"You are going to be okay."

"Matty, I know." I smiled at him and said for what it felt like the tenth time today. I was a hundred percent sure that Matty kept saying those words more to himself. He needed some type of reassurance that everything will be okay. Which I hope it will...

I know the doctors have said that the procedure it's simple and most of the time the results are positive, but I couldn't keep my mind positive. I've heard all this crap before being told to my mother, and look where it got her.

Back then I was just a kid, naive and gullible. So of course, if an adult, especially a doctor, told you that everything will be okay and that your mom is going to survive because the procedure is a 'simple' one, you'd believe it. But not this time around. Now I know what could be the consequences and results of the procedures.

I was currently sitting on a hospital bed (which, mind you, are freaking uncomfortable) trying to comprehend everything that has happened to me. Today was the day they would try to remove the thing that has made my nightmares reappear.

Nothing that was said could prepare me for what's coming.

Well, not if what was being said would come from someone's words.

Where is he? All that I've received from him were calls and text messages, but he hasn't been here since we had the talk. I know I should give him a break but is not like my "clinginess" wasn't justified. But every time I tried to talk about him not being here he would easily change the subject. Not like I didn't know, but I let it slip. Maybe he had a good excuse.

Reason

That's what my heart would tell me. I know he had his reasons, but curiosity was eating my good reasoning.

"Emily?" I turned to find Jake's concerned expression.

"Are you sure you are okay? You've been spacing out a lot." I tried to give my best smile trying very hard to change all my brothers concerned and pained expressions.

"Guys would you stop stressing? I'm sure everything it's going to be fine. You won't get rid of me that easily." I reassured them. I needed to be strong, especially for them.

Matty was going to say something else when he got cut by a nurse that walked in the room. "You guys, how many times am I going to tell you that maximum visitors per room are two?" The nurse reprimanded in a soft tone. She had already come previous days and said the same thing us every day. But every time she just tells us, winks and leaves.

"Boys you got to give her a little rest. Now come on. Shoo!" She clapped her hands trying to make them go away. They chuckled but complied and started to say their goodbyes.

"She you later loser." Brody smiled and kissed my cheek. "Love you."

"Stay positive. And if you do see a hot nurse give her my number, will ya?" Matty winked and instinctively I rolled my eyes. He smiled and kissed the top of my head. "love ya."

"I don't have to kiss her, do I?" Jake whispered loud enough for me to hear.

Though I think that was his intention. I narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled and hurried over encircling his arms around my shoulders giving me a tight hug. "You better not leave us bun butt. I love you." His whispered words made me take a deep sharp breath, making my eyes sting with unshed tears.

I hugged him even tighter. "I love you too." I whispered back and turned my sight towards the rest.

"I love you all so much." I chocked. It was the second time in my life that I saw my brothers with watery eyes. Of course, the first being during my mother's burial. But I refused to think about it. Not now if I wanted to be brave for them.

"alright, scram. Let's leave her to rest." Nate began to push the boys out of the room. At first they seem reluctant but followed his order.

Once alone, I took a deep, shaky breath looking at the ceiling. I focused on it, blinking away any tears that threaten to come out.

"Hey, no Em. Don't cry, I know you are strong enough. You know, don't let the others know I told you this but you are the strongest out of all of us. You've endured so much that it even inspires me to be brave. So please, don't let anything say otherwise...I love you. " Nate sat on the edge of my bed and took both of my hands in his after embracing me in a tight hug.

"Now, I've got some one who just arrived and it's desperate to see you." He looked at me with a faint smirk.

"Well he has been dying to come in but I told him to wait for the guys to say their goodbyes before you went into surgery." I frowned a little wondering who this person might be. Drake was the only one who crossed my mind.

My eyes snapped towards the door automatically, awaiting for his arrival.

My breath got caught in my throat when the person opened the door wide enough for me to see who it was.

"Daddy" I whispered feeling that surge of fresh new tears brim my eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart." He practically ran in my direction and stopped when he engulfed me in a suffocating bear hug. I didn't give a damn about the fact that I couldn't breathe properly.

"I'm so sorry I had to leave you alone through this for so long. I just had to fix a few things before I could be here fully." He apologized for the hundredth time. I chuckled and let him go for me to look at him directly in the eyes.

"Daddy, you've said that a million times through the phone and for the millionth time I know you had to. I'm just so happy that you are here." I hugged him again but this time I was sure that it was me who was suffocating him.

"You're going to be okay, princess." One of my tears slipped when I heard his voice crack. "Trust me."

"Of course I trust you, Daddy." I turned to look at him and placed my hand on his rough cheek. His skin seemed like it hadn't seen a razor in days. The once handsome, strong man was now showing signs of aging. The small patches of gray hair, fine lines on his face and pronounced bags under his eyes where signs that my old man was owning up to his nickname.

I smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "I could not ask for a better father. I love so much."

"I love you too." He cleared his throat obviously trying hard to disguise the fact that he was about to let the water works loose. But like I've mentioned before, my father is the epitome of a macho men. He stood and took a couple of steps towards the door.

"You better get some rest. It will help calm down your nerves. We will be right here if you need us. Jake and Matty decided to stay to make you company. Even though I told them it was not necessary, you need your rest. But those boys are more stubborn than you are." He winked and opened the door.

I laid back in my bed trying to make myself comfortable. Damn this stiff, back braking piece of sh-

"And whom might you be?" I heard my father ask to someone that was outside the room, making it impossible for me to see this person.

"I'm Drake Hunter, sir." I heard Drake say in response.

"Holy sh*t." I found myself murmuring with eyes as wide as saucers.

"With what can I help you with son?" My father asked still standing on the doorway.

Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.

Where the hell are my brothers when they are needed?

Stupid asses must be down at the cafeteria. If my brothers were overprotective of me...there was just no comparison concerning how overprotective my father is.

"I'm here to see Emily, sir." I envied Drake so much right now. He sounded so cool and collected... and here was I, on the verge of a heart attack...

My father took a step back and turned to look at me. He lifted one of his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes at me. I tried to shrink in my bed and hide under the covers.

Well, would you look at that? I was mature enough to do. Just. That.

"Emily, there's someone here to see you." I recognize that tone. The one that says leave the bullsh*t and get yourself out of that damn blanket.

I rose slowly, peering at them through my blanket.

"Oh" Was my smart response.

It was not until my father stood next to my bed that Drake was visible. He walked and stood next to my bed with a slight frown. My eyes widened a fraction when I saw his appearance. There were bruises in his face but they were already turning yellow. He had two deep cuts one on one of his eyebrow and the other on his bottom lip. I felt my chest tighten and my nails dig deep in the palm of my hands. Who could've done this to him?

My feelings must have registered in my face because his expression softened and was replaced with guilt.

"so..." My father drawled taking us to the impossible task of explaining our relationship to him. "who are you to my daughter?"

Drake looked at me warily, trying to ask for permission to tell him. I reluctantly nodded once...why try to stall the inevitable?

"I'm her boyfriend, sir." At that my father's eyebrows raised. Even in the situation we were at, I had to bite my lip trying to maintain a serious face, but Drake was making it so difficult looking so cute when he's nervous.

"Her boyfriend?" My father repeated in a surprised tone. He turned to me. "And your brothers know about this?"

I nodded once again.

"And they are okay with it?" My father was a little...no, let me rephrase that, my father was very skeptic about what we were telling him. I wouldn't doubt that he thought that we were lying to his face.

"Yes, daddy they are okay with it. And I know that you will too, please daddy give Drake a chance." I was giving him my best puppy look. "You know the guys are hard to convince and they support our relationship." I couldn't help but notice how my father cringed a bit at the mention of a relationship.

My father sighed and kept a stern look, mainly towards Drake. It probably took like a couple of seconds but it felt like hours of him not saying anything. I even took a glance at Drake and I could've sworn I saw a little sweat drop coming down his forehead.

"Son, I'm only going to tell you this once and this time only. Hurt her and whatever you thought that my boys could do to you is nothing compared to what I can." Drake's eyes widened a bit and visibly gulped slowly nodding once.

"Y-yes sir." Dad got close to him and extended his hand for Drake to shake. Drake complied and my dad padded his back with his free hand.

"You have a minute with her. She needs to rest." Daddy nodded in my direction. "I love you sweetheart, rest." He emphasized the last word with a hidden meaning behind it. "Yes daddy, see you later."

With a reassuring smile he left, not without a final stern look towards Drake. I literally rolled my eyes.

It was not until Drake heard the soft click of the door shutting that he got close and sat next to me at the edge of the bed.

"He's something, ain't he? I felt like I almost p*ssed my pants a minute there."

And that my dears is how you scare a street fighter to death.

I chuckled and took his hand. My smile began to fade and I looked at him. "I missed you."

"I know, Em. I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner. I had to deal with a lot of sh*t recently." He said pausing while massaging my hand with his calloused thumb. "I did it to keep you safe." He whispered so low that I barely understood him.

"what?" I looked at him puzzled.

He shook his head and sighed. He came close to me and rested his forehead with mine. He stayed there in silence with his eyes shut. When he finally spoke, my heart shattered.

"I'm scared."

I moved back to look at him and grabbed his face with both my hands caressing it with my thumbs. His expression released whatever that was containing my tears. Slowly, they began to fall freely down my face.

I knew the answer to this but I wanted him to say it. "why?"

"Because you are going through this and I feel so worthless." He moved his hands to my lower back and pulled me softly towards him.

I shook my head. "No, love, please. Don't do that to yourself, it's not your fault. I'm the one who has to face this, alone. I'm going to be fine. I promise." I lowered his head a little to meet his lips softly.

"I love you so much." He whispered in my lips and not even waiting for my response he crashed his lips on mine in a demanding kiss. I moved my hands to the back of his neck and traced my fingers in his hair. He held me so tight that our chests were flushed against each other. We were so caught up that we didn't hear the door open.

"Hm, you do the grabbing and I'll do the punching?" I faintly heard in the back and I quickly broke from our kiss. My cheeks were beet red and Drake rolled his eyes.

I turned to look over Drake's shoulder and saw Matty and Jake in the entrance. Matty shrugged. "Fine by me." "There's no need to get your panties in a twist. I'm leaving." Drake said with a hint of amusement.

I never would've thought to see the day when those three would get along. I have to give credit to my brothers for being so cool about us. They have even begin to tolerate Drake.

They scoffed. "Make it quick." Jake said nodding towards Matty signaling for him to go outside to while we said our goodbyes.

"Don't think you're off the hook so easy. I still expect some answers after the surgery." I told him releasing his hand after I stopped him from getting any farther.

"I know and you'll get them. Now rest babe." He passed and gave my face a once over."You need it."

I gasped, grabbed my pillow with an incredible speed and threw it at his face. Of course, he dodge it in time.

"Ass"

He chuckled and lowered his head, kissing my forehead. He lingered there for a few seconds before stepping back just enough to look me in the eyes.

"Don't leave me."

"I won't." I replied looking at him with the same intensity.

And who knew that a simple promise like that could've been broken so easily...

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Ah...I know I said I would update quickly but my computer crashed with no hope of salvation...:( And writing in my tablet takes twice the time.

Oh and I thought there were two chapters left but this was kind of long so I had to cut it. Tell me what you think. ;)

Kim <3