Last chapter! Yay! Be happy, people! I love you all!
Neela blinked her eyes open, looking around in momentary confusion. She was at home, in her flat…but who else was here? She could hear sounds coming from the kitchen. But then the previous night came flooding back – how she had told Ray about the rape, and he had spent the rest of the night just holding her, and soothing her, and telling her not to worry, it wasn't her fault.
So that meant it was Ray that she could hear in the kitchen. The clock told her it was 9:00 in the morning, and for the first time in her life she was glad she had a night shift. "R-ray?"
"Neela!" He pushed a plate of toast into her hand, and put a glass of orange juice on the table. "You OK?"
"Yeah." She took a drink, smiling up at him gratefully. "You don't have to stay, you know."
"Hey! What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't look after you?"
Neela frowned a little. "You still want to be? Even after I was so horrible to you?"
"Of course!" Ray smiled warmly, sitting down beside her and taking her hand in his. "You had every reason not to trust me, after what happened to you!"
"I should have explained…"
"Hey, hey! You need to stop blaming yourself for everything, Neela. It's not good for you!"
She couldn't help but smile – he looked so concerned, so eager. "OK."
"You mean we can make it work? I mean…I know we can, but if you don't feel like a relationship right now…"
She stopped him with a shake of her head. "No. I do want to stay with you. I've been hiding away for too long…"
"Hey, don't do this just because you think you should, OK?"
Neela looked into his eyes – more full of worry and concern and…maybe even love…than she had ever seen them before – and smiled. She smiled so wide she couldn't stop. And she didn't want to stop. Wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him long and deep, pulling away only so they could get their breath back.
"No, Ray. I know I should. I want to be with you so much…"
His truly happy and very handsome smile matched hers as it was he this time who initiated the kiss.
"Just as long as you never tease me about my hair gel again…"
And there it ends! Now I have to think of a subject for another fic to occupy myself with…
