He was still. His mouth opened slightly; how was he meant to respond to that? Truthfully he supposed
"Sydney" he whispered starting towards her. She just shook her head and looked at the floor, closing her eyes as she felt the fresh sting of new tears. She placed her hand to her mouth. Vaughn gently placed his hands around her shoulders, urging her to look at him
"Please don't ever doubt how much I love you. There was never a point I stopped being in love with you- that I can promise you. After I thought you'd died, I was broken, I felt as if I was dead and was walking around in some dark empty cavity. I hated knowing that I loved you with an intensity I would never begin to feel for her, an we were...we were married Sydney. Please don't ever think that I loved her as much I did you- never for a second did she even come close. I felt more for you just as a friend than I did for her as a wife- I mean, how screwed up is that? I am so in love with you sometimes I fear it isn't real- that I'm lying in a coma somewhere dreaming up some fantasy to take away the pain of being alone." He placed a shaking hand to her face, brushing his thumb across her cheekbone "I am so sorry I hurt you," he said, his voice trembling, threatening to break. She sobbed quietly as he spoke "And I swear, I will spend my entire existence making it up to you- loving you. I will never hurt you again. I'll never betray you again. I will never abandon you like" he swallowed, struggling to say it "before. I will always be your guardian angel. And I will always be that guy from the warehouse- your confident and your ally. Your friend." His chest shuddered once in a lone sob- the only one that would escape that evening
"Oh Vaughn..." she began, not knowing how to speak anymore "I love you so much" she whispered running her fingers through his hair once and stroking his face with the back of her hand softly. "I know you mean what you say, and I want to believe you, it's just- I - I trust you with my life, I always have. And I want to be able to- to trust you with my heart again. But I don't know if I can. Every time I opened my soul to you, you destroyed me- when you went back to Lauren after what happened in Korea, or you cancelled our coffee after she killed her father..." she shook her head, running her hand through her hair, letting it fall to her side "I told you after Noah, that I hated learning to expect betrayal...I don't want to wake up one morning and see you not there and assume the worst- that you've left me and destroyed me again when, when you've only gone for a run or your making me coffee." She paused for a second "I need you to promise me, you will never break my heart Vaughn... I need you to say it to me, to swear it to me. Because I can't take that pain again...promise me Vaughn" she pleaded
"I promise Sydney. I promise you I will-never-hurt-you-again" he said his voice breaking, placing his palms to her face. She sobbed, pulling him towards her by his sweater for a desperate kiss. It was small and brief, but communicated what words could no longer. Others followed, interlacing with their hushed and hurried words
"Tell me you love me," she whispered
"I love you," he said kissing her once more "I'm so sorry Sydney" he whispered through his never ending layers of emotion "Please forgive me..."
"I will" they kissed softly "I have" they kissed again, longer than before, her face moist from her crying. She felt his tears whisper down her cheeks, until he broke their kiss, once more resting his head against hers.
"I'm gonna go" he whispered, grazing his thumb against her cheek once more "Just for a little while" he looked into the stained coco colour of her eyes. She nodded and closed them as he kissed her once more, feeling coldness shroud her body as his touch left her. She opened her eyes and he had gone; she quickly turned to her door where he stood, putting on his jacket
"How long?" she asked him gently. He was quiet for a second
"I don't know" Vaughn replied honestly watching her nod once in an understanding response. He turned to open the door
"Hey" He turned to her, watching her walk to the bedroom. She emerged a few seconds later with her keys, fiddling with the joining metal ring. Moments later she threw something to him which he expertly caught with his free hand. He opened his palm, studying the brass key that lay there "Don't wait too long before you use it" she whispered smiling sadly. He smiled gently in return placing it in his pocket with care.
"I won't"
He quickly and quietly left gently closing the door behind him. A lonely tear fell from her eye, landing silently on the carpeted floor.
Thank you for reading. Please review for me! xxx