He knew she had to have been able to hear how fast his heart was pounding in his chest when she'd said those words so certainly to him. Lionel kissed her just as passionately as Nancy kissed him, his fingers burying in her hair lightly as his other arm wrapped around her tightly, like he was clinging to her. When he broke the kiss briefly, he moved his lips to her ear and in that deep, even tone of his, spoke, "I love you...I won't ever abandon you," before he pulled back, looked deep in her eyes and kissed her again.