"This is stupid" Antonio groaned as Sylvie wrapped her arms around his waist to help pull him up from the bed. He wasn't used to getting help to go to the restroom, shower, or even just set up and it made him feel like an infant. "It's only been three days since you were released, stop complaining." Antonio rolled his eyes.
"And they say Abbie gets her dramatic side from me, I'm a hundred percent confident it's all Dawson." Sylvie laughed as she walked him toward the stairs so she could settle him on the couch for the day.
"Just push me down the stairs, it would be quicker." he grumbled. They were only on the fifth stair and it had taken them almost twenty minutes to get this far. "I'm not going to push you but I'm not above leaving you sitting here if you don't stop being mean and complaining about everything."
"I told you; you didn't need to bring me home with you, I could have stayed with Gabby or my mom or even Eva, I really don't need your pity", he huffed as he pushed her hand from his arm and grabbed the railing to try to go down the stairs himself. "You've already almost died once on these stairs; I'm not letting you go down them alone." She tried to grab his arm but he spun and lost his balance and landed on this butt with a hard thud.
"Oh my god, Tonio, are you okay?" she stooped down to try to help him up and check him over but he pushed her away, "I'm fine, leave me." He was out of breath and this really wasn't how he wanted Sylvie to see him, he wasn't used to being this vulnerable around her. "No." she retorted calmly.
He knew he was being an asshole but he just needed a minute and she was refusing to let him be. He took a deep breath to try and steady his breathing, "look, I appreciate everything you're doing but please just leave me here for a minute, go call someone to come help and I promise I'll stay on the couch the rest of the day and not bother you."
Sylvie watched him a minute, she knew this is how he was when he wasn't feeling good, he didn't like help and he thought he was mister tough guy but for him to think she didn't want him to bother her, that perplexed her. "Why would I not want you to bother me, it's why I'm here, it's why I brought you home with me, so I could take care of you."
He rolled his eyes and leaned back into the stairs, "You feel bad that you asked me over that night and you think you're the reason I'm hurt and that's why you're doing this, you really don't need to, I can manage with someone else, plus you look exhausted and we're arguing about everything, I don't think this is healthy for any of us."
Sylvie reached for Antonio's hand trying to find the best way to explain to him that she really wanted him there and not out of guilt or regret but because she really cared for him. She played with his fingers a moment before she realized what she needed to do. She took a deep breath and tried to muster every ounce of courage she possessed, she leaned into him her eyes never leaving his and kissed him lightly on the lips, "I love you too." Four simple words that she was praying he knew the meaning behind.
Antonio felt like his heart would burst from his chest and if he was being honest didn't know if his body could handle this level of excitement and emotions in its current state. He sat there just staring at her, unable to process what had just happened. He knew instantly what she was referring to, that night, that kiss, the one he was so sure was meant for Matt, he had convinced himself that their relationship was completely one-sided, even the past couple days he was sure that Sylvie was only taking care of him out of guilt. He knew she loved him and cared for him but as a best friend, he never let himself believe she was in love with him despite everyone around them telling him she obviously was.
"You remember…that?" he stammered, "you were sound asleep". He felt as if all the air had left his lungs, the whole world was moving in slow motion. Sylvie dropped his hand and stooped down in front of him resting her hands on his knees, "Of course I remember but I wasn't sure if you would after everything…" she trailed off getting lost in the horror of that night. Antonio shifted his eyes from hers trying not to see the pain there, she grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her, "and I need you to know that you are not bothering me, that I'm not doing this out of guilt or pity, that I don't feel obligated, my only motivation in taking care of you is that I love you and want you here."
Antonio didn't respond, Sylvie was sure she had broken him. "You okay? I'm sorry, I went too far." She stood back up and put her hand on his shoulder but he remained motionless. She thought she had read the situation with Antonio right; he had been openly flirting with her for over a year now despite her best efforts of trying to keep him at arm's length but somewhere in her she knew that was only going to last a short time when her divorce from Matt was finalized. But was the flirting all in her head, he had apologized for it before, said he didn't mean too, maybe him saying he loved her that night was just as friends? Maybe he only loved her as Abbie's mom? God she was going to be mortified if she was misreading this all along, he would definitely hold this over her head for eternity if she was wrong. "Tonio?" she could hear her voice raise an octave, starting to panic at the embarrassment that was threatening to take hold.
He blinked and shook his head, trying to catch his bearings and stop the spinning in his head. "Sorry, I, ummm…, can you just get me to the couch, I'm really not feeling good?" his head was too woozy to try and deal with this development, he knew she was probably panicking judging by the defeated look on her face and he would remedy that as soon as he could but he needed the rest of his strength to make it down the stairs.
Antonio watched Sylvie from the couch as she moved in and out of sight in the kitchen, she had barely said two words to him after the enlightening trip down the stairs that morning, he knew she was avoiding him scared of what he was going to say. He knew it took a lot for her to finally admit what they had been dancing around all these years but there was more to consider now than just the two of them, there were two kids, kids who had been through more than any kid should, kids who will be confused if this was to develop further. He just didn't want to jeopardies the relationship they had now if they didn't work out, he didn't think they could survive it a second time.
"Syl?" he called trying to get her attention, he saw a mane of blonde hair pop around the corner. "Yeah? You need something?" she sounded preoccupied with whatever she was doing. "I think we need to talk." He watched her face to judge her reaction knowing that she knew what exactly they needed to talk about.
She shook her head, "It's okay, it can wait until you feel better." He thought she looked sad and wanted nothing more than to be able to get up and go to her, to hug her and make her feel better, he didn't mean to hurt her feelings, this just wasn't the right time for what she wanted. He sighed, "just so you know, I love you too, always have."