To be brave is to love someone unconditionally without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage because we dont want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt.

I wont telephone him. Ill never telephone him again as long as I live. Hell rot in hell before Ill call him up. You dont have to give me strength God I have it myself. If he wanted me he could get me. He knows where I am. He knows Im waiting here. Hes so sure of me so sure. I wonder why they hate you as soon as they are sure of you.

Tonight was... well it was perfect for me too. Youve turned my world upside down. Ive fallen in love with you chica and it scares the fuckin shit outta me. Ive been shakin all night because I knew it.Ive tried to deny it to make you think I wanted you as a fake girlfriend but that was a lie.

I should go I said thickly. Let me know when you want to start practice again. And thanks for...talking.I started to turn then I heard him say abruptly No.I glanced back. WhatHe held my gaze and something warm and wonderful and powerful shot between us.No he repeated. I told her no.I... I shut my mouth before my jaw hit the floor. But...why That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You could have had a baby. And she...she was you know into you...The ghost of a smile flickered on his face. Yes she was. Is. And thats why I had to say no. I couldnt return that...couldnt give her what she wanted. Not when... He took a few steps toward me. Not when my heart is somewhere else.

Every widow wakes one morning perhaps after years of pure and unwavering grieving to realize she slept a good nights sleep and will be able to eat breakfast and doesnt hear her husbands ghost all the time but only some of the time. Her grief is replaced with a useful sadness. Every parent who loses a child finds a way to laugh again. The timbre begins to fade. The edge dulls. The hurt lessens. Every love is carved from loss. Mine was. Yours is. Your great-great-great-grandchildrens will be. But we learn to live in that love.

How do you know when its over Maybe when you feel more in love with your memories than with the person standing in front of you.

If only she could be so oblivious again to feel such love without knowing it mistaking it for laughter.

When you find somebody you love all the way through and she loves youeven with your weaknesses your flaws everything starts to click into place. And if you can talk to her and she listens if she makes you laugh and makes you think makes you want makes you see who you really are and who you are is better just better with her youd be crazy not to want to spend the rest of your life with her. Carter Maguire

Except fang. I glared at him. Go on try to stop me I dare you. It was like the old days when we used to wrestle each trying to get the better of the other. I was ready to take him down my hands curled into fist. I was just going to say be careful Fang told me. He stepped closer and brushed some hair out of my eyes. And Ive got your back. He motioned with his head toward the torpedo chamber. Oh my God. It hit me like a tsunami then how perfect he was for me how no one else would ever could ever be so perfect for me how he was everything I could possibly hope for as a friend boyfriend maybe even more. He was it for me. There would be no more looking. I really really loved him with a whole new kind of love Id never felt before something that made every other kind of love Id ever felt feel washed out and wimpy in comparison. I loved him with every cell in my body every thought in my head every feather in my wings every breathe in my lungs. and air sacs. Too bad I was going out to face almost certain death. Right there in front of everyone I threw my arms around his neck and smashed my mouth against his. He was startled for a second then his strong arms wrapped around me so tightly I could hardly breathe. ZOMG I heard Nudge whisper but still fang and I kissed slanting our heads this way and that to get closer. I could have stood there and kissed him happily for the next millennium but Angel or what was left of her was still out there in the could dark ocean. Reluctantly I ended the kiss took a step back. Fangs obsidian eyes were glittering brightly and his stoic face had a look of wonder on it.Gotta go I said quietly. A half smile quirked his mouth. Yeah. Hurry back. I nodded and he stepped out of the air lock chamber keeping his eyes fixed on me memorizing me as he hit the switch that sealed the chamber. The doors hissed shut with a kind of finality and I realized that my heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to start snapping ribs. I was scared. I was crazily deeply incredibly joyously terrifyingly in love. I was on a death mission. Before my head simply exploded from so much emotion I hit the large button that pressurized the air lock enough for the doors to open to the ocean outside. I really really hoped that I would prove somewhat uncrushable like Angel did. The door cracked open below me and I saw the first dark glint of frigid water.

Sam came around the side of the car and stopped dead when he saw me. Oh my God what is THAT I used my thumb and middle finger to flick the multicolored pom-pom on top of my head. In my language we call it a HAT. It keeps my ears warm. Oh my God Sam said again and closed the distance between us. He cupped my face in his hands and studied me. Its horribly cute. He kissed me looked at the hat and then he kissed me again. I vowed never to lose the pom-pom hat.