never really thought about V and the physical aspect of him. But she certainly was now.

He entered uncertainly and Evey patted the side of the bed next to her

'I thought you might be in here,' he said, not sitting but staying next to the door. 'I just came in to tell you that dinner will be ready shortly.'

With that he turned on his heel.

'Don't go!'

He turned around in alarm, head cocked to one side. 'Yes?'

The look in her eyes told him to sit down beside her and he did, albeit hesitantly.

'Evey, you've been crying, allow me…' he reached across and brushed away a tear with his glove. Evey smiled half heartedly at him.

'Look, I'm sorry I haven't been around you as much as I would've liked today. I just need to make sure of something,' Evey said. She could hardly even see the mask, since the light had been turned off when he came in. Only a little brightness from the corridor flooded in, illuminating her face while his was cast in shadow.

'…That talk we had earlier. It didn't go right.'

V raised his head a little, surveying her expression carefully. 'And how was it meant to end?' He asked, piercing her with his gaze. Evey thought she could actually see the outlines of his eyes through the slits in the mask, his stare was so intense.

'Well...' Jesus, this was difficult. 'I don't think I said what I really meant to say.'

He drew back a tiny amount. Was she actually taking back the only sentimentality she'd given him? She didn't even want to be around him, let alone love him?'

She saw this and quickly made sure he hadn't got the wrong impression.

'No, V, I didn't mean I'm regretting whatever I said, the opposite, I…' words failed her and she looked at him helplessly, feeling small. 'I'm not very good at this.' She whispered.

'Evey,' he sighed, 'you are the only person who has ever ventured to touch me in a caring way. I have only ever been subject to violence and abuse before you…I'm not asking for any more than you have already given me.'

'I know that,' she said softly. 'But I want to.'

Now he was concentrating more than ever on what she was saying. He was willing her to say just three words, three words which would change his life forever.

Evey smiled to herself. She'd assumed that this occasion would come complete with fireworks, a garland of roses, and a candlelit dinner. But honestly? It was even more special than that. With V sitting next to her, not even pretending that he wasn't bothered, looking at her so deeply. This was how it was meant to be.

'I love you.'