Realizing one's own consciousness is only the first step.
I can understand love in three forms.
1. Unexplainable attraction to a person that can be distinctly separated from attraction. There are some cute girls that go for some ugly forgets because of the notion that they love them.
2. A deep appreciation for a person in a loveual, emotional, and homogeneous way.
3. Platonic love. A bond felt between people that are relatives or live in such tight conditions that there is a pact between them to defend each other.
It's like the political spectrum. 1 is unexplainable and irrational attraction, 3 is almost obligatory compassion, and 2 is a combination of the two, but based on experiences and is a product of compatibility.
2 comes from time and being tolerant of each other.
That's all you can ask for from someone you spend the rest of your life with.