This Heart Still Feels

"Hey, De, are you going to stay up?"

You shook your head, "No. I'll stay up a little bit to watch Full Metal Alchemist(sp) and then head off to bed."

"Well, I'm going to go to bed."

"Good night Tree," you called. You were sitting on the couch watching T.V. and heard Teresa close the door to her room. You sat on the couch for awhile until you were sure Teresa was asleep. You looked over to make sure she was asleep and quietly crept over to the balcony and climbed up the drain pipe to the roof. You stood up and walked over to the other side of the roof and sat down. You wrapped your armes around your legs and lookedup at the moon. It was always a peaceful image for you.

"Hello, Deana,"

You already knew who that was by his voice. You felt your body shake nervously as you slowly turned, "Dan?"

He walked up to you, "We need to talk,"

You looked down and sighed. You knew there was no way out of this.

He carefully kneeled down to you as he took off his jacket, "Here, take this,"

"I don't need it Dan,"

"You'll freeze," Dan persisted

"You will too."

"Hey," he smiled, "You saved my life. I owe you,"

You smiled as you took the jacket and put it on, "So what do you want to talk about?"

Dan sat down, "Us," He looked into your eyes, "Deana, what happened? We use to friends and now it's like you don't want anything to do with me,"

"I know," you said before he finished, "I'm sorry. I really am."

"But why are you avoiding me?"

"Because Dan," you started, but then stopped

Dan scooted closer, "Because why, Deana?"

You looked into his eyes, "Because I was scared," you could fell water filling your eyes, "Dan you have no idea how scared I was-"

"I understand that," Dan cut off

"You didn't let me finish," you said, "Dan, when Jim had that gun up to your head, that really scared the shit out of me. Before that, I was fine..."

"You were okay with being tied up to a chair with a stalker planning on using you as a slap toy." Dan commented

"I meant compared to what happened to you," you corrected, "Anyway, it just really scared me. I mean watching him torture you like that tore me up. And especially since I murdered him..." you stopped and looked away, "I felt like the only way keep you safe was to keep away from you."

"Deana," Dan said in disbelief, "How can you say that. Me almost getting killed was not your fault. Trust me, I've almost gotten myself killed plenty of times before."

"But if I hadn't gotten involved with him," you told him, "none of this wouldn't have happened,"

"Deana, even if this was your fault, I would still have gone looking for you." he brought your gaze back softly with his hand, "That day you disappeared, when I said I never had that much fun until I met you, when I said just thinking about you made me smile, I meant that. I would have died proudly if it meant getting you out of there safe"

"How can you say that?"

He stroked your cheek with his thumb, "Because I'm crazy about you, that's how." Dan smiled, "Deana, I really do like you,"

"I like you too," you said, "That's what scares me."

"How come?" he asked in a softer tone

"Because I've never fallen for someone so hard before," you answered, "and I don't want to see you get hurt again because of my actions."

Dan placed his other hand on your cheek and pressed his forehead against yours, "If that ever does happen again, it will be worth it," and with that he slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips against yours.