Thanks for the comments! They encourage me to write and keep updating

Though I can't help but feel that I keep going a little out of character for each of them...but I'm trying! I'm not proud to announce that I have a complete plan in my head of what's to come, so I know what I'm doing now! Yay!

(I might re-do this chapter depending on the comments I get...so your opinions and feedback really matter, everyone! I have a very strong feeling that something about this chapter isn't right, but I might just be imagining things.)

Enjoy, and don't forget to comment, ok?

Thanks!

I felt her gaze, there. I could sense her...those soft, almost golden eyes were simply staring at me, and no-one else. Me, alone.

My cheeks felt just slightly warmer than usual. I suppose I must have been faintly blushing...from shame? Yes, most likely. After what I had asked of her, and how I had touched her, of course I would feel shame. I had made her seem so vulnerable, and now I felt ashamed due to that. That was all.

Hm...I suppose you think me a liar...

As do I. I was beginning to wonder how long I would continue to lie to myself like this...

Would I ever stop denying the truth?

But...what was the complete truth?

Opening my eyes after a matter of moments, I gazed down at the young blonde...only to find that I had been correct. She was indeed staring at me. In fact: she was staring at my bare chest...again. It amused me slightly that she stared in such a way, but was unaware of my gaze on her as she did so. In a way, her vulnerability was somewhat...cute.

I watched her for only a little longer, before deciding that it was now time to break the silence. "I assume that you...like what you see, then?"

Why would it matter if she did, I wonder? In truth, I hadn't completely thought through what I was to say before saying it...and it showed. I just hoped that she wouldn't think too much of it...didn't I? Was that truly what I was hoping? Or did I want her to think of it as a hint of sorts? A...suggestion? (No...I apologize. I should not be asking you these questions...but they were beginning to confuse me so...yet I imagine that you must be tiring of them. )

Her eyes widened, and I had to stop myself from smirking as this thought came to mind: as I had mentioned previously, she reminded me so much of a porcelain doll...especially now. Such wide eyes, fair skin and light hair complimenting the face that already appeared so beautiful...and beneath, was a perfectly shaped body. It was unfortunate that such a lovely 'doll' had been scratched...damaged previously by Kadaj and his gang, and now just an hour or so ago by a man whose name neither of us knew. Elena then spoke, distracting me from my thoughts and the odd comparison I had been making.

"I-...I...I was...-"

I didn't wish to hear lies in the form of excuses, so I decided to interrupt, in order to spare her the trouble of trying to think of something to say. I wanted her...but not her words. Not the lies, anyway. Just to preserve the look on her face in my memory was what I wanted. I felt very out of character in that moment...but I suppose that being around her...that was what was changing me. Previously, I had felt normal, but not anymore...I didn't feel quite like myself.

Before I had realised what I was doing, one of my hands was supporting her chin, lifting her head in order to allow me to make eye contact with her. Our eyes met, and kept contact. I felt her shudder, but decided not to react. Instead, I placed one finger from my free hand against her lips in order to tell her that I didn't want to hear whatever it was she was planning to say. "Shhh...don't speak, Elena...just for now...just allow me to cherish this much of you..."

"'C...c...cherish'? What do you mean 'cherish'...?"

"To cherish something means to-.."

"I know what the word means! What do you mean?!" She certainly didn't sound happy, but then again, I had not tried to dodge her question in the most intelligent way, I'll admit. What I couldn't work out was whether or not she was angry...I would have to be more careful when I next spoke.

"A good question. Though it is one that I am...unsure...of how to answer, I suppose..."

"Then why did you say it if you didn't know what you meant?"

"Are you trying to suggest that you have never spoken without thinking?"

She looked away, and the corners of her lips tilted to make a small frown. Maybe I had said the wrong thing...it seemed as though I was doing that more often, recently. Shivering a little, she reached for her shirt. She stopped, her eyes burning into me a split-second afterwards. Why was she glaring at me in such a way?

"What?!" she demanded in an irritable, snapping tone. 'What' what? What had I done?

Ah. I see. By looking just a little closer, I had found the problem. Somehow, without me realising, my hand had reached out and firmly taken hold of her wrist, preventing her from picking up her shirt. Now I realised why she seemed so angry. She sat there shivering, awaiting an answer with impatience and mild fury burning in her bright, soft eyes. Yet again, I had no answer to give, unfortunately...and I had a feeling that if I tried to think of one, I would uncover yet more confusing questions of my own.

Sighing, obviously tired of waiting, she used her free hand to snatch my cape and put that on around herself instead...or at least...tried to. That particular item of clothing was rather tricky to do up with two hands, let alone one. I would offer to help her, of course...if she asked for my help, --which I knew she would never do. She was far too stubborn and independent to ever request help with anything-- but for now just watching her struggle with the clasps of the cape was rather...amusing, I am reluctant to admit...

She gave up, eventually, just as I expected she would. With an impatient snarl, she let go of the cape and allowed it to fall to the bed once more. Tugging her arm from my grip, I had no choice but to release her, wincing as I heard her whimper of pain. I had been foolish enough to grasp her injured left arm...

"W...w...why won't anything ever go right?!" I was surprised to hear her mutter with an almost inaudible sob. Blinking, I glanced over at her. Had the cape really upset her that much...? No...there had to be more to it than just that. There had to be more things that she had surpressed which were now surfacing all at once in the form of tears. Worries, fears, and so on.

"What do you mean?" I asked, hoping to be of at least a little comfort. However, she gave no answer, simply shaking her head instead. I watched as she bit down hard on her bottom lip, drawing blood. Her eyes shut tightly, her body shivering...trembling...and her arms wrapped protectively around her as though to shield and protect herself from everything. I watched until I felt that I could take it no more. Right now, I couldn't just watch her cry. I couldn't ignore her this time.

Placing my hand carefully on her right shoulder, I gently pulled her towards me, wrapping one arm firmly around her and stroking her hair softly with one hand, holding her close with the other. Strangely, she made no protests or attempts to pull away, and simply allowed me to hold her and comfort her. Her breath was warm against my chest, sending chills down my spine...I leant forward a little, breathing in the scent of her hair...I couldn't help but allow for my eyes to slide closed just for one moment as I did so. The tears that rolled down her cheeks caused my chest to become damp, but I did my best to ignore that feeling, just concentrating on making her feel better instead. Concentrating on her, and how she felt in my arms. The addictive, feminine, sweet smell of her hair. After a while, her trembling and shivering slowly began to lessen, and I opened my eyes again. That was when I heard myself speak.

"...Elena...?"

"I know! I already know I'm weak, ok?! I know!!" Perhaps she hadn't calmed as much as I thought she had...she still sounded rather upset.

"Shhh...no, no...that's not it..." I murmured, aiming to plant a soft kiss on the top of her head...just to soothe and comfort her. Nothing more.

The reason why I used the words 'aiming to'...was because that was my original intention.

However, as with most things where aim is involved, it is possible to...miss your target...isn't it? That is what happened next...

I had aimed to softly kiss her hair...

She had moved a little in order to glance up at me, but it was now too late for me to change my intention.

I had aimed for her hair.

I had caught her lips.