They made it back to the flat early the next afternoon. Kian knew that Haley probably didn't want to go out or anything, so he got pizza for dinner and even bought her some pretty colored yarn to cheer her up.
"Haley, I got a surprise for you, love." He said, as he came through the door.
"Oh! Pizza and fancy yarn! You do know the way to a woman's heart." She squealed, hugging him as he set the purchases on the counter. She had taken a shower to freshen up after the long ride home and put her pajamas on.

They devoured the pizza as they curled up on the sofa together with a movie, Haley feeling so comforted in Kian's protective arms. They topped it off with some pineapple for an impromptu dessert.
When the movie was over, Haley went to take care of the dishes. It was then that Kian heard the crash. He rushed to the kitchen.
"Is everything okay?" He breathed, he was still on edge from yesterday.
Haley was sitting in the middle of a spread of plate shards, holding her foot.
"I'm so clumsy! I tripped and dropped the plate and stepped on the sharp bits!"
Kian reached over the disaster area and sat Haley on the counter. He handed her a wad of paper towels to hold on her cut foot and swept up the mess.

When he had the floor safely cleaned, he took Haley into his room and sat her on the edge of the bed. He went to the bathroom to get some first aid stuff.
"Hold still and let me look at it." He said as he came back in, taking off the paper towels. There was a lot of blood, but nothing some disinfectant and a plaster couldn't take care of.
Kian swabbed the cut with some rubbing alcohol. Haley winced.
"Sorry." He said apologetically. He applied a plaster on the insole of Haley's foot.
"Do you have a gentle touch with all your patients?" Haley asked, taking a few experimental steps.
"Surgeon's hands. Usually I'm up to my wrists in a person's chest cavity, though."
"TMI!" Haley moaned, flopping back on his bed as he went to wash his hands.

He came back into the bedroom, seeing Haley sitting on his bed still. She got up sorely, walking over to Kian. She stood on her tiptoes, taking the pressure off her injured foot. Kian put his hands on her shoulders to steady her, and she kissed him softly on the lips. He lifted her off the floor slightly, just to take her back to the living room.
He ended up tripping over his own feet and landed on the bed. Haley landed on him, giggling. They laughed together; he had a hearty but soft laugh, his face crinkling up with a huge smile. He dipped his head so his and Haley's foreheads were touching. She ran her fingers through the soft hair on his head. She was still in shock from the events of yesterday, but she could tell things were different between them. They stayed quiet for a few seconds as they enjoyed the light hearted embrace, but as they looked in to each other's eyes, they started kissing each other passionately.

"I've thought about you a lot, Kian. I want you, too." She replied, kissing him again.

Haley kissed him again, and Kian ran his fingers through her soft hair.
She savored the feeling of his hand in her hair and felt it move until his palm rested on her cheek.
"I love you, Kian." She whispered, feeling her heart swell with both happiness and longing.
"I wish I could get my heart to feel the same way about you. If only I wasn't tainted with everything that's happened to the people I loved." He answered, his eyes staring into hers, taking the lightness of just moments before.
"No, you're just like me. We both carry grief. You carry guilt.  Our hearts were broken, and they still are healing."
"Then let me heal yours, I am a heart surgeon, you know." He whispered against her skin. Haley smiled, almost laughing as they kissed. Realizing how close their hearts, how close they could be.

There was a look of momentary playful innocence on both their faces as the kissed again. Kian smelled like he had just gotten out of a shower.
It was the smell of soap, and moisturizer, the smell of home.
Haley was still on top of Kian, her leg resting between his thighs.

His lips tenderly caressed her forehead, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Rolling so she was lying on her back, Haley lifted Kian's shirt off of his solid torso. He was strong and muscled, and she traced the bold lines of his sleeve tattoo with the same delicate fingers that could knot a bracelet or knit baby clothes. He tried to keep from shuddering at her touch, but felt his body respond. His mouth covered hers, and he could taste the fresh fruit they had eaten with dinner. They broke the kiss long enough to get a breath.

"Kian, I want to..." she paused, her eyes dilating with desire. "I want to see all of you."
He moved off the bed, and stood beside it. He undid his jeans and slid them off. Haley's eyes traveled from his bare feet, up the strong columns of his legs, the V-shape of his muscled pelvis. His briefs came off; he was a perfect naked god, with his sculpted body and his golden skin. Kian got back into bed beside Haley, covering up with the sheets. He knew there was no turning back. He could feel Haley's fingers in his dark hair, bringing his face close to hers. Conflicting emotions raged inside him, but his body burned for Haley. She seemed to know exactly what he was going through, and she held him tight to her, almost like he would disappear.

He kissed her hungrily, with desire and fear. He wanted her, but he was afraid. Afraid of losing her. Afraid of becoming close to her, and then having to lose her. It was what had happened to him before. He hadn't been intimate with many women since his wife died. Only briefly with Jac. Here he was, naked in bed with a girl twelve years younger than him. He loved this girl, he had saved her. She was his. She smiled at him. He looked down at her. Her head was on his shoulder again.. Her hair was like silk. She smiled again. He could see little pinks on her cheeks, like when she had a little cold. She had her mouth open slightly and her breathing was slow and easy. She was so beautiful...

Vanessa and Bea were gone and buried, but here was a woman who longed to be loved and adored. He was past the point of being afraid. Kian held Haley close, and slowly slid off the top of her pajamas. Her skin felt so smooth and warm against his. He felt her lips on his strong chest, and he let out a soft breath.
"Haley......" he started to say, his heart going a mile a minute. "I want this...."

"Haley, it's time, I need it. I want you. " He said, breaking the silence.

"I need you, Kian. I know you feel the same way. I know from how you look at me, how you hold me, the touch of your hands."
"Then let me bring you something more." He whispered. He kissed her neck, feeling her pulse race in her throat.  His stubble felt good against her skin. She felt his lips on her bare chest and the smooth skin of her stomach.
"Kian, please...." Her voice was so soft it sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
Kian saw the sadness in Haley's eyes and caressed her lips with his. He wanted her to feel protected in his arms. He wanted to feel protected in hers. She could see the heartfelt desire in his eyes.

"I will, love. I will." He said in that honest way he had. He gave her a soft smile then kissed her cheek.

He had a feeling of rightness about this. Their hearts were perfectly attuned to each other. He wanted to heal her heart. He hoped he wasn't just part of a momentary distraction in her life at a very low point.
He kissed her on the lips as soon as the words left them.
His hand rested on her bare hip. His lips found hers again. He had not kissed her very much, so he took his time, almost reverently, in telling her what he had been through to see how she would feel about him.
He took Haley's hand.
He kissed the knuckles. They fit perfectly in his.

She kissed his strong chest again. He made a soft, humming sound in his throat, the sound of his love for her. She closed her eyes. The innocence of that kiss made her heart clench, made her feel safe. She had the urge to wrap her arms around his neck, pull him to her, and whisper in his ear, "I love you."

He melted with his body, the energy radiating from every cell. The force of that wave of energy brought tears to his own eyes. She meant everything to him – and he felt her own emotions reaching out to him. Her fear drowned out all of his thoughts. She was perfect – beautiful and young, but so fragile and so capable of feeling. She was exactly what he had been looking for. He could experience something so raw, so fresh, so vulnerable. She was everything he had been hoping for.
"I'll be gentle, I promise." he whispered.

He saw a shy smile on her lips and a glimmer of confidence in her eyes, but a scary way ahead for both of them. She had known so little about him. Was she the one? Could they have a future together?

"Not too much, I promise. I'll go slow. You're going to feel like you're floating."

Haley let out a nervous laugh.

"Haley?" he asked. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I want to, but it still seems so unreal."

"I know you, Haley." He smiled. "You are my light."

She smiled at him. "And I'm your light?"

"Yes."

"Kian?"

"Yes, Love?"

"Thank you."
She closed her eyes, ready to fall down into the soft bed of his kiss.
"Kian?" she asked again, but now her voice was quiet.
"Yes, love?" he answered, a hint of tenderness in his voice.

"Where do we go from here?"

"We go wherever you want to go. My passion is to do everything in my power to make you happy."

"That's a promise?"

"I promise. One I intend to keep."

She stared in his eyes and knew that she could trust him.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. He drew her closer. She wrapped her arms around his waist. They stayed like that for a few moments.
He didn't let go of her. They kissed tenderly. He stroked her hair.
"Kian..." she whispered.
"Yes, Love?"
"Just kiss me." She smiled.
"I'll kiss you everywhere, sweetheart." He smiled. He kissed her face, her hair, her forehead, her eyes. His lips strayed down her neck again. He kissed the valley of her breasts, and down to her stomach. His strong fingers skated across her belly. She sighed and arched her back to welcome him closer.
"I love you, Haley." He whispered, as he kissed her lips again.

She kissed him, and he could taste the salt of her tears. He wrapped his arms as far around her as he could. She held him close as though she were drowning.
She smiled and ran her hands across his face, then down his cheek. He was beautiful. He felt beautiful. This beautiful man was holding her.

She smiled at him. He was so strong and handsome, but it was how much he cared about her that made her fall in love with him.

"Just let me in, Haley.... I'll take care of you, I promise." He whispered as he kissed her lips.

She held his face, stroked his hair and pressed her lips to his. She could hear his heart beating against her ear, so hard she thought it might explode. His hands stroked her hair, his fingers played with the fringe on her face.
to touch, to touch the spirit that seemed to be leaving them. She closed her eyes once more and his kiss lingered gently on her lips.

She pulled him to her, wrapped her arms around him, her breath barely reaching his lips.
His skin was hot to the touch, his fingertips deliciously rough.

"Kian..." she whispered in the darkness.
There were no words after that, just sounds of passion. They entwined in the darkness, and the pain that they both carried in their hearts was burned away with every fiery kiss and tender touch. They felt a white hot heat, and they could feel their hearts healing. As she lay curled up in Kian's arms, her heart was beating with something other than fear or loneliness.