This was why. Protecting life was protecting this, and this was worth everything. She understood now, and though she felt in different ways than he, the underlying feeling was the same in her as it was in him. She realized she was crying, and her arms had wrapped around him as much as she could manage, and she was holding on to him tightly. Maybe too tightly. She didn't want to hurt him, and quickly eased her grasp. But oh, this was.... this was why.
She didn't have to wonder anymore. She knew she loved Eric. It felt like she could fly. Leeloo wondered how she ever thought she could possibly have fought him. She knew now that her heart wouldn't have let her.
Though she didn't want to break away from this, from this, she had to, to tell him, "I love you, too, Eric."