~ ~ Chris ~ ~

Two weeks later.

They tell you your life flashes before your eyes when you're about to die. Every regret in full colour. I couldn't say that happened when Scar held the gun to my forehead, but my life had been full of mistakes... and nearly all those mistakes revolved around Beth.

But I'd been given a second chance—at life. And I wasn't wasting it.

"Almost there, buddy," A quick glance at Nix in his car seat had me smiling. He was kicking his little legs wildly to a Kid's Music CD courtesy of Riley who had insisted he start listening to it when we were out driving, and to quote, "Chris, exposing babies to music from an early age can turn them into pint-sized Mozart wannabes. It's like giving their little brains a rock concert and their tiny hearts a dance party."

She wasn't wrong and I was fast becoming appreciative of her wisdom.

My phone rang. "Sorry, Nix." I lowered the music and swiped the hands-free. "Hey Adam," I'd not returned to work as planned as being kidnapped put a kink in my plans. Although I was more or less healed, the only pain now was in my ribs and my Achilles tendon was giving me trouble. But work was pressuring me to go back, and of course, it was Dr Helen Wiseman leading the charge. She had recently secured the position of Chief of Surgery, and it seemed I was in her crosshairs. A woman scorned and all that shit, although technically we never dated, but I was the asshole who screwed her roommate in college... on her bed, so maybe this was payback.

"Everything's fine, for now," said Adam.

Nice. I wasn't sure how he swung that. She liked Adam even less than me. "Guess she still holds a torch for you then, huh?"

Huffing a breath. "Trust me, she doesn't. You can thank, Riley's grandmother, Nana Em for speaking up for you." I heard the smile in his voice, she'd put a good word in for him in the past. "She said you can thank her by taking Nix to see her."

Ah. and I smiled. She was a hell-of-a woman, in fact, all the Lockwood women were, well apart from Mercy Jane, greatness skipped a generation there or she had a mutated gene.

"Thank you, and tell Riley thanks."

"Will do."

"I'll catch up with you tomorrow, I gotta go, I'm pulling up outside Cals."

I hadn't even unclipped my belt when April popped up at my passenger door as if summoned by Nix's baby charm. She swung the door open and freed him. "C'mon little man. Come to Aunty April, I've missed you," she cooed, scooping him up. He started giggling as soon as she began kissing and tickling him. He had every female he met wrapped around his stubby finger. I guess he was a mini-me in the making—charming, adorable, and irresistible, or at least I hoped Beth still thought so.

Climbing out of the car she finally noticed me. "Hey, you're looking a lot better."

"Yeah. Feel it too."

Following them into the house, I stepped into the kitchen, setting my keys on the counter.

"C'mon, Cal's outback he's already fired up the grill."

Out in the backyard, Cal had a spatula in one hand and a beer in the other, but my stomach dropped a little when no one else was there. 

"Look, who I found," said April.

Cal lifted his head and flicked his chin up. "You're late." Ah, there he was, the brother who couldn't resist putting me in my place. "You want to eat now?" he asked.

"Blame your nephew." It hadn't been a good idea to toss Nix in the air a few times after he'd just had some juice. A change of clothes was necessary for us both. You would think I knew this stuff by now. "I wouldn't say no to some steak."

"Grab a beer from the cooler, and sit your ass down," Cal said, pointing towards the ice chest. "Or if you like, we've got some non-alcoholic drinks in the house, including that non-alcoholic beer." He rolled his eyes in the direction of his wife.

I grinned raising an eyebrow. "Non-alcoholic beer? What's the point of that?"

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with it," protested April seemingly offended.

"Sweetheart," said Cal. "It's like going to a strip club and chatting to the bartender all night."

I cracked a chuckle. "Thanks, but I think I might just stick with water or a soft drink."

Cal grunted shaking his head and went back to working the grill. Funnily enough, since being kidnapped and tortured, we were getting on better. He hadn't said he was sorry for what he'd said but when I confessed to him in the hospital that I wasn't giving up on Beth he kept quiet. That was as close to him giving his blessing as I was going to get, and I was fine with that.

"So, just the two of you?" That was my way of asking where Beth was.

April's head turned my way. "Beck's at his girlfriends. Hazel is at her friends and..." she paused

"You might as well tell him," shouted Cal over his shoulder.

This couldn't be good.

April's smile faltered, replaced with lines I'd never noticed before almost as if her next words would cause me physical harm."Beth is upstairs, getting ready for her date tonight."

Shit. Murphy's law strikes again. It felt like I'd been hit by a cosmic punchline.

The last two weeks Beth had been on my mind non-stop, reminding me of all the things I used to want, used to dream about... and making me want every last one of them again.. with her. But for that to happen, it started with her giving me a second chance.

This news put a serious dent in my plans, but I was nothing if not determined. I forced a smile at April as she smiled back sympathetically.

"You still take your stake medium rare?" asked Cal breaking the awkwardness.

"Yeah. I'm just gonna head in for a drink."

Inside the house, I opened the steel door to the refrigerator but paused when I heard footsteps on the stairs. It had to be Beth. Quickly grabbing a bottled water, I turned around to see her come to an abrupt halt.

"Oh, hey, Chris," she said, her smile awkward and hesitant as she squeezed the phone in her hand a little tighter.

Holy shit. She looked beautiful, and I doubted any man out there would disagree with me. "Wow. You look amazing, Beth." The pale lemon summer dress she had on hugged her curves like they were trying to sign a long-term lease.

Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes dipped to look over herself. "Oh, thanks. The dress is new." Slowly, her eyes climbed back up to mine, and then she gulped. "How are you?" Guilt flooded her pretty blue eyes.

"I'm fine. Feeling better every day," I replied, trying to sound casual.

I didn't want her thinking of the past, or what her father had done. But thankfully, she looked past me, out the window, and changed the subject. "Oh my," she smiled. "Nix looks so much bigger than when I saw him last."

I looked over my shoulder. "Yeah, you should see how much he eats now. I swear, the kid's like a bottomless pit. Last night, he polished off a whole plate of spaghetti, then asked for seconds, and thirds. I'm thinking of opening a restaurant just to keep up with him." I jokingly teased.

Beth giggled, the tension easing a little. "Sounds like he takes after his dad."

I grinned. "Yeah, unfortunately, he's got my appetite."

This was all so polite. And now with my first plan crashing and burning, I had to come up with another—fast. "Hey, why don't you come over tomorrow to my house and spend some time with him? You would be doing me a huge favour." I tried to sound casual and it was only a tiny white lie, but desperate times called for desperate measures. "I have to go out, and it will save me dropping him off at Daycare."

"Daycare?" she said surprised but not at all suspicious. "Where's Mia?"

Since Kim's funeral, Mia's mood had plummeted off a cliff. She wasn't all sunshine and smiles to begin with, but the kidnapping and murder of her sister had dimmed the brightness of her eyes, and her shoulders were heavy with guilt. Not that she should feel any guilt. That was all on Kim... and Heavy.

However, no matter how many times I told her it wasn't her fault, she didn't believe it. Aaron was worried too and asked if I thought it was a good idea for her to get away—on vacation for a while.

I thought it was a great idea and asked Adam if they could use his cabin.

"Her and Aaron have gone up into the mountains. Adam has a cabin up there. It's good she gets away from everything for a while."

Beth's eyes dimmed too, remembering. I wasn't about to revisit that minefield and quickly asked again. "So, what you do say. Can you help me out?"

It worked and she lifted her chin. "What time would you need me there?"

I had to stop myself from grinning and cleared my throat. "Eleven?"

"Okay. I can do that."

Yes! "Thank you, Beth, I appreciate it."

Her phone pinged, and she glanced at it, cheeks flushing again. I didn't like that she was flushing and I hadn't caused it, and the words just came out. "April tells me you have a date?"

Her head shot up, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Hmm, yeah."

I know it's none of my business and I should just leave it at that but I would never claim being smart. "Who? Do I know him?" Very unlikely.

"You might remember him. It's Ryan. You met him at my... erm," she hesitated. "At my nineteenth birthday party."

We both stood there staring awkwardly and I was sure she was thinking the same thing I was. Our first kiss. Yet, still, jealousy gnawed at me like an unwelcome guest. "How long have you two been dating?" I could feel the sweat gathering on the back of my neck. Surely not long?

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she gave me a puzzled look. "It's the first time we're going out."

I felt myself relax a little, if this was their first date she wouldn't remotely have any feelings for him yet—right?

It hurt but I forced a smile."Yeah, well, have fun, I guess." There was another awkward silence as I stewed in my jealousy, hating the fact that someone would most likely be holding her hand, or worse, kissing her. 

That thought was pretty damn sobering and reminded me I remembered I had a drink in my hand and unscrewed the top of the bottled water in my hand and took a drink... and it went down the wrong hole and I spluttered and coughed, which had me reaching to hug my ribs. Shit, that hurt.

Beth rushed over taking the bottle from my hand. "Oh, God, Chris. Sit." She tried to usher me to the table but I resisted moving.

I hissed through my teeth. "I'm fine, just my ribs..."

She stepped back with guilt marring her beautiful face. "Oh. I'm so sorry. I—"

Upsetting Beth was the thing I wanted. "Hey, Hey, I'm fine, honestly. Sorry, if I worried you." I straightened and stepped toward her.

But Beth took another step back. Then another. "There's nothing you need to apologise for, Chris." I could hear the wobble in her voice and I wanted to kick myself.

And she's wrong. "There's plenty for me to be sorry for."

Ah, screw this. 

Three strides and my arms folded around her. She felt so warm and soft. There wasn't anything sexual in the hug, I just wanted to make her feel okay, and offer comfort without expecting anything in return. In a way we both needed right now. Silently I give her my apology with no drama but sincere regret. Weirdly it felt cathartic for me too as something heavy lifted off my chest. Slowly she relaxed and I forgot myself and didn't engage my brain. "God, I miss you, Beth. Let me make it up to you," I whispered into her hair, planting a soft kiss on her head. "I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy."

My words were unwelcome as she stiffened and pushed on my chest, putting distance between us. "Chris. We already had this conversation.  We're over. I've moved on."

I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply to try and hide my pained expression. "I don't believe that."

"Chris," she pleaded. "Please."

Seeing as my mouth has already started this, I might as well lay it all out. "You can't deny this thing between us. Chemistry for a start."

She hiked her chin up. "It's physical, Chris. It's always been physical."

"I disagree. And if you want me to prove it. Then I will." Beth narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You give another chance and we won't have sex. We will wait till we're married."

She sucked in a sharp breath. "You'll wait till we're what now!?" I could hear her heart racing from here. "You don't mean that."

"Why? Because you don't want to hear? Because you're afraid of the truth?"

Tears blurred her vision and old wounds reopened in front of my eyes. "Why are you sayin' this now?" She shook her head. "I wanted you to fight for me. I gave you every chance, Chris."

I flinched because she was right. "You're right. But if you give me this chance I won't waste it."

"And what if I don't want to get married for say five years or more? What then, huh? I'm sure you won't wait that long if you're saying no sex?"

"You mean more to me than just sex."

Her mouth opened then closed and opened again but the doorbell interrupted. "That will be Ryan."  She stood there, biting on her cheek for a second before saying, "I'm sorry I gotta go." She didn't hang around.

She was walking away from me again, but I wasn't ready to let her go and with a grin that bared my teeth, I did what I'll do for the rest of my life if she'll let me.

I chased her.

"Beth..."

She's already opening the door. "Hey Ryan," she greeted the man standing there.

Why did all the guys she dated look like they were carved from mountains?  Couldn't she find someone who was puny? And looked like a stiff breeze might blow them over.

"Hey. You ready?" He asked and then his eyes shifted to me.

"Ryan, you remember, Chris? My uncle, right?"

My stomach blanched as he graced me with his perfect smile. "Nice you see you again, Sir."

And they're always so damn polite too.

"I'm ready. Let's go Ryan."

As they walked toward his car, I was hot on their heels. "Beth, wait."

They both stopped, and Beth flashed him a smile. "Can you give me a second Ryan?." He nodded and went to sit in his car. Beth flipped around keeping her voice low. "What? What do you want, Chris?"

"I know you don't trust me and I don't blame you." She rolled her lips but kept quiet. "So I'm gonna give you all the time you need. Watch you date other—" My eyes drifted to Ryan who was watching us. "—Men." Her eyes rounded. "But I want you to think on this. I won't let you take forever because that Bethany Rogers, belongs to me."

Her lips parted and the tip of her tongue slipped out to wet them. And then I took a step back. "I'll see you tomorrow at eleven."

And with that, I shoved my clenched fists into my pockets and watched her leave. But it was the last time I would watch her do that... just one more day. 

~ ~

A:N:  Do we think Chris has suffered enough?