"I love you."

Anya blinked and just looked at Derek. She couldn't have heard that right. He just said he loved her. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her.

It wasn't.

He said he loved her and she was a bit surprised to realize that she loved him too. The two of them had been spending more and more time together over the past few months. It started with an impromptu movie night at the Avengers mansion when Anya was in town. That led to going out to dinner, going to movies, movie nights in, and even going to a few charity events together. Neither had mentioned officially dating, but they didn't have to. It was a silent understanding between them.

Now here he was professing his love.

Anya smiled and leaned over to kiss him.