Third person's pov
Elijah was pacing in front of the couch where Meera was being operated. He couldn't understand how from arguing to jumping in the storm happened. One moment he ran downstairs to save her from the 'ghost' to literally save her in the storm. He was frantically disturbed. Frowning, he would look at her unmoving figure after every ten seconds. In his mind, it was to check that she was still here and not in the storm. But in his heart, the hope of her waking up to life would make him look. Again and again. Restlessness was foreign to him, until now. He just wanted her to be conscious and live again. In this moment where he can lose her any second, realization dawned on him. How important she is to him. How much he wants to spend his time with her. How much he wants to cherish her. How much he craves her. His needs were beyond imaginable. She was an anchor to his lifeboat. And without it, he was sailing in the vast ocean of life without any direction.
Elijah jerked in his place hearing frantic, continuous coughing. Snapping his head to Meera coughing haphazardly, he ran to her and sat on his knees beside her. Holding her head gently between his palms, he kissed her forehead for seconds. Pulling back, he looks right into her confused eyes. She is alive. Smiling, he caresses her cheeks so gently as if he were afraid she will disappear any second. Joining their foreheads, he says softly to her,
"You are alive, doe, you're alive"
Smiling, he kissed her lips. Again he spoke to her expressing himself,
"I was afraid that you would never wake up or come back to me"
Kissing her cheeks, he tells her in vulnerability that he never showed anyone before,
"I don't want to lose you, ever. I don't want to live in a moment as if now where you are a second away from dying. My doe, you matter to me more than I ever could express. Don't ever do anything like that, never ever"
With that, he hugs her to his chest. Securing her in his arms. Assuring himself that she was in his arms, breathing. He kissed the top of her head. He gestured for his men to leave. The head of the medical unit, says before leaving,
"Sir, please make sure she rests and eats properly. Make sure she takes deep breathing exercises if she feels difficulty in breathing. Otherwise, she is fine"
Nodding his head Elijah dismissed her and everyone. Left alone, Elijah was still hugging her, both drenched.
Meera was confused when she woke up. She was in a coughing fit, water was coming out of her mouth, nostrils, and ears, she was completely wet in water and her body ached, badly. And when she saw Elijah, everything crashed back on her. How he has lied to her, and in her hurt and pain, she ran out in the storm. With her blurry vision, she didn't realize where she took off to get away from his deceiving self. And just when her vision cleared a high tide wave crashed on her sweeping her away with it. She never intended to drown herself in the storm. She didn't deserve that. Mainly he was not so strong and mighty because of whom she would give up her life. No. Never.
She can feel her whole windpipe and lungs aching with every breath. Elijah was not making it any easier either by hugging her suddenly and confessing out of the blue. To be honest, she was not ready for it. She almost believed she was hearing things and her ears were still buzzing with ice-cold water. But, no his sincere voice was as clear as a day. His honest eyes looking at her said a thousand words that he couldn't say. His soft touch and voice showed his concern. Out of all, his vulnerability did it. A powerful, dominant, commanding man like him who never bows or accepts defeat cracked in pain before her, told her she was important to him. She saw in his eyes that she matters to him.
Hesitating, Meera accepted the warmth he provided and his empathetic words. Cracking a smile despite all the happening, she slowly hugged him back.
Elijah was shocked when he felt her hands wrapping around his torso. She hugged him. He thought. Even after everything, she accepted him. Pulling back, he gazed into her eyes questioningly trying to understand her motive. She nodded her head. Still, he was doubtful. He couldn't believe it. She was a literal angel to accept him.
"Elijah I accept you"
He heard her, confirming all his doubts as if seeing his internal battle. Relief and happiness bloomed in his body. Smiling goofily he hugged her again asking,
"Are you sure? What made you do that?"
Meera shook her head on his chest saying,
"Would it be better if I rejected you?"
Chucking, which had a dark edge, Elijah stated,
"I wouldn't let you reject me. Secondly, I would do anything to make you accept me"
Raising her head, Meera pouts telling him,
"So, basically I don't have a choice"
Smiling, Elijah kissed her pout away and replied,
"Absolutely"
Meera smiled too. Standing up, Elijah carried her in his arms bridal style. Looking at each other, Elijah took them upstairs to their bedroom where he helped her take bath and change into fresh clothes. When he himself got changed in fresh clothes, he laid her down gently and carefully on the bed while she protested,
"Don't treat me like a porcelain doll, I am fine"
Elijah tightened his jaw but said nothing. Meera noticed it, holding his hand she asked him,
"What's wrong?"
Elijah turned his head to the other side refusing to give in. Sighing Meera insisted,
"Come on, tell me"
Looking at her with heated eyes, Elijah declared,
"I almost lost you today"
Meera was surprised seeing him so worked up. He continued,
"And you behaving as if nothing happened angers me. It makes it look like it was not a big deal when it actually is"
Slowly sitting up, Meera with a soft voice tells him, assuring him by gently running her thumb on his knuckles,
"Nothing happened, I am alive. Don't fret about it now"
Before he could argue more, she hugged him sideways continuing,
"When I looked in your eyes, everything that happened faded because you showed me the importance and I know you saved me, you dragged me back from the death to which I already succumbed to. Elijah, I want to forget everything that happened until now. I want to start fresh with you"
Elijah froze in his place, his heart started beating faster hearing her words. Turning his head so that their faces were inches away, he unbelievably asked her,
"What did you say?"
"I want to start my life with you afresh"
she said again smiling and slowly to add more confirmation she kissed his lips. Elijah was so shocked that he blinked and stayed unmoving when she kissed his lips. Pulling back, she shyly looked down.
Elijah was ecstatic. He couldn't express in words the happiness flooding his veins and body from her confession. Breaking into a grin, he snuggled, confessing too,
"I fancy you so much doe that it hurts"
Meera stopped smiling and stared at him, shocked. Nodding, he continued,
"Yes, I know it's unbelievable but I do, doe. And I am delighted that you feel the same which is so unlikely"
He stops, chuckling. Meera smiles too. Her eyes fill with tears. To hide it from him, she ducks her head. Softly smiling and cooing internally at his doe Elijah gently lifts her chin, seeing the tears in her eyes. He softly kisses her both eyes, and promises her,
"I will not let any tears in your eyes because of me, doe"
Laughing in happiness with tears in her eyes, she nods. Nuzzling their noses together, Elijah smiles joyfully. He was never this happier before. Suddenly, Meera pulls back. Elijah frowning looks at her in question. Taking a deep breath, she tells him,
"I will accept our marriage and you only on one condition"
Elijah's facial expressions are neutral in seriousness, nodding he asks her to continue,
"Never ever lie to me, hurt me, deceive me or blackmail me"
Breaking into a smile, Elijah pecks her lips, asserting,
"I wasn't planning to, doe"
She stares at him for seconds just in case he is lying. Finding nothing, she smiles back at him. Leaning in, Elijah kisses her, softly, enjoying her warmth. For the first time, Meera kisses him back. Smiling in happiness against her lips, Elijah deepens the kiss, moving his lips against her inexperienced clumsy ones. Her kissing him back broke all his desires. Never has he ever experienced the otherworldly euphoria before. Only his doe has that power over him. This kiss was different, she was kissing him back and it was not forceful, with no tongue involved. It was the kiss sealing their newfound relationship. Slightly pulling back, Elijah says against her lips, grinning,
"Welcome to my world my wife, Mrs. Meera Elijah Mancini"
Pecking his smiling lips, Meera replies,
"The pleasure is all mine, my husband, Mr. Elijah Ian Mancini"