It had been a long day. No different from any other, duty shifts and endless paperwork blurring into what felt like eternity, leaving her with an aching head and back, and in an irritable mood. Wandering through the silent corridors, she finally reached her room, pausing to run a hand through thick dark hair. Right now a shower and sleep sounded pretty good.

But even as she made to press the entry button for her quarters, she found her gaze drifting to the door diagonally opposite her own.

He'll be sleeping now... Smiling to herself, she moved to enter her own room - but still her attention became focused on the other door. A shower and sleep were all very well..but what if you needed something more?

Childish. Someone to hold you close and tell you everything's okay, even when you know very well that it isn't. Fleeting comfort.

But even fleeting comfort was comfort, wasn't it? Even for just a few hours, to be wrapped in both a warm embrace and the feeling of being safe - it was a temptation difficult to resist. All she had to do was open the door and go inside, and for a few hours everything would disappear. Her duties, her worries...her fears.

But only for a few hours. In the morning, it'll all come back. Doubts, insecurities...is it worth it? The feeling of disappointment when you wake up and realise you have to go through it all again? Is it really worth it?

Sighing, she leaned her forehead against the corridor wall, grateful for the coolness of the metal. Sometimes, knowing the difference between what you wanted and what you needed seemed impossible - a question more complicated than any matter of war and peace. She wanted the comfort, the feeling of being protected, but did she need it?

You've coped by yourself for over a year - after you lost him. You learned to live without that feeling, learned to live alone. And then you met him.

She smiled. Yes, she'd met him. He'd been there, provided friendship and support, and the comfort she'd missed and secretly wanted. Being with him made her happy, and she could tell by his smile and embrace that the feeling went both ways...even if she didn't make as much time for him as she wished she could.

There it was again. That feeling. Thinking of him brought back those same emotions, those feelings of peace and security. Knowing that he was there made even the war and everything that went with it a little more bearable. That comfort...maybe she really did need it?

"Did you forget the code for that door?"

The voice made her jump, and she glanced up to see him leaning against the frame of his open door. His blue eyes sparkled with amusement, but his smile was gentle. He could see how tired she was - he could always see. Without another word, he held out a hand to her.

Which she took without hesitation.

"How long were you standing there?" she asked later, rubbing her hair dry with a towel. "Were you watching me?"

"I was going to come see you," he admitted, lifting the covers in an invitation for her to join him. "I knew your shift was over. I just didn't expect to see you standing there outside your room like that. What were you thinking about?"

She pinked, flopping back onto the pillows. "Nothing much.." she replied softly, thin fingers picking at the covers. "Nothing important.."

"It sure looked important," he observed, idly winding a lock of her hair between his fingers. The affectionate gesture made her smile, both at his presence, and at the realisation that already her worries had vanished...simply because he was there. Propping herself up on an elbow, she brushed her hand against his face gently.

"It isn't important," she reassured him, blushing again as he pressed little kisses to her fingertips. "I'm okay." Moving closer, she caught his lips in a kiss. His eyes widened for a split second, then closed slowly, his arms winding around her waist to bring her close.

When they broke for air, she didn't pull away, instead snuggling close to him with a happy sigh. She heard the laughter echoing deep within his chest, felt him press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. This was what she had wanted - this feeling of comfort and wellbeing. Perhaps it was only fleeting, the escape from her duties and responsibilities lasting just a few short hours, but that was all right.

It might only be for a few hours, but for that time, I'm happy, and so is he. Things aren't nearly as complicated as I thought. The difference between wanting and needing isn't as great as it seems...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

( Hurray for nonsense XD

Please read and review! )