There it was again, that faint whisper of her name crossing his lips, lips that she had fond memories of. It came across so quietly, but held more weight than anything that had passed those lips prior. Even more than each of the “I love you’s” that he spoken only that day, just the simple sound of her name, those five letters held all the emotion, the feeling, that she’d seen lurking behind those blue eyes.<br/><br/>Those eyes…before her current state of emotional turmoil and lacking of identity, she had a hard enough time breathing. It was like those blue eyes were pools of deep, pristine water, pools she drowned in each time she connected with his gaze. They had such an effect on her before, and now…Now it was like breath was a foreign concept, gravity was a foreign concept. The only thing holding her there was him; He supplied her breath, he held her to the ground, he was the reason she was still standing.<br/><br/>Then his hand was caressing the side of her cheek, and a shaky breath tumbled free as her knees grew weak. Part of her was repulsed by the thought of someone touching her…but it was outweighed. That touch had goosebumps forming along her skin, had her breath hitching and her heart racing. She found herself leaning into his touch just that small fraction, her eyes holding his as the tears fell free, creating silent ribbons of shimmering water down her cheeks. So, when he said he wanted her with him, that he wanted to be with her for the rest of the night and not have time to himself…she nodded. A hand found its way up to his, holding it to her cheek as she nodded.<br/><br/>And, before she could control the impulse, her lips found the back of his hand in a soft, fleeting touch. “Then…that’s what we’ll do…” Maria responded quietly, the tears still falling, though she managed to offer a small smile. “Would you…prefer to sit by the fire or…stay in here and simply…talk? Or…enjoy each other’s company?”