A/N: Natalia decides to pay a visit to a friend before she leaves for her flight.
Story Notes: Set around Season 8.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all rights reserved.
DELKODELKODELKO
She knocked on the door of his new condo and awaited an answer. The Latina was leaving tomorrow but figured she might as well say goodbye. He deserved an explanation. One she would only ever give once, and never again before she disappeared. He'd hear from her maybe a few times a month or so.. but he couldn't be too sure. She couldn't guarantee it fully. Eric was the first person she'd been with since her divorce. The only person she had allowed herself to trust. He was her rock, up until when they drifted apart.
Natalia knew this wasn't going to be easy. He wouldn't feel the way she felt about him, and telling him just how much she cared about him wasn't going to be the most casual thing in the world. But she had to let him know. Just for the sake of it. Otherwise he would've never known, and she wanted to be completely honest with him before she left Miami. Her leave wasn't permanent, however, she didn't have a time scale for how long she'd be gone for. It wasn't anything she would be too certain of anyway.
The DNA expert folded her arms, shivering slightly as the breeze began to arise. She was wearing one of Eric's sweaters over her dress, a large hooded one in light grey. It was very faintly scented with his Cuban musk and reminded her of him.
Delko opened up the door and was surprised to see Natalia of all people. He was dressed in a tank top and pajama bottoms. Nothing unfamiliar. "Hey."
"Hey 'Talia.. what's up?"
"A lot." She said, her cheeks going bright red as she nervously smiled.
Eric slowly nodded and indicated for her to come inside. The brunette walked into the condo and took a brief look at the place as she headed towards the couch. "I like what you've done." "Thank you." He shut the door and joined her inside. It had been a while since they'd had a one on one conversation on a personal level, though, Eric felt it was definitely necessary. He'd missed talking to her.
Natalia leaned against the counter and rested her arms on the table. "I wanted to tell you something important before I get on that plane tomorrow." Eric's eyes popped as soon as he heard those words. He had not been informed that she was leaving, let along getting on a plane to another country. "Where are you going?"
"It doesn't matter. You'll go there someday."
"I don't want to forget about it." He said defensively.
She shook her head and straightened her stance. "I'm going to Cuba for a while. My sister has a place." He put down the bottle of beer he was drinking on the counter and came around to where she was standing. "Why are you going?"
Natalia sighed. "Suppose I need to find a reason to stay."
That brought back memories from a few years ago. Times where they'd spend the night with one another just for the sake of it. Eric didn't know if he'd be able to convince her.. but he didn't want her to go. Even though they weren't together anymore, he still did care about her. More than he actually knew he did. She turned to face him, placing both hands on his sides. His eyes aligned with hers and they stayed staring at one another. She gently stroked his skin with a teary-eyed look.
He wanted to be the reason she stayed. Eric didn't want to see her go. He couldn't. Because of her, he'd learnt to love again. She was the reason he'd began to understand how to love again. After losing Speedle, he'd resorted to friendly hookups and partying like there's no tomorrow. That had all changed now though. "How can I make you stay?"
"You can't... I love you too much."
That took a few minutes to sink in. She reached up to his forehead and gently brushed aside a loose curl. Her touch emitted a warmth, and comfort, that he'd never experienced before. Not with any of the women he'd been with. Her confession of love to him had been so sincere and he truly didn't know what to say back. How could he convince her not to go? Her love for him would be the only thing that would get her to change her mind about moving to Cuba. "You don't have to go.. we still have a chance."
"What about you and Calleigh?" She asked nervously.
"It was just a fling.. it, uh, didn't last."
Natalia nodded, her thumb still brushing over his forehead. His eyes checked out her lips for a second. She pursed her glossy lips and sighed to herself. Even though he couldn't say what he wanted to stay, it didn't mean he couldn't show her. "Goodnight Eric." Her hand left his face and she walked towards the door.
He followed her up until they reached the front door. "Miró."
Her eyes lit up as she turned to him. Nobody ever used her middle name. Not unless it was a serious situation. A complicated one. When he'd met her two sisters at her birthday party a year ago, they told him that they called her by her middle name when she wouldn't listen, or was falling apart and needed to get through to her. He wanted to get through to her. Natalia was listening.. but had no idea that that's what her sisters had been talking to him about at her birthday party.
"Mhm?"
Eric drew closer, his eyes filled with adoration and sorrow. His hand rested on her cheek. "I can't let you go."
"You'll find someone better. Someone who you'll love."
The Cuban realized why she was hesitant. She believed that she loved him more than he loved her. That they had already gotten too deep. But they'd wanted to be there. In deep with one another. It was love. He called it love. She needed to be sure that it was mutual love. "I want you to stay.. because.. I love you!"
He'd not meant to shout it the way he did however he wanted her to know that he didn't want her to go. Not then. Not ever. Natalia worked up the courage to go in for a kiss. Something she never thought she'd ever do after it had been years since their relationship ended. She leaned in at an unhurriedly pace though she was taken aback when his lips met hers first. All these feelings were things she couldn't comprehend all at once. It felt so distantly familiar. Having his lips on hers had been the most stupefying and contradictory thing ever.
She felt his love show in the way he kissed her. It was full of love. Meaning. They weren't kissing for the sake of it, it was instead an act of love. Pulling away, they leaned their heads against one another's as they breathed quickly to regain their breath. "Stay with me. Please." He whispered.
So she never left his place that night. Instead, one thing led to another and soon they were in the lighting of the moonlight, making love like it was the last time. This time, it wasn't just because they were scared to be lonely. It wasn't just a one night stand they'd forget about in a week or two. They lay there after, skin to skin and heart to heart, holding each other closely within the sheets of his bed.
"I love you, 'Talia."
"I love you too."
Natalia didn't have any plans to leave him alone in the morning. She didn't even plan to get on her scheduled flight that day. All because of a few words spoken through a single action. They couldn't be just friends. Not like this. They were more. Never would be able to remain on a platonic basis when all they wanted to do was love.
Suddenly that Goodbye, was no longer a goodbye at all. It became a goodnight, see you in the morning..
..and things would never quite be the same.