Someone Like Hugh -Draft Complete And EDITING-

Chapter Twenty Eight

Hugh POV:

She painfully rolled onto her side and rested her head upon my chest. I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around her and squeeze her.

"I want to hold you so badly, but I'm terrified I'll hurt you," I mumbled against her hair.

"It's okay, I'll be okay," she whispered. "It's strange, I barely know you, but I feel safe with you."

"I want to protect you, to keep you from suffering. I know that is unrealistic and that things happen, but I can't help wishing I could protect you from it all."

"It's a nice dream, but that is all it is," she smiled sadly. "We could have been great together, you and I, " she quipped.

I'm not sure how, but I was going to find a way to help her. I couldn't just let her go so soon after finally finding her. "What if you and I try, Amelia? It doesn't have to be for anyone else, only us. Let me be with you and care for you," I whispered. "Just let me in. I'd want a lifetime with you, but if we can't have that, let's spend the time that we do have together."

"You can't be serious," she chuckled, her head still on my chest. "Why would you put yourself through growing attached to me, only to watch me die?"

"So I can't ask you questions, but you can ask me?" I teased.

"Fine, questions are back on the table," she huffed, "but if they become too much, you'll only get partial answers."

"Deal," I smiled. "I would go through that Amelia, because having you for a little while is better than not having you at all."

She looked up at me, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "You can't mean that. This isn't some book or movie. People don't say things like that in the real world and mean them," she spoke with a wavering voice.

"I don't make a habit of saying things I don't mean. For years I was on autopilot, going through the motions of things and not really living. But you brought me to life, Amelia. You gave me passion, something to fight for, and I don't mean fighting your mother. I want to fight for you, for the chance to know you and never be apart from you. I want to earn that, by becoming worthy of you," I replied. 

She looked up at me as if she was too stunned for words. I wondered if I'd laid it on too thick, maybe I should have taken things slower.

In the end, I was the one suprised when she pressed her lips to mine. I fought every urge to wrap my arms around her and pull her closer. Our kiss turned needy, hungry as she pressed against me. "Ahhh," she cried out painfully as the burns on her chest pressed against mine. "Sorry," she whispered, pressing her forehead to mine.

"Don't you apologize for that kiss," I growled back playfully.

"I'm not," she chuckled sadly, "I'm apologizing for screaming in your face moments after you told me the most romantic thing I've ever heard."

"I want to get tested to see if I a match, if I'm not, I know plenty of others who would be interested in donating. I can try and donate a partial liver, it'll grow back in a few months."

"I couldn't ask you to do that," she whispered quietly.

"I don't care if you're asking. I want to be tested," I pressed on. "If I can do something save you, I will. Though my motives may be a little selfish as I can't bear the thought of losing you."