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She’d always thought of herself as so brave She’d gone out on her own at age eighteen, dependent on no one but herself, and she’d survived

But it turned out she wasn’t brave at all She’d locked her heart up tight when it had gotten hurt, and she’d kept it isolated and alone ever since

Which made her the opposite of brave

But not Aidan He didn’t have any walls Everything he felt or thought was all over him for the world to see

This made him the bravest person she’d ever known

And he loved her

You love him too … She closed her eyes "I need him," she whispered

"We all do," Hudson said

Gray grabbed the radio "Aidan, you copy? It’s Gray Need verification that you’re breathing Over"

The radio crackled and then Aidan’s voice filled the cab "Last I checked," he said "Does someone have eyes on Lily? Is she safe? Over"

As his unbearably familiar voice washed over her, Lily slapped a hand over her e, literally a tiny, narrow edge, hanging by nothing but a rope in a thunderstorerous the other rescuers had retreated, and he wanted to know if she was okay "I need to talk to him"

Gray shook his head no

But she was a woman on a mission and she snatched the radio from his hand "Aidan," she said into it, her voice not nearly as calen "I’m here, I’m fine" She paused "Over," she said aardly

Gray smiled at her like she was cute

"Define here," Aidan said, not sounding like he found her cute at all, his voice tight now "On theto get it all out before she choked on it, she sucked in some air "I’ht I was afraid of what et hurt But that’s not the way to live Things happen I can’t control everything and I can’t live a half life"

"Lily--"

"No, listen I’ulped in a breath, needing to hear hiulped, but she had to finish, she had to put it all out there, like he’d done for her He deserved thather off "Not here Not now, not like this Not because you think I’er"