"Bella, my love," Gene rubbed Bella's arm to rouse her from where she napped against him.

"Mmm?" She stirred, wiping a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth.

"Time to wake up, they're serving supper."

"Supper?" Her eyes went wide. "Gene, you were supposed to wake me up hours ago! Visiting hours are over, now everyone will know we're…we're…" She gestured futilely.

"Together?" Gene smirked, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. A chorus of giggles could be heard outside his room. "I'm fairly certain that it's no secret."

Bella blushed. "Well, I'm still a nurse and you're still my patient. I should be watching over you, tending to your needs." She started to stand up, dusting off her uniform and tidying up the sheets.

Gene stopped her, pulling her back down to his side. "You're my only need."

"But I'm just a nurse. I'm nothing special."

Gene started to laugh, a hearty, full-bodied laugh that Bella rarely got the chance to hear.

"What? What's so funny?"

"You not being special," Gene replied. He took her hands in his. "You are the most special woman I have ever met in my life." Bella started to object. "No, Bella, listen. You give others hope. Your beauty brightens my every day. You are extraordinary."

Bella lowered her lashes to her cheeks, unable to keep a shy grin to herself. She rubbed her thumb along the back of Gene's hand. "Yes, well, you're pretty exceptional yourself."

Gene scoffed. "Me? No, I'm nothing remarkable." He sighed with frown. "Not anymore, at least." He started to pull away, releasing Bella's hand and leaning back into his pillows. "Go along to dinner, I'm not hungry any more." He turned his head towards the wall, a clear dismissal.

Bella started towards the door but changed her mind. She had not given up everything, lost it, then gotten something new and wonderful back just to lose it again. She laid down on the bed next to Gene and turned his face towards her.

He sighed in self-torturous defeat. "Bella."

"You, my good sir, do not get to have a pity party." She played with the edge of his collar, sweeping her fingertips along his jawline. "You are gentle, and talented, and have shown me so much love when I didn't deserve it."

"Maybe," Gene acquiesced, "but youdeserve more than what I can give you." He started to sit up, shifting his weight as a fire lit in his eyes. "You deserve to be loved, well and often, and – and courted, with carriage rides through the city and dancing around a ballroom!" he added, hands balled into fists. "Can't you see? I want to walk in the garden with you, lift you off your feet, give you all the gifts and luxury Gene Casey could. You should be treated like a queen. You shouldn't be wasting away your life with me on this cot!" Gene hung his head in his hands, a sob wrenching from his gut.

Bella wiped her tears on Gene's shoulder as she held him. "It's enough," she whispered. "It's enough."

After it seemed like the worst had passed, she laid Gene back against his bed and brushed some stray curls from over his forehead. "I'll go get us some supper, okay?"

Gene just nodded, too selfish to continue pushing her away and hating himself for his weakness.

As Bella filled the two trays with corn muffins and stew, she glanced around at the other patients. They were chatting amicably amongst themselves while one nurse helped an old man to stand. She lifted him out of the chair, manually straightening his legs so that he could hobble over to the dining room.

Bella almost dropped the trays in excitement.

She rushed back to Gene, throwing their dinner platters on the side table and gathering him in a passionate kiss.

"Bella, my dear, what's the matter? What's wrong?" Gene searched her for any sign of hurt.

"Nothing's wrong. Nothing's going to be wrong ever again," Bella replied, placing Gene's tray in front of him with a wide grin on her face.

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

Bella beamed, and fed him a spoonful of stew. "I'm going to fix your legs."

A/N: I know this is a shorter chapter, but I'm liking the brevity for this story. It's happening in small leaps..as life does, right? ;) I hope you enjoy!