❛I love you ❜

Time always seemed to go by the slowest when you were waiting for it to go by the fastest. Annabelle Carter was still in recovery mode from her ordeal with the Count. It was funny how she had survived lights falling atop her, stab wounds, endless bruises, and many broken bones, but what broke her was the drugs. She had been in the hospital for a week and just began eating solid foods only days ago. She was constantly in pain but her visits from her friends and family helped her forget that pain for small amounts of time.

Today she was supposed to be making progress and was planning to walk for the first time since she was found in the warehouse. Oliver had wheeled her to the exercise room in the hospital and though she should have been relaxed and calm to take her first steps, her heart was racing and she had fear resonating in her head.

"Ready to walk again?" Oliver asked as he spun her wheelchair around and smiled wide. "When that tremor in your hand goes away and you can hop on one foot you'll be ready to rule the world."

Anna sighed and looked up at Oliver, "I'm not so sure, Oliver," she responded with a small voice. "What do you mean?" he wondered, confusion taking over his face.

"Rulers of the world do not have ulcers that inflict pain over their whole body and make a lasting impression that is unforgettable."

Oliver frowned, "You'll be okay, Bella."

Anna rolled her eyes and used her hands to push her wheelchair forwards and through the automatic doors of the room. "You do not know that, Ollie."

He hopped after her and took hold of her wheelchair again and pulling her close to him. "I'll make sure of it, Anna. I'm not going to let anyone do anything to hurt you. What happened with the Count stopped when I put him in that mental hospital."

Anna sighed again, "Let's just get this over with." 

Oliver looked down at her and was ready to open his mouth to respond when she interrupted with a small "Please."

He nodded and stepped back, watching as Anna's doctor approached her and smiled, explaining the process of what was about to happen. 

The doctor held out her hands and allowed Anna to grab onto them until she found a sturdy grip. The doctor pulled Anna to her feet and took a step back so that Anna would be forced to take a step forward. The girl yelped in sudden pain and Oliver's reflexes forced him to hop forward. The doctor signaled him that it was alright and Anna stared down at her feet and took a deep breath.

"Are you alright, Annabelle?" the doctor asked her. Anna shook her head and tried to keep her lip from quivering. Her ulcer continued to rage as she took another step and she wanted to stop moving. Her entire body screamed for mercy and her hand shook more. Her nerve system was reacting to an overload of pain.

"We only need to take a few more steps," the doctor told her. "Can you do that?"

Anna looked up and took a deep breath. "I don't know."

Oliver looked at the doctor with a pleading look and she nodded, allowing Oliver to take her place and grab Anna's hands. The doctor stepped back and held her clipboard to take notes as Oliver helped Anna along. "Hey," Oliver whispered to the woman he loved. "You can do this, I know you can."

His hands gripped Anna's firmly and he used his arm strength to keep her standing since it seemed she could not do so herself. "We'll go slow."

Anna nodded and took one small step for everyone small step that Oliver took. He held onto her as if her life depended on it. Her pain was still strong and evident, but with the man she loved helping her along it seemed less.

"You're doing it, Anna!"

The woman smiled softly and even chuckled as she made it to the point that would mark her success for the day. Oliver laughed out loud in pure joy as she crossed the line and the doctor clapped her hands together and congratulated the woman who had suffered so much. 

"You did it! I told you that you could do it!"

Anna's smile on her face was one of pure joy. She looked up at Oliver and let go of his hands, bringing her hands up to his cheeks and firmly bringing his lips to her own. He was stunned at first, but when Anna didn't pull away, he melted into the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer. The doctor smiled and turned away to record information in her binder and once Anna pulled away, she looked up at Oliver with her hands on his chest and smiled. She stared at him for what seemed like a long moment and when his eyes met her own, it was as if sparks flew in the room and they were the only two in the world.

•••

Ever since she had taken her first steps, Anna had made remarkable progress. She wasn't able to walk too much on her own but she was able to a walk small paces. She was able to hold food down and take steps, and the doctor had amazingly cleared her for going home. She was thrilled because hospital beds were not the lifestyle she wished of and she wanted to go lay in her own bed with room temperature she could control on her own.

Her and Oliver had not discussed the kiss they shared but it was something constantly on their minds, but neither of them wanted to be the first to bring it up.

Anna leaned her head against the window of the moving vehicle that was taking her to the place she loved to be - home. Oliver looked over at her from his seat beside her and he smiled, lifting his hand to brush a strand of hair away from the woman's face. A small smile graced her lips as he did so but she did not open her eyes and continued to rest easy.

When the car rolled to a stop only minutes later, she opened her eyes and lifted up in her seat to stretch her back. Oliver opened her side door and held out his hands for her to hold onto and she smiled at him before grabbing on and easing her way out of the car. Diggle - who had driven them - grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and carried it inside, leaving the door open for the two to enter. Oliver helped the love of his life climb up the stairs since she had yet to work on that and before she knew it, she had stepped into her room.

Everything was just as she left it except she could clearly tell that the sheets were freshly dry cleaned in anticipation of her arrival. She smiled once she saw her room and she walked carefully to her mirror where she saw someone who was stronger because of the ordeals she had faced. Oliver approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist and settling his chin on her shoulder. "I knew you could do it, Annabelle."

"You never give up hope in me, Oliver."

"Why would I?"

Anna smiled and turned in Oliver's arms. "I could kiss you," she whispered, leaning in his arms. "Like you did a few days ago?" Oliver laughed, leading the girl over to her bed so she could go to sleep. She grinned and sat on the edge of her bed as Oliver helped her take her shoes off. "I was caught up in a moment."

"Are you caught in another one?" Oliver asked as he looked up at her from his place on the ground. Anna shrugged, "Perhaps. Would that be a bad thing?"

Oliver shook his head and sat next to Anna on the bed while looking directly at her at a close distance. "No," he admitted. "But you were the one who wanted to go on a break."

Anna pursed her lips, "I think we need to talk about that," she told him while tracing the pattern on his shirt with her finger. "Do we?" Oliver questioned as he felt her hand grip the collar of his shirt. "Yes," Anna simply replied as she kissed him passionately. He smiled against her lips and pushed her down so she wouldn't strain her ulcer or anything and for the first time in many months, he was finally with the woman he wanted to be with.

"I love you."