Elijah<br/><br/>Elijah and Maddi cried silently together for a while.  Inner conflicts wracking the two of them.  Elijah was afraid to speak, afraid to let go, afraid Maddi would run again, so he held her in his arms wanting her to believe him, believe in him.<br/><br/>Elijah tensed when Maddi turned in his arms.  He thought she would yell, or ask him to leave, or...worse.  He couldn't even open his eyes to look at her.  He cringed in the darkness of his own making and waited for the sword to drop.  And then, as if heaven sent, he felt a pair of lips touch his eyes and they opened to see Maddi lean in and kiss his lips enwrapping him in her arms.  And Elijah knew happiness again.  His eyes stopped tearing and the choking sobs became happy sighs of contentment.  Again, nothing was said for what felt like hours, but was probably no more than a minute or two.  The two lovers just held each other and became one.<br/><br/>Finally, Elijah spoke, softly at first, his head resting on Maddi's shoulder.  "I'm sorry.  I failed you.  I was selfish and I thought to myself here is the woman you have been waiting for all your life.  Make her yours.  Marry her.  It was stupid of me to forget that you had a life, too.  You had hopes and dreams and who was I to assume I had a part in them.  But now that I know you, I can't lose you ever again, so tell me, what part may I play in your life.  I will happily accept it as long as I don't lose you.  If all you want is a friend, I will be the best friend you have ever had."  Once again, Elijah had closed his eyes.  The fear of rejection still lay heavily inside him.