Ch. 26: Flickers of Affection

He held out his hand and Pamela took the offered mug of hot chocolate. Her free hand lifted the edge of the blanket she had draped over her. Jonathan joined her, carrying his own cup; she moved slightly until she was lounging comfortably in his lap.

For some time they said nothing, just relaxed in the others presence as they sat in the parlor upon a love seat. They faced the flickering fireplace, whose glow kissed the whole room, elongating shadows in the hour of midnight. The only steady movement besides the winking flames was the movement of Jonathan's hand as it ran up and down Pamela's side.

"Do you remember our first meeting," Jonathan asked, amusement coloring his voice at the memory.

Pamela laughed, "I do. You were so...mocking. You messed with me the whole time."

"I was mocking? I recall a red-headed professor who met my quips at every turn." He smirked, eyes looking at the fire. His hand stilled. "And do you know what happened that night?"

"I was kidnapped?"

"Other than that." He stared down at her. She raised an eyebrow playfully. He sat his mug on a nearby table and without hesitation she also relinquished hers to him. He sat it down beside his and then wrapped both his arms around her figure.

"I did kidnap you, and you know at first I brought you here, and I laid you in my bed. I was crazy," he dipped his head by her ear, "crazy for you. Your confidence and domineering attitude attracted me like a moth to a flame. You were trying to intimidate me, but it only made me want to covet you more. I wasn't thinking, all I knew was that I had to talk to you some more, but once I got you here I knew I had done wrong, so..."

"You took me home." She whispered and turned her head slightly. He nodded, "I did, caging you wouldn't have gotten me into your affections, and I didn't know what had come over me. Such under-handed tactics, they weren't me, but I...I think I started to love you then. I wouldn't have called it love, but the potential was there. You were strong, bold, you knew your powers and wielded them expertly. I was afraid of you and wanted nothing more than to stay in your presence longer. I'm glad I made a clear-headed decision and righted my rash one."

Pamela laughed lightly, but it wasn't with callous. She moved from his arms and the blanket and stood before him, the light behind her, throwing contrast against her skin as she faced him tenderly. "I'm glad you did too, otherwise I may have never met the real Jonathan Crane." She leaned down and kissed him deeply. He inclined his head and met her pressure. He reached up to her grab her around the waist and put her at a better angle, but she chuckled against his lips and took his hands and pulled him up.

He grinned and stood the rest of the way. He wrapped his arms around her and they began to sway as if listening to music. Their shadows danced on the walls, threading across the floor. Then there came a squeal, the shadows twisted. The squeal was cut short and then came footfalls. Their outlines moved.

Jonathan carried Pamela as he ascended the stairs, kissing her passionately. They disappeared soon into the hallway and through the downstairs the click of a door echoed as shadows danced in the firelight.

This was a chapter that I enjoyed very immensely. It's where Jonathan and Pamela remember their past and own up, in Jonathan's case to his near mistake. He couldn't allow himself further into the relationship without admitting to Pam he had almost held her hostage, but as a wise person once said, "Dwell not on the what ifs, but what has actually happened." There's no use of her worrying what he almost did, he realized his mistake and fixed it.

"Spilling Shadows" was the nice little prompt for this chapter, and it worked out wonderfully in my opinion.