Just as quick as that, it was all it took. His arms around her, and she knew it was real. Or a dream so damn good she knew she'd never want to wake up from it. Her hands moved from her face, without caring whether or not she looked like shit. It didn't matter.
She captured his face with both of her hands, and kissed him with a desperation she didn't know existed. Maryanne hadn't planned on Daryl playing such an important part. Not that first night. Hell she hadn't planned on anyone playing an important part in her life again. But he'd crept in there. And she knew fate was just laughing at her.
On the train she'd had the family she'd wanted, even if it wasn't officially hers. It was close enough. The man she loved beside her, and two kids that she adored. And in one night it had all vanished. And it had nearly killed her.
Satisfied that he was real, that he was there. That he wasn't going anywhere right that moment. She leaned back just a little, so that she could just... Look at him. And before she knew it, three little words that had scared the daylights out of her tumbled out, no preamble, no warning. "I love you." No more cowardliness. No more running.