[ All that ... whatever it was -- hardness, determination, drive -- falls right away from her when Luke does that. He's ... he's really scared, isn't he. She makes another, quiet noise, barely better than a gasp, and shuts her eyes, her free arm wrapping tightly around his back. She wants to cry.

It's not fair. Van ... after all this time, why is someone like him allowed to suddenly turn up here and ruin everything?

It's his last line of thought that brings her attention back. And her chest is still aching, so badly, it hurts. She ... she thinks she can get where he's going with that. She wishes she didn't. Does he really mean...?

But then ... she'd been wondering. "What if it's not me who listens to him?" ]

Luke... no matter what happens, or ... what Van ever says to you... I'm always going to be here. Right here, by your side. No one, not even him, can make me leave. And ... I'm always going to be here to remind you. About ... about everything.

[ She pulls back then, suddenly, freeing her hand from his and releasing him, sitting back on her heels. With a deep, shuddering breath, she abruptly throws her arms around him again, this time so she can circle both around his neck and cling to him very tightly, and whisper. ]

He can't have you. He can't.