A/N: So, after practically forever, I update. I've had this chapter in my computer even before I updated the last time, but I didn't think it was good enough so it got re-written, over and over again, until I came back to the main idea of the original chapter 6…anyway, here it is. Be sure to review. Enjoy!

The Past From The Future: Chapter Six

But it was a risk I had to take.

"Keely, loving someone means taking the risk of getting hurt." I looked at hurt but she refused to look at me. She just looked down as tears continued to stream out of her eyes.

I continued as my eyes started to well up again. "And when you know you'll get hurt, but still go through with it, that's love. To fall in love, you have to take risks."

I faced her and took her hands in mine. The very second our hands brushed, I felt that familiar sense of warmth along with the shiver down my spine. I felt… home.

"I know that this is a big risk we're going to take but Keels, If it's meant to be…"

She laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "The love is worth the pain, isn't it?"

She looked at me and I nodded with what looked like the beginnings of a smile.

I lifted her hands up to my lips and kissed them. "Keely, I can't promise you I'll stay here forever, but I can promise you that I'll love you forever. Longer than that, even. And as long as I love you, and you love me, we will be together. No matter what."

She smiled and I kissed her. Something I've waited for for centuries. The feeling of having our lips touching for the first time again was indescribable. Words would only demean the beauty of what was before us. Whatever word I could come up with would be an understatement. That kiss was definitely worth the wait.

We parted, both with huge smiles on our faces. "Let's just enjoy the time we have together. How's Italian sound?"

She nodded and I let go of her hand. And as I stood up and asked her if she was ready, she nodded with a smile on her face and tears down her cheek.

But they weren't tears of happiness. She wasn't happy.

I helped her out of the RV and we sat down again on the front porch as we sat there in silence. It probably wasn't a very smart idea, letting time pass, but there was still something between us. And we both knew we had to talk… some more.

So we just sat there and I watched how her hair moved every time a breeze came by. How she adjusted her pink scarf. She looked at me, as though she wanted to say something, but sighed instead.

Minutes had passed and we still sat in silence. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what was wrong. I desperately thought of something to say to make her tell me what she needed to but my thoughts was interrupted by her voice.

"Phil… do you…" Her voice sounded shaky and vulnerable. She had just cried her eyes out a few minutes ago. It was perfectly understandable. Or at least that was the reason she would have told me if I had asked, so I just let it go.

She took a deep breath and began to speak again. "Do you know why I'm with Dan?"

Dan. His name was like a sword through my heart. The person whom she replaced me with… I looked at her with questioning eyes. I couldn't think of any words… I couldn't think of anything the moment I heard the phrase 'I'm with Dan'

She laughed at my reaction. An awkward, seemingly distant laugh. "Because whenever I'm with him, I'm reminded of you."

Hearing those words comforted me, she still thought of me, but still, it left a pang of pain in me. She was with him because I wasn't there.

"I only got through all this time without you because of him. Whenever I'd see him, hear him laugh, think of him… You'd come to mind."

A cold laugh escaped her lips. "It's bittersweet, actually. He reminded me of you, which was painful. But at the same time, it was like having you around."

"But every night I feel like kicking myself for thinking that. I can't help but feel like I'm using him." She scoffed. "And I was even madder at myself for thinking that there was actually someone who could take your place."

I tried to look at her, but I couldn't. I was ashamed of myself for putting her through so much pain. I tore her heart apart- I was tearing her heart apart. I promised her I wouldn't hurt her. But my mere presence that very day was hurting her. And I hated myself for it.