Private Finished What Have We Done?

He was so understanding that it only hurt more for her. She didn't want him to know now. She didn't want him to think that she was doubting his sincerity, that she didn't trust him. He'd be justified by thinking that, and she wouldn't know what to do. Just what could she do to make up for it?

"I... don't want to lose you. I love you... I trust you..." She didn't know what she was trying to say, she just wanted to reassure him of her feelings. She couldn't bring herself to tell him why she was like this. She was scared of what he'd say, of what he'd feel if she told him. She didn't want it to end like that.

Val squeezed his hands, but couldn't find it in herself to say anything. Everything he proposed sounded nice. So much they could do, things to get their minds off of what happened. No... things to get her mind off of what happened. She wish she could smile up at him, but all she could manage was a broken one. A sniffle escaped her as she attempted to hold back the tears.

"Can we... can we just stay indoors? At least just for a day? I just want to be closer to you. I don't feel like doing anything... outside." Her voice was still unusually quiet. It almost seemed like she had lost all her peppiness.

'Please say yes,' she hoped in silence. There was no plan. There was no reason to do this. For the most part she just wanted to be alone with her own thoughts. Figure things out on her own. But she longed for his warmth. The sound of his heartbeat. She knew how selfish it was to get him to be with her like this. But she'd understand if he'd decline.

A small but complete smile graced the corners of the harpy's mouth. "Thank you..."

Val was silent after that, just leaning against Alex, shifting her body a little and turning her head towards the TV so that her ear was right over his heartbeat. The sound calmed her, allowing her to relax a bit more. It almost looked like she deflated now that her muscles weren't so tense.

"Where will we meet?" she asked a little while later, tilting her head slightly up. With how things are going, Valerie felt a little better. A bit of her perkiness returned as well, but not much. Still, an improvement was an improvement.

Val nodded, and quietly said, "Okay." It was always nice to be in his arms. It was just a shame that she wasn't in the best mood to really enjoy it. Things were just a little heavy for her.

"Tomorrow's going to be my dad's birthday. Thank you for cheering me up today. If you didn't come, I don't think I would be able to make him happy." She had planned a lot to surprise Tucker, and this unexpected slump would have ruined it all. She was happy it was sorted out.