Andy made his way back to his bedroom, finding Emily standing motionless at the foot of his bed. She turned slowly as he closed the door softly behind him, her eyes red from stifled tears.

Andy: "Angel? Are you all right?"

He felt a sickening tug in his heart, an unexpected urge to gather her up and keep her locked away forever. It stopped him in his tracks.

Emily: "I'm so sorry, Andy…"
Andy: "What happened?"

Emily didn't answer right away, instead allowing the tears to fall again. Andy moved forward, quickly wrapping his arms around her and holding her as closely as he could. After a few minutes, her crying quieted and she pulled away.

Andy: "What's wrong, angel?"
Emily: "I don't want to hurt you, Andy. I didn't mean… I love you so much."

She turned around to stare out the window at the snow falling to the ground in gentle drifts. It should have been a perfect night, it should have been so much more than it was. Instead, she was left feeling more alone than ever- her world falling down around her.

Andy wrapped his arms around her again, this time holding on even tighter than before. He felt the tension easing from her entire body as he kissed her deeply.

Andy: "Talk to me, please. Tell me what's upsetting you."
Emily: "I thought…"

Emily stopped in mid-sentence as her mind started to race. She wanted nothing more now than to do right by Andy- some things should be kept buried deep inside, things that could hurt the one you loved. She'd wanted so badly to talk to Mary about the feelings she'd been trying to ignore for months, but Mary was no longer letting her in.

Emily: "I thought I saw someone today. Or, rather, heard someone. Someone I thought I'd gotten away from."
Andy: "Are you sure?"
Emily: "Not… not really. It just shook me up a little, that's all."
Andy: "I want you to be careful, ok? I'll call someone first thing in the morning and get this looked into."
Emily: "Thank you."

Andy: "Is there something else bothering you? Anything else we need to talk about?"
Emily: "No, not anymore. Not really."
Andy: "We'd better get back to the party, then. We can talk more after everyone leaves tonight, how's that sound?"

Emily smiled, finally starting to feel settled again. She leaned forward and kissed Andy deeply, pressing close against him.

Emily: "We don't even have to talk."
Andy: "There's always that option as well."

Emily: "Andy…"
Andy: "Yes, angel?"
Emily: "I love you. I really do. I'm glad I have you in my life."
Andy: "I love you, too, angel."