A/N: I am so sorry about the wait! My computer crashed a while ago, and I had to send it away to get fixed. I lost everything. This is the first time I've been able to get on.

I couldn't believe it was him. I saw him, heard him, and felt his arms as they wrapped around me in a tight embrace. But I didn't believe it. When Shane had finally let me go, I phrased the question running through my mind.

"How is this possible?" Except I was pretty sure only I could hear it. I definitely didn't sound like myself. My voice was hoarse and thin.

But he heard me.

"I don't know," he whispered, tears filling his eyes as they searched my face. He grasped my shoulders firmly, looking as though he never wanted to let me go.

I didn't know what to think. It was hard to comprehend that Shane was back. My Shane, the one that had kissed me with a passion I didn't know was possible, instead of the Shane I'd just met, the one who treated everyone like they were beneath him. I looked into his eyes, searching for something.... What it was, I didn't know. I just wanted a hint that the other Shane was no longer there.

I didn't have to look far. Shane's eyes shone with hope, fear, and at the same time... love? Or only lust? How was one to tell? As ridiculous as it sounded, I had grown suspicious of him. I was almost waiting for him to snear at me.

"I'm going to go put the kettle on," Nana said as she left for the kitchen, leaving us very much alone.

I swallowed, and tried to concentrate on breathing evenly. But nothing, it seemed, got past Shane.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you nervous," he said sincerely, "Or maybe you're mad? Which I could also understand..."

"No, no, I'm not mad!" I gushed, "I'm just..." I let out a sigh. "I don't even know."

Shane just nodded, as though this all made sense. "I am so sorry that I didn't recognize you, Mitchie. I can't believe that I did. And of all the people from my past, I remembered Mimi. I can only imagine how that made you feel."

He gave me a moment to take all that in before continuing, "You have to understand that I care about you more than anything, Mitchie."

I love you! I love you! I love you! I thought. But I just couldn't bring myself to say it. Could I risk having my heart broken over those words?

Nana walked back in. "I just realized I'm almost out of milk. I'm just going to pop over to the supermarket to grab some. Do help yourselves to tea."

I tore myself away from Shane's penetrating gaze to smile warmly at my grandmother. "Will do. See you soon."

The sound of a closing door punctuated the silence as I turned back to him.

"Why don't you sit down?" I offered breathlessly, realizing that we were both still standing, "And I'll go grab us some tea."

"Mitchie," Shane said, stopping me. "I know this has surprised you, but I can tell that something else is wrong."

I hesitated. He really have a right to know about Gerrad...but wouldn't he be upset? I couldn't upset him now, after all he'd been through.

"Just spit it out," he grinned, seeing me struggle. He no doubt thought my worries were about him.

What was I supposed to say? 'I met someone else'? Yeah, I'm sure that would go over just great...

"Mitchie?" Shane said it teasingly, but I would tell that he was worried. "What did you do, get a boyfriend?"

He meant it as a joke. And after all, I hadn't gotten a boyfriend. But I still paled at his words.

Shane's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "Oh."

I should have hastened to tell him the truth. That I didn't have a boyfriend, and that I was longing to tell him how much I loved him. But I couldn't do either of these things. I froze, and my heart began pounding even faster than before.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it, despite the lateness and shortness of it. I was also wondering: Do any of you guys read or write for the Covenant fandom?