Once he drew with one long kiss

my whole soul through his lips

-Alfred Tennyson

Emma

I wake up alone. The moment I notice that is like a stab through my heart. This is it then. He really doesn't want me anymore. It's going to be hard to accept, especially since I can't leave this place. I'll be confronted with Burns every day.

It's going to hurt.

A lot.

I'm already dreading breakfast. Did he really pick Rachel? Perhaps that is even worse that the fact that he doesn't want to be with me. I might be able to live with that. But him wanting to be with someone don't like all that much? I guess I'll just have to get this over with.

I get up and slowly make my way towards the bathing area.

After taking my time in the primitive shower, I wait a few more moments before making my way towards breakfast. Call me a coward, no one likes heartache.

...

Will and Milo are sitting in a corner of the room with Nate. They seem in deep conversation, so I stay clear from that table. Will is still not my favorite person.

I fill a plate with food and sit down at an empty table. Burns isn't here either. Neither is Rachel. Or Blake.

"What are you doing, sulking in the corner?"

I look up and see Kim smiling at me. She takes a seat at my table.

I shrug. Who else would I sit with? Not at a table that has Will on I and I don't really know the others well enough to sit with without feeling awkward.

"You were gone pretty fast last night," Kim continues, oblivious to my unresponsive attitude.

"I didn't feel like celebrating," I mutter.

She grins. "You seemed comfortable enough with Blake. Can't say I blame you. He's a real charmer, though I have to say, he seems more persistent with you." She gives me a conspiring look as if she's waiting for some good gossip.

"He's just Blake," I shrug. I just want to eat in peace. I nod at Nate's table. "What's going on over there?"

Kim sighs. Suddenly she doesn't seem so comfortable anymore. "They're talking about the raid and news they received from the other groups."

"What news?" I ask. After all this time here, I haven't really heard much about the other groups.

"I don't know, " Kim answers, "Milo hasn't told me. If it's something important, Nate will let us know."

The room suddenly feels suffocating to me and I quickly finish my breakfast so I can leave. "I'm... gonna go...," I bit my lip, unable to even finish my sentence. I can't think of an excuse, but I don't want to stay here. I clear my throat and leave without giving Kim another look. I know I'm being rude, but I don't want to be around people at the moment.

Of course, I have no such luck. The moment I turn the corner, I run into Burns.

"Emma," he says in surprise. He gives me a nervous smile and his eyes dart all over the place, but never settle on me.

I sigh. "Hey," I mutter and I walk around him. I was wrong before. I can't deal with this.

"Wait!" he calls, "I... I need to talk to you."

I stop and drop my shoulders. Here we go. "Just...," I sigh, "just say it."

"Right," Burns says and he moves in front of me. He scratches his neck and coughs.

That empty feeling returns, but his stance is so awkward that I almost feel sorry for him. I sigh. "It's fine. You can just say it."

He looks down. "I'm not ... good at this kind of thing," he mutters. His eyes move to the side and a frown appears on his face.

Confused, I follow his gaze and notice Blake standing a few feet away. He is vividly waving his hands at Burns in some sort of ushering motion, but when he catches my stare he quickly moves to run his hand though his hair as if that had been his intention all along.

I blink confused and look back at Burns, who is now beet red. There's a panic in his eyes as he looks at me helplessly.

I decide to spare us both the torture of this conversation and speak for him. "It's fine," I say, "no hard feelings." That's a lie obviously. "I understand. She's ..." I can't think of anything nice to say about Rachel, so I rephrase. "If she makes you happy, then I'm okay with it."

Burns blinks at me. "Who?"

Is he really going to make me say it? "Rachel," I say through my teeth.

"What does Rachel have to do with anything?" he asks.

Now I am the one to blink. "You... like her... don't you?"

"What makes you say that?" He makes it sound like it's the stupidest question in the universe.

"You left with her last night," I tell him.

"She was teaching me how to dance," Burns says.

"You wanted to learn how to dance?" I ask confused.

"Yes," he says, "well no... but..."

"What is it, yes or no?"

He looks down. "I wanted to learn for you, because you were dancing with Blake and I thought..."

I don't let him finish that sentence. I move closer and pull his head down and kiss him.

I can sense his surprise for a moment, but then his arms wrap around my waist and he pulls me closer.

This time I'm the one that is surprised. I gasp. He pulls back and leans his forehead against mine. "It's not Rachel I like," he rasps.

A smile escapes my lips. "I figured that just now."

"So," Burns ponders.

"So?" I question.

He is shy again and I can see him struggle for words.

I lock my arms securely around his neck. "What is it?" I ask gently.

He sighs. "Do you... I know I'm not... human..."

I smile and shake my head. Standing on my toes, I kiss him again. "I've know that for a while, you know."

I flinch when here's a slap on my shoulder. Blake is standing next to us with a wide grin on his face. "See?" he tells Burns, "I told you, you two would work it out."

"You asked Blake for advice? Of all people?" I raise my eyebrow at Burns.

"Hey," Blake protests, "I'll have you know that I'm an expert."

"Of course you are." I roll my eyes.

"I got you two together, didn't I?" he winks at me, "if I hadn't interfered, you'd still be twirling around each other."

He's got a point there. Still, I find it hard to thank him. I never know what to expect from him.

He smirks. "Don't stuff it up, alright?" He winks at me again and walks down the tunnel.

When he's out of sight, I let go of Burns. He has a grin on his face I've never seen before. "What?" I ask. I can feel my cheeks heat up.

"I don't know," Burns says, "for some reason I just feel incredibly happy."

It makes me laugh. For all his knowledge he is so adorably innocent sometimes.

He studies me carefully for a moment. "So you really like me? You'd... share this life with me?"

I take his hand and press it. "Why do you think I came back to find you? I don't just go around and kiss people And it's..." I look at my feet, "more than 'liking you' I just didn't think you'd like me back. Lately... you seemed to keep a distance between us, so..."

He lets out a laugh. "I was doing that for you," he says, "every time I saw you with Blake... you seemed to enjoy his company. I didn't want to be in your way."

"I don't like Blake that way," I say.

He gives me a sad smile. "It seemed like you did," he says, "I just wanted to give you time to figure things out. He seems to know you well. And... he's human. And he cares about you."

"We've just... known each other for a long time," I say, but I know there is some truth in what he says. There might have been something that might have turned into something. But then the world ended and now there is Burns.

I sigh. "I like you. I don't want anyone else."

A sigh of relief escapes him. "Good," he says, "I'm glad." There's a warmth in his eyes that makes me shy. I feel my heart leap. So it's official now. He is mine and I am his. No more doubt. Maybe things will finally be right this time.

From the corner of my eyes I see Logan make his way over towards us. The grim expression on his face fills me with dread.

What is it this time?