— Annalise…. — she can hear when he hesitates on the phone — I need you. Now.

She didn't ask him for an explanation because she already knew what was happening. He needs her, it was time.

(...)

It has been two years since Annalise left Miami trying to move on and forget her love story that never happened because the two of them were too proud to admit their feelings. They knew they weren't supposed to be together, at least not as a couple. “We are fine being friends” they try to convince themselves with that lie every night.

In the last two years, Annalise and Rosie talked every day but never about their feelings, hoping that someday it'll disappear. But it never happened, just got stronger with time. Their love was real. No one could change that.

They never stopped being partners. Friends. Besties. Their person. Rosewood was always sending her updates about the cases on his lab, making her laugh and smile like a teenager staring at her phone. She missed him. And Annalise was always updating him about how she was, talking about her job and if she was taking care of herself. He needed to know if she was safe and okay.

Annalise dedicated those years in her career, being the best detective she could, doing always her best, and proving to everyone that she was the best. Sometimes she noticed that something was missing during the cases, he was not there with her. But he didn't ask her to stay when he had the chance, then there was nothing to do.

She worked so hard that she got promoted to captain. Annalise was happy, truly happy, but something always bothered her. She had no one to lay her head and cry at the end of a bad day, or celebrate her achievements, or make her feel something. And only one person in this world was capable of doing this, and she hated herself for not forgetting him and moving on with her heart to be with someone else.

We can't control our hearts. We have to take every opportunity life gives to us and risk ourselves because life is short, and time is cruel.

(...)

She took the first flight to Miami and didn't even prepare a bag. Annalise only had one purpose that day, and she didn’t care about anything but him. She was finally going to see him after all this time.

Rosewood tried to see her before, but she was always making excuses. Villa was afraid of meeting him and creating expectations that he would say the words. She was not ready to watch him leave and to be hurt one more time.

But that day she couldn't avoid him. He needed her, and she had to be there for him.

The flight was quick, Annalise didn't even think about what she was going to say to him. Her thoughts were a mess, seems like she was lost and had no idea what to do. Usually, she'd call him and ask for help, but he was the one who needed her. There wasn’t anyone to help her this time and it scared her.

She took a taxi and gave him the address.

When she got there, she took the information she needed and got on the elevator to go to him. Her hands shaking and her heart racing. She felt like she couldn't breathe. “Stop, Annalise. You need to focus”.

She left the elevator and walked slowly to the room he was in. Took a deep breath and opened the door.

Rosie was right there, sleeping on a hospital bed. He looked so peaceful but also so tired. Annalise didn't want to wake him up but she had to. Then, she walked to him to get closer. She stopped, taking a look at him and realized she can't live without him. She missed him so much and now she blames herself for not accepting all the invitations he made. She lost a lot of time and now he's leaving forever.

She grabbed his hand and called for him. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

— Hey, you’re here. — his voice was low.

She smiled back.

— Yes, I am.

— How was the flight? — he left her hand to sit on the bed and gave her space to do the same.

— It was all good… — she took his hands again, her eyes avoiding his — so… how much time?

She wasn’t ready.

— With luck, one more week. But I don’t want to talk about it. You’re here, and that’s all I need. I missed you. — his smiles still on his face.

She looked up to face him.

— I missed you too.

They stayed for a moment staring at each other, trying to read themselves. Two years. They changed, but their feelings were the same.

— You know, Rosie, we need to talk… — she couldn’t take anymore to avoid the subject.

— Villa, please. I need you. I just want you by my side. You’re my best friend.

She laughed. Not because it was funny, but because he was too stubborn and it drives her crazy. That was no time for that.

— Best friend… okay, Rosie, listen to me. We can’t do it anymore, ok? We need to be honest, we have to. I need to know.

— What do you want me to say, Villa? — he was worried about how it was going to end. He didn’t want to fight, not with her, not in that condition.

— I want you to tell me if you love me, Rosie. I want you to tell me if you ever did. — she got up from bed and started walking around the room — I’m not stupid, Rosie. Something happened. I can’t explain it but I know we both felt something and I need to hear it from you. I can’t handle all of this torture and lies, I have the right to know that I’m not crazy and that you ever loved me. — she stopped to look at him — Please, Rosie. Tell me. I can’t lose you and live with this doubt.

Annalise was tired. She waited for too long. She gave him a lot of opportunities, that was the last one.

— You’re not crazy. — his voice was low — but I couldn’t, I still can’t.

She went back to bed and one more time intertwined their fingers.

— Rosie… let’s face the reality. Be honest with me.

For a moment, all she received was silence. Denial. Fear.

— I love you, Annalise. I always loved and I always will. — he finally said. — I wish I could say that I love you with all my heart but I can’t because, you know, he’s dying. And my love for you will never die, this love is the most strong and real and alive thing I have. I love you with all my soul and every part of my body. I’ve been in love with you for a long time and I’m sorry that I’ve never told you. I was scared, and I still am. I didn’t want to put you in this situation again, losing someone you’re with, so I just hid my feelings. But now you forced me and ruined all my plans so, yes, I love you, Annalise Villa. So, if you let me, I would like to kiss you. Right now.

She didn’t hesitate, she dreamed about this moment for too long. She needed him and he needed her.

The woman leaned forward and pulled her lips against his. Both felt butterflies in their stomachs, all of this was new to them. The kiss was soft and they were in no hurry. She opened her mouth to his tongue find hers. They kissed calmly, their tongues working as if they had known each other before. But it was all new, and they were enjoying every single moment.

When the kiss ended, they stayed with their foreheads in touch. Annalise was crying, she liked the moment but she was scared.

Love and fear.

— What are we gonna do now? — he was the first to say something — I don’t want to hurt you, Annalise. You’re all I have.

— You know what? I hate you, Rosie — her voice was unstable. Her eyes let the tears fall. — I hate you because I loved you and you loved me for all this time and we had no time together. Every day I hoped that you would call me and ask me to come back and you never did. And now you’re dying, and I’m here. I don’t want to leave this room. I won’t let you die without having me by your side ‘till your last day.

— I’m sorry. I really am.

He was broken just like her.

They put themselves in that situation and now they needed to find a way to build their love story during his last days.

Rosewood gave her a short kiss.

— I want to stay here with you. — she put her hand on his chest, feeling his sick heart beating.

— I know. What do we do then? To finish our story.

— To be honest, I don’t know. I just want to love you and be happy with you and live what could be our story,

— Then let’s do this. I’ll love you until the last beat of my heart.

For the past week, Rosie and Annalise have loved each other with all their hearts. They lived an intense and hard week, but at some point, they were happy because they were finally together. They were all they had.