Stefan stood in the doorway to Laura's room, silently watching her. He had made the necessary calls and everything was in order. There was nothing keeping her here anymore.

He was going to miss her; he could already feel the loneliness invading his body just thinking of the emptiness that would fill the house when she left.

Gods, how he loved her. There was no use in denying it. He loved her.

"Are you going to come in, or just stand there all day, Fred?" Laura asked, her back still to him.

He smiled at the teasing note in her voice, and walked in. "I wouldn't bother with those curtains, Ginger," he told her.

Laura stopped what she was doing, and carefully stepped off the stool, regarding him curiously. "Why not?"

"Are you ready to go home?" Stefan asked.

"Home..."

She knew he meant Port Charles, but the word evoked a different image in her mind now. She had just been thinking of how she wanted to redecorate her room, and now"

"I've arranged for your flight tomorrow morning," Stefan said, keeping his voice even. "You will be traveling first-class."

"You're not coming with me?" The idea that she would go alone had never entered her mind.

He looked at her, trying to ignore the feeling of hope. "I--"

"You think you can get rid of me that easily? You obviously still haven't learned how stubborn I can be. You're coming with me." Laura tried to make her voice as authoritative as possible, but her heart was beating rapidly, her stomach tied in knots. What if he said no? And why would he say yes?

Silence.

"Then I suppose I have no choice," Stefan finally said.

Laura laughed in relief. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she said into his chest. "For everything."

"You know you don't owe me anything. If you're asking me to come with you because you feel indebted to me..." Stefan stopped as Laura placed one finger on his mouth, silencing him.

"It's for purely selfish reasons. I want you in my life, Stefan," she said quietly. She looked into his green eyes, her heartbeat once again accelerating as the words stumbled naturally from her lips. "I love you."

"Laura..."

"And don't tell me it's only gratitude, or that I'm on the rebound. I'm in love with you. And I want to be with you."

Stefan simply stared, lost in the swirling pools of blue that belonged to the woman who held the key to his happiness, and was offering it to him.

"If you don't feel the same way," Laura began, but this time Stefan silenced her.

The kiss was soft, at first barely a touch. But it grew deeper, and with it she had her answer.

~The End~