PART EIGHT
~~~~*~~~~*
I'll be yours…be mine
We'll be picture perfect
Forever picture perfect
~*~
Eyelids fluttering open, Lina squinted up at the bright light, scrunching up her face. Her head was throbbing mercilessly. What had happened – oh yeah. The bandits. The red-haired sorceress cursed herself for her carelessness; usually no-one would be able to sneak up on her and take her by surprise like that. But then, she'd been distracted…Lina groaned softly, putting a hand to her aching head.
"Lina! You're awake!"
She looked up into a pair of bright blue eyes, shining with concern and relief.
Gourry.
Her protector had come through for her, again.
"How are you feeling? You've been asleep for two whole days…"
"I'm fine!" She smiled brightly up and him and swung her legs out of the bed.
The moment Lina stood up, however, a wave of dizziness overcame her and she clutched desperately at the headboard, trying to steady herself.
Strong arms grabbed her, holding her up.
"What are you doing?" Gourry reprimanded her. Laying her back down on the bed, the blonde swordsman looked at her with a mock-stern expression on his face. "You should be resting."
He sighed. "How come those guys managed to sneak up on you, anyway?"
Lina pouted at her companion. "It's all your fault!" //I was distracted 'cos I was thinking about you…//
Gourry hung his head guiltily. "Yeah…I should've protected you better." He touched her hand gently, remorsefully. "Lina…I'm really sorry…"
Her eyes widened. "No, no, that's not what I meant!" Reaching out, she grabbed his hand. "Gourry…thank you."
He looked up in surprise. "For what?"
"For…everything." Lina smiled. "For more than you'll ever know," she added softly.
Gourry looked down at Lina protectively. He'd almost lost her…and just that thought was enough to make his blood run cold. He couldn't even begin to imagine life without the cheerful, fiery sorceress by his side.
"I love you, Lina," Gourry blurted suddenly, face flushing a deep red.
At his words, her heart jumped and did a little dance of joy in her chest. She squeezed the blonde swordsman's hand, linking her fingers with his.
"Gourry – I love you too." She finally managed to finish what she'd wanted to say to him at the inn two days ago.
Those words, although barely above a whisper, were the sweetest words he'd ever heard.
Leaning forward, Gourry took the petite sorceress in his arms, brushing his lips across hers in a gentle kiss.
There was an audible gasp from behind them.
Zelgadis and Amelia stood in the doorway, mouths hanging open in identical expressions of shock.
"We always seem to show up at the worst times…" Amelia murmured to the chimera.
Looking up, Lina and Gourry saw the surprised pair gaping at them. They smiled.
And this time, they didn't jump apart.
~owari~
Author's notes:
Thanks once again to monmon for the review! :)
Ahh…finally finished this fic. Hope you all liked it! :)
