And Natalie wasn't going to get violent enough for that to happen. So she just stayed as she was for a moment. Ear to his chest and a hand pressed over her mouth to at least keep herself from sobbing. His heart was strong, and she stayed right there for a while, listening to it.

Then she pushed herself back up to sitting and, after a second or two to card her fingers through his hair, got up from the edge of his bed again.