She looks at me.Really looks."You're scared."
"Little bit."
"Why?"
"Because what if they don't like me?What if Warren's scared of me?What if your mam thinks I'm not good enough?"
"You are good enough."She stands, crosses to me, and takes my face in her hands."You're more than good enough.And they'll see that."
I want to believe her.Want to trust that this will work.
But doubt's still there, sitting heavy.
She kisses me.Soft.Gentle."Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being here.For staying.For not running when things got hard."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
She smiles.Small but real.Then she takes my hand, leads me to the couch, sits down and pulls me beside her.
"I'm exhausted," she admits."Physically.Emotionally.Just...exhausted."
"Then rest.I've got you."
She leans into me, head on my shoulder, body pressed against mine.
I wrap my arm around her.Hold her close.Let her take what she needs.
Within minutes, her breathing evens out.Sleep taking her.
I sit there, holding her.Thinking.About everything that's happened.Everything that's changed.Everything that still needs to happen.
Meeting Warren.Becoming part of their lives.Building something real with Enya.
It's terrifying.Unknown.Risky.
But looking down at her sleeping peacefully against me, I know it's worth it.
She's worth it.Warren's worth it.
This—whatever this is becoming—it's worth everything.
I press a kiss to the top of her head and whisper into her hair, "I've got you.Always."
She makes a small sound and presses closer.
And I sit there, holding her, protecting her.Being exactly what she needs.
For as long as she'll let me.
* * *
Two days pass before Enya's ready for me to meet Warren properly.
Two days of her settling back into the flat, of me staying close, of slow mornings and quiet evenings and her gradually relaxing into the space that used to terrify her.
