Note: The idea for this particular chapter is very loosely inspired by Meat Loaf's "You took the Words right out of my mouth."

Ars Amatoria Romance Theme Challenge.

#49: Moonlight.

He was here. Standing proud, looking at the city out the window, marveled at what the world looked like ten centuries before his own time, our own time. He stood there, the light from the sunset reflecting on his face, making him look somewhat yellowish.

Watching him from the couch where I sat, I began to remember why I had fallen in love with him, which I had forgotten amongst all the events of that day. As he stood there, I watched him, and I found myself wishing he would kiss me, but I just knew he wouldn't. He was working right now, this was no social visit, and the only reason he had gotten up from the computer was because he was waiting for the results of some scan, not because he had wanted to.

He turned away from the window and his eyes caught mine. I saw a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at me, and he flashed me a small and quick smile before walking back towards the computer. I noticed it took him a few deep breaths to focus on his work and recompose his face into a serious mask. For some reason that made me smile.

The others had gone out, trying to get as far away from him as possible. I had decided to stay with him; I knew he was just feeling lonely, that he needed company that wasn't openly hostile. Across the room, in the table, he cursed softly, punching the table.

Apparently the results weren't what he had expected. He got up, looking frustrated and defeated. My poor baby, he took this too personally, he always had. Maybe he needed something truly personal to forget about this, to help him relax.

"Alex?" I asked. He looked at me, his face still showing frustration and anger.

"Yes?"

"Let's go for a walk," I suggested. He looked at me and then at the computer, looking torn. Finally he seemed to decide my idea was much better.

"Let's go." He said with a smile.

We descended the clock tower's stairs silently. He was still musing about his mission, and I was still musing about him, about us. In that moment I had to admit Wes had found his way into my heart, somehow replacing Alex a little bit, but as he took my hand at the door and led me outside, I couldn't help but thinking he was still my baby.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked softly, the way he always did in our dates.

"How about the beach?" I suggested. He nodded his approval, giving me a full fledge smile this time, which made me smile too. As he wrapped his arm around my waist I realized just how much I had missed him, his warmth and his smell.We walked towards the beach holding each other closely, talking about unimportant stuff, just relaxing and sharing our time together.

Looking at Alex's face I realized I didn't care about the future, or about saving the world, or about the innocent people. I was there looking for revenge. The only reason I was there trying to get Ransik was because he defeated Alex, because he turned him into a human, when in my eyes he was a god who couldn't be defeated. Seeing Alex fainting in my arms, on the verge of death, was too hard to take in because to me he was immortal, he couldn't be defeated, and yet, Ransik had defeated him.

To hell with Ransik. To hell with Wes or the other rangers. Alex was there with me, holding me, talking to me, listening to me. And yet, he hadn't kissed me yet, I briefly wondered why.

We got to the beach, illuminated by the moonlight. The salty air revitalized us both, but the sound of waves was soothing. Alex looked at the ocean and his face darkened; he looked sad all of the sudden.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked at me and his eyes got even sadder as he caressed the side of my face. "Don't worry about it," he said, and I knew that was an order, he wasn't going to tell me anything.

Suddenly he brought me close to him, both of his arms wrapped around me tight, protectively, lovingly, hungrily. I heard his heart beat in his chest, faster and harder by the second, as his breathing got heavier. His hand began to caress my hair, and I wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing him too. The world disappeared for that moment; the world was just him, his body in my arms, his arms around my body, his heart beating.

I felt my knees go weak, I lost my balance and the only thing holding me standing were his arms, but I felt suddenly so light, so free, as if in that hug he had taken the burden from me. After what felt like a very short time he let go and looked at my eyes. His face was now illuminated by the moonlight, and he looked paler than ever and yet his eyes were so loving in that moment, his face told me it was going to be okay, that he would take care of everything, and for just a few seconds I believed it, I believed he was going to take care of everything, that all I had to do was letting him do it.

He licked his lips, looking at my face. I imitated him unconsciously, wanting that kiss so much. I loved him; in that moment more than ever. I had to tell him that I loved him, that he would always have me, no matter what.

And in that second, he leaned in and kissed me, pressing his lips firmly against mine, his arms once again holing me tight. I kissed back. I had wanted that kiss for so long; especially because I had believed for so many months I was never getting another one.

His lips were as soft as I remembered, and it wasn't long before his tongue found his way into my mouth. I opened my mouth as soon as I felt his tongue caressing my lips. He deepened the kiss and I responded until I felt I was going to faint from lack of air. That's when I had to let go. We panted in each other's arms for a while, before he said sounding more honest and sincere than he ever had: "I love you."

I looked up at him, into his eyes, and he smiled and repeated it, this time even more forcefully. "I love you, Jennifer."

I smiled. He had taken the words out my mouth. There I was thinking I should tell him those three little words, and he had done so before me, after that passionate kiss.

"I love you too, Alex." I said, caressing his face with my hand, realizing it was shaking. He took it in his and held it in place, right there, on his cheek.

"It's you and me," he whispered, his voice getting sad again.

"Forever," I said.

And I meant it, forever was that moment, as we looked into each other's eyes. Forever had been that kiss we had just shared. Forever was the beat of his heart synchronizing with the beat of my heart, even if it was for just one heartbeat. Forever was the moonlight illuminating his sad face as defeat and sadness stained his gorgeous face again.

But this time I didn't worry. I held him, resting my head on his shoulder, he stayed there, silent and still. He was concerned and defeated now, I knew. But he had been happy forever, just a few seconds before, right there under the moonlight.