This is the last chapter... I'm a bit sad right now. I really hope this meets all of your expectations, because as it turns out I'm better at writing the angsty stuff. Please let me know what you think.

Oh and to everyone who has read this story, especially those who reviewed: thank you so much for sticking with me, I really appreciate it.

"I mean it sharon. you make me wanna buy you flowers, cook you dinner. The last few days..."

Andy's voice caught in his throat. He was pouring his heart out, something he should've done a long time ago, yet it was still hard to put into words just what he'd felt the previous days.

"I thought you were..."

He couldn't bring himself to say it, not out loud. The fear had been so overwhelming, so overpowering, but at the moment it seemed far away, almost like a dream. For some reason it felt as if saying it would make it more real, as if the words would bring back the feeling in full force. He didn't want to experience that fear, that utter misery, again, but at the same time he knew he needed to tell her the truth, however painful. He took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to speak his mind.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

It sounded all wrong, he realized as soon as the words had left his lips. She wasn't his to lose, never had been. In fact, it was both egotistical and presumptuous to even entertain the idea that she was. Yet, he knew he had never expressed his feelings more honestly than in that exact moment. From the moment she'd collapsed on his porch, looking pale and battered, he had been afraid of losing her. Even thinking back to that moment filled him with raw emotions, fighting to get the upper hand in the turmoil of feelings. Suddenly the urge to get a reaction from her became overwhelming. he needed to know what she was thinking, her silence was pouring him off.

"I know this is a lot to take in, I do. we never really saw eye to eye and now all of a sudden I'm confessing my feelings for you. I'd understand if you need some time to process all of this, I'd even understand it if you want to have nothing to do with me, but please just say something."

He watched her intently, hopefully even, still taking her lack of reaction as a good sign. However, as seconds , minutes, ticked away, this confidence began to slip. She wasn't looking him in the eyes, instead she seemed to be staring at his chin. Her eyes a bit wider than usual, the trace of tears still visible, but the sad look was gone. Andy took a step back, her silence making him insecure. Maybe he had misread the silence, maybe she was just trying to find a way to let him down gently. He had given her plenty of time to say something, yet her mouth hadn't opened even once and he was starting to feel embarrassed for pouring his heart out the way he had. Slowly he took another step away from her. A feeling of dread rose in his chest, poisoning his blood, making his limbs feel heavy. It was almost as if an iron fist had grasped his heart, tightening its hold with every passing seconds. He needed air. He needed to get out of there as fast as possible, but first he needed to set things right.

"I'm really sorry for... "

What was he sorry for? everything probably. for making her uncomfortable, for making her feel like he hated her, god he was an idiot.

"I'm sorry for keeping you, I mean taking up your time, you can't really go anywhere... but you should be resting, so I'm sorry for that." He made an awkward movement with his hands that was supposed to clarify what he was saying, but actually made it worse.

"Andy..."

"And, well, I should probably leave, but I just needed to tell you, you know, what I just…" Again that little wave with his hands. He really needed to stop doing that.

"Andy, I..."

"And I'm sorry again for, well, whatever that was and you know, keeping your family away and..."

When he had almost reached the door, he felt it safe to turn around to hide his flushed face. He knew he was blabbering like a complete idiot, at loss for words.

"Andy, wait! "

He felt a small hand on his arm, forcing him to turn around. He didn't resist, didn't have the willpower to shrug the hand away and walk out of the door, even though it was only a few inches away. Instead he gave in, turning around, ending up face to face with Sharon. It took him a moment to take in the situation, but then it hit him: she wasn't supposed to be out of bed, she was supposed to be resting and here he was disturbing her recovery. Almost like a machine he started to apologise again.

"You should stay in bed. I'll get out of your way, don't worry."

"Andy, listen..."

"Your parents are probably waiting to get back in here, so..."

He couldn't finish his sentence, his words were silenced by the feel of her soft lips on his. His arms moved on their own accord, one hand settling on her waist and the other on the back of her neck, carefully pulling her against him. The kiss was sweet and didn't last long, but in his mind it was perfect, simply because it was her mouth on his. However, when she broke away, he couldn't help staring at her in a mixture of surprise and shock. Dark brown eyes met green in a questioning gaze.

"I like you too, Andy, I have for some time now. After jack left, I thought I would never be able to feel anything again. I shut myself off from the rest of the world. But then you came sweeping in with your jokes and good intentions. You infuriated me, tried my patience on so many occasions, but most of all you confused me, because underneath it all, underneath the uncaring surface, I started to feel again and I didn't know what to do."

It took a second for him to register the meaning of what she'd just said. It seemed like the words got scrambled up in his head, leaving him to put the pieces together. Confusion quickly turned into the kind of happiness that made him want to sing, dance and everything in between. Soon, however his joy turned into worry, when he saw her waver slightly. Taking both of her hands in his, he led her back to the bed, laying her down gently. She smiled at the gentle look in his eyes, knowing that what she found there was love. No matter where it would take them, right now she was happier than she'd been in a very long time.