"Here ya go," Tony said, handing Michelle a glass of iced tea. He climbed back onto the bed next to her and picked up his book.

"Thanks." She sipped it gratefully, then looked at him. "You're not bored, are you?"

"Why would I be bored?"

"Because I've spent most of my time since I got out of hospital lying around reading beauty magazines and watching Desperate Housewives. It can't be very exciting for you."

"Well, I'm not really looking for excitement right now. I think I've had enough of that to last me a long time." He looked up, a sudden vulnerability hiding in his eyes. "Unless you want me to leave?"

"No! No, that's not what I meant. I really appreciate you spending so much time here, helping me out. Especially the cooking." She grinned. "You have no idea how much I've missed that."

"Well no, but I think I can hazard a guess from the state of you refrigerator. Is there anything in there that isn't meant to be just thrown in the microwave?"

"Of course there is!"

"Oh yeah? Like what?" he challenged.

"Yogurt." She gave him a 'so there' look and stuck out her tongue.

Tony laughed and shook his head. "Fine, you win."

"Is there a prize?" She grinned.

"What kind of prize do you want?"

"A million dollars would be good."

"Yeah, I don't think I can do that."

"Will you watch a really girly movie with me?"

Tony sighed in exaggerated defeat and nodded, smiling. "Yeah."

Michelle smiled. "Thank you."

"But first..." Tony looked at his watch. "We need to change your dressing."

Michelle made a face.

Tony laughed before getting up and heading for the bathroom in search of clean bandages.

Michelle rolled onto her side and watched him leave.

It was so strange having him here with her. It was wonderful, really, but at the same time she was terrified that his new-found old self couldn't possibly last, that everything was going to come crashing down and bury them again, for good. That as soon as her leg was healed he would loose what he seemed to think of as his purpose at the moment and get lost himself again. She didn't know what she would do if she had to go through that a second time.

Tony reappeared, armed with a plethora of medicinal products, which he placed on the bed before climbing back on top of it himself. He smiled at her impishly, and she smiled back.

"Okay! One leg, please."

Michelle obediently shifted her position and pulled her blue cotton dress up above the knee to give him access. She watched him carefully untie the bandage and loosen the tape on the current dressing before snapping on a pair of the sterile gloves she had been given by the hospital.

"Alright..." Tony said. Michelle looked away and reached up to hold onto her pillow. For some reason it seemed to hurt less if she couldn't see what he was doing.

He removed the dressing as gently as possible, but the painkillers had worn off and it was too soon to take more. She gripped the pillow harder.

Tony tossed the dressing in the special disposal bag and surveyed her injury. "I think it needs cleaning," he said apologetically.

Michelle sighed, but she knew it had to be done. "Okay." She nodded.

Tony leaned down to kiss her bare ankle, then reached for the sterile applicator and began to clean the wound.

Even such a small amount of pressure was enough to make Michelle close her eyes in pain. She felt Tony squeeze her thigh comfortingly and she burrowed her face into the pillow.

"So which movie do you wanna watch?" Tony asked, obviously trying to distract her.

"Something Disney. I dunno, Cinderella or something."

"Ah, I should've guessed." Michelle heard him chuckle and couldn't help but smile to herself. "That's the one with the tiny squeaky mice, right?" he said.

"Yes," she said, grinning. "And, you know, the fairy godmother and the glass slippers and Prince Charming..."

"Yeah, but that's girly stuff."

Michelle knew he would be making a face when he said this and she had to open her eyes and see it. He saw her looking at him and caught her eye as he finished cleaning her leg.

"Hey," he said softly, throwing the applicator in the bag with the old dressing. "Worst part's over."

She smiled again, relaxing into the pillow as he applied the new dressing and then went to clean up.

She closed her eyes, waiting for him to return.

And she knew with absolute certainty that he would return, she suddenly realized. It wasn't like all those seemingly so similar times when she had lain in bed, unable to sleep or do anything else but wait, and not knowing how much longer the wait would last, if it would be decades or mere weeks... It would be minutes, and then he would be holding her in his arms with no desire to let go.

If she wanted him, he would be there.

And she already knew that she wanted him forever, so he would be there, forever, as long as he knew he was wanted.

He re-entered the room as if on cue and settled down next to her, pulling her into his arms without a second thought.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked. He stroked her hair, smiling himself.

"At how much I love you."

Tony's grin widened.

Michelle reached up to touch his face. "Let's never be apart again?" she said quietly.

His smile grew softer again. "I like that plan."

They reached out for one another, searching for more physical intimacy to reaffirm the significance of the moment. Tony gently pushed her onto her back and climbed on top of her.

"Watch the leg," she reminded playfully.

He bent down and kissed her thigh. "I'll keep my eye on it."

And she smiled and pulled him closer.

The End