[Flashback] Three Little Words

[ltcol_flyboy]

It's one of those clear nights on New Lantea, when both moons are visible along with a healthy smattering of stars. The breeze is light out on the end of the pier, but John had made sure he and Mia were properly dressed in light sweaters

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[mia_j]

The night is one of those perfect ones that only comes along every once in awhile. The dinner was perfect, the view amazing, the company the best. Any breeze that comes their way doesn't bother her due to the sweater and John's warmth. She's so relaxed, so content, feeling secure with his arm around her, so lost in her thoughts that don't really have any particular direction, that John's small movement is barely noticed by her and doesn't register in her conscious mind. So it's only when he speaks those three words that there's a reaction

[ltcol_flyboy]

His lips press tight in a frown, since he's a little unsure of what her reaction means. In all honesty, he wasn't sure what he reaction was going to be, but he was somehow certain it wasn't this. His first thought is a slight oh shit, did I totally say it at the wrong time? but he forces that, plus the other thoughts that threaten to bubble up waaaaay deep down, forbidding them to rise unless or until he figures out what the hell she's getting at.

Of course, the frown and the thought process only take about a half a second to manifest before he opts to begin a tactical retreat, allowing the frown to relax into something more apologetic.

His reply to her incoherent verbiage is simply a slightly abashed, "'M sorry, I didn't...." trail-off.

[mia_j]

Even through her surprise, his reaction registers and she didn't mean for that sort of thing at all. She shakes her head a tiny bit, trying to say that he doesn't have to apologize, and her fingers come up to rest lightly, gently, almost lovingly on his lips to stop any further attempt at apology, even though he's trailed off. Her thoughts are still spinning and not sure which direction to take, but suddenly, out comes the tentative, soft words, "A... Are you sure?" as she looks up at him, hoping and wishing that he really is

[ltcol_flyboy]

He tilts his head to one side almost curiously as he regards her, an eyebrow lifting slightly in reply to her question, as if he's shocked that she has to ask, knowing what she knows about him and that phrase. Knowing what she knows about him and his past.

"Mia, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't," he says, in case she hasn't clued in to these things.