Cassandra could feel his gentle touch, his fingers as they lightly traced patterns across her back.

I love you.

Over and over again.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you...

Three simple words. Eight simple letters. How could something so small, so seemingly insignificant, have such an effect on Cass?

Everything tingled and fluttered each time Varian began tracing the sentence on her back- and not in a bad way, either. The way she felt... She had never felt like this before. Many times, people had told her that they loved her, but never before had any of those confessions made her feel like this.

Twice more: I love you. I love you.

Maybe, just maybe... Maybe Cass felt that way because she loved him back? She couldn't be certain. Well, except for one thing: she felt none of her usual 'fight or flight' instinct kicking in. Which meant one of two things: she was either completely clueless or she liked this.

Varian had stopped what he was doing. No more I love you's. Instead, he was now lying on his back, looking at the ceiling.

Cassandra smiled to herself, kind of snuggling into him. "I love you, too."

Varian froze a little, looking at her inquisitively. But she was already fast asleep- for real this time. He chuckled, pressed a kiss to her forehead, wrapped his arms around her, and promptly fell asleep.