Breaking down walls

When Steve walked in and saw the gloomy mood that was hanging in the air, Laila looking down and Maria looking helpless, he realized that his presence was indeed much needed. Anything that would liven the place a bit would have been welcome at that point, he assumed. This was reaffirmed when he called out their names and saw the expression on Maria's face. Instantly it lit up and showed the relief she must have been feeling for finally having some assistance.

Maria greeted him with much excitement, immediately using him as a distraction by calling out, "Steve! Finally you are here. What are you carrying with you?" But contrary to Maria's reaction, which had been enthusiastic, Laila's reaction was just a dazed acknowledgement of his presence. She smiled a bit faintly and said, "Oh Steve. You are here already?" Both Steve and Maria seemed a bit surprised by this reaction but both of them quickly straightened their faces to not let Laila anything. Steve just smiled back and said, "Yeah. I managed to finish my work in time and I dropped by a place I know for some dessert for tonight."

Maria took Steve's example and followed it, as she too smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly. Aiming her words at Steve, Maria said, "Yeah, look at the time. You must be feeling hungry after a long day of work." Then she turned to Laila and said, "Why don't we head into the dining room and have the kitchen serve dinner? It has been quite some hours since you ate anything. We got all wrapped up in your project, that neither of us have had anything to eat or drink since you came home around 11 AM."

Laila looking at her watch, and now realizing the time, snapped out of her daze and said, "You are completely right. I am sorry. I have been a terrible host today. I didn't feel the hunger myself and kept you starving with me. Let's get up. I am sure the kitchen has dinner ready and waiting for us." After that Laila got up from her seat and headed to the door that led to the dining room. As Steve and Maria watched Laila's back disappear behind the wooden door, they exchanged glances with one another. Both of them seemed happy to see Laila in action and hoped that this would keep her mind off things for a while.

Maria was happy that she had admitted wanting Steve to be here for dinner. She knew that there was a good possibility that Laila would be down about things but she hadn't expected this. She expressed her relief to him in person now that Laila was no longer within earshot. "Thank you for coming. I didn't think she would let it affect her this hard, but I guess I didn't take her pregnancy into account when I imagined how she would react." Steve of course didn't mind being there at all as it meant that he got to spend time with Maria. So he said, "Yeah, of course. No problem at all."

After hearing Steve's reaction and seeing that he actually meant it, Maria did something neither of them expected to happen when the day started. Maria had felt so happy to see Steve after feeling quite helpless with Laila. Felt such relief when she saw Laila get up. And now, seeing his genuine reaction, it caused her to break down one of her own walls. This resulted in her reaching out her arms and hugging Steve tightly for some much needed comfort as she continued to speak.

Though Steve was utterly surprised by Maria's actions, being frozen in the moment for a brief second, he quickly reciprocated her hug by putting his arms around her and hiding her away in his embrace. Regardless of his madly thumping heart and the jump of joy he wanted to make over Maria's step forward in their budding romance. Finding her action both endearing as well as satisfying for himself. The first thing he knew he had to do in that moment, was make sure that Maria didn't feel awkward. That she wouldn't be second guessing her actions and think that she might have crossed any type of line with him. That it was clear to her that he was happy with what she had done and that he would be open to more of such actions on her part anytime, anywhere.

He didn't really understand how she could be so guarded and shy about almost anything but could then also be so forward about other things. She had been the first to initiate a kiss. Even if it was one on the cheek. And now, she had been the first to initiate a hug as well. He wasn't complaining. He loved it. He loved seeing how she was becoming more comfortable with him. Loved to know that she was embracing her own feelings more and that her walls around him were slowly falling one by one. Apparently enough so to allow herself to miss him and feel relief and happiness when she they see each other again.