<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"I just... I don't want to make things harder for you than they already are, Bellamy.." Echo said softly. "I love you, and the last six years have been the best of my life. I know you think that because we're back, that things will be simple. But, we both know that life doesn't really work this way.  I think the best thing for us to do.. would be to make a place for ourselves somewhere between Azgeda and your people's land. That way we can get to both easily, but I'd still be following Octavia's banishment orders. I don't want to lose you."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean everything to me. You've always been the person I've trusted, even if it didn't seem like it. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(153, 255, 153)">From the hell that Mount Weather was, to now.. There's just been something about you that makes me unable to let you go. We've known each other for nine years, Bellamy. But it feels like longer to me." After she spoke, she leaned in <br/>
and kissed him for several moments, before she pulled back. "You need to take some time to get to know your son. You missed the first six years of his life, and I won't be<br/>
the reason that you miss more."<br/>
<br/>
"We will get the rest of your people out. We will get your sister out. But for now, take a few days to get your bearings. Between living in space, then living on the ground, living in space again, and now being on the ground once more, you probably have whiplash." The words were said teasingly, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. <br/>
"I never thought that I'd find someone like you," Echo admitted quietly. "Someone who always tries to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is. I respect that about you."<br/>
<br/>
"And it's a big part of why I love you." She sighed softly, and relaxed her body against his. "Tomorrow, while the rest of us go out and try to get an idea of what it's going to take to get that bunker open, you should stay here with Jake and Madi. Get to know your son. I know, you don't want to let the rest of us go, but.. this is your chance, and I don't want you to risk losing it. If anything would happen  to you while we tried to get the others out of the bunker, I couldn't deal if we lost you.. You mean too much to me."</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99"><br/>
____________________<br/>
<br/>
Raven was happy to kiss Bradley back when he kissed her. And when the kiss ended and they both pulled back, she locked eyes with him. And when he held her against him and placed her head against his chest, she smiled at his words. "I love you, too, Bradley. " She nodded at his next words, but then reached out and took his hands into hers before he could start to massage her back and shoulders, and leaned in to kiss him again. "I hope you know how much you mean to me. How grateful I am to have you in my life. I don't ever want to picture a day when we're not side by side and together." After one more kiss, she closed her eyes.</span></span></span>