[h2]Esme[/h2]
 When Esme sat up on the couch, she took note of panic as Duke hovered his hand over her body and nearly told her what she should do before he broke off when she looked into his eyes. She could see that her words had gotten through to him, and they had made him tear up. It also wasn't hard to see he was keeping himself from crying in front of her. She figured it was because of how sad it seemed to make her the last time he cried in front of her. Esme didn't want him to feel like he couldn't cry around her. She wanted him to be open with her with his emotions, no matter what they were. When he agreed to be more open with her, she smiled softly.  Esme wanted Duke to know that she was there for him and always would be. She wanted him to know she wouldn't leave him high and dry when things got tough or felt utterly hopeless. When Duke told her he wanted to work on being more honest and open with her, her soft smile grew a little more on her lips. “That’s all I ask for.” she whispered in reply. 

When Duke didn’t pull away after she turned her head, she knew she had gotten through to him. Esme closed her eyes when Duke brought his hand up to her neck and brushed his fingertips over her skin. It was a simple touch, but it spoke volumes. His next words, his nuzzle against her cheek, and how he held her close to him made her smile warmly and melt into his embrace. Keeping one hand on his cheek to hold his head to hers, she moved her other hand to the back of his head to stroke his hair. “I think I can if it’s anything like how much I love you.” she whispered. She nuzzled her head against his and sighed contently. “I know this will sound cheesy, but I don’t care…. You complete me, Duke…. All those years I was alone, I felt like a part of me was missing. But as soon as you walked back into my life, saved me from those demons, and we rekindled what he had, I felt whole again.” she whispered, being completely honest with him. “You’re my world, Mr. Hatfield…. I’d be utterly lost without you…. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure that out.”

Esme nuzzled against him again and pulled him in a little closer. She didn’t want to let him go or for him to let her go, but she knew they would have to release each other at some point. So Esme took in the moment, breathing him in and taking in his embrace that she thought she had lost only hours ago. She still didn’t know how he had returned to her, but she wouldn’t question it anymore at that moment. Esme just wanted to hold him close and have him hold her close, to snuggle, to live in the moment, and to talk. She didn’t care about the aspirin and the coffee anymore. She’d be perfectly happy if he whisked her away to the RV with a little snack, and they spent the rest of the night there together in each other's arms.