In my lifetime, I've danced with approximately six guys.

Two of them were my cousins at various family weddings, two of them my friends when we were all randomly dancing after some event in university.

I can disregard those because we were just having fun. They didn't require or demand or create any intimacy.

The fifth was with the previous and only other person I've been on a first date or any date with.

The sixth one is Elliot.

Of all six encounters, I can confidently say that it's never been this intimate.

Even back at Ray's wedding, when we danced together, it seemed as if the world dissipated around us.

Now, standing this close to Elliot as he sways us, despite there being absolutely no music, it's the same exciting, yet calming feeling.

His hand is on my waist and with his other, he holds mine.

"Something's missing, isn't it?" I whisper, almost afraid to break the moment.

Elliot chuckles. "Where's your imagination, Disney Princess, hmm?"

I laugh at his idiocy.

We sway quietly for a while longer before Elliot begins to softly hum a melody near my ear.

It's only two seconds before I recognize it as probably the most iconic song in The Sleeping Beauty. In his lilting tone, Elliot hums Once Upon a Dream to me.

Closing my eyes, I lean my head forward until my forehead meets his shoulder.

My nose pressed into his shirt, I can smell him so acutely, but I can't for the life of me place what the scent is. I decide that it doesn't matter when it just smells so wonderful.

Elliot's mouth is close to my ear.

I can feel his breath as he exhales.

I almost don't hear him when he breathes out, "Happy."

"What?" I ask, pulling my head back and looking up at him.

Elliot gazes back at me, his mouth slightly open, almost as if I took him by surprise. "Are you happy?" he asks, "That you came out tonight?"

"Increasingly," I nod, making Elliot smile. "I always enjoy a free meal. We should do it more often."

"Tomorrow?" Elliot pitches instantly.

When I take a moment to think, Elliot squeezes the hand of mine that's in his. "I suppose I could manage that," I say, thoughtfully.

Then, I stop.

Elliot stops moving. "Something wrong?"

Looking up at him, slowly, I take my hand out of his grasp.

He releases me completely, the moment he realizes that I'm trying to take a step back.

"We don't have to go anywhere tomorrow if you don't want to," Elliot says, after a pause.

Managing to breathe out a single laugh, I shake my head. The longer I stand in silence trying to work up the nerve to say what I want to say, the worse I feel that I'm probably putting Elliot on edge.

He, on the other hand, seems to take it in his stride. Beckoning to me, he walks over and sits against the hood of the car.

Following him, I stand in front of him, my foot tapping against the sand beneath it, the bottom lip between my teeth.

It's only when I stop that I realize I had been shaking my head.

Elliot only watches me, silently. He doesn't prompt me to go on, he doesn't ask, he doesn't try to coax anything out of me.

The way he's looking at me, I don't even feel like I'm inconveniencing him by taking my time to try and say what I'm thinking.

"Things are different," I begin, "In Andrusia. My parents are probably quite different from the ways you're used to. It's something I understood by going to college here. They're a bit more conservative, protective. Maybe mine are the way they are because they have two daughters."

Elliot is still quiet. He only nods.

"I can't take a parade of guys home, Elliot. My whole life, I've only wanted one, but I was young and I made a decision that probably wasn't the best, despite everything I learnt from it. Relationships are not things I take lightly. If I'm with someone, it's serious and it will be for me, from the get-go. I'm not interested in just today, or just for the moment, or just for a fling. I want to get married one day and as much as it terrifies me - that sort of commitment - I will still do it, because I want that. I want that in my life; a marriage. I spent two years with someone who wasn't good for me, with someone who didn't do for me the way I did for him, with someone who took things too lightly, with someone who probably didn't really mind having to give their time to various people. I will not spend another two years only to realize that it was a waste of my time and energy."

His expression is serious as he listens to me.

"I'm not saying that unexpected things don't happen. I'm not saying things can't change and even things that you want to last forever won't break. Life throws so many things at you, but I also think, it's possible to look at someone you know and make some sort of decision about them. If you look at me right now, knowing everything you know about me, and if you think that there's a possibility that I won't fit into your life, into your future, we can stop all of this, right now. We can go home and we can be friends. If not, if you think, even still, that you want me in your life, I think we should discuss some things before tomorrow comes."

For a long time, Elliot is quiet, just looking at me, his arms folded over his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles, the tiniest line between his dark eyebrows.

The lump in my throat hurts so much that I can't decide whether I want to throw up, cry or just run away.

Instead of running, or crying, or throwing up on Elliot's shoes, I stand there, looking at me, wondering if this is the first and last time I will have to make this speech.

The breeze around us is gentle, picking wisps of my hair, blowing strands of Elliot's, rustling leaves in the trees as it hums the soft sounds of the night.

Elliot uncrosses his legs.

He uncrosses his arms.

He stands.

He takes a step towards me.

He looks at me intently, purposefully.

He asks, "What are we discussing?"

Every process within me that had stilled in anticipation of his response tumbles out and I begin to laugh and tears form in the corners of my eyes. I'm shaking my head again.

"Not the response you wanted?" Elliot teases.

Wiping a hand across my face, I look up at him.

"Come," he says, gently, "Sit down with me and we'll discuss everything you can possibly think of."

Elliot takes the step back and resumes his position on the hood of the car.

I try to swallow the lump in my throat and join him.

The first thing that tumbles out of my mouth is, "Elliot, you understand what you've agreed to, right? This -"

"I know," he says, surely, cutting me off.

It makes me turn my head and look at him.

He's looking at me and talking softly, in a low tone. "I've known since I met you."

Closing my eyes, I shake my head. "You can't have known, Elliot. Not about a complete stranger."

"I knew something. Otherwise, I wouldn't have tried to spend so much time with you."

"I'm glad you did."

Elliot's facing forward, but I know he's smiling. In fact, he's smirking.

"Smugness isn't very becoming," I say, nudging him with my shoulder.

He shrugs. "I think it's pretty great."

I look ahead.

The moon is the sort of crescent that the DreamWorks boy fishes from.

"Do you want to live in Whitfield Hills your whole life?" I ask him.

Elliot considers. "I think I would like to see other places as well. See what life is like elsewhere. What about you? Will you always be in Andrusia?"

"I love my home, but I think I'll also enjoy an experience."

Elliot nods.

"Vices?" I ask.

"I don't drink. I don't smoke. Never have, never will. I just cannot stay away from junk food. I also have a hard time saying no to people that I love - and grandmas."

"What about grandmas you love?"

"My absolute kryptonite."

I laugh.

"Yours?" he asks.

"I don't drink. I don't smoke. Never have, never will," I repeat, "I also have a penchant for junk food. If I could, I would eat an entire tub of chocolate ice cream in one sitting."

"Have you ever tried?"

"No. I always feel like my Mom is going to pop in with a puff of smoke and give me a Mom look."

Elliot snorts.

"What do you feel for the environment?"

"I carry litter in my pocket until I can find a bin. I try to be as eco-friendly as possible. I care about her very much."

"What's your love language?"

My question makes him smile a little. "Quality time, mostly."

His answer makes me smile. "I think that's mine, too. Maybe it's more of that than the others."

"All of the others?"

"I think I like all the languages in some form."

Elliot nods.

"Still don't want out?" I tease.

He scrunches up his nose, like he's in thought. "Still want in."

"Do you like reading?"

Elliot nods. "More than watching movies, sometimes."

"Do you like travelling?"

"If I didn't love being a doctor so much and I could get paid doing it, that's what I would be doing."

I inhale deeply.

"Do you want kids?"

That question makes Elliot stop. He looks at me. "Yes," he nods, "Not too many. Two or three. I grew up with Jenna and as much as we annoyed each other, I loved having a sibling. I used to look at Aiden, Isa and Marco and think that I lucked out."

"What if," I begin my pondering, "For some reason, having biological children isn't on the cards. Let's also say adoption is out. Let's say that there's absolutely no possibility that children will happen. What then?"

"That's fine, too. Children don't make a family. A family is any number of people who care about each other. I just want a family."

"What if she doesn't want to have children?"

Elliot looks at me. "Do you not want children?"

Pushing away the implications of his question, I urge, "Answer my question first."

Elliot thinks. "The choice isn't mine. Sure, maybe I have some input, but I'm not the one to bear the children. There are pros and cons of children. There are pros and cons of being a parent. My answer would depend on the choice, I suppose."

"If I said I don't want to have children because I'm scared of the process and I'm scared of parenting someone? Does that make you want to walk away?"

Putting his palms down on the hood, Elliot leans back on his arms. He's quiet.

"No."

"No?"

"If we want to have children, we do. If not, life is still worth living, just the two of us."

His words settle in around me and my heart races.

"I think I do want kids. Not now, though. I'm not ready now. But I do want to try and create good people for the world."

"I like that," Elliot nods, "Create good people for the world."

"How good are you with your finances?" I ask. It's only after the question is out of my mouth that I remember that Elliot is one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, not only because of the lucrative career path, but also because of his net worth.

"I save a percentage of every salary and I have since I started working. I try to have a plan for every major expense that I would make; a car, a gadget, a watch, a trip. I also have investments in stocks."

"I don't really have a stock portfolio, but I try to save up for every big thing I buy and I don't really make impulse decisions when it comes to spending," I tell him, "My parents are really big on saving."

"Answer me something," Elliot says.

I nod.

"Tell me the worst thing about you."

"What?" I ask, a little confused.

"I think that the worst thing about me is how much I want to control things," he explains, almost like he's thought of this many times before, "As a doctor, especially a surgeon, you have to be in control of a lot of things, and I love being able to. To my own detriment, it affects me deeply that sometimes, I can't control the outcome of surgeries, I can't control the path of diseases. I want to do every single thing that I do right, perfectly, completely controlled and sometimes, I lose myself in that. Sometimes, I don't see, I don't realize important things when I'm so focused on controlling something, getting it right. That's the worst thing about me. What do you think is the worst thing about you?"

I look at his profile, wondering which weakness to cite. I have enough to choose from.

"Sometimes, I hold a grudge," I confess, "The thing is, I don't forget things much. Particularly if you've been nice to me, or if you've been mean to me. It's difficult to forget. And if you've been nice to me, I will try to repay that kindness, but if someone was mean to me, it plays over in my mind. Sometimes, I have cutting remarks on my tongue that I say or don't say, depending on the impulse of the moment, all because there's some sort of leftover anger or resentment in me that I can't let go of. I'm not really saying it affects my relationship with the person, especially if it's something trivial, but it's there, lying somewhere in my brain, ready to rear its head at some strange moment. I don't always act on it, but it's there."

Elliot takes a moment for my answer to sink in.

"Tell me the best thing about you."

"You first."

"I'm a good friend. A loyal friend. It's not always easy for people to find good friends who would be there for you through anything. I have friends that I've made over the years and sometimes, when I think of the things I've done for them, helped them through, it makes me smile because I've been a good friend to people I care about," Elliot says.

I take a deep breath. "I try to make people happy. Most of the time, it's people that I know, but sometimes, it'll be the lady selling handkerchiefs on the corner. I like it when people smile at me because of something I've done for them. I love picking thoughtful gifts and then seeing the look on people's faces when they realize that it's something meaningful to them. Sometimes, I go out of my way to do it, but if it makes someone happy, why not, right?"

Elliot looks at me and slowly, nods. "Right."

We both gaze at each other.

Elliot's lopsided smile grows. "Any more questions, Aura? Or do I live to see another day."

"You'll live to see tomorrow," I tell him, bumping shoulders.

We stand there watching each other, watching the stars, as our conversation drifts in other directions.

Elliot drives us home and walks me up to my door.

I stand with my hand on the doorknob, looking at him, a bit flustered.

"I had a wonderful time, Aura."

Biting the corner of my lower lip, I nod. "I had a wonderful time, too," I reply.

Elliot stands there, unmoving, gazing down at me.

I push my hands away from him so that he can't take my pulse.

I almost want him to walk away, but I also don't want him to go.

Elliot leans down, watching my eyes.

I don't know what he sees in them, but he angles his head and gently presses his lips to my cheek, which immediately catches fire.

Hoping to God that he didn't hear my intake of breath, I smile.

He smiles back at me.

"Goodnight, Aura."

"Goodnight," I say back, "El."

His smile widens at that and he begins to back away.

Before he's opened his own door, I open mine and tumble in, closing it behind me.

I drop my bag on to the chair and begin to hyperventilate just a tad, as I pace the room, coming to a halt right in the middle, one hand against my burning cheek and the other against my racing heart.

My mouth feels pretty dry and I almost gasp for air.

There's a knock on my door, which makes me turns, staring at the closed door.

I stare at it long enough that it opens slowly, and Elliot's head pokes through.

His eyes find me and he takes me in, in my strange pose.

I nod to him, letting him know that he can come in.

He does, closing the door behind him.

Elliot crosses the room and comes to stand a foot away from me.

He seems to be breathing pretty deeply himself.

"Aura, we met seven months ago," he says, "Seven months ago, we went to dinner, we walked down a pier under the night sky, we rode a Ferris wheel at sunset and we said goodbye at an airport. Later, we danced together, we watched the sky together. All those times, I put this off, but the moment I opened my bedroom door tonight, I realized that I can't put it off anymore. My father always spoke of leaps of faith."

He steps closer to me.

I don't even realize I'm holding my breath.

"I'm going to kiss you, Aurora," Elliot declares, "Do you want to stop me?"

He searches my eyes for an answer.

He searches until I shake my head.

Then, he takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine.

I just realized that this moment has been thirty-seven chapters in the making.

Oof.

Thank you for sticking by me and them for so long.

I love you guys.

I hope you enjoyed.