A/N: I'm so glad you guys liked chapter four! It was fighting me some but we worked it out. ;)

LabyrinthLover30: I'm so glad you liked it! (Honestly that was my main concern-whether you'd like it or not.) Oh gosh PHOTOCOPIES!? XD I'm foiled! Oh what a world, what a world... Lol! Yes, I may have been too obvious at the end of chapter four... *embarrassed cough* I'm glad to hear she's doing better! I'll continue to keep her and her family in my prayers! :)

Disclaimer: Still own nothing.

Blind

Chapter Five: Aaron

School started again and Toby couldn't go with Sarah for their morning walks, so Sarah and Karen bonded over walks she had wanted to take to the local library. The reason being that her father had discovered in the paper that there were book readings for fantasy genre books every wednesday. Sarah wanted very much to go so that she could listen and escape her routine. The readings were done by a handsome British man with short blond hair and blue eyes-according to Karen. And despite his charming personality, Karen found she'd rather continue with her own book club instead of listening to a genre she found a tad too childish for her liking. Which, honestly, suited Sarah just fine. She'd rather listen to the stories in peace, than have Karen sighing in boredom at her side.

The man's name was Aaron Robins, and he had come all the way from England to be an english professor at the university in town. Sarah couldn't understand why he'd want to come here of all places, but she was soon glad that he did. He read so well that each time she went, Sarah felt like she was transported into another world completely. Aaron had taken notice of her shortly after her first few visits. The first time they met, they talked for several hours about their favorite books, until in the end he'd asked her about her disability and why she'd chosen to come to the library. "I needed to escape my routine. I've been relearning to walk on my own, and when my stepmother mentioned these readings, I was curious and wanted to see-" She stopped briefly to correct herself, "-wanted to hear them."

"I'm glad you did," He said sincerely, "It's nice to have someone truly interested in the worlds of fantasy. Too many people prefer those unrealistic, sappy teen romance novels." Sarah laughed as he raised his voice into a pitchy, purposefully over-dramatic tone. "'How will I ever survive without you? My character is so lacking that I must depend upon our tension to sustain our novel!'" Sarah covered her mouth and gave a faint snort of laughter, but Aaron went on, his voice lowering, "'I'm just not good for you! My brooding, moody behavior will keep you ever in suspense and confusion as to my motives!'" Sarah lost it and laughed, and he'd laughed with her. He had such a pleasant laugh-and his voice was so soothing when talking to her-that Sarah wished very much that she could see his face to complete her impression of him.

They grew quiet after their laughter, settling into a surprisingly comfortable silence. Then at last Aaron asked, "So do you do anything else besides attend my humble readings?"

Sarah blushed in embarrassment. Because, in truth, she really hadn't been interested in anything else. "Not really." She admitted, "Your readings are the only thing I've been coming to lately."

Aaron was silent as he contemplated his response. "Well..." He hesitated, then pressed on with more resolution. "...Would you want to do private readings with me? We could do them right after the usual ones-or perhaps on another day, if you'd prefer?"

Sarah was hesitant. She didn't really know this man. But if they did the private reading right after their usual one, her dad would be on his way home from work by then, and could pick her up, instead of her having to walk home in the dark. "We could do readings after your usual ones, if that's alright with you? But I don't want you to be tired out from reading both-will it be too much?" She questioned in concern.

Aaron laughed warmly. "Not at all! In fact, it'll be nice to read for one person instead of twenty or more, for once. You've no idea how exhausting it is to entertain that many people..." He sighed dramatically and Sarah giggled.

"So what book did you have in mind for me to read? We've no shortage of options." He chuckled. Sarah grinned and thought on his question. He was right, there were so many different books they could read; so which one should she choose?

"Maybe... The Prydain Chronicles? It's one of my favorite series. What do you think?"

Aaron hummed to himself at her answer. "By Lloyd Alexander, correct?" Sarah nodded. "That sounds like an excellent choice! Would you like to start reading today, or wait until next week?" Sarah hesitated. It would be short notice for her to call her father today-and not very kind considering she had yet to talk to him about the private readings.

"Maybe we could start next week? It's sort of short notice, and I'd need to let my family know. I don't want them worrying."

Aaron responded kindly. "Of course. Then I'll see you next week?"

Sarah nodded resolutely. "Yes."

Sarah's father was reluctant initially when she spoke to him about her plan to stay after the normal readings to do private ones. Karen on the other hand, was thrilled with the idea-it was no secret that she had had it in her head that they'd make a sweet couple. Sarah protested this, which only served to convince her father that perhaps she'd be alright; while her stepmother merely took it as an admission that Sarah liked him.

So the private readings began the following wednesday, and Robert came after on his way home from work to pick her up. Aaron and Robert met then, since the younger man had insisted on walking her to the car, and helping her inside it just after her father arrived. The two men talked, and Aaron charmed her father to the point where they were both laughing jovially. She could hardly believe it, but was secretly pleased. Sarah had worried on the way to the car that her father might be unkind to Aaron. But the older man had been quite cordial, and she and her father talked on the way home about Aaron. She told him all she knew about the man, and that seemed only to increase her father's peace of mind about the two.

Over the next few weeks, Aaron plowed through the first book of the series, but gradually slowed with each successive book due to their more frequent and lengthy conversations after they'd read for the day. They'd started meeting twice a week and grew closer with each visit. It came to the point that they were so comfortable around each other, that while Aaron would read, Sarah would doze off in her chair beside him.

The first time this happened, she woke up in a panic, frightened when she didn't immediately recognize where she was, and thinking she was alone. "A-Aaron?" She squeaked, and moved to stand. Aaron's chair shifted and he immediately replied to reassure her.

"Sarah, you're alright. I'm here, I haven't left you." He soothed, taking her hand delicately in his. "You're alright, I promise." Sarah relaxed back into her seat, a surprising peace coming over her, and she felt safe.

Aaron leaned forward a bit. "If it would help," He began gently, "you could hold my hand-that way if you doze off again and awake, you'll know that you're not alone."

Sarah was unsure until the reminder of how terrified she had felt not a moment before-and how safe she'd felt after Aaron took her hand-convinced her, and she agreed. "Ok.. Thank you, Aaron."

So now Aaron held Sarah's hand where it rested on her chair's armrest, and it served as a huge comfort to her. When they'd meet on their own personal reading days, Aaron would make a point of humming a tune when he came up to her to keep from startling her.

"Hello, dear Sarah!" He'd say cheerfully, and she'd smile and extend her hand out to him.

"Hello Aaron." She'd smile, her face unbeknownst to her, was glowing.

Aaron would bend to place a kiss on her hand, then sit beside her and hold her hand in his. This was how their visits went from then on as a pleasant habit; and they wouldn't have changed it for anything.

During another of ther private readings, Sarah fell asleep and woke up a short time later, rubbing sleepily at her face. Her hand was still in Aaron's, on the arm of the chair she had fallen asleep in. 'Is he asleep...?' She wondered. Usually if he was awake, he would've said something by now. "Aaron?..." She whispered, but he didn't respond. Carefully she slipped her hand out from beneath his, putting it atop of his instead, where she could feel the faint scar on one of his knuckles. He'd said it had been from a riding accident when he was young. As she did she had a thought. It was a rather odd whim of a thought; but at that moment it was particularly alluring.

Sliding forward in her seat a little, Sarah's hand on top of Aaron's cautiously slid up his arm to his shoulder. Lightly she moved her hand up the side of his neck to his jaw. Her heart thudded wildly when she felt the strong contours there, and her hand passed up over his sharply defined cheekbones to his forehead where her fingertips brushed against his short feathery bangs.

She moved down his forehead to his eyebrows, then to his closed eyes, brushing over his surprisingly thick eyelashes. She discovered he had an aquiline nose, then she moved further down to find his thin lips and chin. She stopped there a moment to gather what she'd discovered and to set it to her imagination to work out. Karen was right-he was very attractive. Yet there was something about him that seemed familiar-but she couldn't remember what. For now she pushed it to the back of her mind to figure out later.

"I fell asleep, didn't I?" Aaron's mouth turned up in a smile as he spoke, his voice muffled under Sarah's hand.

Sarah went fire engine red and retracted her hand swiftly. "I-I'm sorry! You didn't answer when I said your name-I got curious and wanted to know what you looked like-"

Aaron gently interrupted her. "Sarah, it's fine." Sarah relaxed, and Aaron shifted in his seat. She felt the air flow across her arm and face as he leaned forward and spoke with a smile in his voice.

"Do you want to try it again? Repetition helps, I've gathered."

Sarah went a little redder as she timidly asked, "...Would you mind?"

Aaron chuckled and spoke on, "If I'd minded, I wouldn't have suggested it in the first place." she looked a little embarrassed, and Aaron continued reassuringly. "It'll be a good idea to practice it. It'll help you in recognizing friends and loved ones. Please." He invited at last, and Sarah stopped herself from over analyzing his 'friends and loved ones' comment.

She moved forward in her seat carefully, raising her hand. Her heart warmed and she felt that familiar feeling of security as gently, Aaron took it, and guided it to his cheek. "Don't be afraid." He added softly, and Sarah began slowly moving her hand, retracing her previous path. She arrived at his forehead, then went down over his eyebrows.

His eyelashes brushed her hand as his eyes closed, and she waited to be sure they were closed to continue. Passing over his eyes, she paused when she felt that the corners of his eyes were crinkled. Was he grimacing in discomfort? Her hand moved hesitantly down to the top of his nose, and his eyelashes brushed her hand again when they opened; and she flushed, realizing this time he'd be watching her, discovering him. "It's alright. Keep going, I won't bite." He urged, his voice holding a small smile in it-and she realized then that that was why his eyes had been crinkled. He'd been smiling! She relaxed at this realization, and then did as he said.

This time around she felt a little more at his nose, but very softly; almost as though it were a puzzle piece that would help her remember why he seemed so familiar to her. She was about to move on when a silly thought occurred to her, and she gently pinched his nose shut. He made a tiny sound of surprise, and she was beginning to worry she'd made a mistake-when she felt his mouth turn up in a huge grin as he said in a dramatically nasally voice, "Oh my!" Sarah giggled and he chuckled as she released his nose. "Nearly finished," Aaron said in his normal voice.

Sarah's hand moved down at last to his smiling mouth and chin, where she paused again to try and remember what she'd forgotten. Sarah felt Aaron shift slightly, and he placed his own hand carefully across hers; and then, without a word, he held it there and kissed the palm of her hand tenderly.

Sarah jumped in shock and Aaron released her when she moved to pull away, and he gave a small, slightly embarrassed laugh. "What was that for?" She questioned, her face becoming akin to a tomato. "I apologize, but I was experiencing inappropriately fond thoughts of you. I had to do it, or risk kissing your lips instead."

Sarah's stomach flipped and her heart felt suddenly warm. 'He-wanted to kiss me!?' She thought in shock, and was alarmed at how excited and pleased she was at the idea-and Sarah found herself almost wishing that he had. Surprised at her own thoughts, she was pulled from them by Aaron's voice. "I assumed you'd prefer I didn't kiss you," Her stomach flipped again. "was I mistaken?" He asked hesitantly, almost hopefully.

Her breath stilled, and she held her hand in the other one, feeling a bit awkward. "No. Thank you." She breathed at last, while to herself added. 'I guess...' Although she'd said 'No', some part of her meant 'Yes', which only served to confuse her more. Aaron moved in his seat-to look at the clock, she remembered. She only knew this by the sound the seat made. It made that sound whenever he'd check the clock in their past private readings. It squeaked again as he turned back to face her.

Aaron spoke with regret evident in his voice. "It's time for me to go, unfortunately. Would you like me to drive you home? Or perhaps call someone? It's gotten quite dark out there."

Sarah hesitated then shook her head negatively. "No, I'll be fine. Thanks, though." She could feel his concerned hesitation, then at last he turned resigned.

"Very well. May I walk you to the library doors, at least?" Sarah agreed after brief contemplation.

"Sure."

He helped her to stand and handed her her cane, then threaded her hand through his arm. They took the elevator and said goodnight to the woman at the front desk. They reached the doors in a silence that was surprisingly comfortable despite their earlier moment. He helped her put on her jacket, which she zipped up herself after he hesitated in doing it. He seemed to be waiting for her permission or for her to do it herself, and she was grateful that he did. Aaron was not offended in the least when her hands gently moved in front of his, and instead he guided them to the zipper's end for her.

She at last donned her hat, and once she was ready to go outside, he sighed. "Are you certain you don't want me to drive you? It's getting dark out there, and the weather could turn foul." Sarah smiled, "I'll be fine; if I get lost I'll call my dad." At last Aaron agreed and opened the door for Sarah and bid her farewell.

A: I'm really pleased with how this chapter turned out! I hope you like it, too!

Disclaimer: Usual ramble.