Another Love Story

Chapter Thirteen

When Delilah regained consciousness the next morning, she found herself in her bed, her family and Lucas surrounding her. She smiled, still half asleep. Carefully, she sat up and reached for Lucas' hand.

"You saved me... thank you."

Lucas gently held her hand, kissing the back of it.

"Of course I did. You're so important to me, Dee... I couldn't just sit there and watch you die."

Virgil smiled fondly, walking over and kissing his daughter's head.

"Why don't we all leave you two alone, hmm? We'll bring you some breakfast in a bit."

Once everyone else had left the room, she looked at Lucas happily.

"Am I really that important to you? So important that you'd risk your own life to save me? You could've been killed... but thank you."

She teared up.

"I was so scared. Not for myself, for you. You mean a lot to me, Lucas, and the thought of dying before I could help you terrified me. I thought we were both going to die, and I wouldn't even get to tell you that I- I love you."

Delilah started sobbing, hugging him tightly, clinging to him as though her life depended on it. To try and calm her down, Lucas gently played with her hair, resting his head atop hers. While doing this, he had a small and fond smile on his face.

"There's nothing for you to be scared of anymore. It's over, we're both safe. You can relax. I'm right here and I'm never leaving you. Oh, and I love you too." he spoke in a quiet, gentle voice.

The sobs slowly died down as she fell back to sleep in his strong yet gentle arms. Lucas smiled, kissing her forehead sweetly before once again resting his head on hers and closing his eyes, quickly falling asleep too. The pair of them slept until mid-afternoon, their near death experience having exhausted them. They'd probably sleep easily that night too. Sitting up in her bed and rubbing her eyes, Delilah couldn't help but blush as she remembered that she'd confessed to Lucas, and he'd confessed right back. Woken by her movements, he opened his eyes and sat up too.

"Everything okay, Dee? You look flushed. Do you have a fever?"

He felt her forehead, happy to find that she didn't.

"I-I'm fine. Just a little embarrassed about earlier."

He just looked at her, puzzled. What was she referring to?

"I told you that I love you... and you said it back..." she reminded him.

"Oh, yeah." he said, chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Delilah questioned with a pout.

"Nothing. Sorry, you're just so adorable..."

She smiled shyly, looking away from him. Lucas got up and went to the bathroom, brushing his teeth before going back into the bedroom where Delilah sat on the edge of the bed, now dressed.

"I should get dressed too. After, we can go downstairs and get some food if you want. Or I can bring some food up for you. Up to you."

"I'll meet you down there in a bit if that's okay? I just need a few minutes alone."

Lucas nodded.

"See you in a bit then."

He left and went to his room. After getting dressed, he headed down to the kitchen and started to make Delilah her favourite food; pancakes with syrup, whipped cream and strawberries. While he was making them, Roman entered the kitchen.

"I'm glad to see you up and happy. Do you know if Delilah is up yet?"

"Yes, she's up. She said she'd be down in a little bit so I figured I'd have her favourite food ready for her when she does. I should apologise. We were only taken because of what I am. I'm the reason we were in danger. Maybe if I'd been honest with all of you from the start then this wouldn't have happened-"

Roman quickly cut him off before he could say anything more.

"You can't blame yourself for what happened, Lucas. There was no way you could have known. I understand why you didn't tell us, it's not exactly an easy thing to bring up. What's important is that you're both safe. Let's just leave what happened behind us and focus on the present..."

Lucas smiled, nodding.

"Thank you. Not only for what you just said, but for everything you and your family have done for me. It means a lot."

"Don't mention it. Well, Delilah will probably be down soon, I'll let you finish her food. Maybe make her a hot chocolate too, with cream and marshmallows, she'll love that."

Roman then left the kitchen so that Lucas could finish setting up quickly for Delilah. Her footsteps descending the stairs could be heard just as he had finished setting the table.

"What's all this for?" Delilah asked as she entered the kitchen.

"It's for you... to say thank you, and I love you..."

He pulled the chair out for her and she sat down, a small smile on her face.

"This looks delicious. Thank you, Lucas..."

"No need to thank me. Eat up. Hope you enjoy it."

"I'm sure I will..." she said happily.

Then she ate her pancakes and drank her hot chocolate, content that things were getting back to normal now. Well, other than the fact that her and Lucas knew how they felt about each other, and now all Delilah could think about was what that made them. Only problem was, she couldn't find the courage to ask him.