Harmony couldn't help but giggle with excitement. It would be the first time she was to see Rory in days, due to their hectic schedules, and she was more than pleased. Christmas was just around the corner and she was ready to spend it with good friends, and Rory, in the city she had grown to love. Having time to herself the last two days, Harmony had turned her small apartment into a miniature wonderland, topped with a small tree with some ornaments her parents had shipped her from home. Her eyes scanning the shimmering lights she had lining her front window, she stood up from her couch to go into her tiny kitchen. Rory practically ran to Harmony's house in an act of desperation and longing to see his girlfriend. He absolutely hated, despised his working situation, but he didn't want to think of that right now. All he could think about was holding the beautiful brunette in his arms and cuddling with her by a fireplace. Once he reached her door he was out of breath, breathing heavily as he knocked. Putting boiling water on the stove, Harmony was also very grateful for the baked cookie smell that still lingered through her house. Everything was perfect, but now all she really wanted was Rory to be at her doorstep. A small knock at the door, just as she was adding the cheese to her already drained pot, and Harmony was racing towards the door. Wiggling open the door, Harmony pulled it open to reveal Rory, as gorgeous as ever, smiling before her. A huge grin planted on her lips, her eyes flashed up, hoping his eyes would mimic hers. There, hanging freely above them, was a handful of mistletoe in the doorway above them. Crinkling her nose, she couldn't help but to start giggling. All the breath he was trying to gain back left his body again as she opened the door ad revealed her smiling, beautiful face. He couldn't even speak; all he wanted to do was kiss her. Luckily for him, hanging above them was mistletoe; something that he couldn't help but smile at recalling the night they became a couple. He was about to ask if he could pick her up and kiss her, but he didn't have enough time. Before he could even stop himself, he had her in his arms, in the air, and their lips connected.

He almost didn't want to let her go, he would have been perfectly fine standing there like that forever, but he knew they would need food sometime. It all happened so fast and before she knew it, Harmony was happily being twirled around. The fireworks began as his lips met hers quite passionately and she could have sworn her heart would burst from her chest. A giggle exploding from her throat as her feet left the ground, her arms clutching reassuringly to his shoulders. As she felt him move just enough to speak away from her, her feet gently were placed back on the ground and her heart did its best to find a normal beat again. "Hi" He smiled as they pulled apart, gently setting her down on the floor. "I think it goes without saying that I missed you" He whispered as he moved a piece of hair from her face. Opening her eyes, a smile broke through Harmony's lips and she put a gentle hand to the side of his crooked smile. Grinning, she leaned away just enough to pull Rory inside her apartment and close the door behind him. The winter wind was definitely fighting its way into New York, but she tried her best to always keep a fire going in the fireplace. Keeping a firm hold on his soft hand, she pulled him into the kitchen behind her as she went to check their food.

"Macaroni and cheese AND fresh sugar cookies AND cocoa. Am I awesome or what?"

Letting his hand go to stir the pot, she turned back to him to notice his eyes dark with rings again with all the work he had been doing. Biting the inside of her lip, she put a gentle hand to his arm.

"Should I even ask how work has been?"

"Work was fine" He mumbled as he nestled his head into her neck and kissed it lightly. He hated work, but it was something that he needed to do. He wouldn't mind if it if he got paid more, but he still didn't see a point in complaining. "I'm just ready to spend the night with my gal'" He smiled as he stole a cookie that was sitting in front of them.

Harmony couldn't help but wince when she heard his words about him moving back to Ireland. She thought about it more than she should have, but it came to mind more and more frequently. She knew this wasn't his home and he had a completely different life waiting for him overseas, but she couldn't help but fret the day when that would come. For him to actually leave her or that they even had an expiration date…brought never-ending knots to her stomach. Shaking it from her thoughts when he brought his hands around her waist, she put her hands gently over his arms and closed her eyes. She wished she could just keep the moment they were in. Everything was perfect about it. The smell of the food and the warmth of his arms around her. A playful smile reformed on her features when he kissed into her neck, leaning her head back on his broad shoulder.

"I'm ready to spend the night with you too. I haven't been too fond of our conflicting schedule nonsense."

Harmony picked up the pot from the stove and brought it over to the countertop where it could be served. Motioning for him to grab a seat, she pulled out a bowl from the overhead cupboard and served him before getting herself some as well. Standing opposing his seat on a barstool, she grinned as she watched him began to eat. "Food of the gods. I swear, I'll probably die from eating mac and cheese one day AND I'll die happy."

"Well, don't plan on dying anytime soon" Rory said, a bit over protective. He couldn't picture his life without Harmony in it at the moment. He was actually thinking about staying in America for her, knowing that once he got enough money, he could go back home anytime. However, he didn't want to make her think he was too clingy or anything, it would be a better conversation for a different time.

"This is amazing cheese and noodles" Rory smiled up at her. "Much better than the ones I make for you" He nodded as he took another bite and looked at her. They stared at each other for a few moments before his blushing and smiling broke the moment. Rory could look at her forever and never get bored; she was like a masterpiece of art. Putting her head in the palm of her hand, Harmony almost didn't realize she was staring at him. The way his eyes lit up when he noticed her staring, the grin that always seemed to peak out when he tried to be serious, the way his cheeks turned bright red when he got embarrassed. He was adorable, in every way.

Once they were finished Rory took their dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. When Harmony asked him what he wanted to do, he turned to her and smiled. "I'm up for anything, but that mistletoe looks nice" He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently. Rory liked kissing Harmony; it felt like their lips were meant for each other's. Harmony's eyes lighting up when he came up behind her again, she spun around quickly to meet his gaze before gently meeting his lips as well. He was so much more comfortable around her than he had been before. It was reassuring, knowing how much he must have trusted her. She trusted him equally as much, but her heart sank at the thought that came through her head. There was something that she had never told anyone before, but she felt like she could confide in him. Pulling away from him, but still holding a grasp on his arms, she looked down to the floor. It was going to require her to muster up some courage, but she knew she could trust him.

"I need to tell you something, but I don't want you to be mad at me."

Rory looked away for a moment concerned. Had he done something wrong? All he did was kiss her right? He hadn't made any moves, or at least not that he could tell. "I won't be mad at you Harmony, you know you can tell me anything" he whispered as he picked her chin up in his hand. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew this was something really serious, and figured it would be better not to. He brought her over to her couch as they sat down together. He kept her in his arms as he waited, in case it was something really bad and he needed to console her afterwards. "Take your time" He smiled as he ran his fingers through hers and kissed her hand. "It's alright, I won't be angry"

Sitting down on the couch, Harmony's head still hung low as she contemplated with herself whether or not she should confide in him. She started to feel silly, tucking a strand of her long black hair behind her ear as she looked for the words to say. Her stomach twirled into a ball in her stomach as the memories started to flood back, but it was something that needed to be said, if not for her for him. Coughing, she kept her head hanging low, a soft voice finally passing her lips.

"I've contemplated confiding in your for a while now Rory and…I just feel like I would have some inner peace if I actually told someone."

Rubbing her arm nervously, she took a deep breath and let the words spill out.

"When I first got to New York, I was suggested, by my coach from the Unitards, to participate in this sort of internship at this company for young performers. I thought I was on the right path, doing everything I was supposed to do. I got offered the chance of a lifetime; the chance for a role in a Broadway production. I told them I'd do anything for it, which…I guess was the wrong answer. Before you start putting two and two together I denied them, figuring it was a trick until he grabbed me."

Her eyes began to well up, surprised that she even had the words coming out of her mouth.

"He..he hit me across the face then told me I needed to learn my place if I wanted to be an actress in New York City. I quit that day and…I've never told anyone that. I just said that it was too much for me to take on. I even lied about how I got the bruises, the only ones around then were Kurt and Blaine so it wasn't a big deal. I suppose that's what I deserved though for being so heartless back in high school, but that's NOT what this city is about.. I mean, I was right wasn't I? I'm sorry for laying this on you, but I've never told anyone that…I never."

Harmony had done it, it was out and she had let all the emotions hit the surface. She put her hands over her face, covering up in not only shame but for letting so many emotions out on the table. She felt selfish.

Rory sat there silently as he listened to Harmony speak. As she went further and further into the story, Rory felt his heart speed up. Someone had hit her, a male. He had heard stories of girls being raped or forced to do things in this area of profession, and it made him sick. "W-what was his name?" Rory whispered as he looked up at the ceiling. It was taking everything he had not to get angry, or at least show it. He had promised Harmony that he wouldn't be angry at her, which he wasn't- not in the least way. This wasn't her fault, and even if it was a few years ago, it was still effecting her.

While she was crying, he removed some hair from her face and cupped her chin in his hand and made her look at him. He placed his forehead against hers, and sighed. "Charlotte Harmony Pearce, you did nothing wrong." He said sternly as he used his free hand touch the side of her face. How could someone harm that beautiful face? " His voice whimpered, he put a hand to the side of her quivering face.

"It doesn't matter Rory, just.."

The tight hug was the kicker. Just like a tidal wave, the tears came crashing out and Harmony let out a cry that she had held in time and time again. She had never told anyone what had happened, keeping it a secret for a whole year. It was…relieving, though painful to relive the horrific memory. She had felt so dumb for how it had made her feel back then, trying to rise about and in some ways, it made her more of a considerate person. She buried her head in his shoulder, trying to catch her breath. Though it happened over a year ago, it still didn't hurt any less. However, she thought of it as a way to say goodbye to the 'what she didn't do right' and she could finally move on from it. She would probably never get over the fear of walking into another talent agency without getting punched in the face, but Harmony always tried to remember it could have been worse. Way worse. Still after such a story, Rory still looked at her like she was the brightest star in the sky. And as if she had lost her filter, the words fell out as she brought her head out of her shoulder to look at his face.

"I love you, Rory."

When Harmony said those 3 words, he bit his lower lip. With Rory's long past of horrible relationships, the L word was something that was never on his side. Whether he said it first or the other girl did, it always ended in heart break. "I-I" He stuttered out. He wanted to say thank you, but he figured that wouldn't be the best thing. "Are you sure?" He asked, looking down.

Questioning Harmony's love for him probably wasn't the best thing to do, but he needed time to think about this, especially since it was thrown at him so quickly. He did love her back- at least he thought he did. What wasn't there to love? But then, there was Ireland.

Damn it. Harmony tightened her eyes as she replaced his last words over and over. An emotional Harmony wasn't the way she wanted this to play out. She wanted it to be sweet and considerate, maybe a romantic evening or a walk through the park? Not after she had just admitted she had been punched by the first talent scout that had looked her way. She had never said those words before, except to her parents or in a small joke between friends. It was supposed to mean something, not just a simple phrase to be said in passing. Well, you blew that one Harmony. "I'll be right back.."

Rory sat there as she ran away and sighed. "Are you sure?" He asked aloud. "I'm a fucking idiot" He mumbled as he hid his head in his hands. How could he ask that? She just told him something really important and scary about her past, and then he just rejects her. He was a jerk.

"Harmony" He said as he stood up and went to her bedroom where she was sitting. "I'm sorry. It was just unexpected and I-I haven't had a good track record" He stuttered out as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Please don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry" He said as bent down on his knees next to her. "I-I was caught off guard that's it. I was planning on saying it, I wanted to say it first" He chuckled as he took her hands in his. "Charlotte Harmony Pearce" he smiled up at her. "I love you." He nodded. "I really do, that's why I said it first" He winked as he stood up and took her by her hands, pulling her up into a hug. "Please don't cry" He whispered as he placed his hands on the back of her hair and kissed her cheek. "I really do" He smiled as he pulled away and kissed her on the lips gently. He really was something, to take all the blame when Harmony was being overdramatic and blurting out something that she wanted to say when it the time was right. Shaking her head, she took his hands as he grabbed hers and sighed.

"Rory, I'm not mad at you. I am mad that I just blurted it out like it didn't matter. I just wanted it to be special and not so…sudden. I wanted it to matter. I wasn't just saying it though. I mean it…I'm sorry, this wasn't on the Christmas agenda tonight. I just…I guess it just came out." A small smile playing across her lips as he kissed her cheeks, she leaned in and laid her head softly on his chest. "Ugh, I'm a mess."

"Yeah you are" He laughed as he pushed some fallen hair behind her ear. "But the most beautiful mess I have ever seen" He smiled as he kissed her forehead. "I mean that Harmony. You are so beautiful" He sighed as he rubbed away some of the tears that were falling. "Do you want to go to bed?" He asked as they pulled apart from their hug. He went towards her bed and grabbed a pillow for him on the couch. "I'll go put this on the couch for myself if you wouldn't mind showing me where an extra blanket is" He smiled as he headed towards the door. Rory would never just assume that he would be sharing a bed with Harmony, even though it was very likely. They had been dating for a few months now, and they hadn't done anything but kiss, which was fine with Rory. He wasn't like most guys when it came to sex or sexual things in relationships, seeing how he was still a virgin.

"Rory.."

Harmony bit her lip as he started to walk out of the room. Seeing him stop in the doorway and turn back to her, she couldn't keep her eyes off of him. She had told him her deepest secret, blurted out that she loved him at the wrong time, and he still looked at her like she was perfect. Why? She wasn't even trying to impress, yet she never felt like she had to try with him. He liked..LOVED her the way she was. She trusted him completely, in every way possible. Harmony took a step forward, cocking her head to the side. "Will you stay with me?"