A/N: I'm so sorry this has taken me so long to update but I think I will be able to get back on track now. Life is finally starting to sort of slow down again. Thank you all for continually being supportive! 💖

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My ears were ringing and the world around me became blurry.

"Hey, you ok?" I could barely make out what Axel had said beside me. His voice sounded muffled as my hands started to shake in my lap. I was focused on a space on the wall across the room that seemed to be warping in front of me. My heart started pulsing in my ears as my body became weak. Suddenly my eyes flickered and I collapsed into Axel. I could feel his arms hold me tight and pull me onto his lap so I was looking up at him. The warmth of his hand pressed against my cheek.

"Focus on me, Rori. Look at me. Don't worry about anything else. Max, get me some water." I could hear shuffling but I listened to Axel's words and used all of my brain power that was left to focus on Axel's face. His dark brooding eyes bore into mine and his lips were set in a stern line with furrowed eyebrows of concern. I heard some more shuffling before Axel looked up for a moment and grabbed something from max. He placed his hand between my shoulder blades and pushed me up into a slight sitting position before placing a cool glass to my lips. I felt the slow trickle of a cold liquid slip into my mouth. I closed my eyes and concentrated on swallowing the water.

After the glass left my lips I opened my eyes and blinked a few times as my vision readjusted and I became more conscious of my surroundings. I sat up on my own slowly and put my hand up to my face, rubbing my eyes with my thumb and forefinger. As I tried to understand what just happened I looked up to see three sets of eyes focused on me. I turned my attention to Axel and tried to ignore how much focus was on me.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what all that was about." I mumbled and then looked down at my lap, fumbling with my fingers. I heard max clear his throat and I moved my line of sight to see that he was walking towards Kayla.

"I think we are just going to get some sleep now. Come on, Kay." He held his hand out to her and she finally removed her eyes from me. She took his outstretched hand and stood up, walking out of the room without another word.

"How do you feel?" Axel's voice brought my attention to him and I realized his eyebrows were still etched with concern as his eyes bore into mine. I moved my shoulders uncomfortably and avoided his gaze.

"I'm alright."

"You should get some sleep, it's been a long day."

"I had a nap in the car, though." I objected and looked up at him defiantly. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he bowed his head a bit he shook his head slightly.

"Can never just agree with me, can you?" He asked with a slight chuckle.

"Nope." I smiled a bit and shoved his shoulder lightly. He held out the glass of water to me.

"At least drink this then." I nodded and took the glass from his hands. I sipped on the water and noticed that the tv was still playing. I watched the flickering light for a while, trying to forget about what had just happened.

"Do you think it was really my dad?" I asked suddenly. I hadn't even processed what I had said before it came out. A little startled by my own voice, I looked over at Axel to see his reaction. His eyes were set on the television. However, his lips were set into a slight frown and his eyebrows furrowed, as if thinking deeply about my question. I waited patiently for his answer, preparing myself for the worst, at this point.

"If it were, I can't understand why he would do it. He wants you safe, of course, so why hire me? However, the man on the phone did say that he didn't want you harmed in the slightest." He paused for a moment and then turned to lock eyes with me. "The thing is, if he did hire me, then why? And who were those people that were trying to kill you?" He was looking into my eyes as if they held the answers to his questions and I couldn't help but suddenly feel uncomfortable under his gaze. I turned my attention to the glass of water in my hands and took another sip. After I had lowered the glass down onto the coffee table, I took a deep breath.

"Axel, I know this may seem weird but can I ask a favor?"

"Depends on what it is." I looked back up at him and focused on being confident in my next statement.

"May I please use my phone?" He immediately stiffened and opened his mouth to speak but I quickly held up my hand to stop him. "No, wait, hear me out." He slowly closed his mouth and nodded unsurely. "Let me call my dad and see what his reaction is. You can be there the whole time and listen to the conversation. I want you there, anyways." I explained. He stared at me for a long time and finally sighed with defeat and hung his head.

"Fine, but not tonight. Tomorrow morning, you can call, alright?" He looked up at me and I broke out into a grin. For some reason, it filled me with joy that he was letting me do this. Not thinking about what I was doing, I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. I  felt him stiffen in surprise and then slowly wrap his arms around my waist, giving me a slight squeeze. After a moment, I came to my senses and pulled away, clearing my throat uncomfortably and standing up.

"I'm gonna go lay down." I avoided eye contact and took a step away from the couch. I felt his hand grab mine, stopping me in my tracks. Surprised by his action, I blushed and turned to him.

"How about we go for a walk first?" He seemed to be a bit flustered as he suggested it.

"Sure."

We made our way outside and I let him lead the way to the edge of the Forrest, where a small path seemed to be beaten down. We walked silently for a while until he spoke up.

"Rori, I want you to know I'm going to protect you."

"Yeah, I kno-"

"No, you don't know. What I'm trying to say is...I want to protect you, no matter what happens from here on out."

"I'm confused." He kept walking ahead of me so I couldn't see his facial expressions.

"I don't care about the money anymore. Things have changed. I want to protect you for other reasons now. You're...for some reason...important to me." I felt my cheeks heat up and my heart beat pick up. My breathing was heavier and my stomach was knotting up in a way I had never felt before.

"Important to you?" I whispered and started to speed up my pace to close the distance between us.

"Yes." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and I inhaled quickly from the intensity.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." A calm silence settled over us once again. The cool breeze and crispness in the air was enough to make me shiver slightly but I felt completely at peace with it and wasn't bothered in the slightest.

"Axel, what do you like to do for fun?" I asked.

"What?" He turned to look at me, seeming baffled.

"What do you do in your spare time?" I asked a little more clearly.

"Ummm...geez, I don't know." I gave out a small laugh at his response.

"You don't do anything other than work?"

"Work makes it sound like I have a day job." He rolled his eyes and I laughed again.

"Well then what do you call it?"

"Why do you keep asking hard questions?"

"They aren't hard questions! These are normal!" I couldn't help but let my laughter become louder.

"Stop laughing at me!" His cheeks started turning a dark shade of red and he was avoiding my gaze.

"Oh my gosh. Are you..." I leaned in, inspecting his face. "Are you embarrassed?!"

"No! It's just hot out!" I let out another big laugh and went back to walking.

"Whatever you say."

"Rori." I turned around and smiled at him.

"Yes?"

"Am I important to you?" My smile lowered as I thought about his question.

Is he important to me?

Well, I did for some reason decide to stay instead of escape. There has to be some sort of emotional attachment that I feel towards him.

"I guess so." His eyes narrowed at me.

"You guess?"

"Yeah. I just hadn't thought about it until now but now that I'm thinking about it...yes, you're important to me." A small half smile slipped onto his lips and I couldn't help but feel my stomach flutter at the sight.

"Good." He turned around and started walking with a bit faster of a pace than before. He disappeared behind a tree and I quickly followed suit. A small clearing opened up in front of me. I looked up to see the moon shining down brightly on us in a slight crescent shape. I moved my line of sight down to Axel and saw that he was laying in the middle of the clearing, with his hands behind his neck and looking up at the sky. Slowly, I made my way over to him and sat down beside him.

"You asked what I like to do in my spare time...I guess this would be it. I like to be in nature and absorb everything around me. I love the sky especially. I love the way the clouds move, how they are shaped. I love the way the moon changes every night. I love how the stars always seem to tell a different story. The way the breeze ruffles the plants and how every once in a while you can hear an animal moving or communicating with another. It's all so captivating." I turned and watched as his face seemed to light up, talking about something he was so passionate about. It was like I was barely there, just seeing him so entranced with what he was saying that I had become an after thought.

Finally, remembering that i was there beside him, he glanced at me and a small blush appeared on his cheeks. He chuckled uncomfortably and cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze.

"Sorry, got a little carried away." He mumbled.

"No. Don't apologize. It was fun to see you talk about something you love so much." I smiled at him softly and nudged his side slightly with my hand, teasingly.

"Yeah, well, I definitely enjoy it." I took the opportunity to lay down next to him and stretch my arms out slightly beside me as I smiled up at the stars. I closed my eyes for a moment and soaked in the feel of the cool breeze across my face.

"What's your favorite animal?" I asked as I kept my eyes closed. I felt his elbow rub against my upper arm quickly as he seemed to readjust himself.

"The geat grey owl."

"Why is that?"

"They are the best hunters, I think. Intelligent, patient and sneaky...what about you?"

"My favorite animal? A unicorn." He burst into laughter beside me.

"You're fucking with me." My eyes shot open and I sat up, glaring at him.

"I am not!"

"They're not real!"

"Who cares? You never said it couldn't be a mythical creature!" I crossed my arms across my chest.

"You look like a child right now."

"You look like an asshole right now." I shot back and he burst into another fit of laughter.

"Come here." He said after he had calmed down. Begrudgingly, I laid down next to him. He scooped his arm under my neck, pulling me into his body. His heat started to spill into me, seeming to soothe my anger. I let myself relax into him and listen to his steady heartbeat. My eyelids drooped as a wave of fatigue washed over me. In the background, I could hear the leaves rustling and the slight hooing of an owl far off in the forrest.