"Are you nervous?" I asked Alex. Feeling nervous myself. He looked up at me.

We were sitting on my bed, hanging out. Waiting for tomorrow when we fight Shaw. I wanted to be alone but I knew I shouldn't, so I was glad Alex tagged along. I sat cross legged, leaning against my pillows. Waiting for his answer.

"Yes. You ready to face Shaw?" I shook my head.

"The last two times I was near him, I was helpless. I don't like feeling helpless." Alex nodded and flashed me a mega-watt smile.

"But you aren't helpless. And this time you have family standing behind you." I dropped my eyes to my lap.

"Last time my family was in front of me and they died." I wish I hadn't said it as soon as I said it. Alex tensed up. He grabbed my hands that I had placed in my lap.

"Listen to me, no one is dying. Darwin was the first and last." I looked up, met his hurt eyes and I did something I have wanted to do for ages. I lent forward and let our lips meet. At first Alex did nothing and I felt vulnerable. Then he put his arms around my waist and pulled me to his lap. We came up for air and we rested our foreheads on each other's.

"So I've been wanting to do that since I first met you." I smiled at his sentence.

"I'm not going to let Shaw hurt you." He pecked my lips and squeezed my waist slightly.

"You know you can't protect me from everything."

"You obviously underestimate me." Alex nuzzled his head into my neck. I rested my head on top of his head. I wrapped my arms around his neck, Alex rocked us back and forth. I felt safe and secure. I wasn't used to that. I wasn't used to people caring. The only person I knew technically in a way cared was Shaw. Now I have more people and these people I prefer more than Shaw.