"Falling"

Will You Stay?

Walking through the garden, Bella starts thinking how she hopes that her father won't do anything stupid. This bad feeling that she has had since she arrived in Court has only intensified when the King and Commander Ackles began helping her, and she would do anything for it to go away.

She is so deep in her thoughts that she almost collides with the Commander. They greet each other, the Commander asking if they can walk together, to which Bella agrees. She always enjoys his company and she is grateful for his steady presence to get out of her own mind.

They walk in silence for a little while, before he speaks up.

-"How are you?"

-"I seem to be getting that question a lot lately."

-"Oh?" - He wonders who else might've asked her.

-"Princess Mackenzie just asked me that question, or some variation of it, just a few moments ago."

-"It just means we care."

-"I know. And to answer your question, I'm fine. Although, I've been wondering if our efforts will pay off."

-"They might, as long as your father believes the information we've been sending." - Jensen looks at her and he can see the sadness on her face. -"Are you having second thoughts?"

-"No, not at all. I was just wondering what will my father do once he realizes what I've done. I doubt he will ever allow me to return home and he will definitely brand me as a traitor, so there's that. I just... I know I said I no longer care about what my father might do to me, but still..."

-"I've already spoke with the King about that. If you wish, you can stay here and live the rest of your life with us. Or if you'd prefer to go somewhere else, he will make it happen as well."

-"Are you serious?" - Bella is surprised. She had only thought about what her future would look like that morning, but now it seemed that the Commander had already thought about it and managed to find a solution to a problem Bella didn't even know she had.

-"I am. Although, I would very much like for you to stay." - He smiles softly at her, holding her hand and caressing it with his thumb.

-"I would like that as well."

Bella blushes at his forwardness. This is the first time he has made his feelings for her to be known so openly and it completely took her by surprise. She sees his hand coming up, pushing a strand of hair away from her face, as he caresses her cheek, before cupping it and starting to lean in to kiss her.

She sucks in a breath but doesn't stop him, wanting to finally feel his lips on hers, something she has dreamed of for quite some time. His lips are warm against hers and she allows herself to get lost in the feeling.

Jensen doesn't know why he decided to do it now, all he knows is that he is done wasting any more time. He loves her. It has taken too long for him to admit that to himself, or others for that matter, and now that he has, he is going to make sure she knows it.

The kiss, however, had been purely based on instinct. Seeing her blush at how straightforward he was, her eyes so bright looking back at him, in that moment, he just felt like he could conquer the world. Some might say that he took advantage of a more emotional moment between them, but again, he hadn't planned it.

He pulls back from the kiss, not wanting to scare her, but when he looks at her and sees the small smile on her lips, he knows this was the right instinct to follow. Kissing her again, he places his free hand on her waist, pulling her close, feeling her hands coming to rest on his chest. If he was to die at that exact moment, then he would die a very happy man.

They both pull back a few moments later, their foreheads resting against each other, and just smile. Jensen knows that it's probably a stupid question to ask after they just kissed but he needs to make sure she wants the same thing that he does.

Caressing her cheek, Jensen takes a breath and asks her if it would be alright for him to court her. Seeing her smile and hearing her say that she would like that, made his heart soar right out of chest. Even if they were to go to war the next day, nothing would ever taint this moment.

Jensen takes a step back and they resume walking around the garden, their smiles as big as they were just a few moments ago. As they walk, Jensen knows that no matter what happens from this moment forward, it will all be worth it and when it is over, they'll have the rest of their lives together.