The year after we lost Allie, the therapy we had tried, signing the divorce papers, and building separate lives. None of it had been as cathartic as the two of us holding each other while we cried. This was the Stefan that had stolen my heart and the one I always wished would come back someday. His arms were my safety and mine were his. No one had ever needed another, the way we needed each other. Our hearts beat as one as our souls unified together. For the first time since opening my eyes in that hospital, I felt whole.
Tranquility gradually washed over me. From the way Stefan's soundless sobs eased, I could tell it calmed him as well.
He moved slightly away to look down into my face, keeping his arms securely circled around me.
"You will never know how much I needed to hear you say that." He whispered in a husky tone that was laced with the remaining tears.
"I do, Stefan. Because I've needed this moment just as much."
His hands left my back and delicately formed around my face. Lowering his lips to my forehead, I breathed out a sigh, letting all the emotional burden finally faded away. Keeping my face between his hands he pulled back, letting our eyes lock onto one another.
"I am so sorry that I was never the strength you needed. But, I am even more sorry that I ever let you go."
Hearing those words leave his mouth hit my core with a force I never imagined. As much as I loved it, all I could think was that he had let me go. And now, I belonged to someone else.
Standing on my toes I placed a kiss against his cheek and gave one final hug. We both pulled away and Stefan pointed to the box I placed on the ground.
"What'd you bring?"
I smiled, finally understanding why it had finally seemed time to bring something so personal.
"Every year I bring Allie a gift. Something told me that this was the year I should bring it." I scooped up the box, placing it in Stefan's hands. He seemed puzzled as he examined it without taking off the lid to see its contents. "I thought it was for her, but now I realized, that she wanted me to give it to you."
"Me?"
I nodded, smiling as he slowly drew back the lid. The instant he identified it, I knew. His mouth gaped open slightly, his eyes darting toward mine.
"Is this … ?"
"Yeah, it's Ray Ray."
Cautiously, he lifted Allie's bunny from the box, taking just a few moments to stare at it. His head shook as he exhaled a deep pent up breath.
"I didn't know you took him. After you ran out that night, I looked around for him. In your room, hers, the hallway. I really didn't want to lose him."
"I needed something and besides clothes, that was all I took."
He looked from the bunny up to me. "You're giving him to me?"
"Yes, I've had it all these years. I think you need it now. Allie would want you to have it."
"Thank you, Grey." Tears welled up in his eyes again but never fell. "Want to hang around here for a bit with me?"
I didn't need to know why, because there was nowhere else I would have rather been.
"Absolutely."
Hours passed and we stayed at Allie's grave, talking and laughing. The tears had subsided and the broken souls that ruled us finally seemed to mend. We spent the afternoon remembering the good times, the funny moments, and everything that made us the couple we were. It was exactly what we needed, and in my heart I knew this was the best birthday Allie had ever had.
When it was time to go we walked together to the parking lot, and when Stefan pulled me in for a hug I realized something.
"Stef?"
"Hmm?" He mumbled out, one arm around my back and the other smoothing down the back of my hair.
"I don't want this to be goodbye. It's unrealistic to think of us not even being friends, and if you want to be, I'd love it."
"Friends?" He asked, backing away to search my eyes for answers.
"Friends." I confirmed. "No one else in either of our lives know about Allie. Also, I know it'd be nothing but a lie to say I don't want you in my life. I'll always need you, Stefan. So, if you can accept that we can only just be friends, then I want to be."
After a moment a smile broke across his face. "If it means that I don't have to say goodbye to you again, then friends we shall be."
My smile broke into a grin much greater than I anticipated. Stretching up I placed a kiss against his cheek. I pulled back; saying the words he had said the very first day we met.
"I'm really kinda liking you, Stefan Harrison."
A beautiful chuckle met my ears. He looked down at me beaming back, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.