Chapter 30

Lying with him in the dark of her bedroom, Hope's eyes opened and she looked upon the sleeping, naked man beside her.

She gently reached over to him and tucked the hair behind his ear as she reached for his hand and gently held it.

"You've changed me." She whispered to him. My life is whole now because of you, Sawyer. I can do anything now. It's odd. My father died a week ago. In the wake of that, your love is my strength and I will do what I need to do.

Sawyer's eyes opened slowly to meet hers and smiled as he breathed out.

She breathed in as she felt arms come around her and draw her up against his chest.

Shefelt safe in his embrace and felt him kiss her lips gently.

Last night had been amazing.

It had been way too long since I did that last…I had almost forgotten how amazing it could be.

"Good morning." He whispered to her as he continued to kiss her neck and her shoulder.

"Mmm… Good morning to you too." She said with her eyes still closed with a smile across her lips as he felt his nuzzling and then something else.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as stared into his face. "Well, in that case…." Her arms wrapped around him as did his as they kissed deeply and passionately.

Sawyer turned her over onto her back as his arms came underneath her shoulders and their kiss became fueled with red-hot passion for each other.

"Sawyer…." She moaned as her hands ran up and down his broad back.

"Forever." He whispered to her as he continued and watched her move underneath him taking in every glance of her body and letting his hands and lips wander her as they enjoyed this pleasurable morning.

"I love you, Sawyer." She loved looking into those deep blue eyes; they had always danced for her but now more so then ever. Those eyes had captured her from day one. He was the cocky American who she thought was so cute.

Her mother would have a cow knowing that he was an American. Yet, it seemed that when he came with her, the day her father died, the family just seemed to accept him. Even her mother, who professed that all Americans were "gaijin" seemed to be at ease around him and considered him a friend too.

What was it they all knew before I did?

Now being with him, feeling the strength of his body and the way she was set on fire by his gentle touch, she couldn't have imagined that this would be what she would be doing with the Commander of NERV.

She couldn't deny it though.

Her heart was open again and free again. She was feeling love again and he was the one who gave this to her. He had been by her side from day one, never taking his watchful eyes off of her. Even when she had allowed him to "get to know her better" he had been the perfect gentlemen in a game of mini golf that set it all into motion. He made her laugh and she had fun with him Even though she could see in his eyes that he wanted to be closer to her a thousand times before that day.

Now it was like that.

He was hers and she was his. Was it to be this way? She didn't know for certain but she knew that she had never felt so much joy or elation before.

Isao had taught her how to love and for that she was grateful to him.

The love she had now was truly unlike anything she had ever experienced and as he breathed out, laying over her, her arms came around him as she held him against her.

"You make me so alive." She whispered to him. "I never thought I could feel this way again. After everything, my father and all that I know, I'm happy when I'm with you."

Sawyer simply raised his head to stare into her eyes as his lips gently brushed against hers. Her arm came up and her hand rested on the back of his neck as she drew him to her. They kissed passionately and deeply, spending the rest of the morning with one another knowing only ecstasy for the entire duration that they were together.