~ Flashback~

' I think she's warming up to me being her father.' I hear Owen say.

I know that they think I'm still asleep, but I've long woken up now.

' You've been waiting for the day she calls you dad.' Aiden says.

'Yeah, but I know that I need to be patient, and wait for her to get comfortable around me again.'

'Owen, she knows that she has no reason to be uncomfortable around you. She's just getting used to the idea of being your daughter, don't ever mistake this for her being uncomfortable. I know my sister, and she'll come around. "

' Maybe I should give her some space.' Owen says after a while.

' Owen ------------ '

'She needs to let this sink in, without me sticking around. She needs time to think. I should have gotten the hint, the moment she declined my offer, of her staying over at my place in her time of recovery. '

' I know that whatever I say now, won't change your mind. Both of you are so stubborn. All I ask is that you don't give up -----------'

' Never. I will never give up on my daughter. ' Owen says strongly, sounding almost offended by what Aiden said.

' Okay, just don't stay away for too long.'

' I won't.'

                     ~ End of Flashback~

Those were his words, but he hasn't come to see me, and it's almost been a week now. I'm bothered by this, I can't even lie.

I know that I once said that I didn't want to see him again, the night I found out about him being my father. I was angry, hurt, I felt betrayed, and there was pain in my heart. I let my anger and pain speak, but after the whole thing with Luis, and hearing Owen out, I've been trying to get used to this new normal. Infact, the whole normal thing.

It feels weird to not look over my shoulder, and not have to worry about Luis finding us. Not running, is something to get used to, and I know I will, in time.

After being shot and literally totured by Luis, I had to stay in the hospital for a whole of two weeks. I was not happy about this, but I knew that if I wanted a speedy recovery, I had to listen to everyone around me. So I did and before I knew it, I was back home.

I was so surprised by how Owen took so much charge, and literally paid for my hospital bills, no, basically everything. He was even willing to cover for a home nurse but I said no. I didn't want him to waste his money, I felt like I was using him, and that he shouldn't use so much money on me.

Oh gosh, when I said all of this, I received the scolding of my life. He told me that he wants to be able to give me everything I need and want, as my father, but when I grew silent on him, I could see how much that hurt him.

I don't understand why it's been so hard to get used to him as Owen, my father. I know I should be happy because Luis is not my dad, but there's just something holding me back.

Maybe it's that fear that Aiden identified. I don't like this withdrawal, it's not good for any of us. It hasn't been long and I haven't felt like myself, I don't know what to do about it.

What worries me the most, is that Wesley has taken notice of this too. Sometimes, in these past few days, we spent most of our time in silence. He's been a great boyfriend and has shown me so much patience. I worry that he might grow tired of waiting, for me to get back to my old self.

" I heard you last night." I hear Aiden say and I look up from my school work.

" What are you talking about?" I ask, avoiding eye contact.

I might have a clue on what he's talking about.

" You were crying, and when you heard me near, you tried to muffle your cries. "

I tense up, but still don't look up.

" How long will you act like everything is okay?"

" Until I'm actually okay."

" It doesn't work that way." He says through a sigh.

" I'll find a way...." I hear him come over to join me, and he snatches my book away, now earning my eyes.

" Chloe, you can't carry on like this. I can't watch you disappear on us like this. This is just not healthy. You -----------"

We hear the front door open and close, before Owen appears at the doorway.

He looks like he hasn't shaved in quite some time now.

" I'm going out." Aiden says, getting up and leaving.

I watch Owen come over and take Aiden's place. When I reach out my hand to take my book, he beats me to it and places it far out of reach.

"You didn't call." I accuse, not even looking at him.

" I did."

" But not to me." I turn to look at him now.

At first, he takes a good hard look at me, before speaking up.

" You haven't been sleeping."

His words hit me hard, because it's the truth. I can't sleep.

It doesn't take long for tears to start spilling down my face. My head drops as my chest pains. I feel him pull me into his chest and wrap his arms around me, and that's when I really let out my cry. My shoulders shaking and all.

" I can't do it, I can't sleep. It's so hard to keep it together, when I close my eyes, I see him. I see blood on my hands and I find myself in that burning house. I'm so tired, I hate the fear that lingers, I hate the pain inside of me.

I don't like feeling weak. I want it all to stop, help me Owen, please. Don't leave me again, don't leave please,  Help me Owen...." I cry out, with my eyes closed shut.

" Shhh, it's okay. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere, I won't leave again." He says, tightening his hold on me and placing a kiss on my head.

                           ******

His fingers comb through my hair as my head rests on his lap, while we watch a movie. We haven't talked much after the whole breaking down moment, we've wasted time away with a movie, and I think both of us aren't really concentrating on the movie, but the fact that we are actually alone.

This is the first time we've been alone, and we aren't so awkward around each other. Well more me in this case.

" Does it bother you that I still call you Owen?"

" Don't ask me that."

" Why not?"

" Because I don't want to feel shitty afterwards, for my answer."

" Do you realize that you've just used a colourful word infront of me?"

" I can't take it back now."

I chuckle.

" I regret how you found out."

" Will it make it any better if I say, either way I did find out, I would still have been upset."

" Maybe."

" Mom told me that I have a unique story of how I was born."

" I was there."

I sit up and face him.

" You were?"

He nods. " Yes, but I didn't know you were mine then."

" Didn't you feel weird, being at the birth of somebody elses baby, well then?"

" No, because I was busy freaking out."

" You were?" I ask, surprised.

Owen has never shown fear, and I've always considered him to have no fear growing up. I might have seen a glimpse of it that night I was in that burning house, but I won't tell him that.

" Labour is a scary thing. " He shakes his head.

" Why were you there at that time?"

" Your mom wanted an escape, she wanted someone to talk to then, and I happened to be thinking of her, I called her first because I felt worried about her.

Luis was away at that time, and Aiden had gone on a camping trip for the weekend. We met up at this one very special spot, it was close to the forest, and there was the perfect view of a waterfall. She talked and I listened.

By the time we knew she had to get back, her water broke and ----------"

" Woah, woah. You delivered the baby?! -I mean me?"

He nods, amusement sparkling in his eyes, probably from the weird expression on my face.

" Now I understand why you freaked out."

He chuckles.

" I was feeling all sorts of emotions inside, but most of all, when I held you in my arms the first time, I wanted so bad for you to be mine. My heart got attached to you, and I believe I had already claimed you as my daughter."

" You're so expressive nowadays." I mumble, casting my eyes to my lap.

" You don't like that?"

" No, it's not that. It's just that I don't want you to feel forced to express your emotions, just to prove to me that you are my father."

" No, it's not that at all. "

I look at him.

" Okay."

The front door opens and closes, before Aiden appears, with Wesley coming behind him.

My heart skips a beat when our eyes connect. Gosh, how I've missed him.

" I thought we'd have pasta tonight." Aiden says, holding up the grocery bags, on his way to the kitchen.

" I'll help." Owen says, following him, and leaving Wesley and me alone.

The moment both Aiden and Owen disappear from view, Wesley rushes over to me. He doesn't waste time in cradling my face and claiming my lips.

He releases so much emotion into the kiss, and I meet him halfway, letting him know just as much as he does, that I missed him so much.

Our need for breathing is the only thing, that actually makes us pull back. A small smile takes over when he pecks my lips twice, before pulling me into his arms.

I sigh against him, wrapping my arms around him.

" Will you talk to me now?"

He leans back enough, so he can glance down at my face.

" I can't stop thinking about you." My heart flutters at the sound of those words.

He kisses my forehead and I return his affection, with planting kisses all over his face. I feel calmer, with him relaxing and a small smile touching his face.

" I want to take you out of the house for a bit, maybe for ice cream. "

" That would be nice." I say.

He suddenly rises to his feet and holds out his hands to me. I glance between him and his hands.

" What are you doing?"

" I'm taking you out."

" Right now?"

He nods, his eyes showing a spark of excitement.

Despite my curiosity, I shrug, letting him pull me up to my feet.

" I need to go change first." I say.

" Why, you look good to me."

" You're my boyfriend, ofcourse you'll say something nice."

I frown a bit when I see him looking at me.

" What?"

A smile touches the corners of his lips.

" Nothing, I just like the sound of you calling me your boyfriend."

I step closer to him and peck his cheek, before walking past him and heading upstairs to my room.

When I first tested walking, it was quite a challenge to walk for long. When that detective had literally mahandled me, when they were arresting me, it had an effect on my recovery.

I was meant to take my first try slowly, but that whole thing with the detectives, interrupted that. My movements have been really slow and I would sometimes get irritated, when I want to reach for something or somewhere faster, and my pace proved slow.

One thing I stood firm against, was to be babied. I didn't want them to treat me like a fragile doll, that's why I pushed really hard to finally show improvement. I can now see the results and though there is still a bit of slowness, I am ten times better than before.

I haven't gone back to school yet,  because Aiden had informed the school of what has happened, arrangements were made that I would get my school work and assignments, so I won't miss out. I needed to be ready for the exams.

Wesley has been bringing my school work, and we have been studying together, Fin has also joined us a couple of times. Those two have made me laugh with their small banters and even their stories. Being in their company had even helped me to forget for a while, what stared me in the face, the whole Luis thing.

Another thing, I know that I have to get used to, is to see the burnt scars, that have painted parts of my body, on my back. So now, to find something to wear, that didn't give them too much exposure, was a little challenging.

I haven't really gone out, a part from the times, that Aiden and me would step outside and sit in the porch, just so I receive a breather from the house.

I couldn't wear most of my clothes as of yet, because of how scary and fresh, the scars still looked.

I let out a small groan of frustration, when in my cropped top, I see them out in display.

" Chloe?"

Before I can even close the door or literally do anything, he appears at my doorway. His eyes are quick to look me over and his mind to work over time.

" I was still looking for, something...." I trail off, shifting on my heel and trying to step closer to the wall, to hide my hideous scars.

" Stop."

" What?"

" You know what." He says, entering the bathroom.

" No, I don't." I shake my head.

His hand catches my arm in time, preventing me from noving any further.

" W-Wesley, what are you doing?" I stutter, feeling nervous and slightly panicked by him turning me around, so my back faces him.

" Shhh..."

I gasp and try to pull away, when I feel his fingers touch one of the scars, but his arm wraps around my waist, pretty much stopping my attempts.

"Wesley, let me go and change, so we can go."

He pretty much ignores me and continues, trailing his fingers along my scars.

I close my eyes as my chest moves up and down rapidly, my breath coming out heavily and shaky.

I squeeze my eyes shut, doing all I can to push back the treatening tears.

I don't understand why he is being stubborn. Why won't he just let this be and not give attention to this?

They are hideous, can't he see?

" W-Wesley...."

" Why are you hiding yourself from me?" I hear him ask.

" Do you really want me to answer that?"

" Yes."

" Wesley, stop okay, lets be serious and ----------"

" I'm being serious."

I gasp, when I open my eyes in time to see his face disappear behind me, only to feel his lips touch my skin.

" W-what are you doing?"

" I'm telling my girlfriend that she is beautiful, that she is the most attractive girl in my eyes and that her scars, tell a very powerful story of she being more than a survivor." He turns me around to face him. " I don't think you realise that I see so much more, when I look at you. Chloe Ann James, you are a beautiful story to tell."

He pulls me closer and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes, feeling his lips on my skin.

When I lean back to look at him, our eyes meet and I see so much emotion in them.

" I don't see the scars, I see you. So don't ever hide yourself away from me." I nod.

" Wait here, I'll be right back." He says, before leaving the bathroom.

While he's gone, I take a good look at my back and immediately, his words replay in my mind. Wesley soon comes back and this time, he takes my hands and leads me out of the bathroom.

" What were you up to just ---------" I'm cut off by the sight of different outfits, placed on the bed. He literally put together choices for me to have a pick.

" We'll take one day at a time." That's all he says, before sitting down on the edge of the bed, leaving it up to me, to choose something to wear.

I can't help but to stare at him, wondering how it all happened, that this amazing guy, is my boyfriend.

" I told you, Chloe, that I am not going anywhere. I'm here to stay. So you're pretty much stuck with me." He shrugs, wiggling his brows at me in a teasing manner, earning an amused smile from me.

                        *********



He hasn't let go of my hand eversince we left the house, but I didn't mind. I think I've been liking this,  holding his hand a little way too much. Now, I've even gotten aware of when his hand isn't holding mine.

Leaving the house earlier, caused a small delay because of Owen and Aiden, who chose that time to start lecturing us about safety, that I needed to be careful, and to take it easy out there because I am still recovering.

My glare made them to wrap everything up and soon, we were out of there. Wesley and I had taken a casual drive around town and as he'd said, we got ice cream on the way.

He admitted that he just wanted some time alone with me, and that the ice cream was just an excuse. I wasn't surprised when the road had led us to his favourite spot.

We were on top of that hill he likes so much, I've been sitting on his hood, with him standing infront of me as I listen to him talk.

" My mom wants to meet you." I tense up, taken by surprise.

He glances up at me when I don't give him an immediate response.

" I haven't stopped talking about you or disappearing in my thoughts, because I've been thinking about."

" I must be on your mind a lot..." I try to tease him, but I'm too nervous about what he's just told me.

" Alot."

" Did you make up stories about me, which might have made your mom want to meet me and want to confirm, that you weren't lying?"

" I didn't make up anything. Stop trying to make yourself sound ordinary, when you're not. You're ama ----------" I kiss him, stopping him from saying anymore.

" I never thought the day would come, where you make the first move." He says, when I pull back.

" Don't make me remind you about that day at the hospital."

" How can I forget, it was the most surreal moment of my life."

I roll my eyes.

" Have I ever told you that you can be pretty dramatic sometimes?"

" Call me dramatic, but I say, I'm expressive." He turns around to face me. " Take it anyway you want Chloe James, but I'll never get tired of expressing myself to you."

" Awww, aren't you romantic?" I playfully pull at his cheek and he rolls his eyes.

" And my girlfriend just loves to tease me."

I smile at him. " And I'll never get tired of doing it."

He buries his fingers in my hair, letting his eyes to run over my whole face. I can see that he's disappeared into his thoughts.

" What are you thinking about so much, hmm?" I ask, curiously trying to read him.

" How you deserve to be happy." He says, letting his thumb to caress my skin. " You deserve to feel that sense of safety, stability, and family. You might not say it out loud, but in getting to know you, I've taken notice of how you're scared to want a family and that homey feeling. "

" Wes -----------"

" A part of you thinks it's too good to be true for you, and that it's better to avoid, such a topic. It was easier to run, because then, you didn't have to ponder on such thoughts. Chloe, you aren't selfish to want this.

It's unfortunate how everything turned out, but now here you are, with a chance of real happiness, staring you right in the face. You have your biggest protector, Aiden with you, Owen, the man you grew up admiring and even trusted without fault, because of the great bond you two have. This bond was never a mistake, because you're his daughter.

You have a friend, and you have me. We are all here with our hearts full on set, to do all we can, to make you happy.

You've been through a lot and now here you are, finally free. This freedom and start over, should have happiness added to it. So Chloe James, stop running away from happiness, and accept that you deserve it."

I wrap my arms around him, pretty much catching him by surprise.

" You talk alot, do you know that?"

He chuckles, wrapping his arms around my middle.

" So, about meeting my mom........" He trails off.

" To better prepare myself for anything, what did you say to your mom?"

" That you saved my life."

***********************************

Some progress or better yet, light into Chloe and Owen's relationship. Tell me your thoughts on the whole Owen being Chloe's dad moment.

And ofcourse, your view on Wesley and Chlor's relationship. I think Wes is showing different sides to him, especially in their relationship.

Love hearing from my readers❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤