ASH

"Where the hell are you?" Ash muttered under his breath, as his car sped through the city. He glanced at his wrist watch, it was around ten, and frowned.

Serena wasn't irresponsible. There was no way that someone like her would stay out so late at night, and someone who would make him worry.

Ash didn't even want to assume other possibilities. He wasn't brave enough to think of other things. He cursed, himself and the honey blonde for being the reason why he acted so pathetic.

His eyes searched through the side walks, almost desperately. He had called her countless times before he had set out on his own. Nevertheless, he tried again.

He waited anxiously, his worry growing with each ring.

"Ash?"

Ash heaved out a breath, not even knowing that he was holding it all this while. The unease washed away as quickly as Serena's soothing voice reached his ears.

"Serena" He breathed, his voice raspy. "Where are you?"

"Were you looking for me, Ash?" Serena's voice asked from the other end. She was speaking normally, but there was something else in her tone that the raven-haired man couldn't figure out.

"I would always look for you" He replied without thinking.

It was after a beat of silence that the honey blonde spoke again. "I know."

Ash found himself smiling. "Where are you?"

Ash frowned, making his way through the thick and prickly bushes. Serena had told him where she was, but she certainly didn't tell him that it was in the middle of nowhere.

"Ouch" He hissed, as a thorn pricked his finger. Then he sighed. If his past self was to see him right now, he would think it is ridiculous.

He moved the last of the bushes in front him and stepped out into the clearing. He stopped.

"What the heck . . .?" He whispered, looking at the breathtaking view.

There were hundreds of dense sycamore trees scattered for as far as he could see. In the middle, a lake reflected the starry night sky in it, sparkling breathtakingly. And then there was the only woman he loved; standing near it with her back on him, her honey curls fluttering in the wind.

Ash could keep watching for his lifetime and still wouldn't get tired of it.

He slowly made his way towards the honey blonde, afraid that the slightest noise could break the spell.

He didn't make any noise, he was sure, but still the sapphire-eyed woman somehow turned around and their eyes met. Sky clashing with the earth.

"Hi" Serena spoke first, her voice almost breathless.

"Hey" Ash replied softly, a small smile. He came closer until they were only a foot apart. "I was looking for you."

"Did I make you worry?"

"More than that. I thought something had happened to you but I hated thinking that way."

The honey blonde averted her eyes briefly. "I am sorry. Just . . . some things happened. Its a pretty long story."

Ash shrugged. "I have all the time in the world."

"Oh really?" Serena laughed, a strained laugh that was just a shadow of her bubbly one.

"Only for you though."

The honey blonde's heart skipped a beat and she couldn't have been more grateful for the darkness of the night. She hoped that he couldn't see the unintentional tears that had sprung up in her eyes.

Was today Make-Serena-Cry day? Because everyone seemed dead set on making her bawl her eyes out.

"Why?" Her voice cracked.

He stepped forward again. His thumb gently wiped away the tear that lingered in her eyes.

'So this is what it is' Serena allowed herself to relish in his touch, letting the warmth spread from his thumb to the core of her soul.

She closed her eyes, reeling in and moving closer until she was in his arms. He went along with it, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"I thought it was obvious" She heard him say. And her heart ached knowing that along with the amusement in his words, there was undoubtedly a flicker of ache that couldn't be hidden.

"But I will say it again, as many times as you want" She could feel his breath on her ear. Her heart hammered against her chest and she was sure that he could hear it going crazy too.

"I love you, Sere"

Tears welled up in her eyes. Being loved - it was one of the things she never cared about because she always felt that she wasn't someone who deserved love. Wasn't she a wretched soul who was abandoned by her own parents and scorned by everyone?

That was what she had believed.

And then there was Ash. He was always proving her wrong, changing her perceptions and showing her the sides of the world that she couldn't have imagined.

For him who had always been on her side, who had always believed her, who had always looked at her like she was flawless, she was willing to take a leap of faith and surrender her heart to him. 

"I love you too" She whispered, loud enough for him to hear. So please don't let me go.

She lifted her head and her sparkling blue eyes met his auburn ones.

Ash sucked in a breath. Somehow he hadn't expected that.

His heart fluttered as the honey blonde smiled at him coyly. "Can I get a kiss please?"

"You don't ask" His breath stuttered as Serena grinned.

She stood on her tippy-toed, her arms looped around his neck and her lips capturing his in a sweet, passionate kiss. He kissed back, just as lovingly and gently as he was always around her.

Serena couldn't help but smile.

It was such a typical romantic cliché - Ash and her - yet she wouldn't change it for the world.