People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

--Thich Nhat Hanh

Aiden's Pov 

"Jackson I can go home and Aiden's with me so just don't worry about me. Stay with Amanda and take care of her," Bree tries convincing Jackson over the phone but seems like it's not going that well. Bree is getting discharged from the hospital today and Jackson was supposed to come since he wanted to make sure she's doing fine but now Amanda is sick. Jackson is worried whether Bree will make it home safely or not. Sounds like the siblings I used to know.

"Fine, I'll call you once I'm at Ricky's. And stop calling me every fifteen minutes cause I'm not a kid and trust me, I can take care of myself," She mumbles over the phone and a small smile tugs my face when I think of how part of her never changed.

Finally, after six weeks, her plasters have been removed but still has support for her hand around her neck and is asked to use a wheelchair until she's capable of walking with no support which Bree has been fussing about. She hates the concept of wheel chairs and starts grumbling like a kid whenever she's asked to sit on it.

"Earth to Aiden!" Bree whisper shouts snapping me out of my thoughts. She raises her eyebrow in question but I just shrug it off before walking to her bed. She's dressed in a blue and pink floral dress that doesn't touch the area of her fractured leg, her long brown hair draping down her shoulders. She looks beautiful in anything she wears. I chuckle as I watch her try to get of the bed.

"Would you just wait till I help you?" I question holding her back into the sitting position.

"You've been lost in your own world since the past fifteen minutes and we don't leave now, there's no way, we'd reach on time for Ellie's birthday party,"

"We'll get there on time baby doll and you look so stunning in this dress that I couldn't help staring at you," I smirk as a blush creeps up her face.

I help her up as she leans her petite body on mine for support and help her settle down on the wheelchair carefully. "Thank you," She murmurs looking at me.

"Don't ever thank me for anything," I reply smiling before placing all the luggage together so that it'd be easier for the driver to collect the stuff.

The door opens revealing Brad who's got a bright smile on his face as he looks at Bree. I give him a smile before he speaks up, "All set to go?"

"Yep, I'll take Bree to the car. Can you get our luggage?"

"I'll do that, you guys can head out now, the security would help you get to the car and I'll be following you," he says with a smile and I turn to be, taking hold of the wheelchair. 

"Ready?" I ask her with a grin.

"Will it change if I say I don't want to get out and face the media?" She asks me with a small smile.

"Nah, and come on! You handle stuff pretty well so this should be a piece of cake as always,"

I start pushing the wheelchair as Bree chuckles and I sigh bracing myself for all the questions that the media would be going on and on about. Not that I'm worried about what to answer but I'm just worried about those questions bothering Bree.

And here we go facing the media and the guards surround us as we make our way to the Limo.

Are you both together?

Are you going to drop out of the business deal?
What does the business deal have to do with this?

When are you getting married?
We're not even sure of our relationship right now and they're already talking about our wedding. Wow! I do like the sound of it.

I help Bree out of the wheelchair chair and carry her and place her in the seat before Brad starts placing the bags inside. I take a seat next to her and the door closes making me sigh in relief. "Are you alright?"

I look at Bree who's clutching her head, "Yeah I'm fine, the flashes of the cameras just gave a mild headache. And ugh! The media people are insane," She replies and relaxes her head onto the the backrest of the seat as she turns her head to look at me.

"That went better than I thought," I wink at her, making her giggle a little. I grab a water bottle and pass it on to her to drink some.

"I wouldn't deny it," She replies making me smile as she grabs the bottle of water from me and drinks it up.

"Don't ever let that smile drop again baby doll," She looks at me and nods doubtfully but hopefully at the same time. I lean forward and kiss her forehead.

"Bree, I've got the gift you asked me to, it's right there if you want to have a check before giving it." Brad speaks up breaking the silence and get away from Bree with a smile.

She grabs the gift placed right before her and smiles looking at the huge box covered in orange and yellow wrapping paper. "What is it?"

"I can't tell you. You can see it when she opens it," Bree says looking at me, "It's a surprise,"

"For Ellie and not for me which means you can tell me what's in there," I reason out but she just nods her head indicating a big 'no' making me roll my eyes.

"Did you buy something for her?" She asks me and I nod grabbing my bag to take the gift out. It's a set of all the Disney Princess movies with the dolls for every movie including a pair of the Cinderella's miniature glass slippers. I'm really bad at selecting gifts but this is the best gift I could think of for a girl who's obsessed with Disney.

"You'll know what it is, when she opens it," I mock Bree and it's time for her to roll her eyes. She stares out of the window and her eyes are covered with sadness.

"Is everything alright?" I ask her and she just nods still not looking at me. Maybe I should just wait until she opens up. I sigh and just keep shut as I see Ricky's house coming into view.

Finally here, hopefully this cheers Bree again. Keyword being 'hopefully'. The car halts but Bree just seems lost in her thoughts. "Bree?"

"Hmm," She turns her attention to me and frowns when she realizes that we reached Ricky's place already.

"Let's go," I smile and she tries returning it but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. Brad opens the door for us and get out before snaking one hand under Bree's and helping her out onto the wheelchair as Brad settles it down.

I watch Bree cringe as she looks at the wheelchair and make change in plans as I give Brad a mischievous look. I tug one hand below her knees and carry her instead making a her squeal in surprise as she clutches my neck tight with her right hand. "A cringe doesn't really suite your face baby doll,"

She looks at me with her eyes wide clearly surprised and laughs a little as I join in. I start walking towards the main entrance and Rachel opens the door. Her jaw drops looking at us, "Rachel you wouldn't want butterflies coming out of your mouth later,"

I comment with a smirk, making her close her mouth and she eyes me suspiciously. Can't blame her for looking at me like that cause I know she's watching out for Bree and after all I've done, I deserved that. "Are we going stand here all day?"

Bree asks awkwardly getting Rachel's attention, "I'm so sorry. Come in,"

She says finally smiling as I carry Bree inside following Rachel through the hall into the living room crowded with kids and find Ricky heading towards us with a grin. "Now look who's here!"

"I don't want the wheelchair, can you help me onto the sofa?" Bree asks in a small voice with a small smile. How could I say no when she looks at me like that?!

"Sure," I reply returning the smile. She felt so weightless in my arms and too tiny. "Why don't you put her down on the sofa?"

Ricky questions me and I nod before walking towards the sitting area. I slowly settle Bree down on the sofa as she has her hold tight around my neck making it hard for me to think of anything but her. Once she's completely sitting on the sofa, I feel her hand still around me and my face so close to her's that I could feel her hot breath.

"Are you fine?" I ask her and she nods still not leaving me.

"Thank you," She looks at me before leaning forward and kissing my cheek making me close my eyes. A small gesture which speaks voices and has got me craving more of her touch.

She finally releases her hold and I stand straight, taming my crumpled blue shirt as Bree looks at me apologetically for my shirt which makes me smile. "It's no biggie, trust me,"

She smiles as I say that and Brad invades our awkward conversation, "here you go. I brought both your gifts,"

I take them and thank him before turning to Bree who grabs the gift from me before I give it to her making me chuckle.

"You're here!" I hear a little girls voice and within seconds she was kissing Bree on her cheek. She's probably Ellie since she's dressed up as olaf and looks like Rachel with Green orbs.

She turns to face me and places her hands on her hips, looking up at me," And who are you?"

"He's my best friend princess," Ricky answers for me and Ellie starts looking at me as if she's studying my face making me smile and I carry her.

"Happy birthday little one," I say and she gives me a bright smile as I hand over the gift I bought for her. "I think we can be buddies,"

All of us laugh at her statement and she asks me to put her down, "Did you get something for me?"

She questions Bree with a hopeful look, "of course I did,"

Bree hands her the huge box with a smile and Ellie squeals in excitement, hugging Bree again making her hiss in pain, "Oh my God! Ellie can you please get back to your friends and play with them? Bree is not well,"

Rachel explains Ellie worried and I kneel down next to Bree, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm fine," She says clutching the area near her ribs taking deep breaths which scares me but she relaxes back into the sofa looking at me. "I'm alright,"

"You scared me." I state still worried.

"I'm sorry,"

"No don't be sorry silly," I say making her smile.

"Is she alright?" Ricky interrupts and I nod not taking my eyes from Bree's face.

"Do you want some water?" Ricky asks her. "Yep, I definitely need some,"

He leaves us alone and I start talking again, "You didn't tell me what you gifted Ellie," I point out making Bree smile.

"Neither did you," She reasons out with a shrug. "Alright I guess I'll have to wait till she opens the gifts,"

Bree just nods looking over my shoulder at the bunch of kids playing and her expression changes immediately as if she's hurting. I grasp her hand, squeezing it slightly and she looks at me. "What?"

"You tell me what happened? You were smiling a moment ago," I ask her confused and curious.

"Just missing someone,"

"Who's that?" Is it someone I know? Or maybe not.

"You'll get to know, once we're at my house."

Can it be Jayden?

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--this_is_her❤