Chapter 75 - Sweet Like Summer Honey And Kind Like An Autumn Afternoon
Dean had stopped the car and April had still stared out of the window lost in her thoughts throughout the short drive towards the hospital. He had wondered if James had really had affected her that much that she now fell into a deep contemplation. He knew it was irrational but he was petty enough to be displeased that she would even think of James even if it was in a negative light. Wanting to break her train of thought away from James he poked her soft bouncy cheek in a teasing manner.
"Hey," April responded as she rubbed her cheek and glared at her assailant.
"Hey yourself, what are you thinking so deeply about that you didn't notice we have arrived?" Dean asked.
It was only then that April noticed that they were now parked outside of the hospital as she looked at the white building in front of her. She had always been alone, her responses were always I got this, don't worry about it. She had always held on strong and silent through any storm but seeing Dean's furrowed brows and concern written all over his face she sighed and decided to give in. It was time for the lone warrior to share her concerns.
She knew now that she deserved a call me anytime love, pick you up from work love. A love note left out for her kind of love. A chicken soup on a sick day type of love. A laugh at your bad jokes type of love. A reminder that it was snowing and that she may have to wear a jacket kind of love. A bring you a brownie because you have had a bad day kind of love. A listening love, a requited love that would last. Thinking that she knew communication was key.
"I am not the silly romantic type of girl. I don't want you to give me the moon and stars, as we can be each other's light. I don't want gemstones or gold. I can get those myself. I want a steady hand, a kind soul. I want to go to sleep and wake up knowing my heart is safe. I want to love and be loved." April earnestly replied. She wanted to offer Dean a way out now if he wanted it. Her life was full of ups and downs and she certainly didn't want him to be involved in the chaos.
Dean nodded he saw through her words and her intentions. He certainly wasn't one to run though, his running shoes were off. In this lifetime he promised to keep hold of her and be her strength and he knew, in turn, she would do the same for him.
April didn't make eye contact she kept her head down, afraid of the answer Dean would give her.
"April." Dean's low voice was startlingly loud in her ears but she kept her head lowered bracing herself for the impact of his words. In her experience when someone said your name in that way they had something to say and now she didn't know if she wanted to hear it or not.
Dean remembered the first time he saw her, that feeling when he took her all in. The free fall of his heart and how it crashed into hers without warning. She stood in the cold night against the night sky in her white dress and at first glance, everything fell into place for him. He craved her inside more than the outside, her heart and soul were precious to him. He was addicted to everything she was made of and at that moment he knew she was his to protect at all costs. She was his angel, his eternal light.
Dean sighed and lifted her head up with his left hand so that they were now eye to eye. He saw fear and uncertainty in her eyes, "I won't let you go, you only get one chance at a love like this. I will do all I can to keep you safe, happy and feel loved. I didn't just fall in love with you dork, I fell in love with your voice, your smile, your eyes, your laugh, and I fell in love with everything about you."
April was a badass with a good heart, soft but strong, unapologetic and honest. April was the type of girl you go to war beside not against.
Dean knew she was an independent woman and he only wanted to be her teammate and not let her do things alone. She had obviously been in turmoil over asking for his help and he knew that was difficult for her. He didn't wait for her to ask he automatically offered so she could see he would be there for her. She had been through so much in life and her walls were tall and surrounded her heart, he would work hard to knock them down and build her trust brick by brick.
April didn't expect his words, she never thought that one day love would come in the form of someone that would give more than take, in that second she realised that this feeling she felt was rare. Dean was sweet like summer honey and kind like an autumn afternoon.
April stared into his deep loving brown eyes and gave her answer straight from her heart, "I want to be your new home. I want you to pack up your life into brown boxes, rent a van and move in. I want you to fill me with your favourite trinkets, picture frames, candles and decorate me until I feel like yours. I want to find our favourite take out place down the street, I want to wake up together to the birds singing in the morning. I want to be silly and dance around the living room shaking the floor together creating butterflies in my stomach. I want you to be comfortable and happy… I don't want you to leave me."
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