"You were right. Eating helped - a little anyway."

Mike sighed in response as he looked at her even more lovingly. "Carrie, you know what? We’re here… and we’re together. And maybe if you would just let me hold you in my arms, we can make the rest of the world go away… just for a little while."

The depth of his concern touched Carrie’s heart, and she smiled. She decided this was probably just what she needed right now, and started to get up from the table. As soon as he saw her move, Mike was off his chair, and they walked toward each other. He put his arms out offering a safe haven, and his whispered words took hold of her and brought her in.

"Come here…"

As Mike’s arms closed around her, Carrie laid her head against his chest. She clung to him as she quietly moved her hands up his back and clasped onto his shoulders. He pulled her closer as he moved one arm around her waist and wrapped the other around her shoulders. As he held his cheek against her hair, he breathed in her essence and it filled his senses. He thought how fragile she felt, and he gently rocked her.

He closed his eyes as he found himself overwhelmed with love for this woman he held in his arms. It was as if they blended into each other, and he wanted to take away all her sadness and heartache, replacing it with his love. If only they could stay this way forever and never leave each other’s arms, never leave this moment.

Carrie let herself give in to Mike’s embrace, and the warmth of his love washed over her. She’d never felt such a powerful love before, and she felt so safe as his strong arms encompassed her. His warmth spread through her and for a moment, she forgot all the pain and guilt that had haunted her earlier. This was where she belonged, and she never wanted to leave this moment.

They held each other in silence, letting their love remove them from the rest of the world. Neither one wanted to let go. Mike still couldn’t believe this was happening, that they had found each other after all this time. His heart was filled with so much joy, he couldn’t help himself as he looked up and smiled. His smile grew to a laugh as he finally backed away slightly and looked into Carrie’s eyes.

"I can’t even tell you how good it feels to… just to be able to tell you that I love you." His smile couldn’t contain itself.

Carrie smiled hesitantly in return. "Yeah…"

"I can… I… My God - I have waited so long to say that… and to hear you say it back to me." Mike took hold of her hands. "Listen, everything’s changed. We can’t go back now."

Carrie shook her head. "Guess not."

A worried look came over her, and she turned and stepped away from Mike. She closed her eyes, whispering to herself. "What have I done…" More than anything else at this moment, she was scared. How was she ever going to handle all this?

Mike moved behind Carrie, wanting to put his arms around her again. But he stopped himself as he spoke to her instead.

"Don’t be sad. Our love was meant to be." He smiled at just the thought of being able to talk about their love. "I believe that. You believe that, don’t you?"

Mike’s look changed to anxious, and his heart pounded as he waited for Carrie to answer. He knew she loved him, but he was still afraid it would slip out of his grasp. Carrie took in a deep breath, and turned to face him.

"I do. But our love also comes at such a high price, Mike. And… as much as I love you, I’m afraid of what that love will cost ALL of us."

Mike nodded. He knew there was a lot ahead of them they’d have to deal with. And much of it would be painful. He pulled Carrie back into his arms, his hand caressing the back of her head.

"That’s okay…"

He rocked her once more, and Carrie again slid her hands up and gripped the back of his shoulders, hanging on for dear life. She never wanted him to let go of her, and she closed her eyes as Mike tried to reassure her.

"There’s nothing wrong here. All… the only thing that’s happened here is that we’ve admitted our love for each other. I’m not going to let you feel guilty. You haven’t done anything wrong."

Carrie suddenly pulled out of Mike’s arms and looked at him, her eyes wracked with guilt.

"Haven’t I?"

"NO - you haven’t. Carrie, Austin left you. He left YOU to be with Sami." She painfully looked down as reality hit her once again. "And the minute he made that decision, he walked out on you and your marriage. And that just leaves you free… to love me. And I know I’m free to love you. I’m not going to walk away from you - not this time. We’ve come through… we’ve come through too much… to go back now. I… I’m going to fight for you this time."

Carrie gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean ‘this time’?"

Mike groaned. "Ohhhh… before you married Austin. I mean basically it was the same situation, wasn’t it? He had thrown your love aside to be with Sami, and, I mean he would have married Sami that day, except we found out she lied about Will’s paternity."

A pensive look came over Carrie. "That seems so long ago."

"Uh huh." He nodded and followed her as she moved away from him. "Listen, I’ve replayed that day over and over in my mind. I didn’t want you to rush into marrying Austin."

Recalling that day that now seemed like something out of a dream, Carrie turned to him, nodding. "You came to me and you asked me to give it more time."

"Yeah. I was hoping against hope that you would. And it wasn’t just because I felt the same way then as I do now." Mike leaned forward, emphasizing his words. "It was because I was concerned you were rushing into marrying Austin to get back at your SISTER."

Forcing herself to admit her own thoughts, Carrie again nodded. "I’ve wondered the same thing lately."

"Listen, you are such a different person today than you were then. I mean… you made the decision to marry Austin that day." Mike paused, studying her face, then continued cautiously. "But that’s… that’s not necessarily the same decision you’d make today… is it?"

Carrie didn’t know what to say, and she looked down at the floor. Her thoughts all ran into each other as the past two years rushed through her mind. How could she have made such a mess of her life? She forced herself to look up at Mike again, and his eyes begged for an answer. But she just looked at him in silence. Mike couldn’t hold back any longer.

"I HATE the way he hurts you. I’m not going to sit back and watch him hurt you anymore. I love you. I love you and you love me. I will respect and I will cherish your love." He grabbed hold of her arms, shaking her slightly. He wanted her heart to believe his words. "I will put our love above anything else in my life - above EVERYTHING else in my life. I WILL!" He stopped, and just sighed as he looked at her. He then spoke softly again. "Cause you deserve that." Carrie smiled slightly. She wanted so much to believe him. "I deserve it, WE deserve it."

Mike’s words meant so much to Carrie, more than she had ever imagined they could. But she was still filled with fear and doubt, and had so much uncertainty about what she would have to face next.

"If only it were that easy, Mike."

He looked into her eyes. "Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. But we can do it, together. You and I. We can make it through this. I know we can."

Carrie eyes locked with his, and she struggled to quietly get her words out, in a voice filled with emotion.

"Just hold me... please."

"Yeah…" he whispered as he reached out and accepted her into his arms. He closed his eyes, and rocked her with all the love he had in his heart. He wanted so much just to love her and protect her, and never see her hurt again. And that’s exactly what he intended to do.

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