The first day Cadence was in England was the hardest. She cried for, what felt like, hours. Her siblings all piled on her in her old bedroom as she bawled her eyes out. Cadence's siblings rarely saw their big sister and had definitely never seen her cry this hard. They didn't dare let go on her. Her mother and father were by her side just as much, bringing her the usual comfort food she resorted to as a kid. Cadence was basically bedridden for the first week that she was home.

Cadence didn't explain any details to her siblings as to what had happened. They didn't know about the Reed attack, they didn't know about her and Austin's split, they didn't know anything. Cadence hardly even explained anything to her mother on the drive home from the airport. The one person that she really wanted to talk to was her father. She told him everything, always. She just couldn't ever get a moment alone with him with her family worrying about her all hours of the day.

"You're up?" Bruce looked up from his work that was spread across the coffee table in the parlor, that had clearly been taken over by the kids since Cadence last lived here.

Cadence nodded as she hugged her long cardigan around her body. "I could smell your tea so, I came down to talk to you."

Bruce removed his reading glasses and set down his pen, his voice hushed as he said, "Well, come on, then. Come sit."

Cadence stepped lightly on the creaking wood floors to sit beside her father on the couch. At first, Cadence was too nervous to go right into it. She set her phone beside her fathers work and looked over it in the dim light of the lamp he had on beside him. Bruce didn't force conversation as he watched her review his work. She had a studious look in her eyes, the same one she always had when she was about to critique something of his.

"Isn't this style door a bit contradictory to the style of the home?" Cadence smirked as she looked at her father.

A familiar, warm, playful smile pulled at the dark features of Bruce's face as he said, "That wasn't my design choice. The couple that hired me already have a door picked out for this room so I have to incorporate it into the build."

"Well, if you're incorporating the door, shouldn't you make a few other things match it so, it doesn't look so out of place. What if their friends come over, hate the door, and give you a bad reputation as an architect?" Cadence pushed.

Bruce's eyes narrowed but his smile remained as he gently slapped a hand atop Cadence's wild hair. "The door is meant to stand out. I don't like the bloody door anymore than you do but, that's what my clients have requested so, that's what I'll give them, you stubborn girl." He said with an accent even thicker than Cadence's.

Cadence snickered, knowing she was getting under her fathers skin. It was always easiest to get under his skin when it came to something like this. Being an architect was as stressful as it was fun and fulfilling, but the stressful part was the longest and most agonizing part as well. That's when Cadence liked to pounce. He was the easiest to piss off then. She would pounce on any opportunity to piss him off, if she could.

The second Bruce removed his hand from Cadence's head, she missed him. Cadence always missed her father. So, she leant into him to rest her head on his shoulder. Bruce didn't say a word as he wrapped his arms around his daughter and held her close. Cadence and her father sat like that for awhile as she tried to think of a way to bring everything up. But, the more she thought about it, the more her eyes welled with tears and the more she sniffled them back.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Bruce whispered.

Cadence nodded, not being able to find her voice past the lump in her throat.

"Was it Reed?"

Cadence nodded again, a strangled sob escaping her in a hiccup. Bruce quietly shushed her as he began rocking them both back and forth to comfort her. He, admittedly, didn't expect it to be Reed but, the puzzle pieces fit. They had never gotten to meet one of Cadence's boyfriends before but, he basically superglued to Cadence's hip. Now that they weren't together anymore, Bruce wasn't surprised when Reed couldn't handle that reality. Bruce was happy that he had never met the guy face to face, though. Now that this had happened.

"Let it out. Take your time. Remember to breathe." Bruce calmly coached through Cadence's sobs.

Cadence eventually gathered enough of her emotions to tell her father what happened. He already knew about everything that happened when her and Reed first split up since she had escaped to England after that. But, everything since the Playboy shoot, he didn't know. So, Cadence started there. Bruce didn't say a single thing as he listened to his daughter's heartbreaking story. He wished he could protect her, of course, he did. Watching his daughter cry was the hardest thing he had to endure as a father.

Bruce couldn't help but notice the amount of times he heard the name Austin in Cadence's story. Jamie had mentioned him while she was with Cadence in the hospital and she claimed he was a wonderful boy. Bruce was still wary about this Austin guy, for obvious reasons. He didn't want any boys around his precious daughter right now. However, it sounded like Cadence cared a lot about him, just like Jamie claimed when she told him all about the guy.

Cadence explained how she didn't want to tell Austin and have him worry when Reed started stalking her. She explained how she nearly scared him off when she freaked out that night, not completely going into detail about the situation, although, he could put the puzzle pieces together. Cadence seemed just as stressed and defeated talking about Austin as she did talking about Reed. He had the same emotional impact on her but, in a very, very different way.

"He's suppose to come to England, you know?" Cadence sniffled as she peered up at her father.

Bruce's eyebrows raised with intrigue. "Is he? To come see you?"

"No. I don't think he'll want to see me. He's on a business trip so, he'll be busy, anyways." Cadence pouted.

"But, you want to see him?"

"It's complicated." Cadence groaned and buried her face in her hands as she doubled over. Bruce gently rubbed her back as she shook her head at herself. "He doesn't deserve someone like me. No matter how much I like him, I couldn't possibly put him through anymore of my shit."

"Do you feel like he doesn't deserve someone like you because of what Reed did to you?" Bruce asked, trying to politely and cautiously dissect the issue lying beneath.

"No, that's not it.." Cadence whined. It was the complete opposite version of that, actually, but Cadence didn't care to elaborate on her issues with Reed anymore. She sat up, her wild curls flying back to rest on her shoulders again. "He's so nice, daddy. He's so, so, so fucking nice. There is not a bone in that boys body that isn't laced with the Gentleman's Gene. He's perfect. I feel safe with him. I feel loved with him. I feel... so, so happy with him."

The tears in Cadence's eyes built and built until they poured over the edge and slid down her face. Bruce sighed. He had to ask, even if it was a dumb question. "Then, why aren't you with him, Cadie?"

"Because, daddy!" Cadence whined as if she were a children. "Our relationship has been so half-assed since the very moment we meant and I hate it. I regret it. Austin doesn't deserve that. He needs a better love story than the one I would ever be able to give him. I could never be enough for him, daddy. I don't have it in me."

"I've told you all your life that you're my perfect little flower. Who the hell put it in your head that you're anything less than that?" Bruce playfully teased.

Cadence rolled her eyes and blushed her father. "I'm serious, daddy."

"I wish you weren't, baby girl." Bruce reached for Cadence's knee and gave it comforting, fatherly squeeze. "From what I heard out of Jamie's big mouth, Austin doesn't seem bothered by all of the stuff you're worrying so much about."

"Jamie told you about him already? Never mind. What a stupid bloody question. Of course, she did." Cadence sighed. "He doesn't look at the big picture, daddy. In the long run, I can't be the girlfriend that he wants but, he's so blinded by-by..."

"Love?" Bruce smirked.

Cadence's heart skipped a beat but she pushed that weird stirring in her stomach aside to say, "No, he doesn't love me.. It's just.. there's so much that could go wrong and-"

"Do you love him?"

Cadence froze as her words halted in her throat. Love was a very intimate word to be throwing around so carelessly. People didn't ever use the word correctly. Reed, most of all. He thought he was in love with Cadence and he used that delusion to get away with all his dumb shit. Cadence held that word to a higher standard. Love was saved for epic love stories. Love was saved for married couples or family members. Nothing could compare to Love. Terrifyingly enough, Cadence believed nothing could compare to Austin either.

"I think.. I'm... falling, maybe..." Cadence gulped. There was a fluttering somewhere in her gut that spread rapidly throughout her body. She almost started smiling before she remembered the horrible truth of the situation. "It's over now, daddy. It's too late to be talking about stuff like this."

"If he's coming here, Cadence, why don't you go see him and find out how he truly feels?" Cadence groaned but Bruce pushed on with determination. "I'm serious, Princess. I have never seen you this worked up about a boy. You didn't even talk like this about Reed. Why don't you talk to him and see if there is someway for you two to start over?"

"He chose to walk away just as much as I chose not to make any promises. We don't fit. It doesn't work." Cadence exclaimed with frustration, although, she still didn't raise her voice.

Bruce sighed and nodded, understanding that this wasn't a problem they could solve over night. From all that Bruce heard about that Austin boy, he couldn't pick out anything negative about him. He was a professor, which meant he was intelligent. He was a gentleman, which meant he treated Cadence kindly. He had never done or said anything to upset Cadence, Jamie, or himself so far. The only reservation Bruce still had was because Cadence was in a vulnerable place right now.

Besides that, he sounded like a man Bruce could get along with. Even more than that, he sounded like he could really make Cadence happy, and right now, that's all Bruce wanted.

-

Brooke checked in with Cadence almost every single hour since she left for England. Week after week and their conversations had transitioned from injury and health talk to dancing and performances. Brooke was still seeing David whenever she wanted sex and Cadence couldn't help but be jealous that they were able to maintain that relationship so well. It almost bummed her out until a very intimate and intense thought popped into her head.

I want more than that with Austin.

Falling in love was something new to Cadence. She had never fallen in love before. Never. She never found anyone worth the trouble. Even when she was in a semi-intimidate relationship with Reed, she never felt that emotion. He knew her family, they almost ended up living together, he admitted he was in love, but Cadence never felt it. She couldn't convince herself she was in love until she felt all of those cheesy emotions that characters in epic love stories felt.

She needed her heart to race, butterflies in her stomach, her skin to tingle, a suffocating amount of joy, and sadness so intense that she'd be bed ridden for days. Cadence wanted all of that before she decided she was in love and, right about now, it was all there. Austin did this to her. He made her fall head over heels for him and she didn't even notice until they were broken up. Cadence was loathing herself everyday that she thought about that.

Christmas was closing in, bit by bit. Cadence missed LA after being removed from her usual routine but, enjoyed being with her family so much. Her siblings had never gotten to see her for this long. Soon, they were all going Christmas shopping and spending their evenings at Christmas festivals. Cadence's favorite part of being home with her family so far was probably when they went ice skating or when they were building snowmen.

Jada wasn't good on her feet while skating but, luckily, the place they went to provided little penguins that learners could hold on to while they skated. Bruce and Lucretia switched off teaching Jada how to skate as Cadence and Jaylyn chased Akeem around the rink. Lamar wasn't so good at skating either so he took his time leisurely surviving the event. They all had a lot of fun, though, as a family. These moments were special for Cadence, since they were so rare. She loved it.

Brooke suddenly texted Cadence about Austin's scheduled flight and when it was set to land while Cadence was eating dinner with her family. The moment Cadence checked her phone, she didn't feel like eating anymore. Cadence wondered if Brooke had gotten that information from Austin or from David. She wanted to ask Brooke how he was doing. Was he heartbroken? Was he perfectly fine? Was he happier without her?

Bruce was the first to notice Cadence's silent, tiff behavior at dinner. He carefully watched and studied her as she tossed her food around. Akeem and Jaylyn were bickering back and forth as Lucretia tried to settle their argument, which Bruce was usually very good at, but he was distracted. He was distracted because Cadence was distracted. She looked like she was about to cry any minute and he didn't want that. It had been weeks since she stopped crying and days since he caught her crying in her room.

"Everything alright?" Bruce asked his daughter as he approached her at the sink. Cadence had volunteered for dish duty, which wasn't like her.

"Everything's fine." Cadence faked a smile as she took her fathers plate. "Thanks for dinner."

"Thanks for washing up." Bruce smiled, a genuine one.

Cadence's phone chimed in her sweatshirt pocket and her hands instantly dropped whatever she was washing. She was about to reach for her phone before panic set in. What if it was Austin? What if it was Brooke letting her know that Austin didn't want to see her when he came to England? It was probably something dumb, like a twitter notification. So, Cadence didn't reach for her phone. If it was bad, it could wait. The chances of it being a good text was so slim that Cadence didn't even want to bother.

"Dodging someone?" Bruce asked since he was still stood beside Cadence.

Cadence tried to resume dish washing as she took a deep breath. "I'm not sure."

"Is it the boy? Has he finally contacted you?"

"No." Cadence defeated groaned. "Because, he's not ever going to. It's been weeks, daddy, he obviously wants nothing to do with me."

"Don't be so sure, Princess."

Cadence tossed the clean plate in her hand aside and shot her father a dirty look, one she used to give him all the time as a kid. "Do we really have to talk about this, right now? I really don't want to think about it."

"Okay. Sorry, darlin'." Bruce kissed Cadence's head and excused himself so he could continue working in the parlor.

When the kids were finally released from school for winter break, the Mitchell family spent most of their days watching Christmas films. From morning to night, every hallmark Christmas movie they could find. Lucretia had made more hot chocolate lately than she ever had before. There was a regular argument over who got more marshmallows. Soon enough, Lucretia was hiding away with Bruce in the parlor to wrap Christmas gifts as he worked.

Unfortunately, most of Cadence's days was spent checking her phone. Austin's England visit was inching closer and closer. Would he call or text her? Were they really never going to speak ever again? Cadence was convinced Austin wanted nothing to do with her now. She understood why. She rejected him one too many times. He never got what he wanted out of the relationship. It was useless. Still, not even Cadence wanted to give up on what they had.

Cadence wondered what it would be like to have Austin here for Christmas. She wondered if everyone would like him or if he would enjoy it here. Her family was just as rowdy as she was so, if he could keep up with her, he would probably be able to survive. It made Cadence smile when she thought of what it would be like for Austin and her father to chat. They were both very intelligent men. Lucretia too. She was top of her class in high school, just like Bruce.

Lucretia only spotted Cadence grin because the part of the movie they were watching wasn't particularly funny. She nudged her daughter and silently mouthed to her to ask what she was thinking about. Cadence refused, shifting in her seat on the couch and wiping the smile off her face. Even if Austin didn't love her, he had to be the kind of guy that still wanted to maintain a friendship, right? And people invited their friends over for Christmas.

Unless, he was spending Christmas with Mrs. Junebouge.

That thought almost made Cadence vomit. She didn't want Mrs. Junbouge to have Austin. She didn't deserve him. Well, neither did Cadence but, she would do anything to prove that she could be deserving of him. She would fight for him. She could do it. This was the first time Cadence was having that thought but, once she stopped pouting and started smiling at the thought of him again, she had suddenly gained the courage. She just had to put a little power and control back into her system. Because, she wanted Austin.

With idiotic bravery, Cadence was up at five o'clock in the morning on the day that Austin's flight was suppose to land. She got dressed and ready as quickly as she could since the entire house was quiet. To not avail, though, Cadence was caught by her father. He was always up really late or up really early to work and today, he just happen to be up early. Cadence didn't even get to the front door before he whistled at her, instantly causing her to freeze upon discovery.

"Where are you off to so early?" Bruce questioned as he pulled his glasses of his face.

Cadence slowly turned towards the doorway of the parlor and nervously smiled at her father. "Christmas shopping.."

Bruce cocked an eyebrow at her. "Cadence.."

Cadence groaned, her tense muscles going limp as she pouted. "Austin's flight lands in a few hours and I want to see him. He probably hates me so this is basically a bloody suicide mission but, I have to see him."

"Let me drive you." Bruce said as he stood from the couch.

"What?" Cadence straightened out in surprise.

Bruce grabbed his jacket from the hooks beside the door and slipped on his shoes. "Come on. If this goes well, I want to meet him. If it doesn't, you won't be able to see the road passed your tears."

Cadence gasped, offended that her father would assume she'd cry all the way home. Before Cadence could make any sort of retort, Bruce pushed her out the door and rushed her towards the car. Cadence was nervous, naturally, but she tried not to talk herself out of this. She wanted to see him. That's all she reminded herself of. She wanted to see Austin and kiss him and be in his arms again. She felt so happy and safe with him. She wanted that back.

It took a minute for Cadence to even get out of the car when they got there. Bruce didn't say a word, he didn't rush her, he just sat and waited with her. That was, until, Cadence threw the door open and stomped inside the airport. Bruce chuckled and followed his daughter. He was proud of her determination. Even when she was scared, she never gave up.

Cadence and Bruce didn't even speak as she waited by Austin's gate. A few short hours after they arrived and Bruce had to excuse himself anyways since Lucretia was calling him. He explained a few details to his wife but left it vague so, if they came home alone, the entire family wouldn't pity Cadence and make her feel even worse. But, he had faith that this would go well. Cadence never failed. She didn't have it in her to let herself fail.

The moment people started pouring in from the flight Austin was supposedly on, Cadence jumped out of her seat and stood on her toes to try and find him. Bruce gave Cadence her space but kept his eye out for whatever boy looked like a white, college professor around her age. Cadence could feel her heart racing as her hands began to shake. She had to find him. She had to see him.

"Austin!" Cadence involuntarily shouted when she spotted him.

Austin perked up at the sound of his name and anxiously looked around since he recognized the voice. It didn't take long to find her as the passengers on his flight continued on their way. She was standing nearby, her hands clinging to the purse slung over his shoulder as she smiled at him. Cadence's smile was uncontrollable. Even as she tried to hide it by biting her bottom lip, it just didn't work. He was so cute and he was here.

"Cadence.." Austin breathed in shock as his legs started moving in her direction. He didn't know what his plan was from here but, he was moving. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." Cadence's hands let go of her purse as Austin drew closer.

Cadence wanted to touch him. She wanted to kiss him. His eyes were so pretty. She missed him so much. Still, her hands fell to her thighs. She didn't know if she was allowed to touch him. Even Austin let go of his luggage to greet Cadence but, he suddenly didn't know what to do. Was it too inappropriate to hug her? It felt like it had been years. Neither of them knew how they stood with one another though. Their relationship was unclear.

"How have you been?" Cadence awkwardly asked, feeling tears prick at her eyes. She fought to keep them at bay and tried to stay calm.

"Alright.. I've been al..." Austin's words tapered off as he stared at Cadence. It felt like his entire body was being consumed by every emotion he had buried deep down since they separated. "It's been hard.."

Cadence sadly smiled at that. She could say the same thing, she just wondered if they both meant the same thing. It was hard for Cadene because she was in love with the man that walk out on her but, it couldn't possibly mean that for Austin, right? He was the one that walked out on her, although, she did open the door for him. She was dying inside wanting to ask how he felt right now and if he still had feelings for her. Instead, Cadence danced around the awkwardness.

"I'm sure it has been. I mean, you made your speech at this convention thing sound like a really big deal and-" Cadence rambled before Austin cut in.

"I meant-" Austin cracked a smile. "Without you. It's been hard without you around."

Cadence's heart raced in her chest as she felt the urge to burst into tears again. She really missed him. He was so cute and looked so huggable. Cadence pushed all of that down, though, and tried to keep her head on straight.

Cadence took a deep breath as she stared at the floor to say, "I'm not sure if I would've been able to help you at all. I don't know astronomy like you do. I mean, I've never really been of any help before so-"

Austin's eyebrows furrowed as he watched Cadence ramble. He wasn't talking about his speech. He wasn't talking about the convention. He didn't care about any of that stuff. Seeing Cadence in front of him now was truly a shock. He didn't ever imagine her being the one to approach him. Austin was convinced she'd make it just fine without him. That seemed partially true right now as she avoided what Austin was trying to get at, but, it also just felt like she was hiding from what he was trying to get at.

"Cadence." Austin interrupted once more. Cadence's eyes snapped up to his. "Why are you here?"

"Uhm.. Well.. You see..." Cadence stammered as she gripped the strap of her over-the-shoulder purse. She could barely make eye contact with Austin as she tried to speak. "I wanted to talk to you but, now that I'm here and you're here, I'm not really sure how to say what I want to say because, well, I've never said anything like this before..."

Austin reminded himself not to get his hopes up when his body filled with adrenaline. He was already predicting what she wanted to say to him in his head but, what he was imagining was so obscure that he couldn't let himself believe it. Cadence and Austin separated on a mutual understanding. Cadence couldn't be his girlfriend because she didn't think she'd be able to give him what he wanted and he couldn't stick around to fall in love with a girl he'd never be able to have.

Austin couldn't let himself believe that there was any other option for them, otherwise, all of those feelings would come back. He had been avoiding those feelings for two months. He was keeping himself busy and pushing all of the emotional stuff down so that he could move on with his life. Even Cadence was sick and tired of crying over all of those emotions and feelings. But, she couldn't keep avoiding the truth or she'd go insane. It was all or nothing and, frankly, she was sick of the nothingness that haunted her everyday.

"What are you trying to say?" Austin reluctantly asked. His fingers started moving on the handle of his luggage as his body turned restless.

Silence hung in the air between Cadence and Austin as she talked herself into confessing. It was now or never. She had to say it. He was looking at her now and he was standing in front of her now and she had to say it. This is what she had been talking herself into these last few days. This is what Austin always wanted out of her that made her keep her distance. Now, she had the chance to say it and close that distance and she was freaking out.

"Do you have a hotel room or something where we can talk? I don't really want to do this here.." Cadence nervously asked. Austin felt the hope that inflated his chest die a little, causing his body to relax. He nodded, though, as his eyes fell briefly to the floor. "Okay. We'll talk there and, you know, get everything out in the open. I'll meet you out front just.. give me a minute."

Austin sighed and grabbed his luggage to trudge through the airport. Cadence watched him walk off for a moment before she turned and jogged back to her father. She fell into the seat beside him as dropped her face in her hands. Bruce frowned and rubbed Cadence's shoulder to comfort her. He couldn't hear them and didn't really know what was happening but, the end result of their conversation didn't seem like a loving reunion.

"Want to go home now?" Bruce asked.

"No. We're going to talk at his hotel." Cadence lifted her head and took a deep breath. She didn't have time to mope around. "I'm going to go with him, we're going to talk, and if I show up alone at home, it probably went horribly, horribly wrong."

"Okay.." Bruce was a bit confused. "I don't imagine telling him you're in love with him could go that wrong. I mean, he agreed to talk, didn't he? There must be something he wants to hear from you."

"I've never told anybody I loved them, daddy." Cadence looked to her father with big, sad, brown eyes. "What do I do if he laughs in my face?"

"You tell me and I'll deal with him myself. It's one thing not to feel the same way but, it's another to laugh. If he breaks your heart like that, Princess, I'll-"

"Okay, daddy." Cadence chuckled. "I hear you, I hear you. I've got to go."

-

There was an awkward silence between Austin and Cadence the entire way to his hotel, that stayed even as they entered his hotel room. Cadence took a seat at the edge of the bed as Austin pushed his luggage and backpack aside. Both of their eyes met and Austin already felt like he was suffocating. It was easier to breathe when he didn't think about Cadence and was focusing on something he was working on. But, with her right in front of him like this, all he could think about was her and it hurt like a bitch.

"Uhm... You see..." Cadence gulped, still clinging desperately to her purse as her eyes drifted from his. "I'm not really good at talking about my feelings. Well, that's not really true... I can talk to my dad really easily, about anything, really. But, with you, it's uhm..."

Austin cocked an eyebrow, taking her words as truth. She really wasn't good at this. It was almost weird seeing Cadence like this. Cadence wasn't ever like this when he knew her. She was quick to say how she felt, even if the other person didn't want to her it. She made demands, she did whatever she wanted. She never let the world, or her mouth, slow her down. She was the most confident person he had ever met. All of that was gone now.

"Do you want to go first?" Cadence nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared desperately at Austin.

Folding his arms over his chest, Austin pulled a cocky smirk and shook his head to say, "No. you wanted to talk so, you go first."

Cadence groaned and slapped her hands down on the bed in a mini tantrum. "Come on, Austin. Don't make me do this."

"Do what?" Austin snorted a laugh.

"Talk!" Cadence growled. "I don't know how to say this to you. I don't even know if you want to hear it. It's been months. You probably got over me days after you broke up with me."

Austin was taken aback, his smirk falling straight off his face. "Broke up with you? I didn't break up with you, Cadence. You basically told me we'd never be more than we were."

"Well, do you still want that? Do you still want more?"

Austin stiffened at that question, his eyes shifting to something else. "I'm not answering that until you tell me why you came here."

"I can't tell you why I came here until you tell me what you want." Cadence countered, saying it with more hope in her voice than anything else.

Austin took a deep breath before letting out a big sigh, his hands rubbing over his face and under his glasses. He fixed his hair, adjusted his glasses, and calmed his nerves. He kept his eyes closed as he spoke to somehow shield himself from the consequences of what he was about to say.

"I want you, Cadence. I always have. However, I've spent two months trying to get over you. It didn't really work, obviously, since I feel like I'm losing my mind seeing you again. But, at least, I know that, if you don't want anything from me besides closure, I can walk away and not go insane." Austin explained as he gestured wildly in front of him. He opened his eyes with a relieved sigh. "But, yes, I want more. And, frankly, I don't think that'll ever change because... I'm in love with you, Cadence..."

Tears instantly formed in Cadence's eyes and fell before she could even stop them. Austin didn't move or say a word as he dreaded what was about to happen next. He assumed, by her instant tears, that his confession wasn't what she wanted to hear. She did come here for closure after all. She just wanted to properly wash her hands of him so they could move on. Did David talk to her? Is that why she was doing this to him?

"You love me?" Cadence choked, even more tears pouring down her face.

Austin's mouth fell open but it took a moment for noise to come out. "Y-yes.. But, I know you well enough to know that probably freaks you out and I'm not going to turn into him or anything so, don't worry about that. You can forget I even said that, honestly, and-"

"I love you too." Cadence interrupted, easily catching Austin off guard.

"Wh-What?" Austin stammered as he stared wide eyed at Cadence. Was he dreaming? Was this a sick joke? "You what?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you." Cadence smiled and sniffled as she stood up from the edge of the bed. "I love you."

"Wh-What? Are you serious?" Austin took a step back as Cadence took a step forward. She just smiled. "You love me? Are you joking?"

Cadence reached for Austin's face and pulled him into a kiss, whispering, "I love you, Austin." just before their lips met.

Austin and Cadence met in a slow, gentle, innocent kiss. Cadence's eyes were already shut but, with this huge bomb being dropped on him, it took Austin a moment before his fluttered shut as well. His hands still hovered on either side of his waist, unsure of whether he was allowed to touch her. How much did this confession change their relationship? Austin didn't ever imagine Cadence reciprocating his feelings so, now that she did, he was completely caught off guard. What was he suppose to do now?

"Say it again." Austin whispered when Cadence pulled away and tilted her head the opposite direction.

"I love you." Cadence smiled and kissed him again, her hands slipping from his face and wrapping around his neck.

Austin smiled as well, feeling a weight being lifted off his chest. All this time and she finally loved him. He didn't even think about if she want to be touched anymore because, well, he wanted to touch her. So, Austin wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body against his. Luckily, he could feel Cadence smile against his lips when he did that. This was good. This was new. This was a new amount of shared love that he, and her, had never experienced before.

Eventually, Austin and Cadence ended up on his hotel bed with their mouths locked in a heated kiss. Austin sat at the edge as Cadence sat in his lap. Every now and then, one of them would whisper their new favorite three words to the other and get to hear it said back to them. Almost every single time, they would giggle, both so happy and so pleased by those words. Two months had gone to waste but, somehow, those three words really made up for it.

"How?" Austin pulled away, his eyes flickering up to meet Cadence's. "How could you possibly be in love with me?"

Cadence sighed as she reached for Austin's hair to play with his loose, blonde curls. "I don't know. I guess, I just... I figured it out when I couldn't stop crying and all I was thinking about was you."

"You've been crying?" Austin frowned.

"Yeah. At first, I was just crying because of what happened with Reed. And then, that eventually went away and it was just you. I hated that I couldn't have you anymore." Cadence confessed.

Austin nodded in understanding. So, this wasn't really an avoidable scenario. Cadence didn't know she was in love with him that night at the hospital. It wasn't like, all she had to do was say it and they could avoid all of this. Austin, however, knew he loved her then. He just thought he couldn't be with her, no matter what. He had tried to convince her otherwise a couple of times and had never managed to change her mind.

"I'm sorry I made you cry." Austin reached for Cadence's hair and gently wiped her cheeks of any tears that had ever touched her skin. "I wish I would've told you I loved you back then."

Cadence jolted back from Austin's hand in shock. "What? You loved me even when you left?"

"Well, yeah... Just because I was in love with you didn't meant I got to have you. When you basically said you didn't think we could have anything more, I figured it wouldn't help either of us if I confessed my feelings for you. I mean, christ Cadence. You were in the hospital, you had just been attacked, you were going back to England. I didn't really have a whole lot of hope left. I didn't have any hope left, at all, until you confessed your feelings." Austin's explained.

"Then, I'm sorry, too." Cadence pecked Austin's lips. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize how amazing you are."

Austin smiled and pulled Cadence closer to kiss her again. He could kiss her for days. And he got to touch her, which made this so much more fun. He got to hold her waist and grab her ass as she explored his mouth with her tongue. It was so much more fun being in love than Cadence ever imagined. She felt like she was dying for awhile there, which made her think otherwise, but when it actually worked out, it was amazing. She had never been happier.

"Do you still want me to be your date to the convention?" Cadence asked.

"Of course." Austin smiled.

"Do you want to come home with me, too?"

"Today?" Austin's eyes slightly widened. "You want me to meet your family already?"

"Yeah." Cadence played with his hair again. "We can keep your hotel room during the convention so I can fuck your brains out every night and then, if you want to stay for Christmas..."

Austin moaned at the reminder that he actually got to have sex again. It had been two months and every time he took care of himself, he loathed himself for thinking about nothing but Cadence. They weren't together and he still used her as mental porn. But now, he actually got to have her in his arms again. They got to have fun again. She got to be Duchess again. They even got to have sex with feelings now.

"I'll stay for Christmas if your family doesn't mind the intrusion. I'll just have to tell David and Jordan that I'm not coming home." Austin said.

"Awh. I hope they won't mind me stealing you away." Cadence pouted.

"I doubt it. They both liked you and hated that I was moping around for two months so, I'm sure they'll be fine."

"What about your parents?"

"I never planned on seeing them this Christmas, anyways. Don't worry about them."

"You don't want to see them at all?" Austin shook his head. "Ever?" He shook his head again.

Cadence kept her mouth shut but wondered if this was a situation she was allowed to insert herself in. She didn't want Austin to have his relationship with his parents hanging over his head his whole life. The only thing Cadence knew about that relationship was the story Austin told her at the hospital but, that little story had told her enough. She wondered if Austin wanted a better relationship and if she could help fix it. Family was important to her after all. She figured Austin needed and deserved one.

Austin could tell Cadence was thinking about it as she brushed his hair back to find his scar. "Don't think about it, Cadence. I don't even think about it."

"Okay.. I won't." Cadence fought a smile as she stared into his beautiful green eyes. "But, you know, as your girlfriend, I'm allowed to worry about these sorts of things."

"As my girlfriend?" Austin grinned, his smile big and bright. Cadence kept her smile small as she bit down on her bottom lip and nodded in agreement to his question. He couldn't help himself from grabbed Cadence's face and pulling her into a kiss. He couldn't possibly kiss her hard enough.

Cadence moaned, pulling away to speak. "Let's have sex, shower, and I'll take you home with me. Yeah?"

"Oh, please. Let's have sex." Austin begged. Cadence giggled and attacked him with a kiss, causing him to fall back against the bed so she could straddle him and trap him in place.

Let me know how you would improve this story or what you want to see happen!

This book was suppose to be more smut than plot and then I got really invested in the characters so... now we somehow ended up with a bunch of fluff and angst somewhere along the way.

To be fair, it took me three chapters to get to the sex in the first chapters so I should've seen this coming.

Still, I'll try to get back to the smut part of this book before I end this book! Hope you like everything so far though!