He tries to take her hands in his; she allows this, though she looks ready to bolt at any second, tears still trailing from her eyes, which they both dutifully ignore.
He's sure she can see the terrible pain in his eyes, the sadness that no mortal could really understand – she understood, far better than any other person he had met before – and his grip tightens just the slightest bit.
"I'm not leaving."
There.
Straight and to the point, no beating around the bush. He won't run away from this anymore.
She jerks a bit, mouth already opening in protest, but – despite what society thinks, despite what pain it might cause them in the future – he covers her mouth with his, halting her speech with little effort.
He pulls back just as quickly, making sure to catch her eye before she could catch her breath. "There is nothing on this earth that could make me leave you, and Abe, and your little lives in New York. It doesn't matter what the rest of the world says; the world can the hell up for all I care. You are the light of my life, Abby. It doesn't matter how long I live; I'll love you for a thousand years, two thousand, one hundred thousand. Even if I finally find a way to unlock this curse, my last thoughts will be of you, and only you. I swear."
She's crying in earnest now, not even trying to halt her sobs, and he moves forward to catch her when she falls forward into his chest, wrapping her arms around him and holding him in a grip that was surprisingly strong for her age.
"You're a damned fool!" she gasps out, completely overwhelmed, "Someone else will come along! You can't remain alone forever!"
"Perhaps," he admitted, closing his eyes and smiling brokenly, "But my first and last thoughts will always be of you."
A/N: Part 3 of 3. This pairing is killing all of my feels. :'(
~Persephone