The group came back from the town and entered the mess hall. Boots that had stumped through the slush tracked muddy footprints across the floor, but no one cared, people just wanted to get something warm to drink.
He was sitting in front of the fire reading a book when she passed him. He smiled at her but she looked away quickly and kept following the crowd towards the kitchen. Slowly the crowd began to dwindle as people got their coffee or coco and made their way back to the dorms. He got up, closed his book and set it on the hearth and entered the kitchen. She was standing there talking with friends. He made himself a cup of coffee and while he did so her friends left, but she lingered. He began talking with his own friends and was about to leave the building with them when she called his name. He looked back at her and she began fixing herself a cup of coffee. He told his friends he would catch them later and returned to the kitchen. They were alone now. She was taking her time making her coffee.
"How you been, kid?" he asked her, watching her. She paused for a split second but then continued what she was doing, not saying a word. "Hey, how are ya?" He said again, this time in a low, deep voice, trying to make her laugh. She stopped and looked at him, tears in her eyes. She shook her head and tried to go back to making her coffee. She failed, knocking the cup over and spilling the contents across the counter. She broke down crying, leaning against the edge of the counter.
"Hey..." he said, "come 'ere." He took her in his strong arms and held her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder, her body shaking with sobs. "Shush now, you're fine." He said gently, leaning his head against her's.
"I missed you..." she said between sobs.
"I know," he said, "I missed you too..."
"Please...don't....don't ever..." she stammered.
"Don't you worry, I won't ever let you go again."
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