When James's head fell back and he tried to muffle his cry of pain, I literally felt my heart break. I drew closer to him and gently cupped his cheek. "James," I said softly. "Look at me, James." I knew he was crying when he refused to even acknowledge me. I repeated my request, but to no avail. I gently turned his head toward me and almost began crying when I saw the tears in his eyes. "It's going to be alright. I promise you. The doctor will come and fix you up a-and you'll be good as new! I know it hurts, trust me. But I'll be right here with you the entire time."

"You swear you won't leave?"

"I swear on my life."

When Jamie and the doctor arrived, I nearly fainted in relief. James was close to unconsciousness from the pain and he roughly gripped my hand; trailing along behind them were two men with a stretcher. Turning back to James, I quickly wiped away his tears so that his dignity would remain untarnished.

The two assistants, as I assumed they were, quickly moved James onto the stretcher. I stood up when they picked him up and kept my hand enveloped in his. His head turned to me as he was carried off. I offered him the truest smile I could manage but couldn't help the stray tears that fell from my eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

I shook my head. "You're hurt, James. That's reason enough."

Jamie was smart and kind enough to ignore our conversation, although I could perfectly picture him rolling his eyes. "Please don't," James told me. "I do hate to see women cry."

"I'm sorry," I said after a moment.

We both stayed silent after that, awkwardness settling heavily between us. I could barely feel the racing beat of his heart in his palm. This is all my fault. If I hadn't tried to scare Joey, this never would have happenned! By trying to save his life, I just caused him even more pain. I couldn't help but start to cry again; I turned my face away so that James wouldn't see me. The best I can do for him now is to uphold my promise and be with him as often as I can.

We reached the barracks in no time at all and I snifled as quietly as I could manage, wiping my eyes with my free hand. A hand suddenly clamped onto my forearm, pulling me back. I loosened my grip on James's hand to look back. "Jamie?"

"Might I have a word with you?"

I looked back at James. "I'll be right back, okay? I promise." I released his hand and sadly watched him go before turning back to Jamie. "Yes?"

Jamie stared down at his feet for a few moments as he thought about what to say. "Because Jim is so fond of you, I'm willing to give you a second chance for I believe he has good judgement of character. I've seen the way he looks at you and even though he might say he doesn't love you, I know that he does. But do not break his heart. Do you understand?"

I was quite shocked at Jamie's words and it took me a few minutes to fully comprehend what he was telling me. "Y-Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you."

He nodded sharply at me before walking past me. I stared after Jamie's figure before running as fast as I could past him to reach James. He was long gone, but I felt that it was my duty to stay and wait for him to be done with whatever the doctor had in store for him. "Please, God, let him be safe," I whispered. "Please let him be safe."

I had originally feared that James would have to endure a surgery for his leg to be fixed, but the doctor later informed me that he merely had to set the leg in a cast. "Excuse me doctor, but would it be possible for me to see him?"

"He's still in a lot of pain, miss. He might not be very comprehensive."

"That's fine. I-I, I... I just want to be there to comfort him. I promised him that I'd stay with him."

The doctor gave me a curious look, but eventually gave in. He nodded slightly and asked that I follow him. "Now I must ask that you remain as silent as possible, miss. We have a few recooperating men in the adjoining rooms who must not be disturbed."

"Of course. I understand. I'll be as quiet as a mouse, I promise."

He led me to a large wooden door and smiled politely at me. "The captain is just through here. I'll be back in ten minutes. Would that be enough time?"

"Yes, sir. That's more than enough. Thank you so much."

"My pleasure, miss. Good day."

I slowly pushed the door open, trying to keep my footsteps as quiet as possible. On the left side of the room was James, leg propped on a pillow and enveloped in a cast. I smiled and stepped towards the bed. "James? James, are you awake?"

His eyelids fluttered open and fixed on me. A smile brightened his pale face and his eyes shone happily. "Diana. It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too. How are you feeling?"

"I've certainly been better, but it could be worse. I could have broken more limbs, I suppose."

"Oh, I should hope not." I awkwardly scratched my upper arm and shuffled closer to the bed. "Jamie talked to me a bit while you were getting all fixed up."

"Oh?"

"I was worried at first, but he was surprisingly pleasant to me. He told me that he was going to give me a second chance since you're such an excellent judge of character."

"Really?"

I laughed. "Yes, I was a bit unbelieving myself. But I thanked him and then he ran off to do God knows what."

James's smile seemed more pleasant after that piece of information. "It's good to know that my best friend is accepting of you."

My heart suddenly lept into my throat. Maybe Jamie was right. Maybe he does love me. "Why is that?"

"Well, we are friends. Aren't we?"

Damn. "Yeah. We're friends, James. And we hopefully always will be."

"I'm sure we will."

Awkward silence is awkward, I told myself. Whatever you do, Art, don't say something stupid. "I-I was really worried for you. It was... hard for me because I hate the idea of you being hurt in any way. It makes me want to cry." Like that. "Oh God, sorry. That was really inappropriate and weird. Sorry."

James reached out and took my hand in his. "It's fine, my dear. I appreciate your concern."

Man, I want to kiss him right now. He just looks so handsome and... kissable... "Oh. Well, you're welcome." I looked around the room. "Do you see a chair in here? I think I need to sit down."

"I don't see one, I'm afraid. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'll just crouch down next to you."

"Please don't."

I blinked. "Why not?"

"A lady like yourself should not lower herself to sitting in such an undignified manner. Sit next to me."

"On the bed?"

"Yes, of course. I can't let you sit on the floor, Diana."

My cheeks instantly turned red and I felt slightly weak in the knees. Oh. My. Gosh. I'm sitting next to Tom Hiddleston. I'm sitting next to Tom Hiddleston. This is amazing! He just asked me to sit next to him! Okay, calm down. You're overreacting. Your hormones are affecting you. Calm down. "Sit right here."

I looked down at the small area of space right next to James's hips and felt my blush deepen. "O-Okay," I stuttered.

James rested his other hand on my arm as he stared worriedly up at me. "Are you alright?"

"Who, me?"

"Who else?"

"Oh. Of course I'm fine, I am fine. I'm absolutely fine."

he smiled softly. "Are you sure? You're acting a bit strange."

"I'm naturally strange."

"Do you want to sit down, maybe?"

I blinked and swallowed nervously. I'm making a fool out of myself. "Yes. Yes, of course. Sure." I sat down next to him, nervously clutching his long-fingered hands.

James had fallen asleep within minutes while I absently rubbed my thumb against the back of his hand. I looked intensely at his face, looking for any signs that he might be semi-conscious, before I leaned down and gently kissed his hand. "I love you," I whispered. "I'm sorry you had to get hurt, James, but I had to save you. I-I just... I love you so much and I can't bare the thought of you going off to war and never returning.

"You know, I really wish I wasn't so obviously different. I wish I had been born here in your time. Perhaps we might have met under different circumstances and you might love me in return. Although if I had been born here, I probably wouldn't be the person I am right now. I wouldn't be as outgoing, which might actually be good, and I would act like a proper English lady with manners and everything. But then I might not be as interested in reading and writing and singing as I already am.

"Yes, I sing. I was in my church choir a bit before I showed up here and I had just auditioned for one of the more advanced choirs at my school. I somehow managed to get into the choir without actually knowing how to turn the notes on the paper into my voice. I mean, I know the notes and everything because I've been in band for almost ten years now. I play flute and piccolo and I'm eventually going to learn piano and oboe and violin. But that's how I was able to read music at the audition."

I sighed, looking down longingly at our entwined hands. "I'm sorry, I know I'm rambling. I guess I just wanted to tell you all of that, even if you're asleep and can't hear me. I mean, I'm sort of glad you can't hear me because then it would be even more awkward since you already know that I like you and I just reconfirmed it. Again.

"Anyways, what I'm wondering is if you'd like me to sing for you. Music's a passion of mine, you see, and I absolutely love to sing. Now people tell me a lot how wonderful my voice is, but I never believe them. I'm very humble about my voice because I know that it's a very delicate thing and can be easily damaged. Besides, God gave me this gift and I'm not about to go running around all over the place saying, 'Oh, look at me! Look at me, I can sing C sharp,' when God could just as easily take my voice for being so arrogant. You see what I'm saying?"

I shook my head with a smile on my face. "Well would you just look at me! I'm talking to the man that I love, who happens to be unconscious, and telling him my life story! That just screams sane, doesn't it?" I said sarcastically.

James suddenly mumbled in his sleep, turning his head to the side and moving his shoulders around. I couldn't help the sudden urge to lean in and kiss his lips. Which I didn't satisfy, by the way. But I did lean forward and kiss his cheek.

The burning desire to sing and snog the poor man senseless attacked me at the same time. I decided to ignore the latter feeling, knowing that if James woke up in the middle of a kiss he'd probably never speak to me again. My eyes roamed across his face as I softly sang the most soothing song I could think of.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed? When we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun." I took a soft, yet deep breath and gazed straight at James's closed eyes. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see."

My free hand came up to his face and ran through his red curls. "I hope it was alright," I whispered. "It's my favorite song. I sing it when I'm feeling sad or angry or depressed. I thought that maybe it would make you feel better."

Feeling perfectly content, I lay down next to James and rested my head on his chest. Our hands remained entwined, even when I had fallen asleep with my arm wrapped around his torso.

"Oh my God, you slept with Tom Hiddleston?!"

I woke with a start, looking around in a daze as I tried to remember where I was. There was something warm and firm beneath me and an arm around my waist. I sat up and looked down- "James!"

"Diana? What...? What's going on?"

Narmada's voice came between us. "Dude, did you sleep with him? What happened here?"

I looked over my shoulder to see Narmada smirking down at the two of us. I blushed as I slowly inched off the bed. "I did not sleep with James, you moron. He fell asleep after he insisted that I sit next to him and then I fell asleep soon after. Get your mind out of the gutter, will you?"

"Oh, this coming from the person who makes dirty jokes on a daily basis!"

"I don't make dirty jokes anymore."

"Excuse me, ladies, but am I missing something?" I looked back at James, but found I couldn't look him in the eye. What if he heard what I'd said? What does he think of me now that I've slept in the same bed with him? Oh God, this is going downhill very fast. "Diana, why were you-"

"Remember when you asked that I sit next to you? Well, you fell asleep almost imeediately afterwards and I just kind of... Lay down next to you. I swear to you, though, I didn't try anything! I mean, I know it's improper to do that but I didn't make a move on you wwhile you were sleeping." Wrong! "Although I will admit to singing to you, even though I have no idea why I did."

James stared wide-eyed up at me. "That was you singing?"

"Y-Yes. You heard me?"

He nodded softly. "I thought I was dreaming."

"No, it was me. I... I felt bad that you'd been hurt and I know that singing always makes me feel better, so I thought that maybe you might feel better if I sang to you. Not that that makes any sense whatsoever since you couldn't hear me, but-"

"It was a very sweet gesture, darling. And I did hear you. You've a beautiful voice."

My cheeks turned beet red and I smiled shyly, looking down at my feet. I felt a bit like Bashful from 'Snow White'. "Oh goodness, James. Th-Th, That's very sweet of you. Thank you."

He smiled swwetly and reached out for my hand, holding it tightly. "You're very welcome."

We gazed at each other for what felt like a blissful eternity when Narmada decided to interrupt us. "Kisha. N-Natalia Kisha Cumberbatch. Just in case you were looking for baby names."

"Oh, no!" James started as I exclaimed, "No! I-It's not-. We're not-. No."

My friend snorted and crossed her arms across her chest. "Please spare me the denial. You were mentally undressing each other."

"Narmada! Will you shut it? James is not like that!"

"Yeah, but you are."

"I-I, I am not!" I immediately tuned back to James and held his hand tighter. "Please, don't listen to her. I-I'm not like that, really! I-I, I don't-. I don't do things like that!"

James was still partially shocked by our shared conversation that he just blinked and nodded. His thumb slowly rubbed against myknuckles and I felt my heart pound faster against my ribcage. I felt as though I was flying and falling all at the same time. Everything around me disappeared because the only thing I could see was James. I leaned closer to him as he leaned closer to me. Veins were pulsing in my ears and my mouth ran dry. Our lips were so close, so tantalizingly close-

"Wow! Do not, I repeat, do not make out in front of me!"

We shot apart and my hand regretably left James's. I stared angrily at Narmada, tears clouding in my eyes. "Can't you just leave me alone?" I breathed, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Why are you crying?"

"Just leave me alone!" I sobbed as I ran out of the room, not being able to stand the thought of James seeing me cry. Why am I even crying? It's not like James rejected me or something! He was going to kiss me! I'm just overreacting, as usual. Just go back in there- No, I can't. My pride wouldn't allow it. Oh, damn my pride!

"He was going to kiss me," I whispered to myself, leaning against the wall in shock. "Tom Hiddleston was going to kiss me! Oh my gosh! What am I doing? I'm such an idiot!"

"I can hear you," Narmada siad from the other side of the door.

"Oh, sod off!"

"Come back, you stupid! Lover-boy misses you already!"

I could faintly hear James reply, "Miss Cumberbatch, please do not call me that."

"He misses you and I promise that if you come in now, I'll leave you two alone."

Oh, I'm being a bloody idiot. Just go in already, Art. I opened the door and shyly looked at my friend. "Leave the poor man alone, Natalia. He's got a bloody broken leg, for God's sake!"

She put her hands up in defense and smirked. "Okay, okay. I'll let you two have at it."

"Would you-"

"Oh, come on. You know you want to." She was gone in a second, leaving me alone with James.

I cleared my through uncomfortably. "Well. Déjà vu, much?" I slowly looked up and smiled nervously. "I know that was a bit... melodramatic of me. Sorry. I know men find that annoying sometimes..."

"I won't pretend I understand why women are so emotional, my dear, but I accept it as part of who you are. And I wouldn't change you no matter what."

"James, you're such a flatterer! It's no wonder I love y-. Oh God, sorry. I did it again, put my foot in my mouth. I'm sorry. I knwo I do that a lot. And I ramble. I mean, I don't normally ramble; just when I'm nervous. You make me nervous a lot. Not that it's your fault, because it isn't, I'm just saying. Goodness, I'm just digging the hole deeper and deeper. I should probably stop talking."

James smiled and chuckled lightly. "You are quite amusing, Diana." He held out his hand and gestured for me to stand by him, which I did. "I don't mind your rambling or your high emotions or your singing or anything that you do. I find it a lvoely change from the upper-class ladies that look down their nose at a man like me who comes from a poor family." He took my hand in his and gently pressed his lips to my fingers. "I know we've only known each other for a short time, but I've found myself falling for you just as hard as you've fallen for me. Diana, I would like to court you. Would that be acceptable to you?"