Author's Note: I know y'all complain that my chapters are too short…I think they are too. But this one ought to make it worthwhile. I started writing this chapter right after I started the story, and it's the one I've been working on the longest because I had to get it just right. Btw, if you haven't noticed…the chapter titles come from song titles. "Aim Snap Fall" is by The Spill Canvas, "Time After Time" is by Quietdrive, "Seconds Away" is by Amy Studt, "Hand me Down" is by Matchbox 20, and "Without You Here" is by Goo Goo Dolls. Oh, and if you can catch the reference to my favorite movie in the world…I will love you for ever.

Enjoy :-)

Chapter Five: Without You Here

Your love's a gathered storm I chased across the sky
A moment in your arms became the reason why
And you're still the only light that fills the emptiness
The only one I need until my dying breath
And I would give you everything just to
Feel your open arms

"Prove it"

Her words hung in the air for several moments, then traveled into my head. It took me a second to realize what she meant by it. But when it registered, I found myself trembling. Normally I wasn't nervous about being with Spencer, but this was different. Her eyes gave me the answer before I even had to ask it. The way her blue eyes had darkened to cobalt and shimmered with desire and challenge told me she was sure. She needed this. And so did I.

I slowly lowered my lips to her shoulder, placing soft and gentle kisses there. Her eyes flickered shut for a moment as I gradually trailed my lips up to her neck and rested there for a moment. I could feel her pulse racing against my lips and I was lost. I was drowning in that erratic beat, and I didn't want to be rescued. I closed my eyes and tenderly traced circles onto her flat stomach. I felt, more than heard, her whimper at my touch.

"Are you ok?" I whispered into her neck. She nodded before finding her voice.

"Please don't stop."

I wasn't about to. I moved my lips back up to her ear and whispered "I love you"

"I love you too" she moaned back.

I smiled and gently turned her around to face me. Not taking my eyes off hers, I slowly lowered myself so that I was kneeling in front of her. I moved her hands away from her stomach and ever so tenderly pressed my lips to her scar. I felt her begin to tremble at my touch.

"You're beautiful. So beautiful. I swear it." I murmured. She didn't answer, only shook more. I started stroking her sides; it was then that she stopped me. She took my hands in hers and pulled. I looked up at her questioningly.

"I need to lie down." She whispered, blushing. I nodded, smiling. She pulled me to my feet. I put my arms around her waist and kissed her, guiding her back into her bedroom. It wasn't long before the back of her legs hit the bed. Ever so gently I guided her down onto the bed and settled on top of her. She reached up and brushed the hair out of my face. "You're so good to me" she said, gazing into my eyes with a love-filled stare that caused my breath to catch in my throat.

"Someone needs to be" I whispered back. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then reopened them. I was surprised to see them brimming with tears. She reached up, grabbing onto my neck with a newly generated need. She pulled me down to her and pressed her lips to mine with such vigor, I thought I might pass out from all the emotions coursing through me.

In that instant, I was reborn. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of my sorrows. The sorrows that this woman beneath me had burnt to the ground. I was lost in her world. Our world. Where nothing existed but me, her, and the bed we were laying on.

I felt her hands move down to my tank top, pulling at the hem. I quickly sat up, straddling her hips, and stripped it off so fast I'm surprised it didn't burn. Tossing it across the room, I settled back down on top of her before the discarded garment even hit the floor. I kissed those lips I loved so much over and over…and I never got tired of it. I felt those warm hands that had kept me grounded so many sleepless nights, roaming my bare back and pulling at my skin.

I trailed my mouth down to her shoulder and tugged at her bra strap with my teeth. I hadn't really questioned why she was wearing her bra to bed but I didn't have the strength to ask her why right now. I was busy. She moaned softly at my actions, rubbing harder up and down my back. I reached up and slid both straps down. She arched into me, giving me a chance to reach behind her and undo the cumbersome barrier. I tossed it over my shoulder to keep my abandoned top company.

Lowering her back onto the bed, I began to kiss my way down her chest. She closed her eyes, moaning almost inaudibly as she once again continued rubbing my back intensely. I slid my hand down her bare side, stopping at the waist of her pants. I looked up at her, even though I didn't really need to. She nodded. That was all I needed.

In an almost teasing way, I painstakingly slid her pants down her slender legs, silently thanking her for not wearing underwear to bed. Once they were gone, I moved back up her body placing little butterfly kisses on her skin as I went. She shuddered beneath me, making me lose it even more. I slowly slid my hand up her thigh until my fingers reached their target.

I felt her breathing turn erratic as I found an easy rhythm. She sat up and pressed her forehead against mine and closed her eyes. I moved my other arm around to her back, pulling her closer. She moaned, louder this time, and tightened the grip she had on my shoulders. I started to increase my pace, causing her to whimper. I immediately stilled my hand, but that only made her whimper louder.

"Please, Ash." She begged, her breath hot against my lips. I nodded and resumed my ministrations. Her breathing became more and more irregular as I began to speed up. She needed this. She needed this bad. She pulled me so close I could feel her heart pounding against mine. My senses were more heightened than they'd ever been and her breath felt like an inferno cascading over my shoulder blade.

A moment passed, and then all of that pent up emotion exploded with such a force, I seemed to lose track of the world. All that mattered was here and now. The only person in the world was the girl in my arms, breathing heavily and trembling. I pulled her close and lay back on the bed with her on top of me. Brushing the wet strands of hair out of her face, I allowed my eyes to travel over her body. She snuggled into my neck, kissing it softly. I reached beside me and pulled her warm and fuzzy, light blue comforter over us both. She looked up at me, puzzled.

"Go to sleep now. I'll have my turn later. You need to rest." I explained. She smiled sleepily and nestled herself back against me.

"I love you" she said, her voice reverberating against my chest and down into my heart. I held her tighter.

"I love you too." I whispered back.

After a moment, she spoke again. "Ash?"

"Yes baby?" I answered.

"A bird may love a fish, but where will they live?" She asked. I smiled.

"Then I shall have to make you wings."