Elli stared at the closed door with confusion and a lingering sense of guilt. Cam's hand on her back was both soothing and too hot all at once, and she once again wondered about the new and overwhelming feelings developing in her heart. Cam watched the emotions flash over Elli's open face, self-consciousness making walls around his heart. He hesitantly withdrew from the nurse and the silence settled over them like a scratchy blanket- uncomfortable and stifling.

The nurse looked at Cam and gave him a wan smile, her nerves coming into play again now that the odd-acting Doctor was out of the room. She fiddled with the edge of her sweater, looking around and stumbling for words, searching for something to do. He glanced again at her picture covered desk and casually walked over to it, looking at all the smiling faces.

"Will you tell me about these?" he asked, motioning towards the the photographs and seeing Elli calm down instantly, smiling warmly at the photographs. She went and stood beside him, picking up one of a possibly teenage Elli with a younger Doctor, the closest to her. She was smiling at the camera, but it didn't seem to meet her eyes. Trent was smiling slightly, calm and oblivious to the gap between him and Elli. He looked closer and saw that her short hair was a bit uneven, and he raised a brow.

"This was the day the Doctor went to college. He was my best friend then, and it was really hard when he left," she explained, gently touching the frame and looking a bit sad. "I actually had a huge crush on him back then. I'd tried to tell him the day before this picture was taken, but he didn't feel the same. I, uh, didn't take it well. That's why my hair is so short- I cut it all off to try to look more grown up," she admitted, blushing as she did. Cam's brows rose in surprise. Not that she had a crush on Trent, which was something he'd suspected for a while, but that she lashed out about it. Her hands subconsciously went to her hair, still a short bob no longer than her jaw.

"And now?" he asked, unable to help himself. Part of him wanted to curse the nurse for making him open up so much that he couldn't shut down, but a larger part felt relieved he was brave enough to ask. Elli's eyes widened and she paused to consider the question. She was terrified that she was actually confronting the mess of feelings in her heart. The part of her that had loved Trent was gone, she was starting to realize- the quiet, submissive girl that just wanted to be recognized as helpful. It was replaced by a stronger woman, recognizing what she wanted and sorting out how to get it. Looking at Cam, apprehensive and afraid of her answer, she realized that strong part of her only came out after she met the stubborn florist. She loved the challenge he had provided her, the support he gave her, and that even without words, he always seemed to be able to read exactly what she was thinking.

"No, I don't. I think it's been a while since I had those feelings," she said, watching as Cam seemed to relax, his lips gently turning up into a slight smile. Elli realized she rather loved the warmth in his green eyes when he watched her, waiting to see if she would give away a lie or anything that would indicate she wasn't over the Doctor. But only clear honest eyes stared back at him, a secret smile on her lips and a loving look in her eyes. Her mouth opened, prepared to say something, but she just let out a long breath and took his hand. He looked at their linked fingers, feeling his heart race at the change of mood in the room.

Elli looked up at Cam's face, finding that they were closer than she originally realized. Feeling bold at her confirmed feelings, she brushed her fingers up his jaw and cupped his cheek. He shivered at the easy touch, and leaned into her hand. She gently ran her fingers through his long strands of hair, studying everything she touched as if to commit it to memory. Cam timidly mirrored her movements, his large hands brushing over her short hair and capturing her chin. She tilted her face up, leaning in closer until her chest was against his. She could feel his heart beating wildly, and watched as his cheeks turned pink at her movement. Elli put a hand on Cam's shoulder, unsure how to kiss Cam since he was a full head taller than her. He was watching her, trying not to panic and read too much into her closeness.

Stretching up on her tiptoes, Elli managed to press her lips to Cam's chin. She gently leaned back to gauge his reaction, and he was frozen in shock. He hadn't expected to be kissed by the sweet nurse, but quickly got over his shock and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers. It was simple and sweet, much warmer than their first kiss. The hesitancy on her end was gone, and Cam quickly reacted when she made an attempt to deepen it. She clung to his vest, gently moving her lips with a sweet and silent sigh. Cam moved his arms around her, holding her close without stifling her. His hands rubbed slow circles on her back, allowing the nurse to lead the way.

They felt suspended in time, as if hours had gone by, when it was really a span of minutes before Elli finally pulled away, face red with a shy smile. Cam returned the smile, still holding onto her. She looked down at his chest, feeling too shy to meet his eyes. Elli wasn't normally as bold as she became around Cam, and her heart was pounding in her ears. Sensing her worry, Cam placed his hands over hers and looked back at the desk.

"So is that the reaction I'll get for all these pictures?" he joked, and Elli playfully swatted his arm, laughing. She stepped slightly away, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear. Slowly, she went over the rest of the pictures, from the first day Stu came home from the hospital and her reaction to being a big sister to fishing with her dad as a little kid. Cam listened to all her stories, some sprouting new ones, and neither noticed that Trent never returned to the room, even after the power came on.

Hours later, after Cam's stomach rumbled in want of dinner, the young couple laughed and realized it was well after dark and time to eat. Elli went to the small kitchen, noticing Trent's light on under his closed door, and frowned while she heated up the last of the stew. She took a hot bowl to Trent's door, and tentatively knocked. The Doctor cracked the door open, eyes trained on a book still open in his hand, and he lazily looked up at his nurse.

"Oh, hello Elli. Can I help you?" he asked, and she held up the bowl.

"It's dinner time, have you eaten?" she responded, and he made a noncommittal sound and took the bowl with a soft "thanks" before closing the door again. Confused at his sudden rudeness but in too good of a mood to address it, Elli shrugged and took the other two bowls back to her room, pushing the door open with her hip. Her and Cam slipped back into their blissful bubble of ignorance to the outside world, playing card games and laughing and joking together. He even helped her set up her tiny tv set and vcr, and they watched a cute animated film she had loved as a kid about small woodland creatures going on a journey to help a sick friend.

After her third yawn, Cam realized it was time for them to go to bed and sudden apprehension took a hold of him. They hadn't actually discussed the sleeping arrangements, and by the look on Elli's face, she hadn't actually considered them. Her suggestion surprised him.

"Well, my bed is rather big and we could use separate blankets... the cot downstairs is going to be so cold. It gets drafty down there really bad in the winter, and we don't really have enough blankets to make a pallet," she said, looking anywhere but at Cam as she spoke. Her cheeks were tinged with pink but there was the hint of a guilty smile on her lips as she made the suggestion. Cam thanked her, trying to play it cool but incredibly nervous about sharing a bed with the girl he loved and was so attracted to. Something was bound to come up, and he had no idea how to hide it.

Elli changed into her nightdress in her small bathroom, emerging in a cotton nightgown down to the middle of her calves. It was a dark blue with yellow piping, and incredibly flattering on her. Cam couldn't resist staring at her soft curves, blinking and looking away as she stepped out of the bathroom. He brushed against her as he entered the bathroom, noticing how incredibly warm she was. Her blush continued over her shoulders the top of her chest, and he tried not to think about how far down it might have gone. She focused on making the bed while he closed the door behind him, wondering if she was going too far or if she was just being hospitable, and worried if she would be able to sleep next to him and actually sleep.

The florist reemerged in his pale purple bottoms and a loose white t-shirt, carrying his day's clothes and hat under his arm. Elli watched him as he packed them away, steeling herself for climbing into bed. She wondered if her nightdress was going to ride up, or if she was actually a sleep cuddler. Or even a sleep kisser! Flustered by her own thoughts, she fidgeted with the covers. Cam turned back to her and awkwardly shuffled his feet, unsure of what to do.

"Um, inside or out?" she asked, gesturing at the bed. He shrugged, so she climbed into the bed and he tried not to stare at her backside as she crawled to the interior. After failing that, he walked over and switched out the lights while she buried herself under the blankets, shyly hiding her face in her pillow. She watched him walk over to the bed and climb in beside her, relaxing on his back with one arm tucked under the pillow. She was curled on her side, leaving space between the two of them. Her breathing was hitched as she looked at Cam's face in the moonlight, his eyes closed and face relaxed. He was incredibly beautiful, especially in the soft light. His lips parted with a quiet sigh, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Good night, Cam," she whispered, noticing his soft smile as she spoke. He peeked open an eye and looked at Elli, enjoying the searching look she was giving him. He hadn't had anyone look at him in such a way before, and loved her attention. He chuckled quietly, closing his eyes again.

"Good night, Elli. Sweet dreams," he replied, relaxing further into the comfortable bed. He felt Elli do the same next to him, and guided by her calm breathing, quickly fell into a comfortable sleep. Elli watched his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm, slowly falling asleep next to the florist she was quickly coming to love.