[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme continued to stand next to the bed, unmoving as she looked at Duke and listened to him talk. Seeing him in this state tore at her emotionally, and it was all she could do to hold herself back from going to him before he could finish what he had to say. So she held her hands across her stomach to keep herself from reaching for him. His words pulled at her heartstrings, causing to hold back the tears that threatened to show themselves. She couldn’t deny that she was happy to hear that he wasn’t sure he could run this time. She didn’t want to lose anyone else, especially after just getting them back not that long ago. As he explained that he wasn’t a team player, obsessed over her silently for years, almost gets killed when he picks up a knife, doesn't sleep, and barely eats. Then called himself a mess, Esme’s gaze went to Duke’s boots. It was nothing she didn’t already know about him. He was the same way all those years ago and she hadn’t expected that to change about him. At his shaky breath, she looked back up at him and sighed very softly. 

He looked like a child standing in front of her, a very nervous child. One that looked like he was about to be rejected even after spilling all their truths. Esme was about to step up to him but stopped when he cleared his throat and spoke once more. A light smile tugged at the corner of her lips as his words reached her ears. He wanted to take care of her and learn how to stop running. But she couldn’t help but think, could she really be the one to help him learn to stop running? She had been running for years, and she was still fighting the urge to run at times. Thinking of this caused her light smile to fade and she could feel old suppressed emotions bubbling to the surface. Kicking herself mentally, she pushed back the emotions and focused on Duke. Sniffling, then taking a deep breath, she pulled her headphones from around her neck and tossed them on the bed before slowly walking up to Duke. Slowly lifting her right hand, she gently placed it on his cheek and lifted his face just enough so that she could see his face under his hat. 

“My poor sweet Cowboy.” Esme spoke softly, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. “You really think I wouldn’t let you back in?.... I just got you back and I’m not ready to lose you again. Plus, you haven’t told me anything I didn’t already know.” Standing up on her tiptoes and pushing his hat up a bit, she placed a gentle kiss on the bridge of his nose then on his left cheek. “You have taken care of me, more than you realize but I understand you feel you need to do more after what you’ve learned about me. I’m still the same woman you met all those years ago, just with a little more baggage then I had then.” she told him with a small smile. “And instead of just you taking care of me, how about we take care of each other?” Esme then let her hand slip from his cheek and wrapped both her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace as she rested her head against his chest. “When it comes to figuring out how to stop running, that’s going to be something we’ll have to figure out together.” she added, hugged him tighter. 

Even though Duke was soaked, and now she was getting soaked and having cold water drip on her from his hat from hugging him. She didn’t care. She just nuzzled more into him. Not only did she need this, she knew he needed this, to show him that she wanted him there and that they could work out their problems together. Esme wanted him to know that she forgave him without having to come right out and saying it to him. She also hoped that this strong embrace would get him back to his normally bright-eyed self without her having to use her powers of Empathy to ease him. It wasn’t something she liked to do on those she cared for if she didn’t have to. At that moment she was fighting to keep herself from giving in to Duke’s strong emotions. She knew that if she were to give into them, it would be some time before she could regain control of herself.