Pulling himself away, he realised far too late what he had done. It was not the he regrated kissing her, he had dreamed of having her in his arms for so long that when his lips pressed against hers it felt as if he was dreaming. His heart hammered inside his chest at an alarming rate as he half babbled "I'm sorry." to her, despite his heart telling him different words, urging him towards another path.

Talia was looking at him, but was not truly seeing him. She blinked slowly, lips slightly parted, a slight tremor, different than before taking over her body.

Running a hand through his hair he looked at anything and everything but her, swallowing thickly, the silence between then daunting, expanding with each hectic heartbeat "Actually no, I'm not sorry." He turned back to her, confusion settling between her brows as she tried to make sense of everything "I'm not sorry for kissing you just now. I have wanted to do for so long, forced myself to just sit back, not go to you, not touch you."

"We're not doing this." She shook her head, ready to turn away from him, however he stopped her, grip on her arm forcing her to look back at him.

"Yes we are and if you're not then I am. I missed you, I really did, so much that I felt I couldn't even breathe properly without you." His eyes spoke to her, of a pain far greater than he ever wanted to let on, even in that very moment as he spilled his heart out. And he knew that the moment he would face her again that she would know, that she could read him like an open book. Even then she was searching for the truth, eyes shifting rapidly as she tried to uncover even a hint of a lie.

Releasing her arm slowly, his hand fell into hers, calloused fingers caressing pale skin as he continued to speak "I was weak and I am no better now but I try to be. I promised myself that I would rid the world of this disease that is plaguing it once more. And once that was done I would come back to you, I would come to tell you that it's safe, that you can return and not have to be afraid."

"That's a fool's dream Talbott." Removing her hand from his, she knew she needed to create some distance before it was too late and she gave in "You fell for what I wanted you to see, you had feelings for Talia Hayes, I am no longer that girl."

Despite it not being what she expected, Talbott smiled lifting his hand to caress her cheek "It might be a foolish dream, but it's mine nonetheless and you're in it. As for Talia Hayes, well, she was never real now was she? You just hid behind that name until you no longer could. But whatever you decide to call yourself, I know I saw the real you."

"No." she tried to counter, but she was losing her edge especially when he leaned in once more, just a breath away from her face "You're wrong, you are so wrong Talbott." But his eyes softened when she called out his name again "You have no idea how much I've changed. How little of me is left."

"Then I will have to just adapt once more."

She wanted to believe him with every fibre of what was still left of her heart. She wanted to dig inside of him her last shred of humanity but if she did that and something were to happen she knew that she would crumble even further. Pushing him, she took a step back, chest expanding as she took a deep breath and then another, swearing inside her head over and over again.

Thoughts ran frantic inside her head, everything so loud and out of control "I can't let you represent anything to me. I can't let you near me again." She left like screaming, more than she had been doing for the past minutes, however it felt as if no matter what words she would manage to conjure up, none would be enough to express the turmoil happening inside her heart at that very moment. It made her sick, it made her physically sick to feel so much, to have him there patiently waiting on her tirade "Don't you get it?"

"I do, but that doesn't mean I want to accept it. Call me childish or whatever words you fancy, but it won't change how I feel about you."

Throwing her hands up in the air in an exasperated gesture, she laughed, a bitter sound stretching against her ears "That's the thing, I don't know what you feel."

All at once Talbott's feelings exploded inside his chest "I love you Talia!" he yelled in her face. He knew she did not believe him, she could not, why would she in the end? After so much that had happened those were surely not the words she wanted to hear.

Shaking her first in an attempt to calm herself, she couldn't help the words coming out of her mouth "You sure have a funny way of showing it. I can't…I can't deal with you right now. With this" she gestured between them.

"With us?" he asked, Talia only nodding her head eyes lowering to look at his feet "I understand." Clearing his throat, he wanted to say something more but decided against it last minute. Stepping from her sight, he proceeded to walk towards the door, stopping for a second as he reached out to turn the handle, hesitating. No, if he were to leave then, there would be no turning back.

She would leave once more and there was no telling what would happen from there on out.

Hearing him swearing under his breath made her turn around, her eyes lingering on his broad back, watching him, knowing fully well he was battling with his own demons and emotions. But as he turned around and made his way back to her, there was no hesitation in his gesture as he pulled her back in his embrace, claiming her lips for the second time that day.

But when she did not pull away the second time around, instead wrapping her arms around his neck to pull herself even closer to him, Talbott's mind raced, stopped and then spiralled with a dozen hectic thoughts. Kissing her like that brought back memories he had tried to contain, feelings left unattended and untouched him wishing them away daily. But as he held her like that, her long nails running through his hair, lips returning his kisses, everything intensified, blowing out of proportions, exploding inside his chest like fireworks.

She pulled down his coat, Talbott letting it fall to the ground as he picked her up in his arms, placing her on the bed between the clothes and belonging she tried to pack. Pulling out his wand, he chanted away, ensuring no one could eavesdrop on them and that was when he witnessed Talia smirk before her fingers started undoing his buttons.

It happened fast, a tangled mess of clothes being thrown left and right as they continued kissing each other. It was different, it felt as much, yet it did not feel wrong.

He felt wanted, as if he finally managed to break through one of Talia's impenetrable barriers and have her back in his arms where he believed she belonged. And despite not being able to form a straight solid thought, he promised himself he would not let go of her ever again.

How could he when she was finally there, in his embrace, his hand tangled in her hair as the other roamed free, rediscovering her once again? Her hands pushed back the hair from her face, letting out a giggle when a strand fell back tickling her nose "Just so you know, I think you look better with your hair like this, it suits you."

Smirking, he leaned into her touch, giving her a peck on the lips "Is that your way of saying you want to stop?"

Glaring at him, she spoke "I will murder you if you don't go through with it."

Lifting himself slightly, his eyes searched hers "Are you certain?"

Lifting a thin brow, she sighed "Really killing the mood here. I am naked, you're naked, we both clearly want this." She added reaching out between his legs, Talbott stifling a moan "Now, now, that won't do."

He knew her to always have the upper hand, however this time around he witnessed a far greater force in her eyes. Demanding, commanding, wanting him. And that was something he could not say no to. Especially not when she started working his length, relishing in the sounds she could steal from him.

Gently removing her hand, he kissed her again, smirking against her lips the moment she gasped when he entered her, Talbott closing his eyes as pleasure washed over him, a soft sigh leaving his lips as he stopped for a few moments just enjoying the feeling of being inside of her. Nuzzling her neck, he trailed soft kisses against her skin, her scent intoxicating him.

She relaxed against him, hands caressing his back, Talia closing her eyes. She would have figured they would have a hard time finding their rhythm once more, remembering what they once were, but it felt as if she belonged there in his arms. As if time did not pass between them, ripping them apart.

Making him face her, they looked at each other, those sunset coloured eyes still having the power to draw her in, grounding her in ways no one could. His tender caresses felt hot against her skin, both surprised to even be in that situation once again, but in equal amounts happy.

The world was crumbling around them either way and as hard as they tried to fight, some days they had nothing to show for it.

Caressing his cheek, Talbott smiled lovingly at her. There were so many things he wished to tell her in that very moment. How she made him feel, how good it felt to be with her again despite not knowing what the aftermath of their actions would bring. But he did not utter a word, instead kissing her over and over again, losing himself in the moment.

And she continued to look at him as if years have passed and he had not changed. Fascination shined in her wide eyes, curiosity lighting them up like the first time they met. Always analysing, always learning him by heart, him more than willing to let her in, share his secrets.

It started out wild, both hungry for each other ready to tear the clothes off their bodies just to get in bed faster. But once they were actually there, they both realised without even talking that it was not such an easy affair. They could not cast aside their feelings and just sleep with each other. Not when everything was so raw and so many words were said.

No, they never could just sleep together. They both craved that connection, the love they showered each other with. And not even mistakes could teach them a different way.

It was clear by how they touched each other that they longed to be together, to belong to one another. He needed to keep reminding himself that everything was real, that she was actually there. She needed to see him, ensure this was not a figment of her imagination and she would end up waking up all alone in a cold bed.

He had to be real.

She had to be there.

A whisper against her ear, a soft plea "Don't go." And her breath hitched, arms wrapping around him tighter.

"I'm here Talbott, I'm here."

For a moment they were not in the middle of a war fighting for their lives. They were all alone, just the two of them, like they used to be back in their apartment, back when life was easier and they were happy together, inside their own home.