Jensen swept Terri into his arms, clinging to her protectively, overwhelmed and overcome by the power of his emotions and feelings of love for her. He so desperately wanted to be her hero and protector to watch over her and keep her safe, and whenever she felt threatened, hurt, or upset, he felt as if he had failed her, and felt endlessly guilty, whether it was his fault or not. He could see the hurt in her eyes as she talked about Robin, and realized that she didn't truly believe that he was really with her. Throughout her life, she had loved with no reward except loss after loss, everything she loved being stolen away from her. It was no wonder she had trouble trusting and loving and believing anymore. Who would want to bring themselves to love someone and be happy with someone, if they were afraid of the pain of loving too much, only to have that person be taken away from them? No wonder she seemed to have the tendency to not believe people who loved her, if she felt that it could only lead to more hurt. The thought of being with Robin sent Jensen's stomach reeling as it was, and with the added knowledge that it would hurt Terri, the person he loved and respected more than anything else he had now or had ever had in his life, Jensen was horrified at the mere, briefest thought of that ever happening.
"Shhh... Terri, not all of your life will be a fairy tale. No one's is, no matter how hard they try. Things go wrong. The things we love are taken away from us, sometimes even the people and things we care about most. Not everyone can find their prince or princess that's perfect for them, and not everyone can have a fairy godmother to get them to the ball. We don't all have happy endings. And you know what? None of that matters. None of it. We love and we lose, and that's okay. That old saying that it's better to love and have lost than to never have loved at all? It's true. More than you can imagine, it's true. And I don't know about you, but I've already found my princess. And I know that no matter how many dragons or evil stepmothers or even... Robins... I encounter, I would never leave her or let anything happen to her. Because I love her. I love you. And I know that you're insecure about yourself, and you know what, that's okay, too. Everyone has their problems, and everyone has their flaws. They make us who we are, and I'll always love you for just what you are, no matter what. But I also want to help you get past your problems with insecurity, because I want you to grow to be the best person you can be, and I can tell that your self doubt is holding you back. I can't blame you for not wanting to believe that I really love you. You've loved and lost so much in your life, and I guess you can't help but feel that I'm the next one to leave you. But I want you to know that I'm not. I'll never leave you, Terri, ever. I don't know what other guys could possibly see in Robin, or in any girl but you, for that matter. Robin is the most self-centered, arrogant, snobbish, egotistical, stuck-up brat I've ever come across in my entire existence. She tries to flirt with me relentlessly, despite the fact that she is my student and is in no position to do so, she thinks she can get whatever she wants just because of her money. I don't see how anyone could possibly find that attractive. You would never, ever, in your wildest dreams, ever need to worry about me leaving you for her or for any other girl. I love you so much, and I feel this connection to you that I've never felt with anyone else, ever. I've barely known you for very long, and you already know me so much better than anyone else. I can understand you and talk about you with things that I've never talked about with anyone, ever before. You're so beautiful, Terri, inside and out. And inside is the only thing that matters to me - you have such a gorgeous heart and such passion for others and what you do. Don't put that passion aside just because you're afraid, Terri. You need to believe in love and yourself."
Terri listened to Jensen and he sounded like he meant every word. She could also see the love in his eyes as he spoke directly to her explaining his feelings for her. Terri felt bad for doubting Jensen any. And, she knew she had a problem with her insecurity. Right before her eyes, was this great guy, her Prince. That's right. Jensen was her Prince. The love of her life. And, to hear those words that she was his Princess, made her feel great inside. Jensen said she had a great heart, was beautiful inside and out, and, he loved her, not Robin.And that was enough to make Terri believe Jensen. He could be trusted she knew that. But Robin couldn't be trusted. Terri smiled at Jensen her tears now subsiding, she had her arms around his neck. And his strong muscular arms were around her slender waist. She did feel safe in his arms and she never wanted him to let her go."I know I have a problem with my insecurity. I started having problems with it after I lost Paul and Jay. I shouldn't let it hold me back, your right about that. I'm sorry I misunderstood you with Robin earlier. It's just when I saw you with her I didn't know what to think I was confused", she said."I'm just so happy to hear that you love only me and that you can't stand Robin. I believe I have found my Prince right here in front of me, and my knight in shining Armor. when I'm with you I feel safe, and loved". Terri snuggled closer so she could lean into his chest. And she turned slightly, so she could still face him. "I don't want to leave here either, I want to be with you and get that record deal". Terri had no clue that Jensen was about to sing her a song expressing his love for her.
As Jensen glanced around the room, he spotted his guitar that he had left there the night before. When he went to Terri's dorm, he decided to bring it with him - music had always served as a comfort to him, a way to work out his feelings. He could put his feelings into music, because he was incapable of putting them into words. Gently putting Terri down on the bed for a moment, Jensen walked over to get his guitar, then sat down next to Terri again."Terri, I wish I could be so gifted as to be able to put everything I feel for you into words, words that would make you believe my love for you for all eternity, to wash away your insecurity, and keep me always beside you, if not in body, then in spirit and heart. But I can't. There's so much to say, and if I had since the beginning of time up until now, I'd still be talking right now, still trying to tell you how I feel about you. And as much as I'd love to try that and test that theory, I know that I've always had more of a way with music than with speaking. So this is a song I wrote for you... Maybe that can show you how much I love you."
Jensen pulled her against him, a look so tender in his eyes that it melted her heart. As he gazed into her eyes, he began to sing.
"The strands in your eyes
That color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains
Thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth"
Jensen smiled through his song, adoring the way Terri's eyes lit up - really, he couldn't have picked a more appropriate way to start the song. Her eyes were filled with hope and wonder, and he saw her pain fading away, and a connection with them stronger than even the mountains he mentioned in his song.
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows
Of heartache that hang from above
Captivated, Jensen thought to himself. Pulled in, endlessly drawn to, growing infinitely closer. Avoiding their pain, and just focusing on each other, let everything else die down, even if just for a moment. Terri's arm went around him and her head leaned on his shoulder. His arms already occupied with the guitar, he tilted his head to rest reassuringly on hers.
I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life
Crying shoulder... and not because he had to, because he wanted to. Because he wanted Terri's trust, unbelievably precious to him, because he wanted to make her problems disappear, for him to be able to solve everything for her, no matter the cost. And the greatest fan of her life... I've dropped out
Burned up
Fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in
Turned on
Remembered the things you said
All of the problems that he'd gone through, all of the problems that she'd gone through, they pulled through together, and would pull through again.
I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your lifeI'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life And as he finished, Jensen saw Terri's eyes filled with tears. Not of sadness, but of love, of joy, of inconceivably strong emotions flowing out, of hope. Almost hypnotically, he moved his guitar aside and held her in his arms. The greatest fan of her life... always.
The Greatest Fan of her life was so touching, Terri's eyes filled with tears as Jensen sang her his song. Now she truly knew how he felt about her not only just in song, but how he acted towards her, how he had saved her life just only a few days ago it seemed. Now she believed Jensen only had eyes and feelings for her. He didn't even like Robin!
Terri loved the song that he sang for her. It was so moving and touching to her. Never before had someone sang her a song or written her a song just for her. Expressing their feelings for her. It was so romantic she thought. As he sang to her, he gazed into her eyes as he sang it, and she gazed at him back. It was like watching a popular rock star singing to a young starry eyed fan.
After the breakup with Jay, Terri had never expected to find love again so soon, and it looked like she had the real thing with Jensen. Not just some puppy teenage love that's only temporary. Terri had found a real love of her life, the kind you can only find in Fairy Tales, or like the kind only some people are even lucky enough to find in their lifetime. Jensen was in love with her and only her. Terri believed that every word in the song Jensen sang was the truth. He really did love her, and there was no reason she should ever doubt his love for her. Terri leaned against his chest hugging him tightly to her as if she was afraid to let him go. This young man was with her, and not Robin and that was hard to believe because most of the time, Robin got the guys. She was grateful for Jensen just being there with her. Even after what Robin had tried to do to them. Since their love was strong, Terri believed her and Jensen could get through anything that came their way.
"Jensen, that song of yours was so beautiful and so touching. I believe that your truly in love with me and not Robin. You show me you love me in many different ways every day. By being there to give me advice, you sit and listen to my problems and like you sang about, your my shoulder to cry on. Jensen, no one would listen to my problems like you do. I see the way you love me in how you always gaze into my eyes and how you treat me and talk to me. I'm really sorry I had doubts about you earlier, it's just I'm so used to people leaving me all the time and when you said you would never ever leave me, it's just amazing that your really here to stay, and that you'd only rather be with me when you can have anyone else. I just find it really hard to believe good things can happen to me. I'm touched that you really do love and care so much about me for me being who I am and not what I'm not". she leaned into his chest more, and looked up into his hazel eyes. Her eyes were still shedding happy tears of mostly love and joy.