He'd been through much more than her, he'd been through something much more intense and scary than she could ever experience in her life time. But she'd felt helpless too, lost and scared, unable to help him much beyond help him ride it out. And she hoped it never happened again. She'd make sure of that with a no fireworks policy from now on, she decided that firmly.

She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she had from the moment she realized she was in love with him. And she had written a letter saying as much, one that bounced back, just before he came home. It wasn't uncommon for the letters to return sometimes, she'd meant to resend it, to tell him, no matter how bold it might seem, that she wanted him and only him for the rest of her life. And now there was no doubt that she'd do it, that she'd say yes to him the day he asked her. "I need you," she managed to choke out against his lips, feeling the depth of that statement now more than ever. She'd been so close to losing him, for a while she thought she had. And when he came back and didn't know who she was, it shattered her heart. It was being mended, slowly. But tonight, it was as if all the pieces came flying back together in an instant.