Alex's POV

The beeping sound of Naya's IV drip wakes me up from my sleep. Over the few days I have gotten so use to that sound. That was the only sound that gave me hope, something I held on to during the quiet and lonely nights beside her bed.

I slowly open my eyes and see my beautiful Naya still asleep. The lights inside the room are bright which doesn't really give me an indication if it's still dark out. I don't even know what time it is.

All I know is, it took me about three minutes to fall asleep next to her. My whole body and mind just relaxed completely. I just gave into my exhaustion.

I felt peace knowing she is next too me and she is ok. I've realized how much I craved her body. Just to feel her skin and warmth against me, is something I needed. Even in this uncomfortable hospital bed, I was still so happy to just sleep next to her.

I suddenly realize there is a blanket over my body which wasn't there when I fell asleep. I lift my head and see Lara on the couch flipping through magazine. She must have heard me move around because she looks up and smiles with a soft "good morning"

So it is morning...... And I really did sleep the whole night..... I kinda feel bad that I slept the whole night. Naya must have been so uncomfortable with me in the bed. She is still in a lot of pain and I probably pressed against her aching body during the night.

I let my head fall back on the pillow and look at Naya. She looks breathtaking as always and so peaceful but I can't help but focus on the small cuts and bruises on her face. It's definitely fading each day but I can still see it and I don't think I'll ever unsee it.

These scars will always be a reminder of the worst day of my life. It will also be a reminder about how much she means to me and that my life is nothing without her. I can't imagine not waking up next to her. It's literally the best part of my day. To see her next to me. To pull her body closer to mine and feel her holding onto me, is something I'll never get tired of.

Trying my best not the wake her up, I slowly stand up from the bed and stretch out my body. They are probably going to wake her up soon so I want her asleep for as long as possible. I know she doesn't sleep well during the night so whenever she is still like this, I don't want to bother her.

With the blanket still wrapped around me, I take a seat next to Lara on the couch.

"How are you feeling?" she whispers.

"I am ok" I whisper and let my head fall on her shoulder.

"Do you want to go get some breakfast?"

"No I am ok thanks" I sigh in exhaustion. Even after a good night's rest my body is still tired. We are still in the hospital and Naya is still in that hospital bed, so I am still not relieved from my stress.

I need her too be home. I need this to pass. I want to enjoy our first Christmas together and our first New years. We had so many plans, so many things to look forward too. Now everything went to shit.

"Promise you'll eat a little later?"

I lift my head and look at her. She has a concerned look on her face and I feel bad that everyone is so worried about me. I am not the one who almost died. I am really fine. I just don't have an appetite.

"I promise. Naya probably wants too see me eat anyway and she'll probably make me eat your food too." I slightly chuckle to lift the mood a bit.

"Well I'll probably make you eat it myself. You are one stubborn ass person." she laughs.

"Yeah yeah."

After a few minutes of us flipping through her magazine, Naya stirs in her sleep. She doesn't open her eyes but I know she is awake. She has that famous annoyed frown on her face. The one she has every morning when I wake her up too soon.

I smile and stand up from the couch, slowly making my way to her bedside. I rest my hand softly on top of her head and place a soft kiss on her hairline.

"Noooo" she groans out in a sleepy voice.

"Should I call the sexy nurse to wake you up instead." I tease.

"Oooh yes please" she groans with a small smile on her face.

My jaw drops and Lara chuckles behind me. She clearly heard the short conversation between us. But my plan backfired completely.

"Wrong answer sweetheart." I playfully sigh and pull away from her.

"Nooo baby" she whines and grabs my shirt to pull me back. Her eyes are slightly open but her heart is still sleeping. "I was just joking." she pouts.

I lean down giving her a playful, scolding look. "Hmmm sure"

"I just want you" she smiles and wraps her arm around my neck to keep my close.

I smile at her cuteness and lean down to kiss her head. How can I tease her when she isn't feeling well? Any other circumstances, I would make her beg for my forgiveness but not today. At least she is making jokes so she is being herself again, which is great. I miss her.

"Can I get you some coffee?"

Her smile widens and she looks more awake at the mention of caffeine. "I knew you were good for something."

Again my jaw drops. Where is this coming from? And so earlier in the morning. My poor heart is not prepared.

I just shake my head with nothing to say. She laughs and I give her a soft kiss before I walk to get my woman a some coffee.

.....

The hospital room is filled with the same people as the last few days. Her parents sitting by her bedside holding her hand. My mom on a chair nearby with me and Lara finding a place on the bed. Lara would sit at the foot of the bed while I would be close enough for cuddles.

And that's where I've been for the last few hours.

Naya is a bit disappointed and sad since the doctor came by this morning. He was really happy with her progress but he said she can only go home in two days which is Christmas day.

Naya doesn't even need to say anything because I know that's the reason she is upset.

She loves Christmas. She wants to be at home, with her family. She was hoping she would go home tomorrow and wake up in her own bed on Christmas eve morning.

Their family have always had this tradition where they would spend the whole day of Christmas eve baking cookies, watching movies, playing games and just enjoying the day in preparation for Christmas day. They all spend the night at her house waiting for the clock to strike twelve for Christmas day.

She always tells me about it all the time and I can hear how excited she gets just talking about it.

She has been quiet the whole day, lost in her own thoughts. She only said something in conversation when she absolutely needed too and her fingers has thoughtlessly been tracing over the palm of my hand.

"Baby"  I lean towards her and whisper in her ear. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

She gives me a small nod and forced smile but I'll take it.

I slowly help her get up and fix her robe. She is still in pain but the doctor said she has to start moving. The only distance she has walked was from the bed to the bathroom. I don't know how far we'll get down the hallway but I think it's time for a change of scenery.

With her hand laced in mine and the other one pushing her IV drip, we walk out the door.

"Are you sure nobody can see my ass?" she asks a little nervous while she tugs her robe down.

"No baby" I laugh. "Your fine, don't worry."

"Ok" she smiles and takes a deep breath.

Slowly but surely we make our way down the hallway. We passed many rooms with other patients enjoying their visiting hours. Some of them smiled our way, and gave Naya a polite "I am glad you're doing well" or "get better soon".

"They miss you" I say as we take a seat on some chairs in the hallway.

"I know but I am honestly not ready to face the media." she sighs.

"That's ok, you don't have to do anything until you're ready."

She sighs and only nods her head as an answer. I can imagine she is under stress about her fans, the production of her show and all the questions everyone has. All of this is probably running through her head but I don't want it too. She needs to rest and focus on getting better.

"I want to go home" she breaks the silence after a few minutes.

"I know baby. I am sorry about that" I give her hand a gentle squeeze and a sympathetic smile. "I really want too take you home. I miss your comfortable bed."

She let's out a small chuckle and rest her head on my shoulder. "I thought you missed me more."

"I miss you, with me, in your bed."

"Hhmm. I miss that too."

I sit and watch people walk past us. This place is really depressing and I know Naya isn't at 100% to leave but honestly this place makes it hard too. I believe if she is home, where she can be in a comfortable bed, where her family can be there the whole time and I can take care of her, she will get better much quicker.

I know Naya. She hates being here and that makes her negative. She doesn't feel good because she is only thinking about all the bad stuff like the food, the smell, the beeping sounds of machines, that awful IV line in her arm that she has almost ripped out on multiple occasions, everything is just too much for her.

She needs to go home.

I have to get her home.

......

The smell of fresh grounded coffee and the warmth of my winter slippers makes me sigh in relief. I have never enjoyed making my own coffee but today is different. Today I'll gladly make it because I am in Naya's house, she is upstairs sleeping and she will wake up any minute probably confused as fuck.

It wasn't easy to convince the doctor but I told him that she needs to be at home. He wrote all the medicine instructions down and he told me that she has to take it easy. She has to stay in bed, she needs to rest, her body is definitely not ready for a normal lifestyle again.

It's still a long road ahead.

I hear something falling upstairs and I quickly take my cup and make my way upstairs. I get to her room, it's still quite dark but she has her one hand hanging of the side and I see her hand lotion on the floor which she probably knocked off as she turned around.

She is still sound asleep which is a good thing because it means she is getting some actual sleep. That hospital bed was so fucking uncomfortable and during the last few days she has been complaining about her body aching. I have no doubt that it was the bed that caused it.

I softly get back in bed, sitting up against the headboard. I want to be here when she wakes up and make sure she doesn't get up to come find me.

I quickly send a message to her concerned family who is asking about her night and I am happy to tell them it was great. The pain medication she has is really strong, she didn't even feel me carry her up the stairs. Well and of course she is a really deep sleeper. She doesn't wake up easily. I sometimes have to shake her a bit harshly in the morning.

A few minutes later I feel her stir beside me and she turns around with her head slightly lifted and her arm reaching for me.

"I'm here" I reach and grab her hand under the blanket.

"Baby?" she says in her sleepy voice. Her eyes open for a second then her head falls down on the pillow again.

She groans a bit and I see that familiar slight frown on her face. She looks so peaceful in her own bed and that makes me sigh in relief. I am so happy that she is home again.

I needed her to be home. This is where I can protect her. When she is by my side then she is safe.

She slightly moves again but this time her eyes open for a little longer. She looks up at the ceiling and then focus her attention on the blankets before she looks at me.

"Good morning" I smile with a soft voice.

She pulls back a bit and frowns in confusion. She glances around the room and then looks back at me. "I'm in my room?"

"Yes you are" I smile at her groggy voice.

"How? Where- What day is it?" she asks and rubs her head.

"It's Christmas eve babe"

I lay down closer to her and rest on my elbow. "You wanted to be home on Christmas eve."

Here emotion changes in an instant and she covers her mouth. "You brought me home?"

"I brought you home" I smile.

She starts crying and I pull her body into mine. She puts her head in my neck and wraps her arm around my waist. She quietly sobs as I rub her back. I can understand why she is emotional. She has been through a lot and now finally being home she can let it all out. She can feel everything she needs to feel. And I'll be here to comfort her through all of it.

We lay like that for a few more minutes and she pulls back to wipe her eyes. "I can't believe I am home."

"We both needed you to be back home" I whisper and kiss her forehead.

"How did you do this?"

"Same as last time. I kidnapped you" I smile and she slightly laughs through a last few running tears. "No I talked to your doctor and I told him you need to come home. And the only way we could get you home without the press seeing was in the middle of the night."

"I don't deserve you" she whispers and the tears start building up again.

"I love you Naya and I needed you to be home. I did this for both of us"

"Thank you baby" she smiles and leans closer to give me a soft but meaningful kiss. "I love you so much." she mumbles against my lips and kisses me again.

"I love you too." I smile as she pulls away. "Do you want to sleep some more or do you want some coffee?"

"Oohhh baby" she moans. "I would love some coffee pleeeease" she grins which makes me kiss her again.

"I'll be right back ok" I say as I get up from the bed.

As I walk out I see her take a deep breath and melt into her pillows.

After she enjoyed her morning coffee she really wanted to take a shower. So I helped her out of bed and took her to the bathroom. I tied her hair back while we brushed our teeth and as we finished there is a brief moment of fear in her eyes as she stares into mirror, looking at every bruise and cut that is still visible on her face.

It's not like she hasn't seen them before but she will always think about the accident until those scars fade.

I grab her hand and she turns around to me. She just gives me a small smile and I walk her to the shower.

"Are you going to join me?" she whispers with her one arm wrapped around my waist.

"Yes please" I whisper back and kiss her forehead. Not only will I never say to shower with my girlfriend but I need this more than I want this.

I help her undress and then myself before we step into the shower.

Our bodies were barely wet as I pull her into me and hold her flush against me. I can feel her grip around my waist and I know she wants the same thing. Feeling her naked body, feeling her skin against mine and hearing her breathing against me was what I needed for the last few days.

We didn't really have time alone to reflect on what happened. There was never really time for us to be alone, together. There was always a doctor or nurse coming to check up on her. Her parents were there during the day which I don't mind at all but I needed this.....

I needed this moment, in a private, confined space, away from everything and everyone.

Just me and her.

My heart is pounding in my chest and the tears are threatening to spill. I think back to that phone call, the moment my heart broke and my body went into total shock. I think back to those dreadful hours in the waiting room when nobody knew what exactly happened or if she is still alive. That long walk down the hallway, the weakness in my legs and the constant praying that she will be alive when we walk through the door.

That was the absolute worst day of my life.

"I am right here baby." she whispers and leaves a few soft kisses on my shoulder. "I am ok"

.....

A/N

Wow guys I am really sorry for the late update. I was really stuck on this chapter. I kept writing it over and over. Hopefully the next chapter won't be so slow.

I really love writing this book so I don't want to stop.

This is a short chapter and I'm not entirely happy with it but I just thought I should get it out there.

Thank you for being patient.

Much Love 💜