Overjoyed

Chapter 33 - A pace you'll understand

Author's Note: I am so sorry about the length of this 'chapter' but I am just insanely excited to get to Dan and Eliza living together! I really appreciate all the votes and the comments so much. Thank you all! xx Tara.

Screw three days. Kate had passed on later that evening, with me by her side the entire time. When she passed I simply left the room, numb. Everyone was scattered out on the couches, watching TV and when they saw my expression, they immediately knew. Dan rushed over and put his arms around me but I shrugged them off, walking to the bedroom and shutting the door behind me. I replayed snippets of conversations with her in my mind, while staring at the wall. She thought Dan was great, she'd said so. I'd even told her what happened with David Rancid and she'd gawked at me. She'd been glad I was there and glad everything was finally over. She said she wished she had more time to makes things right. I wished it too. I wished she could have been there when I needed training bras, and help shaving and my first kiss. When I got my short story published in the newspaper, when I won a young writer's award, when I graduated. The tears started to stream down my cheeks and my whole body shook, wracked with raw emotion. I didn't even notice when Uncle Damon came in, only when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me. We stayed silent for a long time, simply allowing the sound of his breathing and his familiar smell to soothe me. "I'm sorry, Pumpkin" he said softly after a while, "I'm gonna go get Dan. The boy is beside himself, you recoiling from him like that. He loves you, Liza, it's written all over his face."

Dan came in soon after Uncle Damon had left. "Baby..." he said, his voice filled with anguish and sympathy. I motioned for him to join me on the bed, needing him closer. He obliged and as soon as he was beside me my lips found his, anxiously seeking closeness. I frantically dragged his t-shirt over his head, desperate for more of him. "Lize, stop" he said breathlessly when I tried to straddle him, "I can't, won't take advantage of you like this." I felt bereaved, "Please" I whispered, "I need you." He cupped my face in his hand and said, "You have me. Just not like that, not tonight." I sighed, tears stinging my eyes once more. "Come here" Dan said, holding out his arms. I gladly settled back into them as he stroked my hair, humming softly.