"The best people all have some kind of scar."

-Kiera Cass

Ray feels guilty.

Every time he looks at Emma, he thinks of her scars. Scars that he feels responsible for because he couldn't protect her. Scars that he could've oh so easily prevented.

He blames himself.

Almost every scar Emma has, he was there, he could have protected her. But he failed her.

Though they're gone now, he can still remember the scars that were on Emma's hands from when she caught the match. Though it was Emma's choice, he feels responsible for her ear. And her scar on her stomach... The day Lewis stabbed her... Ray still has nightmare's from that day.

So when Emma returns from hunting that day, Ray feels a sting in his heart when he see's the scratches on her face, cheeks, forehead, nose, even the palm of her hands. He winces at every scratch and cut he sees, until he can't take it anymore and just grabs her hand and drags Emma into the infirmary.

"R—Ray! Where are you taking me?"

He doesn't reply, his gaze stays on the ground as his bangs cover his eyes. Emma doesn't say anything else, getting the feeling that he doesn't want to talk right now. So she closes her mouth and follows him.

Emma sits at the edge of one of the infirmary beds as Ray grabs a few bandages and cloths for her small wounds. He walks back to Emma and sits on a stool right in front of her. Without saying a word, he grabs her left hand and flips it around and starts to wrap the bandages around her hand with his usual blank face. Emma smiles with a small, short chuckle causing Ray to turn his attention from her hand to her face.

"What?" He says almost in a monotone voice. Emma just chuckles nervously and looks to her side.

"Nothing it's just... How do I put this?" She turns back to Ray and their eyes meet.

"You always get worried when I go hunting, and when I get back you stare. But you've never done this before."

Ray moves his gaze to his right and he stops wrapping the bandage around Emma's hand.

"I do worry about you, but I don't stare." He lies.

Emma seems to see through his lie as she puffs out her cheeks and glares at him.

"Yes you do! I see you do it all the time!"

Ray looks at Emma but his eyes don't meet hers. He looks at her scratches and already knows his cheeks are lightly pink.

"I do not stare at you Emma." He lies again. And turns his gaze back to her hand and starts to wrap the bandage again. Emma stops her glare and smiles lovingly at him.

"Yes you do. I know you stare at me because you don't like seeing me hurt, so you stare at my scars, cuts or scratches. And sometimes you stare at all of them."

Ray's movement's freeze as Emma speaks. And he feels his cheeks become hot a bit.

"I know you don't like my scars, but I read a book where one of the characters said that only the best people have a scar."

Emma moves a bit of Ray's bangs until her hand is behind his left ear causing him to look at her once again and he's sees her smile. And Ray swears on his life that his heart actually just skipped a beat.

"Even you have one Ray. Though you can never see it, you have one. And in my opinion, you're one of the best people in this world."

"Emma..."

Ray feels like his heart is about to burst out of his chest. And he can't hold himself back anymore. Gently he cuts off the bandage and slowly brings Emma's hand to his lips. He plants a gentle, feather-like kiss on the palm of her hand. And Emma feels her cheeks burn.

"R—Ray... What're you..." She says as he pulls away, but he doesn't stop there. He brings his eyes to meet hers again and he leans forward. And he plants the same gentle feather-like kisses on her cheeks, then moves up to her forehead, then the tip of her nose. He pulls away and her wide eyes meet his half closes ones, their faces only inches away. But he suddenly pulls away and his face lowers.

Ray kisses her stomach, in the exact spot where her scar from Lewis is. Though he does it over her shirt, its close enough. He looks back up at her and Emma feels like her face is on fire.

"R—Ray, what was that for—"

She's cut off when his lips meet hers with the same gentle touch. Though it only lasts for a second as Ray slowly pulls away. But his face is only inches away from hers. And Emma summons her courage to say.

"... Can... Can you do that again...?"

Ray doesn't say anything, rather he smiles and leans back in. This time he kisses her with a bit more confidence. Closing his eyes, he gently cups her face. Emma closes her eyes too and wraps her arms around his neck. Ray leans in a bit more, placing his left knee on the bed causing Emma to lean back slightly until they both fall onto the bed.

When Ray pulls away Emma arms falls to the side of her head. And Ray holds himself up by leaning on his hands. Her eyes meet his and she sees hurt in eyes causing her to have a concerned look on her face. Ray notices this and immediately shuts his eyes.

"You say that... But you went through a lot of pain because of these scars." Emma's mouth opens slightly as she thinks to herself.

'Oh, he's still worried about that, obviously.'

Emma closes her mouth and her lips curl into a gentle smile. Her arms reach up and her hands cup his face now causing him to open his eyes and look at her.

"But, everybody needs to go through pain to become stronger. Scars are just a reminder of that pain and how they became a strong person."

Ray sucks in a breath.

"Emma, you... I..." Ray struggles for words. How does he say those words? What if he messes up? However he doesn't get to finish thinking as Emma shakes her head, her smile still on her face. And she says the words for him.

"I love you Ray."

Ray's mouth opens slightly, but it's soon replaced with a smile as he leans down and their foreheads touch.

"I love you too, Emma."