Once Bree was cleaned up and quiet, we were finally able to help her down the steps to Kara's car. I knew she was dreading the next step in our plan, but she agreed to it.

"Get him ready." I told Michael on the phone as Lindsay and Kara went with Bree. "Make sure he's back at his place so that it will be a more private conversation." I locked the front door behind me as I headed out of Kara's home.

"Alright. We're already on our way to my car. God, I hope she won't mess things up." Michael sighed out and I could hear the slams of car doors through the phone. I was praying the same thing. Hopefully Bree will find her senses and realise that Ray is someone she needs--someone who completes her soul. As cheesy and skeptical as this sounds, they're soulmates. I could tell from the first moment they met eyes that they were meant to be together. They were compatible in so many ways.

"Yeah, same here." We said goodbye and I made my way to the three other girls who were waiting in Kara's small car.

* * *

Everyone was sweating bullets on the way to Ray's apartment. I knew Bree was the most nervous out of all of us. When she agreed after countless begging from me, she said she would come out fully to Ray. I knew it was going to be hard for her, but I could see her love for Ray was larger than her fear of her past. So, I knew that she just had to come out with her story to him.

"You'll be fine." I said to her, placing a hand on her clasped ones that sat in her lap. Kara and Lindsay were confused as to what I was pleading Bree about earlier, but they didn't press for information. Bree nodded, sighing loud through her nose. She still wore her dress, not caring about her appearance. Kara asked if she wanted to borrow something, but Bree only smiled and shook her pretty little head.

When we pulled up to the familiar apartment complex, I recognised Michael's car parked a little ways away.  I could tell Bree did too when I saw her small body tense next to me, biting her bottom lip in anxiety. I squeezed her hands and we were able to bring her out to face what she was avoiding.

Bree's POV

I was scared shitless. I still couldn't believe I was going to speak what I've been dreading to let loose to Ray. The only person that knew was Janie, my sweet friend. I knew her intentions about last night were good ones, but it made me upset that she couldn't leave well enough alone. It hasn't been 24 hours yet and I was already walking up to Ray's place. I haven't had any time to clear my mind--to calm my thoughts into cool submission. I needed time to recollect my mature, simple thoughts that got me through everyday. When Janie begged for me to just face my fear, to face Ray, it seemed more demanding, causing me to just give in. I knew that since my mind was in an uproar and there was nothing calming to soothe me, I was probably going to become an emotional mess. I didn't accept Kara's offer for a change of clothing because if I was going to do this--I was going to do it right. The scars my father was able to dig into me were prominent against my tan skin, so they would be easily seen. I don't know if Ray has ever caught sight of them, but if he ever has, he's been quiet about it.

Kara knocked on the door with an impatient fervor. Janie made sure to keep a supportive arm around my shoulders, rubbing her thumb against my flesh. She was such a good friend and it seriously was so hard to stay mad at her. Sometimes I was jealous of her relationship between her and Gavin. They were so compatible and in love that it made me wonder if Ray and I could ever reach that goal we were so close to touching. After everything, it made me envy her. Lindsay stood to my right, casting worried glances in my direction as we waited. 

When the door opened, I felt my blood turn cold. It wasn't Ray that opened the door, but Gavin smiled at us and when his eyes rested on my dark ones, his smile became more comforting. I was glad Janie had him--glad that she found someone that wouldn't hurt her like Will did. Janie kissed his cheek before aiding me inside. The familiar smells and scenery of the flat had my stomach in complicated knots and I felt like I might need a bin in my arms any second.

Michael was leaning against the kitchen counter, looking over a bit of fanart someone had sent to Ray. He was definitely someone I could rely on, besides Janie, whenever I was in some sort of pickle. Even though he screamed, cursed, or made of fun almost everyone, he was sweet when it came to people and their problems. I missed the lad, so I went into his arms when he held them open for me.

"Hey." I said, taking in the smell of cologne he had on.

"How are you?" He asked, resting his chin on my head. I could hear the others come in as Michael held me whilst in the kitchen.

"I've had better days. Hell, better years." I chuckled and he followed me. Once I untangled myself from him, I turned to look back at the other lad who had his arm slung around Janie. "Where's, um, where's he?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck. Gavin nodded to the bedroom door and I sighed out in defeat. Janie was right: This was going to happen someday, somehow and today was the day to exhale my secrets.

"We'll be outside." Janie said, entwining her fingers with Gavin's before they all headed out, closing the door behind them. My eyes remained glued on the bedroom door, which stood open. Plucking my courage from the back of my mind, I coated my very soul with it so I could face the person through that door-- the one I loved so much it almost made my heart explode.

Ray was laying on his bed, fully dressed and on his phone. His hair was a bit tousled from laying against the pillows, but what I noticed was how his eyes were deprived of sleep. I felt guilty because even though my mind rolled with so many thoughts, I was able to receive sleep.

I knocked on the door frame, waiting for him to look up at me. When he did, I saw so many emotions touch his features that it overwhelmed me, but I stood my ground, preparing to face everything I pushed away.

"Ray..." I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. He sat up and patted the seat on the bed next to him. I was hesitant at first, but I sat, biting my lip. He looked so much in pain and I knew I caused it. Being my childish, stubborn self has rippled the lives of too many people over the past few years. "Hi." I muttered out. That's it?! What the fuck, you arsehole. You caused him so much pain and all you can bloody say is 'Hi'?

"Hey." He smiled, a small one, but yet it made my heart flutter. "You know...you don't have to say anything if you really don't want to. I'm not going to push you. I told you that, Bree." His lovely brown eyes stared into mine, feeling as if he was trying to reach my very soul.

"No, I have to. I need to stop being a silly little girl and tell you the rest," I licked my lips, shuddering from the memories pouring back into my mind from all the years I kept them away. I grabbed his hand, having his fingers touch my shoulder to where the scars were. They weren't the only ones though-they covered my back, behind my thighs, and on my scalp. "Have you seen these?" I asked him. He traced his fingers against the rough scars, making sure to touch every single one as if they would allow him an insight on how I received each of them.

"Yeah," He breathed out. "Are they the only ones?" His hand slid down my arm to reach my hands and he began to play with my fingers. I was scared to show him the rest, but I had to suck it up and do what I came here to do. He was listening and watching, wanting me to allow him whatever he was able to know.

I turned slightly so my back was facing him and I moved my hair so it could cascade over my shoulder to show the other longer and rougher scars that etched my back. I could hear Ray's gasp, soon feeling his hands trace each one before I turned back to face him once more. Ray gulped, looking uncomfortable, but I saw a fire of sheer hatred ignite in his eyes.

"You're father?" He asked. I had already told him a little bit about my father, but seeing the scars the arsehole left me was something else. I nodded, feeling some of the weight disappear from my shoulders, but not enough to stop them from drooping with pain and depression. "Is he in prison? Like he should be."

"I don't know. He left before they could arrest him. He did this to me since I was six or seven years old--I don't remember exactly. He believed discipline was something to praise, but the alcohol he decided to consume amplified that belief. While my mum was away in rehab," I saw the muscle in his jaw twitch. "He would do this to me. Even though it wouldn't have mattered if she was around--he would have still done his duty." It was strange to not feel tears building up in my eyes. Usually whenever I talked about this, I would be in tears. "But he did worse things." I stared long into his dark eyes.

"You don't have to--"

"No, I will, Ray. I-I have to face the fears I've been pushing aside," He nodded like he understood. "He did worse things. When he came home, drunk or just in a bad mood, he became grabby. He would pull on my arm or neck or waist., dragging me to the mattress I slept on," The memories played in my mind, giving me a front row seat to my own home movie, "My father would try to stop my screams with his mouth and tongue. Even though he was causing me pain, he made me remember how much he loved and cared for me."

Ray listened intently, but I could see he was becoming angered by the moment. I was scared to tell him the rest, so terrified to let him know the worst part of my father's actions.

"He, uh, He would take me on that mattress," That's when I saw the fire explode in his eyes. "Almost every day, but in the morning he said he didn't remember what had happened, but he apologised. And I-I forgave him each time."

"Why?" His face was in utter confusion. I knew he wouldn't understand. I should just stop--stop and the memories will fade back into their deep, dark hole. "He raped you, Bree."

"He's my father. No matter what he did to me, I still saw him as the nice man before any of that had happened and when asked for forgiveness the next day, I could still see the same man in his eyes. He was there and I believed he could be reached." I shrugged. It did feel good to unravel all of my secrets, but it was still nerve-racking.

"You should have done something and I know it's not my place to tell you what you should have done, since I have never experienced anything like this, but you should have called the cops on him or something." Ray gripped my hands in his, no longer playing with my fingers but holding them comfortingly.

"Child Services had been to our house a few times--arriving by the complaints of neighbours. Each time he blamed my mother for my scars even though it was quite obvious it was him. Every time they would ask me if I was happy with my dad, if I wanted to leave, or if he was a caring man. And I lied, telling them he was so sweet and an amazing father. I lied for him, Ray and every day I regret doing that." I shook my head and looked down, scared to see the fire in his lovely brown eyes.

"You were doing what you thought was right. Maybe you were scared to lose another parent. Since your mother was getting treatment and you barely saw her, your father was the only one you were able to have contact with--even though it's not the contact you should be receiving. I understand you completely."  He cupped my cheek, having me look up and I blinked, wondering how he could be so understanding. But he hasn't even heard the worst part--the most secretive thing  I've been holding under arrest.

"That's not all," I said. Might as well get this out. "Child Services was finally able to see that he was the monster the whole time. When I turned 14, they took me from him even though I refused to be brought back to the station with them. They took blood samples and made me do so many different tests to see if they could find any evidence of anything internal that was damaged or," I sighed out and continued. "If he had gotten me pregnant." Ray never strayed his eyes from me.

"Go on. I'm listening." I could tell he was hesitant about the next part I was going to reveal, but he made sure to never leave eye contact with me.

"They did. I was positive," He sighed out as I told him. "But I denied that they were his." His eyes narrowed when he heard the last part and I mentally slapped myself. I wasn't going to reveal the last bit.

"They?" He asked, tilting his head.

"I-I was pregnant with twins. They were inside me for five months--both boys," I looked down, staring down at our hands clasped together.

"Did you...give birth?" When I shook my head, he stiffened and I knew he realised what I was preparing to say next. I hadn't even told Janie that it wasn't just one child, but two--my two little boys.

"One day, I got my hands on some pills--abortion pills. I knew exactly what they were since I had been searching consistently for them until I was able to find them at the institute I was staying at. I hid them from the nurses and in the middle of the night I popped them in." It was a painful process since I was five months pregnant--I will never forget the pain. "I don't want to say how the doctors had to get them out." Ray nodded. His face was totally pale like he saw some sort of ghost. I knew he wasn't expecting all of this, but I was feeling stronger and stronger by the minute.

"So," I continued. "my mother was finally out of rehab a few months after what I did and she only visited me once. The reason behind her visit was to let me know she was engaged to this Scottish movie producer and to not contact her at all. She said she didn't want me to scare away her fiancé," I rolled my eyes. "They got married a few months later and a few years afterwards, they had my half sister. So, my mum has a new family and her old family is pretty much just destroyed to her." I was done. I finally accomplished what I've been holding back.

Ray looked at me, hate and love in his eyes. I was relieved to see the love swimming through his lovely brown iris' but the hate scared me a bit. I don't think it was towards me, but what happened in my past.

"Can I ask why were you scared to tell me all of this?" He asked.

"Because of what I did: I lied for my father and killed two innocent lives that had no faults. I was scared you would've seen me as weak or a liar. That's what terrified me. Hell, I felt the same way with Janie when I told her many years ago." I said, avoiding his eyes.

"If Jane never left, what made you think I would? I love you, Bree. More than I thought I ever would. I don't see you as weak or a liar, but someone who has endured so much and is still willing to live on this Godforsaken planet. You could have opted out and left everyone behind--being selfish. Instead, you pushed back everything so you could live and do what you wanted and to be with the people that truly love you. When you showed me your art folder the next day you were here, you showed so much emotion in your drawings and it also told me what kind of a person you are and it didn't say liar or weak. You are strong, independent, and beautiful--inside and out. Creative, loving, hilarious, weird, crazy, smart. The things I fell in love with." Ray smiled and I felt my heart completely stop.

I wasn't expecting this from him. I always thought when I allowed someone to know my past they would see me differently, but each time, with Jane and Ray, it's only been supportive reactions.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I hugged him to me. I caused him so much pain, believing he wouldn't understand, but I was so wrong. He wandered through my past and still he loves me. Ray wrapped his arms around me, kissing the side of my head. The Ray in the videos on YouTube was so different than the Ray that hugged me.

"I'm sorry that you had to deal with this." Was all he said. I was in love with this boy and I wasn't going to let him slip through my fingers again.

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A/N: Yay, hopefully this makes up for the excruciatingly long wait for them to be whole again...well, kind of. This is such a feelsy chapter, but I hope you're satisfied.

ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 7K READS!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I REACHED THIS MANY READS! IT'S SO UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!

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