Sorry for how 'fluffy' this is...well at some points. In Natara's mind. But how equally depressing it is outside of her mind. Especially at the end. K I'm going to eat now. Bye. Enjoy. (:

Have you ever had a crush on someone, or loved someone, but you were too scared to tell them? Have you ever spent days working up the courage to talk to them or tell them, and then they let you down?

I believe that if they tell you they don't feel the same way, but you continue to like them and never stop, that right there is love.

"Mal, can we talk please?"

"I'm kind of busy, can't it wait?" he responded gruffly.

"No."

"Fine, let's go in my office," he sighed.

Natara thought back to the past four nights since she decided she liked Mal as more than a friend. They were virtually sleepless; she'd woken up every morning unsure whether she'd drifted off or not. How was she just supposed to tell him she liked him back, when he'd never directly stated it?

"Nat, can we make this quick? I really have to…"

"Can't you just listen to me? Please? I need to talk to you. Please just listen before I chicken out again," she blurted out. She'd tried to tell him for days now, but when he gave his 'busy' excuse, she just accepted it, too scared to counter. Today was the day.

Can you feel my heart beat fast? I want this to last.

Her heart rate quickened as he sat down. "Sure," he replied uneasily. "Go ahead."

"Okay…well, remember when you said we should raise Charlie together? And how we agreed friends don't raise babies together usually? Well I was thinking maybe we aren't just friends anyway."

"What do you mean?" his eyes narrowed slightly.

"I mean, we're best friends and we're partners and we're together every single day all day. We trust each other more than anyone else; well I know that's how I feel anyway. And you're not going to tell me you've never felt anything more towards me. I realized that day that I felt more than friendship towards you…and I …I've been working up the courage to tell you for days now." Natara stared hopefully toward him but his face was impassive for a long moment. Finally, she let her breath out as he opened his mouth to respond.

"Natara, you wanna know something? Do you remember when we met at Fisherman's Wharf for the Maskmaker Case? I was in love with you since the moment we first spoke. I didn't believe in love, let alone love at first sight, until I saw you. I hinted at it, I suggested it indirectly; I prayed you'd figure it out. But you never did until now, well if you had, you didn't act on it which I assumed meant you didn't feel the same way. Then last week, I saw it in your eyes Nat, and I knew you did," he paused, gathering the courage to tell her something else, what, she didn't know. He took a deep breath and rushed, "Nat, I loved you, I really did. And I don't believe you can fall out of love with someone so I suppose I'll always love you in some part of my heart. But I can't do this because if you really loved me back, you would've known sooner. You would've done something. Love isn't scared."

Natara stood staring after him, her eyes glistening with tears, as he turned sadly and walked out, leaving her there alone. Once again.

It's not like she hadn't known. She'd expected the worst, but the problem was her idea of the 'worst scenario' was that he didn't feel the same way and that was that. Now she had a baby to care for, and a heart to mend. But how was she supposed to fix her broken heart when she knew steps away from her was a man that loved her as much as she loved him back, but refused to act on it? How could she ever heal when she knew deep down she'd ruined her chances at being with the one she loved?