I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. I have explained on my FB page already but if you haven't checked it out yet, I will explain again.

I have just recently moved and I have no WIFI, I am updating this in my parents' diner where I actually do have WIFI with Shawn Mendes playing, and afterwards I've gone on a school trip. While I did have WIFI, I didn't have my laptop so I couldn't update.

I'm SO SORRY!

But, here you have an update.

Thank you for the usual!

Enjoy this next chapter!

Clarissa and Lincoln turned around, facing Michael who stood in the door opening. She thought he'd be upset or angry that she'd tell his brother instead of him and yet she only saw understanding in his eyes, all over his face and she felt a huge waste of relief coursing through her as she let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding.

"I'll leave you guys alone." Lincoln said, standing up with his glass of water. "You guys need to talk. We'll finish this conversation tomorrow, Clare. Sleep tight."

Michael sat down in his brothers seat and looked at the woman he loved. "I heard noises and I came to check. I was about to round the corner when I heard you two talking. I wanted to turn away but I couldn't. I am sorry about eavesdropping."

"It's okay." She answered.

She didn't want him to find out about her past like that, in fact she was planning on telling him the next day as she knew they would be alone. Her son would be at school, Sara and Lincoln would be looking for a place to live and LJ... well, she wasn't sure where he would be but she knew a guy of his age wouldn't be staying at home all day. She figured they'd get one moment alone and she had decided she would grasp that moment to let him get to know her better.

Now that he did know, she wasn't sure what to feel. At one side, she was irritated that she didn't tell him to his face but at the other side, she was relieved she didn't have to do it herself. She was sure she would get all emotional and would stutter all over the place if he would ask her to do it herself.

"I was planning on telling you tomorrow, you know?" She informed him, not looking up at him. "I figured with you and me being here, alone, it would be the perfect time to tell you. I mean, Linc would be at school, my sister would be looking for her own place with your brother and LJ... well, he would be anywhere but here."

Michael smirked, nodding. "Yeah, probably. Anything's better and cooler than being around his old man and his uncle."

"I know." Clarissa laughed. "I have a son nearing his teens as well and may I tell you, he is starting to shows signs already."

Michael started joining her in laughing. "You know, I can see why you would think that I did the same as Léon. I just want you to know, I never manipulated or used you. I told you, I loved you that day because I would be escaping that day, I didn't think it'd have such an effect on you that it would cause you to distract your sister. I didn't want to involve you so I didn't want to ask you anything. Please believe me."

"I do and I get why you would not let me come with you. I have a son, you met him and I could see how you had taken to him and taking me with you wasn't an option. I get it, Michael. You don't have to explain, you know." She assured him.

"It wasn't only that." Michael softly said. "I won't say that it wasn't part of it, because it was but I also didn't want to bring you in danger. I knew of my brother's feelings for Sara and I knew she could come in handy... your sister is quite smart. I didn't want to ruin your life."

"I know, Michael. You don't need to explain, I'm not mad... not anymore. I'm going to go back to bed and sleep... or try at least."

"Well, we could watch some TV on the couch and see how long we can last without falling asleep?" He suggested. "I got two sofa's if you're not comfortable with being next to me or close to me. We can sit seperately."

"What about LJ, isn't he sleeping on the couch?" She asked, looking up at him.

He shook his head. "No, he is not... Well, technically he is but he's not sleeping on the couch in the living room, he's in my office."

"You thought of everything, haven't you?" She asked, looking at him with raised brows. "I like the idea, let's do it."

Thinking she meant the last part of his suggestion, Michael held his head down as she sat down on the sofa directly in front of the TV and he walked to the other sofe. Meanwhile, Clarissa was hurt that it was Michael didn't want to be close to her like that because she didn't say anything about sitting in two favorite sofa's and yet he chose the other one.

For an hour they watched TV in an uncomfortable silence. The tension between them was weird, actually downright awkward. They both tried to keep their eyes trained on the screen but every so often, it would stray to each other.

During the second episode of some marathon a show ran, they looked at each other in the same moment and locked eyes. Unable to look away, Clarissa opened her mouth to speak but before she could utter a word, he had shot up and stood in front of her, fast like lightening.

Her eyes widened as her breath stoked in her throat. He put an assuring hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes. "Shh. I'm not going to do anything you don't want."

"What if I want this?" She asked, with uncertainty in her eyes. "I'm afraid, true but I want this."

"Well then..." He said before lightly kissing her, his lips barely touching hers. "Like that?"

"No." She said, looking in his eyes. "Not at all."

"How about like this, then?" He asked before pressing his lips to her a bit more forcefully, but not quite how she wanted him to.

She pulled back and sighed. "No, not like that."

"Than h-"

Before he could finish his sentence, she pressed her lips to his with all the passion she had. After nearly 7 months, it wasn't hard to find it.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer to her to which he wrapped his arms around her waist.

The kiss was everything she ever thought it'd be, it was slow, passionate, needy and just perfect.