Is it normal i'm confused by this relationship

I've recently started talking to my former best friend that I have had strong feelings for. A lot has happened to us, from her rejecting me one year ago to not talking at all to being friends, to fighting, to not talking, to not wanting to be close because we will just fight again. Well we tried to put all of that behind us and we talked a few times. However, two days ago, after a few weeks of no communication. I started to notice change. She told me about someone who was threatening her, and I told her I'd kill them if they even touched her. And apparantly that struck her heart because she told me she was very thankful for me, and that made her happy. Then she went on to say how I was always a very loyal to her, and I was real. Sure this sounds friendzone is at first haha, but it deepens. As the conversation went on something I said made her tear up, but in a good way. She kept mentioning that stuff I said was making her happy. The next day we facetimed and she had a smile on her face the entire time. We facetimed last month and she smiled some but she mainly talked. This time she seemed extremely happy, and I haven't seen her like this in so long. Then she kept singing songs, and she was holding a pillow the whole time if that has anything to do with anything. Then I lied down in my bed because I was sleepy and I cuddled with my pillow and she did the exact same thing. It confused me.
I know this sounds retarded, but I'm confused as to why she's acting so happy around me now. I'm sure she only likes me as a friend and since she's rejected me in the past I wouldn't say or do anything unless she told me she liked me, but yeah I'm sure I'm tripping.