Undeniable - Lovers' Dance

Lovers' Dance
by Zarah

Minutes ticked by slowly, and every second passed like an eternity to him. It was too long a day for the sun threatened to continue shining all through the remaining hours. The pace of the morning was too slow, and the afternoon was too dragging, that by the end of it all he was already cursing the heavens for making him wait for too long. Yet, as the first moonbeam touched the ground, as the first light from the silent, tranquil moon shone through the emaciated evening clouds, he was already on his knees, thanking and praising the gods for a such a beautiful night; a night that he knew held so much promise and so much love.

It was a first for him to be the first in their special place. It was a surprise, really, but the surprise quickly turned to an advantage as he realized that this time, he might be able to do something in return to all of her thoughtfulness and care. He could never replicate the ambiance she created with her delicious dinners and scented candles. Tonight, there would be no meal, or wine for them. Tonight, there would be no music or tune for them to dance to. Tonight was a night reserved only for yellow roses in full bloom, and, of course, his own, special offering… his own self. His own love.

It was nothing, and yet, it was everything.

Minutes went by still. The fragrance of the yellow roses reminded him of her scent, and the silkiness of its' petals reminded him of her skin. She was like an angel in his arms, heaven and earth in his embrace. She was fire, and pure light. She was passion made alive by desire. Most of all, she was love. Pure, untainted love that is unfathomable, unreachable for any other being, save for the two people sharing it.

He brought a rose to his face, and inhaled deeply the scent that was but a pale comparison to her fragrance. It was a poor substitute, yet it reminded him of her. Somehow, that thought alone was enough.

It was nothing, and yet, it was everything.

Faint footsteps echoing through the silent hall caught his attention, thereby pulling him from his delicious dream. A smile dawned on his face as he realized that, finally, the night he'd been waiting for, the moment he'd been praying for, has finally arrived.

When the door opened, he eagerly walked towards it, the flowers in his hands swaying in obedience to his movements. Yet, with the sudden sound of the tiny, fragile cry that came from her lips, the promise of the passionate night was forgotten immediately. As his eyes caught the descent of the twin tears, his thoughts of a beautiful night were momentarily set aside.

Comfort. She needed comfort, and he was more than willing to give it to her if he can.

"Piper?"

"C-Cole," came her whispered, ragged, broken breath.

And that was when she ran to him. Immediately he opened his arms to welcome her, to offer her the solace he wishes she could find within his embrace. The yellow roses completely forgotten, it fell onto the floor as his palm opened to stroke her back and free her of the tight tension that was coiled there. He felt saddened by her bleak emotions, yet he didn't ask. He didn't demand. He simply waited for her to tell him in her own time, because that way, he wouldn't be imposing, or asking her too much of what she might not be willing, or wanting to give.

He held her tenderly, like a newborn, like a newly discovered treasure. He whispered nothing to her ear, and yet, he was aware that she knew of his presence, that whenever she needed him, he'd be there…willing…wanting to be there. For her.

"C-Cole," she muttered, very softly.

"Baby," he whispered in response, just as softly. "Shh."

He guided her head, and let it rest on his chest. Moments went by with him holing her like this; his body a silent witness to the sobs and the rivers of tears she was shedding at that time. Her whole body was shaking, and he cradled her in an attempt to ease away her pain.

"I love you," he whispered to her, very softly, very tenderly.

He felt her nod against his chest. "I know," came her words. "I love you too. More than anything."

There was magic after those words were uttered, because after the breaths that came after it, she was no longer crying. She was simply holding on to him, as tightly as he was holding on to her.

They were standing there, lost in an entanglement of limbs, yet with their emotions out in the open, they could never be lost in their feelings towards one another.

"I…" she started to say. "I wish… I wish we didn't have to steal time to do this. I… I wish that, somehow… they'd know about us, so that we wouldn't have to hide every time…"

"We could tell them the truth."

"Could we?" she asked, tears still in her voice. "But…" she inhaled a long, deep breath before she continued in a small voice. "I don't want to hurt them."

"Baby," he said to her as he tilted her chin up so that their eyes could meet. "We can't prevent that. But if they love us, they'd understand. They'd understand that our happiness is not with them anymore, but with this… with each other."

Light infused itself with the darkness in her eyes. "I guess you're right," she said finally.

"There's no guessing. I know that I'm right."

When she smiled back, it was when he took her face in his hands, and kissed her tenderly.

Tomorrow, they won't have to hide. Tomorrow, everyone would know.

Tomorrow, they would dance, as real and as beautiful as truly lovers are.

end