He stirred awake. Small shards of sunlight peeked through the curtains. He snuggled closer to her, holding her against him. Her soft curls lightly touching his face, the sent of her lilac shampoo invaded his senses. He heard her moan, and then felt her begin to stir.

He watched her carefully role over in his hold. Avoiding causing herself pain. Once she was finally settled back on the bed, head on the pillow, their eyes were locked.

"Good morning." he whispered so low- almost inaudible.

"mmmmm." She laid her hand on his body, "What happened last night? Its all a blur."

"What's the last thing you remember?" he probed.

"umm... Catherine and I were talking for a hours and, I don't remember her leaving. Or you coming home for that matter. What happened?" towards the end of her statement she began to get a little panicked.

"You took too much of the wrong medication accidently. Catherine handed you the wrong bottle. But you're fine. You were just really high last night," he smirked and she let out a low giggle at his statement.

He reached up and moved a strand of hair from her face, pushing it back behind her ear.

"So how was your time with Catherine? . . . I mean- the part you remember." he smirked.

"It was nice actually. We just sat and chatted for a long time."

"Anything of interest?"

"Not particularly. . . why? Had she said something to you?"

"No- no. Just a bit curious i suppose."

"Well." she pursed her lips, "thats a good place for a scientist to be."

He smiled. And for a moment he just stared at her, taking in her beauty. And then he closed the little amount of space they had had between them and he placed his lips upon hers. He kissed her deeply and passionantly. He propped himself up on one elbow and continued kissing her intently. He felt her moan against his lips, and then she broke the kiss and looked at him.

"Gil. . . we shouldn't start something we cant finish."

He saw the someone withdrawn emptiness and sorrow leaking into her eyes.

Instead of responding he leaned down and kissed her again, and again. deepening it.

She could feel his body against hers, his heat emanating, his kiss, his taste. She could feel herself being drawn in and she almost couldn't help herself.

"gil." she said against his lips.

He moved his kisses from her lips to her neck, his warm breath kissing her skin just as much as his lips were.

"gil..." he voice trailed off as his hands roamed to places of known pleasure.

"gilbert." she said more sternly as she regained controlled.

He looked up at her with 'puppy dog like' eyes.

"what are you doing?"

"Well im trying to make love to you dear- but its rather hard when you keep fighting me off."

"But you said that you wouldn't ha-"

"I know what I said." he interrupted and then simply added, "and then i realized you may not be fully recovered for another few months. And im not sure i can keep my hands off you that long."

Her shy smirk turned into a full fledged smile. His boyish grin fallowed, and then he leaned back down and kissed her again, his hands roaming her body once more.

He pulled away and looked at her, he carefully removed her shirt, exposing her abrasions and bruises which he forced himself to look past. He teased her, taking his time removing her laced panties inch for inch.

Their love making was tender and sweet, and he managed to find a way to express his love for her without hurting her like last time.

And afterwards, when their breathing was still ragged, and legs and arms intertwined, when their bodies looked like one beneath the thin cotton sheets, she began to shed tears uncontrollably. He held her, wiping away each tear with his thumb as they fell. He understood his tears, knowing they were not of sadness but rather of opening a new chapter, and restarting their life together, one she thought, and he as well for that matter, lost forever.

tbc...

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a/n: sooo sorry about the delay. life got in the way.