AUTHOR NOTES: You have absolutely no idea how happy writing this chapter made me. I realize it's only a page and a half but that's where it needed to end. Besides, it has enough awesomeness to last five chapters. :D I definetely solidified at least one thing in this chapter, even if nothing was really solved besides a romantic theme. It's a gloriously happy chapter and I hope it makes you glow as much as it does myself.

He was in there. Clay was on the other side of that door. As I stood there in front of it, my breathing coming in shallow gasps that sent splinters of pain to my lungs, my heart lodged in my throat. I had almost convinced myself not to knock when the door swung wide open and I saw Clay standing there, his eyes wide and his whole body still as a statue as he looked at me.

"Darien?" He asked, his voice full of disbelief.

I nodded mutely as I walked slowly toward him, every molecule of my body pulling me forward. I needed him.

Without warning his arms shot out, wrapping tightly around my waist to pull me tight against his body. His lips came down hard on mine and I was incredibly aware of every line of his body. I felt his emotions swirl around me; pain, love, fear. And every one brought tears to my eyes as I held him close.

He pulled back reluctantly, his breathing ragged as he stared at me. "You remember?" He asked quietly, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"Yes, I do." I said. "I remember everything, Clay." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Tears streamed silently down my cheeks as he pulled me close for another hug.

"Oh god, I've missed you." He whispered fiercely in my ear. I sagged against him, all of the energy in my body suddenly leaving. His arms held me up as he kicked the door shut and led me to the couch, sitting down and pulling me gently into his lap as I sobbed.

I didn't know why, but I couldn't control my tears. All the pent up emotion from the last few days came rushing out, leaving me breathless and sobbing. Clay held onto me, his hand pressing my face against his chest as he rocked me slowly.

A few minutes later a quiet cough interrupted us. "I don't mean to intrude, but I think it's necessary." I turned and would have fallen off of Clay's lap had he not been holding onto me so tightly. Conan stood at the entrance to the kitchen, his hands clasped in front of him as he stared at us, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

I felt Clay nod once but he made no move to release me, and I was thankful for that. I needed to draw strength from him, and the more I got the better. Besides love, confusion was my main feeling at the moment and the tighter Clay held me, the less of it there was.

Conan turned slowly and left quietly, his lips turned up slightly at the corners. As soon as he was out of sight Clay crushed his lips against mine again, his desperation spurring my own.

I pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. "I love you." I whispered, my voice barely loud enough for him to hear. The look in his eyes scorched me as he pulled me forward again for another kiss. His hands refused to stay in one place, moving from my waist to my shoulders to my face and back again. He was incorrigible in his explorations of my mouth and body.

A small part of my mind registered the fact that Gessica and Lochlannach were no longer present, obviously leaving Clay and I to ourselves. Suddenly I was in Clay's arms as he practically sprinted to his bedroom, carrying me with him. He laid me gently on the bed and quickly placed himself above me, his eyes intense as they moved over my body.

Slowly, he lowered his body onto mine, his arms braced against the bed so I wasn't squished beneath his weight. His lips traveled a burning trail down my jaw and over my neck. He pulled back again to look at me, his eyes narrowed slightly but the expression in them almost succeeding in brining tears to my eyes.

"Are you sure?" He whispered, bending down to nuzzle my face with his own.

Was I sure? Was I absolutely positive that I loved this man? Was it enough? Could I actually be able to risk my own life for the sake of his? Or to give up something as precious as what he was asking about? Was he worth everything that I wanted so desperately to give him?

Yes, my mind decided. He was worth that and much more. I wanted to be with him and to give him every part of me. To spend my life with this glorious man who in such a short amount of time had come to mean more to me than anyone else in my life. Not that there were many people. But that was hardly the point. He was the one person who could make me give up everything, and he wasn't asking for that. He was asking for my trust, and I would willingly give it to him.

I nodded slightly, pulling his face down to mine. "Jeg elsker dig mere end du kender. Må ikke nogensinde forlade mig." (I love you more than you know. Don't ever leave me.) He whispered fiercely against my lips.