A/N: I deeply apologize for the looooong wait. RL has been keeping me busy, plus it doesn't help that the muses disappeared on me. Any way, I'm back with more and I hope ya'll enjoy!

Gabriel gestured towards the closed door behind them, "So, how do you think it will go?"

Faith could only guess what would happen between the two. A worried crease formed between her brows as she considered the possibilities. Then just as quickly the look of doubt faded. A small smile appeared across her face. She looked and Gabriel and said, "I think they will be just fine." She was most certain that it would be all right especially after discovering Sara's feelings, even though the woman had yet to admit it aloud, and least not forget Ian's profession as he barged in.

"Think so?" Gabe questioned.

Faith nodded her head, "Yeah I do."

Gabe narrowed his eyes, "Then why do you have this skeptical look on your face?"

Faith grinned, shaking her head, "I'm just wondering who between the two is going to take that first initial step."

Gabriel snickered understanding what she meant. He was quite familiar with Sara's bullheaded personality and, just recently, discovering Ian's own stubbornness. Who indeed was the definite question?

The door closed with a soft click, leaving them alone in silence. Neither moved nor spoke, both well aware of the uncertainty and fear lingering in the air between them. Here was a meeting long over due, yet what comes next? What could be done to rectify the mistakes and sooth the pains of the past? The blade hissed sharply on Sara's wrist urging the occupants of the room to do something, anything. Nothing. Frustrated, the blade acquiescently quieted down, because there was nothing 'it' could do to interfere, not this time.

Not one to usually beg for help, Sara longingly stared down at the tranquil bracelet, silently pleading for help. However, the blade remained dull and quiet. As much as she wanted to curse and yell at the Witchblade, deep down she knew that the blade had done enough for her. It had already contradicted her idea of who Ian Nottingham was. Giving her a chance to see past the unjustly illusion she had painted in her mind of a man who, she thought, lacked the emotional ties of a normal person and only obeyed his master.

A chance to finally see that Ian Nottingham was indeed just a man vulnerable to the harsh realities of the world and one that has been brought up under the iron hand of an emotionless bastard. Shamefully, an association she would use to place the barrier of mistrust and bitterness between them. She had yelled, screamed, and threatened. Anything to push him away, and finally when she had succeeded, she was left bereft with an emptiness inside.

Sara squeezed her eyes shut, feeling tears falling from them. She turned away from him not wanting him to see her like this, ashamed of the part she played in his life. Remember seeing him across the room looking so weak, vulnerable, and beaten.

"Sara," Ian called, concerned.

She didn't hear him, her mind spinning with images from her visions, and the dreams. Seeing him chained up in that room, and the way his lifeless body felt beneath hers. A chill ran up her spine, quickly gripping her heart in a cold grasp. Absently, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward of the cold. She was so lost in thought; she did not notice Ian standing in front of her.

"Sara," his soothing voice softly cried out to her, pulling her away from her dark thoughts. The feel of his warm hands on her face, melted away the chill from her heart. He tugged lightly, wanting to see her face, her eyes. She lifted her face, and when she opened her eyes, a fresh set of tears rolled down her face.

Being so close Sara was able to see him better, registering the bruising on his face and the large gash above his brow. Just another reminder of how close she had come to losing him and that she was responsible for pushing him so far. "Sara, please don't," he insisted while wiping her tears, "It always pains me to see you cry." He admitted, his caramel eyes staring deeply into hers.

There was no mistaking what she saw in them. 'How could he still love me after everything I've done?' she wondered to herself, still taken aback by his admission earlier and the look in his eyes.

As if reading her mind Ian answered, "I just do, Sara. I fell in love with you and I haven't stopped falling since." That rare smile crept across his face.

A small smile spread across her face but it quickly faded, replaced was a frown. She reached up to trace the healing wound above his brow. "Even after hurting you so badly."

She may not have lifted her hand against him, but not all wounds were physically evident. Ian closed his eyes and exhaled. He covered her hand with his and leaned into her touch. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have...I... I pushed you too far." He laid his fingers over her lips, halting her protests.

Ian took a deep breath and started to explain. "Yes, you did hurt me Sara. So much that I could no longer live with the pain. I had every intention of," his voice hitched. He did not feel comfortable telling Sara that he had contemplated on suicide that night. Clearing his throat he continued, "I had given up, I did not want to live knowing I could not be apart of your life."

More tears spilled from her eyes. Sadness quickly turned from regret to anger. She rested her hands against his chest, cursing at herself. "I didn't mean to push you so far, Ian. I was just trying to protect you."

"From what, Sara?" He asked, gently stroking her cheeks.

"From me," she whispered.

"You?" Ian sighed, "Sara, you don't have to protect me."

Angrily she tore away from him, yelling, "Yes, I do! I couldn't save Danny or John but I'd be damned if I'd sit idly by and watch you die too, Ian. I couldn't lose you like how I lost them. It would have been too much." 'God, I had been so close,' she thought to herself.

Ian gasped, shocked from what she was saying. Since when had he become so important to her?

"I didn't matter any way," she snorted in disgust, "Even in my attempts to protect you, I only managed to hurt you more. So badly, you wanted to..." she stopped, not able to continue.

Ian was quickly in front of her, holding her face in his hands, and forcing her to look at him. "Yes," Ian's voice started to tremble, his eyes beginning to water, "I had my one moment of weakness, Sara, but it will never happen again I assure you."

"How? How can I be sure?"

"Because," he leaned his forehead against hers, looking straight into her eyes, "Because this time I know." Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"

"That you care, Sara."

More tears spilled from her eyes. 'God, why have I been fighting for so long?' she wondered to herself. "Ian I," she began while reaching forward to grasp his face in her hands, "I don't just care for you."

His eyes widen, "What are you saying, Sara?"

There was no turning back now. Heeding Cathain and Elizabeth's warnings, Sara was not about to make the same mistakes they had. They had their chance and unfortunately, they lost greatly in their hesitations. 'No, not this time,' she thought. History was not going to repeat itself.

Her right hand trailed from his face down to his chest, over his heart. The blade glowed lightly on her wrist. "I don't know why I fought for so long, against you and myself. I guess I was scared and I wasn't ready."

"And now," amber colored eyes gleamed with hope.

"I'm ready Ian." She paused to caress his bruised cheek, "I nearly lost you once, and I am not going to risk losing you again. You said we could become inseparable, I just had to ask, right."

Ian nodded his head in answer, unable to find the words. "Well I'm asking Ian. I need you, I want you in my life, standing by my side because..."

"Please," he pulled back to look at her, eyes pleading for her to say what he's been longing for, "Please tell me."

She could feel his heart beating faster under her palm. Staring deeply into his eyes, Sara continued, "I love you."

His whole body went rigid the only sound he made was the audible exhale of breath he had been holding. He didn't move and Sara wasn't sure he'd heard her. Cupping his face in her hands she looked at him, "Ian did you hear me?"

"Say it again."

A huge smile spreading across Sara's face, "I love you."

"Again," he demanded, as he leaned closer.

"I love you," she said, while wrapping her hands behind his neck, urging him closer.

"Again." Ian knew he would never tire of hearing those beautiful words passing her sweet lips, lips that were now a breath apart.

Ian hovered above her mouth, waiting for her to say them. Sara pressed herself against his body and was gratified to hear the low moan escaping his lips. She pulled his head closer, and when she finally spoke her lips brushed against his. "I love you, Ian Nottingham."

Ian gasped and leaned down capturing her mouth. The kiss felt so familiar and so right. This time Sara let out a moan. With a new sense of confidence, Ian urged her to part her lips. Desire flared to life as tongues touched. It was so overwhelming they had to pull apart to breath.

Breathing heavily, Ian laid his forehead against hers. He stared at her; still unable to believe she loved him. His smile quickly turned into a frown, he turned his head to stare at the Witchblade. Happily, he sighed as noticed the blade quiet and lifeless. Unlike the incident in the elevator, this time he knew the blade was not in control here. It was his Sara that wanted him, that loved him.

"What?" She asked looking down at blade too, "What's wrong?"

Ian turned his attention back to Sara, a beautiful smile spreading across his face. "Nothing," he said, nibbling at her lips, "For once everything is right."