She only half heard his words as she rambled nervously, then stood frozen on the spot, locked in a battle against her own emotions. Nerves still vibrating with tension and completely distracted by her own thoughts, she felt a jolt of surprise when suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind and she felt him turn her to face him, wrapping her in his embrace as he did so. As if she'd been in chronic pain for years, and suddenly had found an instant cure, she felt an incredible sense of relief flow through her. With only a flicker of effort toward self control, she allowed herself to melt into him, her body relaxing against him. Only her eyes remained crisp and clear as she gazed into his.<br/><br/>Watching him as closely as she was, she should have seen it coming... but she didn't. Before she knew it, his lips were greeting hers in a tentative, soft kiss. The kiss was brief, but in that brief moment, a thousand sensations invaded her body. Foremost among them: pleasure, surprise, comfort... The last of her tension drained away, leaving her feeling drained of emotion. Tension and worry, sorrow and grief, had been her constant companions for so long that she had no clue how to feel in their absence.<br/><br/>As her head was so empty and muddled, her first thoughts spilled from her mouth without her even realizing it. "I... really missed you, Teddy..."