Chapter 29

                                    

                                          
Cerulean watched me after her family left to get some rest. All of us were relieved that she had finally woken up, but I could see she was tired. I stroked her hand. "You need to sleep."
                          
The corners of her mouth turned up. "Why stay?"
                          
I frowned at her. "Why wouldn't I?"
                          
She shrugged. "I'm just a random girl you happened upon, Daniel."
                          
I clenched my jaw. "I won't have this conversation with you right now."
                          
Her eyes clouded over. "They tried t-"
                          
I squeezed her hand. "They didn't, Cerulean. Diedra is in jail now, one is too and the other dead, Vivian and Victoria can't touch you. Please let me handle these things until you are better."
                          
She searched my face. "Will you stay after?"
                          
My heart stopped, this was the second time she asked me to stay, but... "What do you mean?"
                          
"The apartment... if I still have one anyway."
                          
I smiled softly. "You do and yes... I'd be happy to."
                          
She let out a small sigh as her eyes began to close. "I'll get on you last nerve."
                          
"I don't care."
                          
"I'll make your life difficult."
                          
I chuckled. "That's okay."
                          
"You'll hate me because I'm stubborn."
                          
I kissed her hand. "I could never hate you."
                          
She hummed. "Just wait, I'll make your life hell on Earth."
                          
I smiled as tears pricked my eyes. "And I'll still fight you just like before."
                          
She pursed her lips. "And try to take my virtue."
                          
I kissed them. "No more than I always do." Her breaths became labored as she fell asleep and I swallowed the lump in my throat. She looked so fragile here, but she still wanted to give me a hard time. I knew that she may not remember any of this when she woke up, but the joy I felt right now was worth it.
                          
She wanted me to stay, it wasn't a promise to take a chance with me, but it was a hell of a lot more than what I had before. I watched her as I had in the last two weeks since she got here. She looked peaceful, less battered, still gorgeous. The doctor warned me that even after her body healed, her mind would take a lot longer to do so.
                          
She was still suffering from the first time, I knew that. She hated to be confined or restrained, the night I stayed she'd whimper in her sleep from whatever dream she was having. She liked to be close to the exit when there were people around her she didn't trust. So much had happened to her in such a short time, I found it incredible that she could still make jokes.
                          
I still hadn't told her about her father or anything else that happened while she was sleeping. It killed me that I would have to leave and deal with lawyers and court in the morning. I didn't want to leave her side or she be left alone period. Her family assured me they would be here and of that I had no doubt, they somehow got the staff to allow two visitors since I struggled to leave the room.
                          
When I did have to go, they stayed while I rushed to take care of what whatever business, got a quick shower and change of clothes, and hurried back. Other than the first night, it was never mentioned that I was married, they never asked me to leave, I wasn't really sure how to take that. They should have been against this, me constantly here holding her hand, kissing her when I had to leave and again when I returned, but for now they just turned a blind eye.
                          
I laid my head next to hers, the same I did every night and closed my eyes. "Goodnight, Cerulean. I love you."
                          
***
                          
Opening my eyes the first thing I noticed is that Daniel wasn't there. I looked around the room curiously, gaze falling on Lolo. "He's in court, Lean."
                          
I withheld my frown. "You didn't kick him out?"
                          
He smiled softly. "You say that like he would have listened."
                          
I pursed my lips. "And he calls me stubborn."
                          
He chuckled. "That man loves you."
                          
I rolled my eyes. "That man is married."
                          
He sighed. "Yet he stays here as he divorces the wife who did this to you." My eyes widened. "He told me, Lean. She did this because he was leaving her."
                          
I lowered my gaze. "I didn't..."
                          
He pat my hand. "He had the papers done almost 2 years now, just never used them. You did nothing wrong."
                          
I shook my head. "That's not true. I didn't stop him."
                          
He pursed his lips. "Did you tell him leave his wife for you?" I shook my head again. "Lead him to believe you would be with him?"
                          
"No, Lolo, that would be wrong. This is wrong."
                          
He smiled softly. "He's a grown man, making his choices. You decide what to do with what's left."
                          
I peeked over at him. "All of you seem strangely okay with a married man staying around."
                          
He shrugged. "He chooses to stay here, by your side. That's more than I can say for your father or us even. He will not leave, no matter what he has to do, unless someone is here with you."
                          
I bit my lip. "He shouldn't... h-"
                          
"He loves you, Lean. You can't tell him how he should and shouldn't act."
                          
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're on his side."
                          
He chuckled. "No. If he was here because of guilt or anything bad, he would not be here. I knew he loved you when he came that night, more now. If it makes you happy, then I will say nothing."
                          
I smirked. "So if I get mad, you guys will kill him?"
                          
He laughed. "I'm sure you'll manage that before we get the chance."
                          
I chastened. "I don't know what to do, Lolo. Not wh-"
                          
He took my hand in his. "Get well first, then go from there."
                          
I sighed, nodding. "Not like I have a choice."