"Love... earned?" Abir raised his eyebrow at the comment, then gave a sad, pitying look. "That's such a sad thing to say... When you were a child, did your parents make you earn their love?"<br/><br/>Abir's heart stung at the thought. Why should a child have to do great things for his father and mother to say they love him, or even that they were proud of him? Love was not earned, in his mind, it was mysterious how exactly it formed. But when it did form it was freely given.<br/><br/>Yes, that was the way to say it.<br/><br/>"I've always thought of love as freely given. And I've given you my heart."