The plastic bags felt heavy in her hand as she struggled to haul herself over the fence. If only she could use the front door like a proper visitor. But instead she had to lurk through the backways and byways to him. She clutched the bags tighter and uttered a silent prayer they would not break. It took her longer to fit the key in its lock, fatigue and uncertainty making her hands jittery. Would he try to kiss her again? Would he act as if it had been a mistake? So many questions she didn't have the answers for.

He was sitting at the kitchen table again, staring aimlessly out of the window. Listening to the birds twittering outside, picking at the parched earth.

"I brought your pie."

"How was dinner?"

"Good. They were very kind."

He laughed.

"Yes, they always are."

She bristled under the dryness of his tone. Did he begrudge her that one night? How could he, when he had been away from her for more nights than she could count?

"I saw you last night. At your window."

"I know."

"Why? You haven't opened your blinds before."

"I needed to see, to feel if you were still here."

"Of course I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."

"For how long? You don't think you can stay here forever, do you?"

She hadn't really thought about it. Mr. Giles had left half a dozen messages and she'd not answered a single one. Kept putting off organizing her mother's affairs, the sale of the house. Kept pretending she had all the time in the world.

"Will, what happened?"

His hair was disheveled and his shirt buttoned up crookedly.

"My mother. I had a talk with her last night."

Shit.

"What did she say? Does she know I've been here?"

"No. If she did, you wouldn't be here now. She...she said that there were some people in the world who didn't have my best interests at heart. Who wanted to take advantage of me."

Oh, she would have laughed at the absurdity of it all if she wasn't so damn angry.

"That's bullshit and you know it."

He said nothing. She sank into the chair next to him and touched his hand.

"You know I would never hurt you."

"I know."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you stay here with her? Why don't you leave?"

"She's my family. All I have left. And where would I go?"

You could go with me. Be with me.

"Anywhere you want. I've...I've been thinking..."

"Stop, Summers. How many times have I told you? You and thinking, bad idea."

"This isn't a joke, Will! Listen...listen to me. I have some money saved up. After I settle my mother's affairs, you could come with me. We could get you settled wherever you want. I could help you."

"To do what? I'm a blind man without a college education. I don't know much about how things have changed but I'm pretty sure I'm unemployable."

"There are plenty of things you could do. You could go to college. They have arrangements for people with...with special needs."

He snorted.

"Is that what they call it these days? 'Special needs?' It's no good, Summers. My place is here. My life is here."

Okay, now he was just being a difficult ass.

"You call this a life? You never go outside, you never see anyone. What are you afraid of? So you're blind. Big deal. You think you're the only one? You don't have to shut yourself in like this. I would help you."

His body stiffened and he got up from his chair. She forgot how fast he could move, like a blur. He turned to walk away from her but clipped his shoulder against the doorway. In two strides, she was at his side, laying a hand on his arm.

"Don't! Don't touch me. Is this how you'll help me? Leading me around like a child? Cleaning up after me? Holding my hand to make sure I don't walk into traffic. What kind of life would that be?"

"It would be better than this. Sneaking around, only able to see you for a few hours each day. It's been almost twenty years, Will. Haven't you missed me at all? I have. I've missed you so much. This...this isn't enough."

She smoothed down his hair and straightened his shirt buttons, fitting them into their proper holes.

"Your shirt was crooked."

He rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"Of course I've missed you."

His voice trailed off to a whisper. Soft as air on water.

"Of course I have."

She knew it would always come down to this. Back to the beginning. Back to where they belonged. She picked up the bag she had packed with a blanket and sunscreen.

"Then come. Come with me outside to play."

She walked out into the backyard and waited for him to follow. Would he? The minutes stretched on into what seemed like years until finally, finally she saw his white blonde head peeking out from around the door. She wanted to laugh. He used to do that when they were little. Used to stick his head out the backdoor and yell at her.

He walked unsteadily into the backyard and she went to his side, not trying to lead him but to support him with her quiet presence.

"Is it...is it the same?"

"Pretty much. Only more rundown. But the swing is still there and the treehouse. Come with me."

He started.

"Where are we going now?"

"To the cornfield, silly."

"No. No, I can't. It's too far."

"Nonsense, we'll just take the shortcut through your backyard. We'll be there in ten minutes. Fifteen if you insist on being a pain."

"I don't think...I don't think I could find my way there again."

She grasped his hand gently in hers, marveling at how warm and known it still was.

"I'll show you."

She had to practically drag him down the familiar path. Through the thicket of trees behind his yard, holding back stray branches so they wouldn't scratch his face. She plucked a glossy green leaf and pressed it into his hands.

"Feel this? This is how beautiful it is out here."

He rubbed it slowly between his fingers, tracing the delicate veins and the waxy consistency.

"Yes, I feel it."

"What else do you feel?"

"The sun hot on my face. The breeze in my hair. You."

"Good."

They were almost there and she was trembling with anticipation. How many times had she dreamt of lying in the cornfield with him again?

When they reached it, she turned, struck by inspiration.

"I bet you can't catch me!"

She flew through the field, the stalks of corn brushing her arms, their leaves slapping against her shins. She heard him breathing hard behind her. She stopped and turned suddenly. Dropping the blanket to hold out her arms. To catch his grace. He fell into her arms like a shooting star.

"I've got you. I've got you."

She shivered with the raspy intensity of his voice.

"No. I've got you."

"Hold on, Will."

"What are you doing?"

She bent down to the ground and unfurled the blanket. Tugged him down.

"Here, lie back. And just feel the sun on your face."

He let her push him on his back gently, her hand over his breastbone. Over his heart. She uncapped the tube of sunscreen and started to rub it into his exposed skin. It was a good excuse to touch his face, his neck, his wiry forearms, and long artist fingers.

"That's cold."

"Sorry. It's sunscreen. We can't have you sunburnt or she'll know you've been outside."

"You planned all this?"

"I knew I wanted to bring you here again."

"Very thoughtful of you."

"I'm a thoughtful kind of person."

He said nothing but when she finished and recapped the sunscreen, he raised a tentative hand and stroked her collarbone. She lost her breath and sat so still, she dimly wondered if the birds would mistake her for a scarecrow. Time had narrowed down to a pinpoint of sunlit longing. His hand finally dropped away and he receded back on the blanket. She turned on her side to face him, propping up her head on her hand. The ends of her hair fell forward and wisped on his face, tickling a smile onto his mouth.

"Ticklish?"

"A bit. Feels nice."

"Hmmm."

She was lost in the daydream. Only it wasn't a dream this time.

"Summers?"

"Mmmm?"

"About yesterday..."

"Yes?"

"It was...it was...nice."

"Yes, it was. Very nice."

Before she could be surprised at her own boldness, she leaned down and brushed her lips against his, her hair curtaining his face. So light and soft, it almost wasn't. Like a butterfly's wings fluttering against her mouth. He exhaled and she inhaled, feeling his breath becoming her own. When their lips parted, he turned on his side and drifted a hand up her arm, leaving goosebumps in his wake. Up, up to her shoulder, his clever finger hooking under the thin strap of her tanktop and sliding it down. She was paralyzed with wanting. Her head fell back and she had to stifle a sob, when he touched his mouth to the soft indentation at her shoulder. He murmured against her skin.

"Is this alright?"

"Oh god, Will." Oh god, I love you. Never stop touching me.

His mouth moved downwards, towards her heart, towards what belonged to him. Pressed a kiss against her breastbone, against the place where he lived within her. Branding her with his lips. She clutched at his shoulders like a dying man with his confessor. Oh, she was completely undone. Unraveled like a ribbon of light and heat and flame.

When he finally moved his lips from her, she lost all sense of propriety. Her mother would be shocked. She thought perhaps, her mother would understand. She laid her hands on his cheekbones, her thumbs tracing the hollows underneath. And kissed him breathless. Kissed him so hard, she no longer knew where he ended and she began. Kiss after kiss, all melting together into one strand of brilliance. Each kiss like a pearl added onto the strand. Finally, they broke apart with gasps. Mouths swollen, lips red and aching.

There were no more words. Words no longer seemed necessary or desirable. There was only this. Only him. Only her. Lying on their sides, facing each other, their foreheads touching. Eyes closed, breaths melding. Her arm over his waist, his hand slipping under her top to cup her breast. They slept, the sun caressing their bodies with its warm fingers, the breeze adoring them.

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