Chapter 54

A/N Love and all that entails.

Fall semester was in full swing on the UVA campus. It was the second week of September. Henry was on his way to his apartment after class. Elizabeth would be coming over in about an hour and they were going to have dinner and study. A smile graced his lips. Elizabeth, she was becoming the most important thing in the whole world to him. They had been dating 3 months and he could not imagine his life without her.

He was standing in the kitchen putting the last of the herbs in the bolognese sauce, when he heard a knock on the door. He wiped his hands off and went to the door. As soon as he opened the door, he knew something was wrong. Elizabeth looked up at him with tears pooling in her eyes. He immediately pulled her into his arms and shut the door behind her.

"Babe, what is wrong? Did something happen?" he asked. She was not one to show her emotions very easily. Since the night of their first date when she broke down and told him about her parents, he had not seen this level of tears and emotion from her.

Elizabeth buried her head into his chest and let her tears flow. Her heart was breaking. She doesn't know how she made it through her classes today. She just knew she needed to see Henry and have him hold her in his arms.

Not getting a response from her, he picked her up and walked over to the couch and sat down with her in his lap. He held her as tight as he could. She once told him, that is what she missed most about her Dad. He would hold her really tight when she was sad.

Henry was not sure how much time had passed since she walked in, but he would sit with her all night if that is what she needed. He was alternating between rubbing circles on her back and running his hand down her hair. She was hurting and it was killing him what to do for her.

She finally raised her head from his chest and wiped the tears from her face. "It has been 3 years since they went out for milkshakes and didn't return. How the hell does that happen, milkshakes for god's sake."

He was looking at her in a questioning manner. He wasn't sure what she was talking about. Suddenly it dawned on him. Her parents, that is what had her so upset. He glanced over at the calendar hanging on the wall and realized the date. Damn he should have remembered it sooner. She should not have had to spend one minute of the day by herself.

"Oh Baby, I am so sorry. I should have realized how hard today would be on you and been there for you," he told her as he pulled her back to his chest.

She tried to wipe the spot off his shirt where her tears and snot had soaked it. "I guess I got your shirt a little wet there."

"It will be ok, it will dry. How are you? Do you need anything? What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Exactly, what you are doing right now. Holding me in your arms and letting me cry it out. I know every year this day is going to be rough, it just hit me harder this year for some reason. I am not sure why," she said.

"Baby, grief is a hard thing to understand. It never hits you straight on, it comes at you from the side. One minute you are fine and the next you are a blubbering mess with tears and snot soaking your boyfriend's shirt," he told her trying to add some humor and get her to laugh.

She laughed and raised up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. He was the best thing to happen to her since their deaths and in the years since she always had to deal with the day on her own. Henry changed that his year and for the first time since their deaths she had someone to console her and let her cry.

She pulled back from the kiss and placed her hand on his cheek. "You have no idea what you being here means to me. In years past, I have just buried my head under my covers and cried all alone. You changed that this year and I will be forever grateful to you for that."

Henry took her hands in his and placed them over his heart. "You feel my heart beating? As long as it beats in my chest, You will never face this day alone again. I will always show up for you." He realized at that moment that he was falling in love with her. "Do you feel better, you feel like eating? I made your favorite bolognese."

He really knew the way to her heart and it was food and his bolognese was to die for. She smiled and nodded her head yes. As they stood up, she raised up on her tiptoes and pulled his head towards her. She took his lips with hers and tried to convey through them how much she appreciated what he did for her.

They were sitting at table eating and she kept sneaking peeks at him. God he is so good looking. He makes me wet just looking at him. I have been going through panties at an alarming rate since I met him. The last thought brought a deep blush to her cheeks. She ducked her head to try and cover it up.

Henry looked up just as she ducked her head and saw the red on her cheeks. Hmm, wonder what that was about? If it was like any of the thousands of thoughts I have had about her, no wonder she was blushing. God she is gorgeous. Even with her red eyes and puffy face from crying. He moved his legs in an attempt to get his suddenly tightening pants to loosen up. He started blushing also and she looked up and saw it.

They both started laughing at the other. That was the one thing they both liked about their relationship was the ability to laugh and have a good time. They often poked fun at the other and took teasing very well.

They finished eating and cleaned the kitchen. He shook his head, none of the other girls he had dated ever took joy in helping him clean up after a meal. Elizabeth would often hum as she washed and they would bump hips as they stood at the sinks together

They retired to the couch to watch a movie. Henry doubted Elizabeth would get very far into it considering the emotionally taxing day she had. She snuggled up to his side and placed her head on his chest. They were quickly becoming that couple with their friends. Always with their arms around each other, holding hands or aware where the other was if they were not together. PDA was not something they shied away from either. They would often be caught kissing or being lovey dovey with each other no matter where they were.

Henry looked down about halfway through the movie and sure enough she was sound asleep. She was so cute when she slept. They had fallen asleep or she had many times either on his couch or at hers when watching a movie. She was a bundle of activity all the time so when she slowed down she often would fall asleep.

He watched her sleep and decided since it was so late she should just spend the night, plus he wanted her close to him in case she woke up with a bad dream because of her parents.

He nudged her trying to rouse her. He knew from past experience trying to wake her after she finally fell asleep was not an easy thing. He started at her temple and started placing soft kisses on her skin. When he reached her lips she finally started waking up or at least responding as she was kissing him back.

"Hey sleepyhead, wake up. Since it is so late do you just want to sleep here? No funny business, just sleep. You have had a rough day and I want to keep you as close to me as I can," he asked her sheepishly.

She mumbled ok. He picked her up and carried her to his bed. He laid her down and went to find her some more comfortable clothes to sleep in besides her jeans. He left them on the bed and told her he was going to give her some privacy to change.

He walked into the living room to straighten up while she changed. He walked to the door and knocked as he opened it, "Are you decent?" he asked.

"No, but I am dressed," she replied as she giggled.

He walked in shaking his head. He grabbed some pajama pants and a t-shirt and went into the bathroom. He changed and brushed his teeth. He then got an extra toothbrush out for her.

He walked back in the bedroom and she was sitting on the end of the bed. "I left you a toothbrush on the sink and the towels and things are in the cabinet. Take your time," he told her.

He walked over and turned off the overhead light and turned on the bedside table lamp. He sat on the left side of the bed. He would wait until she came back in and ask her which side she wanted. He didn't care, but he wanted to make sure she was as comfortable as possible.

She walked out of the bathroom and walked over to the right side and pulled the covers back. She assumed he slept on the left side since that was where he was sitting. She crawled under the covers and arranged the pillows.

He crawled under the cover and reached to turn out the light. There was ambient light shining in from the street lights so he could see her from where he was. "Are you comfortable?" he asked.

"No, but I think I know how I can be," she told him as she slid over and raised his arm up. She snuggled up to his side and laid her head on his chest and her arm around his waist. "Now I am." she smiled at him.

This position was perfect for him and exactly where he wanted her. Snuggled up to him as close as possible. He reached down and kissed the top of her head, "Good night beautiful,"

"Good night handsome."

Sleep came easy for her and as soon as she was comfortable she was out like a light. Not so easy for him. He laid on his back and ran his hand up and down her back thinking about all that had happened today and how she was the strongest person he knew. She had dealt with so much in her young life, but persevered at every turn. He didn't know many people who had lost so much and still moved ahead. He didn't get along with his Dad, but he can't imagine him not being around. Losing his Mom would be devastating to him, they were very close. He took a deep breath breathing in the scent of her and it quieted his mind and he drifted off to sleep.