She felt a warm hand on her neck and looked up into those pale, brown eyes she'd fallen in love with. He leaned down and lightly grazed his lips against hers, kneeling down next to her chair. "What's up?" he asked, letting his hand glide down to the middle of her back. The light feel of his fingertips gliding across her back gave her a slight chill.

"Nothing, just watching the storm." she mumbled, glancing back out the window as another thunderbolt flashed across the sky.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked, his voice nearly a whisper. Aurora looked back down at him, alarmed at the nervous quiver in his voice.

"What's wrong?" She demanded, dropping her feet to the floor and turning to him.

"I've been thinking about things lately.. I'm going away for a little while. I need some time alone to think a few things over. I've already booked a flight to New York and I'm going to stay there for a couple months. I want to know that you will be here when I get back.." His expression held something of a hesitant nature, unsure of her response.

She stared at him for a long moment, trying to decide his meaning, "Why do you have to leave?"

"I just need some time to think. I'll be back soon enough, I promise."

"Why? What do you need to think about? Is it me? Did I do something wrong?"

He shook his head quickly, dismissing the idea, "No, I've just been given a proposition. I need to have some time to get my mind around it and see if it's what I want or not."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about. I'll tell you once I've made a decision on it. Will you be here when I come back?"

"Of course I will, where do I have to go?"

"I don't know.. I just want to make sure you will be here for me when I get back."

"I will."

He stood up, brushing his pants off, "My plane leaves in half an hour, I need to leave." She stood also, watching him mournfully.

"Can I come with you to the airport?"

"No. It'll be easier for me to leave if you stay here, okay?" He placed his hands on her arms and looked her directly in the eyes, "I'll see you soon. I love you." He kissed her forehead lightly and turned to leave. She grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Wait... how am I supposed to get a hold of you?"

"You aren't." He turned to the door and walked out with his bag, not looking back at her. She had a sinking feeling that she would never see him again and sat down to calm the nausea that was building in her throat. She returned to her seat and watched him sit in his car for quite a few minutes before pulling out of the driveway and driving down the road and out of her site.