*takes a long draft of cigarette*

It's been 5 years.

*breathes out*

Y'all ready for no explanations, no excuses, no apologies, and no promises? Thanks to those who read, added to their favorites, and subscribed while I've been trying to live the adult life. I'll try to post again, probably sooner than 5 years, but like I said. No promises.

(Jeff's POV)

"Would you please look at me?"

I didn't want to. I've been kind of avoiding Girly for the most part… ever since…

"Jeff, please."

I was just sitting in one of the unused rooms of the mansion, keeping to myself since I knew the other guys were doing everything they could to spend as much time with her as possible. I mean, yeah I went up on the roof that night and we made out, but she was drunk. I knew she would forgive me for hurting her, but even with her love and encouragement, I hadn't been able to forgive myself.

So I banned myself from being alone with her, or being near her whenever I didn't have to. (Because I had to be there for breakfast and dinner, there was no way I was getting out of that.) It worked well, with Masky and Hoody taking her out of the manor, and BEN getting her to play video games in his room, it lasted almost a week.

Before my dog betrayed me.

So I sat there on the bed, Smile sniffing at me with his front paws on the mattress, staring at the wall instead of meeting her gaze. He had led her to me, probably because she asked him to.

"I thought you were my dog."

The husky just tilted his head in confusion.

Girly sighed softly from where she stood in the doorway, probably chewing her bottom lip as she always does when she's thinking. "Do you want me to go?"

No.

Not really.

"Do what you want."

She sighed again, "Come on Smile."

I could feel the bed move as the dog moved his paws back to the floor, after a moment's hesitation, before padding over to Girly. My dog indeed. I heard the door close, and assumed she had left since my gaze never left the wall.

I was proven wrong as the mattress dipped, and a pair of arms wrapped themselves around my neck. My body froze as my eyes widened, feeling as she crawled up behind, wrapping her legs around my waist and trapping me there on the bed with her.

"You told me to do what I want," She spoke softly, burying her face into my hair. "I wanted you to hold me, but I think maybe I need to hold you right now."

"Shit." My throat was tight with emotion, causing my voice to be rough as I did my best not to cry.

I always prided myself on being the tough, badass, somewhat psychopathic knife wielder of our band of Proxies. The only emotion I would show was rage. But when you're being held by someone you know loves you, who you've hurt and desperately tried to stay away from in fear of hurting them again, it was impossible.

I sobbed.

Her arms moved to hug my middle when my hands moved to cover my face. She rocked me as I wept, humming and speaking gentle words that I couldn't hear, though I appreciated the sentiment.

"I hurt you-"

"You didn't know it was me."

"I killed you."

"I'm alive. I right here, and I'm okay."

"How can you fucking trust me?!" Now came the anger, the rage. All directed at myself, disgusted by my own actions. "How can you sit here and bear to touch me, when I cut you open?! I busted your ass over every single thing that could have hurt you, and in the end it was me! How can you tell me that you're okay?!"

"Because I love you Jeff."

Slender hands cover my own, which had tangled into my hair without my knowledge, trying to loosen my grip.

"I know that what I did was stupid, I should have taken off my mask when you cornered me, but I..." Her voice falters, and that brings me to lift my head. "I didn't want you to think I was weak. I wanted you to be proud of me. You were always... you were harder on me than any of the guys, I just wanted to impress you for once. To get you to notice me."

I moved slowly, which let Girly loosen her hold on me enough so that I could spin around. Facing her for the first time, I could see the sadness and desperation swimming in her dark eyes. Hands finding her cheeks, I ran my thumbs under her eyes, heart breaking to notice that she'd obviously been crying.

"You're a fucking idiot."

"JEFF!"

I chuckled after she hit me, ribs throbbing painfully, but feeling lighter.

"Don't laugh at me you ass, I'm confessing my feelings over here!" Her face was flushed bright red, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes again.

"Babe, babe, calm down." The nickname seemed to work wonders in doing just that, obsidian eyes opening comically wide as she lowers her readied fist. For added measure, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, which seemed to get her to melt completely. "I have been impressed with you since the first time you kicked my ass. I was... I have been so hard on you because I worry about you. I love you Girly, and I think you're one of the strongest people in this house."

"You do?" She asks, leaning her face into my hands.

"I do." I smiled, thumbs brushing the arches of her cheeks. "It's crazy hot."

Tears now gone, Girly pushed against my chest as she broke out into laughter. Chuckling myself, I swooped in to press as many kisses as I could get away with to her neck and face, hands sliding to tickle her sides when she attempted to squirm away.

"AHHhhahahaha- s-stop it Jeff! I c-can't brea-hehehe-athe!"

I continued my onslaught until I got her pinned to the bed, wrists held above her head as she lay on her back, with me sitting on top of her legs while she tried to regain her breath. We were both panting, faces inches apart, staring deeply into each other's eyes. I slowly moved in to close the distance, because Girly looked stunning with her hair looking wild splayed out beneath me. A sultry invitation for a steaming make-out if I ever saw one, if only someone hadn't barged in just after our lips connected.

"Why do you want in this room so badly, Smil- OH MY GOODNESS I AM SO SORRY!"

"Hi Masky."