A.N: Hi all! I was listening to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack and "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop came on. The lyrics made me think of John and then I wanted to hear a verse from Elizabeth's point of view and then this happened. It's different than my other poems (not rhyming for starters – sort of a free/blank verse I suppose it's called) and different than I'd originally intended, but I like it. Some elements of the first part sounded extremely familiar to me, so if I've accidentally plagiarized someone, let me know and I'll give credit. Anyway... enjoy!

A.N.2: Oh, and the bit with /-/ on either side is meant to be a strikethrough (formatting wouldn't allow).

Fooled Around and Fell in Love

–

I tried my hand at Forever once.

It didn't work out.

After that Forever wasn't even on the radar.

No expectations, nothing lasting.

A reputation I didn't really deserve

(thanks, McKay)

But hey... If I'm honest...

Not too far off the mark.

–

But then – unexpectedly, unobtrusively,

Un-everything except unwanted –

There she was.

She's a woman of words, not action.

But there's got to be some kind of ninja in her,

The way she snuck in –

Subtly, sincerely, frustratingly.

Amazingly.

I was hers before I ever knew I was up for grabs.

–

I wasn't looking for a Forever kind of deal.

But before I knew it...

That's how long I wanted her around.

––

He wasn't part of the plan.

Part of the equation.

Part of the way things were supposed to go.

I didn't have time for That –

For wanting, for loving.

For distractions.

I figured I'd settle with Really Caring

and that would be enough.

Safer.

Just friends, I told myself.

(After all, I'm supposed to be an expert at persuasion.)

–

But then I slipped up.

Or he barged in.

(or maybe he just caught me.

I'm not sure which.)

With teasing grins and stubbornness and loyalty and /recklessness/ bravery-that-makes-me-want-to-shake-him-and-kiss-him-at-the-same-time

And then Really Caring turned into

"Who am I kidding?"

and That sat on my desk and stared at me until –

ignoring That?

No longer an option.

–

I've been ruled by excuses disguised as rules, seized by seize-the-moment phobia,

But now...

Let's just say I've never been happier that a plan didn't work out.

Thanks for reading and please review! :)