He wraps his arm around her, the movement and the pressure of her arm against his injuries hurting, but he's used to ignoring pain, and this time he has a much better reason to do so. "Then I won't," he says, resting his head against hers and tears coming to his eyes as he realizes that he finally has what he's wanted more than anything else for almost three and a half years.

His voice cracking, he whispers, "I love you, sweetheart."