"Cait...I'm sorry...I.." Howie appologized.
"Howie. Don't say you're sorry. There's nothing to be sorry about." Cait placed a finger to his lips. " You wanted to kiss me, didn't you?"
"Yes. Oh, god, yes."
"And I wanted you to kiss me, so there's nothing to be sorry for."
"Cait...I.."
"I know...you don't have to say anything." She gently kissed his lips. "We should go. It's getting late."
"We need to talk, though." He protested.
"Yes. But not now and not here. Okay?" She pulled herself into a sitting position. He did likewise.
"Okay. Let's go." They got to their feet and made their way off the ice.

Later, in Howie's room, they sat together on one of the beds, talking quietly.
"Howie, now we both know for sure we have feelings for each other, but we don't know what's going to happen between us. We don't know where it's going to lead. I think we should just let it decide for itself."
"Just let it progress at its own pace, you mean?"
"Yeah. Let it go at its own pace, let it be what it'll be."
"And no matter what, we're still friends?"
"Always." Cait clasped his hand in hers. "One thing I do know, you were my first kiss."
"I was? You've never...?"
"No, I haven't. I'm..I've never had a boyfriend, never been kissed....until today, that is. And I've never really been asked out." She looked up from studying the bed quilt. There was a look of complete surprise on Howie's face.
"I can't believe it." He shook his head in disbelief. "I'd like it if you'd stay and watch that movie with me. It's not really a date, but..."
"I'd love to." Cait smiled and gently squeezed his hand.
"'She's All That'?"
"Definitely."
"Okay. Here we go." He pressed play on the remote control and leaned back on the pillows. Cait laid her head on his shoulder as the movie started.
Half an hour later, they were both asleep. Howie woke, a few hours later, with Cait still curled up next to him. He smiled and carefully slipped off the bed. He turned and folded down the covers of the other bed, and lifting Cait gently in his arms, laid her in the bed, and covered her with the blankets. Before climbing back into his own bed, he gently placed a kiss on her lips.

Howie woke again several hours later. At first he didn't know what had made him wake up. Then he looked over at Cait in the other bed. She was thrashing around, obviously in the grip of a nightmare. Howie got out of bed and quickly walked over to her.
"Cait! Cait, wake up!"
She woke with a start, perspiration mixing with the tears running down her cheeks.
"Howie?" Tears ran down her face and dripped onto the bed covers.
"It's me. Shhh. It's okay. I'm here."
"Oh, Howie. I had a horrible nightmare." Fresh tears filled her eyes. "Howie. Hold me, please! Please."
Silently he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her shaking body, her tears falling on his bare chest.
"Cait, sweetie, don't cry. It's over now. I'm here. I'll never let anything happen to you."
Slowly she began to relax. Howie gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Cait looked up at him through damp lashes, and reached up to touch his cheek. As she began to pull her hand away, he reached up and clasped it in his own. Pulling her to him again, he leaned down and softly kissed her. The kiss deepened and her arms went around his neck, her fingers tangling in his dark curls, while his hands gently caressed her back. When the kiss ended, they still held each other.
"Howie?" Cait whispered. "I love you. I've loved you since the day I met you. I never realized I felt this way."
"I know. I love you. Now I know I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. Standing with Anna, talking to AJ. You were so beautiful, I loved you then. I didn't realize either. I never thought I could feel this so fast." He murmured softly.
Their lips met then, in a soft, intense kiss that went on and on.

Chapter 6

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