Penelope was glad for the distraction when he closed the space between them and kissed her. It maybe wasn't the ideal time for getting affectionate, at least not when past experiences suggested that falling into each other and forgetting about the present was a real risk with them, but this was different. The contact was a comfort, an almost physical extension of their feelings and Penelope could feel a sigh building as some of the day’s tension began to ebb away.
In short, it was what they had needed but then Charlie spoke, his words coming out in a rush of breath and Penelope froze.
She didn't move, not even an inch, her eyes still closed and her hand still at his cheek. It had moved during their kiss, had slipped lower and was positioned now where she could feel his pulse literally hammering beneath her fingers. She could feel her own too, her ears pounding with it and her head feeling suddenly as if she might need to hold on more tightly, because that thought; that he felt the need to say such a thing now, amidst all this horrible mess...
She opened her eyes then and he looked to her and was saying it again. He was telling her that he loved her, without the 'think' part now and meaning it quite seriously, and at that Penelope moved both hands and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. She was smiling and crying and feeling completely out of sorts but she wanted to say it back. If only because it was true. Penelope had known love before and she'd already suspected that it was that which had been growing between them, even if she hadn't been brave enough to admit to it before.
"I love you too. Charlie," She didn't know if she was laughing or sobbing or both and she pulled back to press her lips against his again, her tears running down and into the kiss.