The Dark Hour

--------Lalna--------

I was making food when Ridge came back.

"Oh hey Ridge, I made some food. It's just sandwiches but I-" I was cut off when Ridge hugged me. "Ridge?" Ridge sighed.

"We need to talk," He said softly.

"About what?" I asked nervously.

"Tomorrow, and what happened when you were hurt."

"Ok," I said softly. We sat down on the couch and Ridge took my hands and held them.

"Ok, tomorrow I'm going to court to face my uncle." I nodded. "T-The reason he doesn't like me, the reason I have a problem with him, well... He's not really happy about um, us."

"Us?" I asked. Ridge nodded.

"You and me. He doesn't like that I rather be with you than some girl." I slowly nodded.

"And he hurt you because of me?"

"Kinda but it's not your fault. It was never your fault. He was mad at my choices, and he was mad that I choose you. Over everything he believed in, everything he tried to make me believe in, I choose you. And I don't regret that one bit, and I don't want you to feel like anything he did was because of you, because it was because of me. And I'm worried that he's going to try and attack you tomorrow and try to split us apart and I can't-"

"Ridge." He looked up at me. "I believe you. I would be scared of that too, but I'm not going anywhere unless I'm with you. He can say anything he wants to, but he can't make me believe any of it." Ridge smiled and sniffled. I hugged him and he chuckled lightly and hugged me back.

"Is that it?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No, there's one more thing."

"What is it?" I asked sitting up.

"When you were hurt, and Ryan was healing you. Do you remember what I did?" I thought for a minute.

"It's foggy, I remember you telling me to stay awake and I couldn't. Then I woke up and you were there but I don't remember what you said. My side hurt and you were holding me down and..." I trailed off.

"Lalna?" Ridge asked softly.

"D-Did we... Did you kiss me?" I asked softly. He nodded.

"You were panicking and Ryan needed you to hold still so he could heal you. It was the only thing I could think of that might calm you down." I looked at the ground. It was fuzzy, but I remembered it. My fear slowly disappearing and all I could think of was Ridge.

"Lalna?" I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up at him. "Are you ok?" I nodded.

"Yeah, just thinking."

"D-Do you want to try it again?"

"Try wha- Oh. Um, I'm not sure."

"It's ok if you don't, I just thought that... I don't know, it could have been better. That I wouldn't have to use it to-" I don't know what came over me. Before I knew I moved I had put my hands on Ridge's face and I was kissing him. I didn't try to pull back or anything. It seemed to last forever before it was over. We just looked at each other for a minute before I said something.

"Like that?" Ridge smiled then started laughing, I smiled too. He pulled me close to him and we kissed again. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and I felt his hands on my lower back. He picked me up and I giggled. He was smiling at me.

"Yeah, just like that." I smiled. "Now I think I interrupted you earlier. You made food?" I nodded.

"Yeah, I did. It's just sandwiches cause I didn't know when you were going to be back and if you were willing to wait on me to cook something."

"I like sandwiches." I smiled.

"That's good."