Hefting the last gear bag onto the metal table, Jesse sighed, leaning his hands on the edge and hanging his head between his shoulders. There had been no time to talk once the boat had returned and they had successfully transferred to the train. Valencia had been distant, fretful and seemed happy to be busy rather than face him.

"Everything okay?" Jarred asked.

"Yes," Jesse sighed, "no ..." he grunted, "I don't know."

"Sounds like it involves a certain redhead," Jarred muttered, briskly cleaning the barrel of a weapon. "I don't know much about relationships but have you tried talking to her?"

"I spoke with Birgit," Jesse muttered, "after that ..." frustrated, he zipped open the bag and started laying the gear on the table.

"After that, the extraction took preference, and you didn't really talk," Jarred finished, nodding, "what about the train?"

"Val was everywhere else, doing anything else but be in my vicinity," Jesse sighed before frowning. "I was so sure I hadn't made things worse."

"How does Val seem?" Jarred asked as he pieced the clean weapon together, laying it on a steel trolley before picking up the next one.

"She seemed ... better," Jesse said, thoughtfully, "more herself and yet ... I can't put my finger on it. They talked most of the trip, while Valencia was busy avoiding me. Now that we're back ..." Jesse stopped suddenly, "Jarred, what if she doesn't want to be ... together anymore?"

"Nope," Jarred shook his head, "Val is crazy about you, and besides, if Val had changed her mind, Birgit would not be forging a friendship with you or trusting you with what happened in those tunnels. By what I hear, Val let you see what Madden downloaded ..." Jarred grinned, "by the way, congrats on being able to stretch your privacy ability."

Jesse nodded in acknowledgement, "Thank, and I hear what you're saying ..." Jesse paused, "I don't want to force Val into something if she's ... hesitant."

Jarred placed the weapon on the tray pushing to his feet, "Hey ..." he waited until Jesse looked at him. "If I had someone who understood me as I currently am and still loved me ..." he shook his head. "I would do everything possible to find out what she wanted before jumping to conclusions."

Jesse watched Jarred leave, his words resounding in his mind. Valencia did seem worried about talking while the others were around, perhaps Jarred had a point. Jesse frowned. So far, most of their relationship had been built mainly by Valencia. Maybe it was time for him to step up and move it forward.

"You have to talk to him," Birgit muttered as they folded the new stock and placed it into each newcomer's pack, "this is getting ridiculous."

"I may have trusted him, Birgit," Valencia hissed, "but it doesn't mean he wants anything to do with me after what he saw, and I'm not going to push him."

"You are the most irritating person I know," Birgit sighed, "the man loves you. Otherwise, he wouldn't be at your bedside the entire boat trip and hovering throughout the train ride."

"I suppose you're right," Valencia sighed, "am I making too much of this?"

"Are you ..." Birgit huffed, "you're so frustrating."

Valencia giggled, "You know you're talking about yourself, right?"

Birgit suddenly chuckled, "We must look like an insane person. Really, Val, you need to talk to him. Stop blowing things out of proportion."

"Oh," Valencia still as she looked across the room, "he's watching us."

"Yes," Birgit waited, but Valencia said nothing, "so?"

"Why?" Valencia whispered.

"Perhaps he is waiting for us to finish talking," Birgit said.

"How do you know?" Valencia frowned.

"We have an ... understanding," Birgit said.

"You have ..." Valencia's frown deepened, "what kind of understanding?"

"Val, it's one of trust," Birgit shook her head, "not what you're thinking."

"Oh," Valencia sighed, "should I talk to him?"

"No, you should go for a flying lesson," Birgit muttered in frustration. "It's not the question about whether you should, but do you want to?"

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"I do," Valencia said.

"Then ... go," Birgit said, "don't wait for me to walk you across the room. This you'll have to do yourself."

Valencia slowly moved toward Jesse, stopping a few steps away. She didn't know how to start, didn't know what to say, felt incredibly awkward and uncomfortable and yet, wanted to throw herself into his arms, all at once. The emotional turmoil had her looking everywhere else but at Jesse.

"Oh heavens," Birgit muttered, "Jesse, good luck with this one. I'm going to leave now. Knock if you need me to breathe for you, Val."

Jesse smiled at Birgit's comment. It told him everything he needed to know about Valencia's state of emotions and mind.

"Thanks, Birgit," Jesse's mellow, smooth voice fluttered to Valencia, making her shudder and inhale sharply, "we need to talk."

"What about?" Valencia asked, peeking at Jesse before looking away and blushing furiously.

Holding out his hand, Jesse waited, "What I have to say to you cannot be said here," he said, looking around at the milling people.

"Okay," Valencia glanced nervously around the room before slipping her hand into his and following him.

Jesse battled the need to move directly toward their quarters. He didn't want Valencia to feel as though she were trapped or held against her will. Instead, he headed in the opposite direction toward the long gallery, which ran along the length of the house. It was hardly used and would give them the required time.

"Why are we going this way?" Valencia asked.

"Time and privacy," Jesse supplied, smiling gently at Valencia, "things hard to find around here."

The wide passageway decorated in deep red and gold was empty and quiet. Valencia sighed as she looked around, remaining silent.

"This is much better," Jesse said, pulling Valencia closer to his side and linking their fingers. "We can hear ourselves here and hopefully have no interruptions," Jessie paused before continuing. "Val, we've been through a lot in the last few months," Jesse said, "and even more in the last few weeks. Many things were said between us, and perhaps some of those words were taken seriously."

"What are you trying to say?" Valencia frowned, looking at him askance.

"Do you still feel the same way you used to about me?" Jesse stopped walking, turning to face Valencia.

"What?" Valencia stopped looking at him in surprise.

"I know... I hope ..." Jesse cleared his throat, glancing away, "I sensed you may have felt more for me than simply friendship. Am I wrong?"

Valencia blushed, "You sensed correctly. Jesse, we said we'd face whatever life brought us together, and I still have the same sensations as before, but ..." Valencia sighed, and she started walking again. "After everything that happened on the island ..." she hesitated, "are you sure you want to be with someone like me?"

Jesse frowned at her, "Yes, but why would you think that?"

Valencia moved toward the sofa stationed against the wall. Sinking onto it, she waited until Jesse sat next to her.

"You saw what I was capable of ... what Birgit was able to do," she watched her hands twisting in her lap. "You saw what I could retain with my mind ..." she swallowed, "it worries me that one day you'll resent me for what I can do or currently do, or perhaps I'll hurt you in some way."

Gently tipping her head up on his finger, Jesse waited for her worried eyes to meet his warm gaze, "You worry so much. Val, I knew you were very different from the time you demanded to know what I was doing in Breanna's kitchen, sporting nothing but a pair of jeans. I loved you then, and I love you now. I love you even more that you trusted me with the good, the different and the information you obtained from Madden's mind. Please, stop worrying. I'm not going anywhere."

Valencia swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears.

"When I was allowed to visit your mind," Jesse whispered, "I saw more than you showed me."

"What?" Valencia's eyes widened in panic, "what do you mean?"

"I saw your memories growing up of how you were spoken over," Jesse murmured, "how your opinion was never validated or heard. More recent times when you had value to add and were ignored. Sometimes you simply added the information to a file or left a note because you know Bre needed to know and others would not allow you to speak."

Valencia swiped at the tears streaking down her face, "I never showed you those memories."

"No," Jesse shook his head, "Birgit did. You were only going to allow me to see what you wanted me to, but Birgit knew you needed more understanding. She has been the one who has had to deal with that side of you."

Valencia shook her head, accepting a tissue from the small pocket pack Jesse offered her, "I never thought anyone knew about that," Valencia sniffed. "What are you going to do about how I am now?"

"You mean the beautiful, fire-throwing, mind-reading, emotional, kind-hearted person you are now?" Jesse asked.

Valencia chuckled but nodded.

"Oh, I don't know," Jesse sighed, "I thought we could start by sharing living quarters," he watched her as he continued. "Be part of each other's lives and days, perhaps even ..." he shrugged, "love each other unconditionally."

Valencia's gaze snapped to his, a slight frown puckering between her brow.

"But if that isn't what you want to do," Jesse continued quickly, "we can find a compromise. I only want you happy ..."

Valencia reached up and pulled Jesse's head down to her, kissing him hard, silencing the rambling words. She yelped as he pulled her against him, embracing her lovingly and deepening the kiss.

"I think your plans for us would be perfect," Valencia whispered as they broke apart, resting her head against his shoulder.

"You can add or subtract whatever you wish anytime you wish," he whispered, "I love you, Val. I have since I first saw you furious and suspicious in Bre's kitchen."

"I wasn't very polite," Valencia giggled, "Jesse," she waited until he met her warm gaze, "I love you too."

"That is good news," Jesse smiled, "shall we carry on wandering to our quarters."

"I'd like that," Valencia smiled, standing with him.

Arm in arm, they ambled down the passageway, wrapped in a blissful cocoon of happiness.