"Where did he go?"

"I don't know." Cole's face fell as he shook his head. "He left, and he didn't tell me where he was going. Just said that he needed to clear his mind."

My muscles locked at the response. The sound of the elevator door opening was faintly aware to me, but the fact that some random bystander was about to see me break down didn't matter.

Nothing did.

Not when my world was falling apart, and I had no power to stop it.

"What do you mean, he just left?" He looked to the floor, not answering. "Elijah had to have said something. You don't just leave. Right?"

"He has been pretty out of it."

I knew he did not intend the words to land as a blow, but they made their impact. Right smack-dab where it hurt the most. Elijah had been pretty out of it because of me. He had given me everything, and I had repaid him by forgetting it all.

I took a step back, my legs going numb and wobbling underneath my weight.

"Do you know where he might have gone? Or when he will be back?"

I clenched my hands, not knowing if I wanted the answer.

"Rowan I-"

I held my breath as Cole paused, everything in me prepared to tell me that he didn't know. That it would be better for me to just leave and not bother trying to fix the mess I created. That some things were unmendable. Trembling I watched as his eyes shifted to space next to me.

"You drive me crazy."

I heard that part.

Elijah was his best friend. They were like brothers.

"I know."

Cole's eyes cut to me, and they widened slightly. He flashed me an apologetic look. "Not you. Him."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion, but it ceased just as quickly when Cole nodded, lifting his chin as if directing me.

"Rowan?"

My breath caught in my throat, and I stilled before whirling around.

There are few moments in this world, where time defies the laws of silence and time stands still. And then there was this moment.

Hazel eyes locked with mine, the emotions playing in those beautiful murals of marble stealing my breath away. He took a step, coming out of the shadows and further into the light as his face morphed from surprise to apprehension. I opened my mouth only to close it immediately, everything that I'd been planning on saying flying out the door.

Were words necessary?

"I think I will let you guys talk alone."

The tired groan of a door shutting sounded from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder, footsteps echoing through the hall as I watched Cole disappear down the stairwell. I didn't dwell on his disappearance long, my eyes quickly returning to the figure in front of me.

Elijah swallowed hard, the shadows that the moonlight cast across his face making him appear older than he was. I could see that he hadn't shaved in a while, whispered of hair lining his jaw. His clothes were rumpled, and his hair tousled, yet even so, it didn't take away from his pull. Instead, it made me long for all the nights I had missed. All the days I had spent, not understanding until now, just how much it hurt not to have him by my side.

I was watching my universe stand in front of me.

Even though my mind hadn't been able to remember him for a while, I knew that I'd always known.

"Don't leave," I breathed, my voice breaking with the plea. The emotions that were dancing in my veins, danced in my eyes, trampling across my soul as I took in a ragged breath.

"I'm not going anywhere."

His voice washed over me in waves, adrenaline roaring through me as my legs faltered. I drank him in needily, wanting to bury my hands in the chocolate locks I loved so much.

"I was wrong to push you away," he rasped after a second. "I'm sorry if it made you doubt for one second how much I care about you." The remorse on his face was heartbreaking. "I can't take what I did back, but if you allow me to, I will spend every day making it up for you. Every day reminding you."

He already had.

It was clear that he didn't understand what me being there meant. I took a step, and his gaze drifted, dragging down my frame as his chest rose slowly. My face warmed as his eyes ran over me, drinking in every curve as if he was committing me to memory.

"I almost hit you with my car." Elijah pressed his lips together at my response, his eyes freezing. "Then you asked me for coffee." I took another step, offering a smile. "And you told me that I wanted to say yes before I even knew myself."

There it was. Something I hadn't remembered before.

There was only so much I could remember by just reading, but this detail was one I hadn't known until the words had left my mouth a second ago.

There was a loud thud as the black duffle that he'd been carrying crashed to the floor.

Elijah's eyes widened as shock morphed onto his face, and a strangled noise left his mouth, sounding as if a medium between disbelief and a laugh. Even from where I was standing I could see the crystals of hope that formed in the corners of his eyes, lingering before falling. I let out a breath when his face broke, and he shut his eyes.

"You remember."

He brought a hand to his face, as I took a step forward, not sure that my legs would take me to him without giving way underneath the weight of his tears. Elijah took a step back, his back hitting the wall, and his knees caving. He slid down the wall until he was sitting down.

My vision blurred. "I remember."

He was quiet for a moment.

"But how?"

"I don't know. It makes little sense to me right at this moment, but I don't think that it is meant to. Because right now the only thing that makes sense is being here with you." He ran a shaky hand underneath his eyes, as I wrung my hands together. "I found my journal, and I decided to read it. It might have helped a bit too."

On the way here, I'd rehearsed what I was going to say, but now none of it quite measured up to what I felt in that moment. The words I had planned seemed insignificant. Way too calculated. But I knew what I needed to say.

"But I feel as if all that doesn't matter. Everyone told me that you were there for me in ways I thought no one could be. But now I remember it for myself."

I had meant for my words to come out strong, but my voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. Elijah breathed in deeply, his sturdy frame shuddering. I knew this was all getting to be a lot for the both of us, but his eyes never left mine. The seas of jewels held such a strong sense of hope, I knew it could fuel a thousand suns.

"I also remember that you are the best darn cook I've ever met in my life."

I smiled at all the memories that had been made in my kitchen.

"I remember you telling me that," he replied, his voice choked.

"I meant it." My eyes blurred as I took another step, now only two feet away from him. "I remember that you have colored my soul perfectly." With one last step, I stood in front of him and knelt. "I wasn't the easiest to deal with, yet still you stayed." My heart stood still as I stared up at the man that had saved me when I hadn't even realized that I needed saving. "Do you remember it that way too?"

"I-" Elijah stopped short, clearing his throat. "I remember it a little differently. That you colored me perfect."

"Don't sell yourself short."

He said nothing, our breathing evening out and synchronizing as we both took in our proximity. He tensed when I extended my hand, and I stilled. Elijah shook his head a second later, his large hand closing around mine as moisture clung to his eyelashes. When he brought my hand to his face, closing his eyes the string around my heart loosened, fraying away into nothing.

The emotions that were freed in wake of the gesture, were too strong to put into words. My chest hurt. But it wasn't from pain.

"I almost thought that I should just let you go," he whispered raspily. "I might have left you at the Cemetary, but a part of me stayed behind."

A finger coiled around my pinky, the touch light as he wrapped his around mine. My own eyes blurred as I bit my lip, glancing at our interlocked fingers. Our non-verbal promise. It was in his eyes and every crevice of his face. I saw the same promise I had been making him, since the moment he had walked his way into my life.

A promise of everything.

A promise of everything we couldn't control and everything we couldn't.

My promise to love him despite that.

I brought my hand up, wiping away the tears that rested on his eyelashes. His body shuddered as a breath fell from his lips. His other hand began to trail up my arm gingerly as if he was afraid that I would break. I leaned into the touch, my body warming as shivers racked my body. My mouth began to tremble as the space between us lessened until his face was a whisper away from mine.

I bit my lip when his eyes flickered from mine, dipping as my chest swelled. They rose again a moment later.

"I meant what I said that night, Rowan. My heart is yours. It might be selfish, but I can't seem to do anything without you." I shook my head, desperate for him to see just how wrong he was. "I came back hoping I could win you back, and somehow push my way back into your memory."

"You never left it," I uttered, my lower lip trembling but my mind free. "I don't know why everything happened the way it did, but you have always been here." I touched my chest. "And here." I brought my hand to my head. "Be selfish," I whispered. "If being selfish means that you will stay, then I am begging you, Elijah, please be selfish."

He closed his eyes, and I only spoke again when they opened, the jewels reflecting such a strong emotion that another aching wave rolled over my heart.

"My mom told me what she said to you. But I want you to know that none of it was true. You ruined nothing for me. If anything you made everything so much brighter."

We both glanced up when the elevator in the hall pinged, a woman clad in a black dress and red heels walking out. Her heels clicked loudly in the halls, the sound bouncing off the walls as she neared us.

She raised an eyebrow, eyeing us both skeptically as she walked towards us. Even though the hallway was big enough for all of us, I moved to the side, sitting next to Elijah so she could pass.

Just the slightest decrease in the distance between him and me felt as if I'd crossed a valley.

"I'm so sorry, for everything that I have put you through."

It felt good to apologize, but I knew that words could only heal so much. Elijah tensed, tilting his face so that I could see his eyes clearly. His chin dipped and he shifted so that his mouth was hovering just centimeters above mine.

"No more apologies, okay? Not for what you can't control."

Electricity. It was always there whenever it came to him. It started as a soft tingle, growing steadily as his eyes searched mine and his thumb brushed against the back of my palm.

"No more apologies," I repeated, sliding my eyes and just listening to our breathing.

I finally felt free. I wasn't a captive when I was with him. My fears had no control. Only my heart did.

And it was his.

I felt him move closer before I saw it. Prying my eyes open, my breathing hitched when seas of green filled my vision. I tilted my head, when he moved, his lips skimming the curve of my shoulder and sending a blissful surge of serenity to my fingertips.

"I missed you so much."

Elijah pressed a kiss to the skin beneath my ear, and my pulse quickened. I shuddered as his whisper grazed my skin, stirring awake goosebumps, as his eyes fell to my lips. I knew why he was hesitating, but I also knew he didn't need to worry about me being overwhelmed.

"Elijah," I whispered, "Just kiss me."

It was confirmation enough.

With surety in his eyes, Elijah tilted my chin so gently that it brought tears to my eyes. I shut them, warmth flowing through me. I bit my lip when I felt his mouth brush over my eyelids before retreating. My fingers tightened around his shirt as I lifted my chin, silently begging him to finish what he had started.

The heavens sang out when he finally did claim my lips with his, the gentle pass of his mouth succumbing to rushed urgency with each consecutive caress of his lips.

I allowed my body to sag in relief, as I leaned in further to him, drawing my hands up to cradle his face. My throat constricted, tears brimming behind my closed eyes. I took a ragged breath, that he captured, washing away the pain and all the days of tormentful confusion.

His lips glided slowly across mine, each shared breath and lingering touch telling me that he was not going anywhere. I told him the same, clinging to him desperately, as pure bliss and sadness became a mix I hadn't ever felt until then. My chest was full, hurting for the time we had lost, but hopeful for the love regained.

"Do you remember? " Elijah murmured, drawing back only for my lips to seek his out once more. A low hum rolled out of Elijah as his arm tightened around me, pressing our bodies together. I was aware of everything, completely in awe of the way his body molded into mine perfectly, making me feel as if he was kissing me for the first time all over again. "Do you remember just how much you have got me? How much I am yours?"

With each pull, I gave chase, time falling away and making the impossible a possibility again. His hand met the back of my neck, his thumb smoothing over it gently, and I knew that at that moment the chance of an eternity with him had rekindled.

"I do."

Then came his smile.

The one that swam in his eyes, holding a light so strong that it would have been normal for me to compare to the sun. But all I was reminded of was the stars we had watched together months ago.

"I missed that," I whispered.

"What?" His eyes were so earnest that I felt bashful all of a sudden.

"Your smile." I ducked my head when his grin grew, a deep chuckle rolling out of his mouth in response to my confession.

"You missed my smile?"

"Yes," I answered, squashing the shyness. He extended a hand, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, as peace curved his mouth further upwards. "And then that one," I added. "The smile I liked to believe is reserved for me."

For a second, the words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat. But then he tilted my chin upward, his lips whispering against mine, and I knew I couldn't hold them back any longer. I had wasted too much time.

"The one that reminds me how much I love you," I murmured, leaning in to gain back the connection that was lost when he stilled, lifting his head from mine. A different form of fear locked around my heart, but I pushed on despite it closing my eyes. "If that has somehow lessened for you, I am going to do everything to earn it back."

"It hasn't." My eyes flew to his and his gaze held mine, my fear chased away by the gentleness, by the care in his eyes. "I thought that I was going to be too late. That I would have come back and you wouldn't want to try anymore. But no amount of time could make me forget to love you. I do. Unconditionally. Uncontrollably."

He smoothed his head over the back of my neck, drawing me to him so quickly that it drew a gasp out of me. But he didn't kiss me right away, his nose skimming over my cheek before he replaced their trail with his lips as his thumb swirled sensually along my skin. I didn't think I could wait much longer, my body trembling in anticipation of the contact.

The restraint I could feel in the simple caress in his hands told me that he felt it too.

"Say it again."

Elijah kissed me once more, before I could speak, his lips melding with mine until I couldn't tell where he began and I ended. When he pulled back, underneath his gaze, I felt delicate.

Wanted.

Remembered.

"I could live off of those words alone."

His heartbeat was quick underneath the palm I rested on his chest.

"I love you, Elijah. That's something that I will never forget."

He lifted his hand to my cheek, sliding it to rest over mine.

"I am so in love with you, Rowan." He took a deep breath, all of the previous pain in his eyes gone. "In everything that I am, with everything that makes me the person I am today, I love you."

He smiled again then, and the sight was so beautiful, evoking such a strong sense of nostalgia that I had to take a breath.

I looked down at my feet.

When I did, I laughed, the sounds rolling out of me in waves. It was as if I was high on the sensation of the moment. Drunk on him. Tears were still falling from my eyes, but I didn't care if I looked crazy. Elijah followed my gaze, a deep chuckle sounding from him. He lifted my head, a finger underneath my chin as he rested his forehead against mine.

"Love, why is it you are wearing a sandal on one foot, and a tennis shoe on the other?"

I shook my head, as our soft laughter lifted through the air.

"I don't know. When I woke up, I was in such a rush to get to you that I must have grabbed two different shoes. I honestly don't even remember the drive over here." He said nothing, his eyes shining with mirth before he hooked his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him. I took in the warmth in his embrace as my throat tightened.

For a moment I'd thought I would never get to hold him this close, again.

It was something that I still feared losing.

"Elijah?"

"Yes?"

"There may still be things that I will forget." He stiffened, but it was only momentary as he relaxed, his arm tightening around me. "But I am asking you not to give up on me if it happens. It is heart over matter. I know mine will prevail."

"Heart over matter," he murmured, his words rumbling from his chest as he glided his hand up and down my back softly.

I nodded, my heartbeat slowing the longer I stayed in his arms. He swept his fingers along the base of my neck, playing with the curled strands and making my insides go fuzzy.

"I talked to my dad."

I pulled back then, but his grip didn't loosen as surprise washed over me.

"That's...that is amazing." He answered me with a kiss on the forehead. "How did it go?"

"It went as well as you would expect it to go for two people who haven't spoken in years."

I searched his eyes seeking more.

"Do you feel better now that you talked to him?"

He paused before nodding slowly. "I think I do." His arm tightened around me. "Part of me is still angry. Hurt. But I want to let go of that resentment. Things can change too fast. I want to make the most of my time."

I shook my head, a smile stretching on my lips. "I love you so much."

He leaned down until our foreheads were touching, charged energy running between us. "You do now, don't you?"

Instead of answering, I just smiled, raising my eyebrow when he tugged on my hand. His eyes remained on mine smiled sweetly as he walked backward, leading us to his apartment. But he stopped a second later, his hand on the door handle, as he leaned down and kissed me softly. I was taken off guard at first, but my body leaned in knowing what to do.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," he whispered pulling back and making me wish he hadn't.

I grinned, raising on my toes and pressing my lips to his.

"No more apologies remember?"