"Loving you was like holding onto the ashes of our lost love tightly in my fist.

The more I try to keep you with me, the more they slip.

Tired of fighting fate with every second of clock's tick.

I finally surrender, opening my fists, to only see you burn and rise like a Phoenix."

- suzangill© ( Ethan to Vivian)
.......

It was midnight. Ethan was back to his room after getting discharged from the hospital. Sleep impossible in his eyes, after all the he has seen that night as he lays on his bed. With one arms below his head and eyes fixed at a spot in the ceiling.

His mind was in a chaos, and the only thing that was calming him was the sleeping beauty in his arms.

Vivian's steady breaths hitting his neck . Her cheek pressed to his shoulder and arms wrapped around his torso, as she sleeps without a care of this world.

A smile escapes his lips as he stares down at her. Using his free hand to move the stubborn tendrils of the flick out of her face.

To only play with the silky lock, rotating it around his finger. He didn't dare move since last one hour, not wanting to disturb her sleep.

He was indeed lucky.

He thought. To have her with him. Or any other women would have long left his sorry ass. It wasn't a fact to be proved that he didn't deserved the love of the women in his arms.

But what can he say?

He was selfish. He wanted her all to himself.

His thoughts are interrupted by a ping of his phone. And his knuckles that caressed her cheek stopped. The phone's screen lightning up in the darkness of the room.

Groaning, he stretched himself to pick his phone from the side table to only have himself go still.

His grip on the cell tightening as he saw James sending him a recording of Sophie. He couldn't start it, the sounds will wake up Vivian. Gently placing Vivian's head on the pillow behind. He lifts himself up.

Going out of the room towards the balcony. The cold winds hitting his chest through his robe, but he didn't mind. His eyes focussed on the condition she was in.

No...how can this man be so heartless.

She was in a cell. Laying on the floor, almost immobile. The inflation and deflation of her diaphragm, the only evidence to her breathing and being alive.

Holding the railing with his other hand, he presses the play button. His throat feeling clogged and breath rugged.

"Bitch. Isn't your best friend coming to save you?"

*Slash*

A whip strikes her thin back, almost tearing the flimsy piece of cloth she wore.

"Aren't you truly worthless?"

*Slash*

Another whip hits her back, almost making a cross on her back. Ethan closes his eyes , his knuckles almost white with his strong grip on the metal railing.

"Aww what a poor self. He choose her over you? What a shame."

"But don't worry love , we will have more fun here anyways."

*Slash*

Another whip hits her , but this time it hits her front, making her come out of her cocooned self. Her teary face becoming visible. Her mouth opens and closes again , but no scream leaves her lip.

"You see my men here? They always wanted to have your useless body."

James says crouching down at her level, holding her jaw in his grip and zooming in the camera to her face.

"Now that no one wants you....why don't we first have some fun with you?"

Tears stream down her eyes as she moves her head in a no. To only have James push her back.

*Slash*

The whip tears apart the front of her shirt near her chest,and Ethan loves his head to a side. Not able to see this.

His entire frame burning in rage, as he breathes heavily.

The camera is taken away from her body, to settle at James. He speaks looking at the camera, giving his last warning.

"Get the girl tomorrow at 8 pm sharp and save your best friend. If not."

He chuckles, an evil laugh. Looking back at Sophie's almost unconscious form.

"We will make sure to take full use of her, before we discard her."

.
.
.
"Good luck"

The camera goes blank, and Ethan just blankly stares at the dark screen. Too numb to do or say anything. He tries playing the recording again, to only see the small file crash itself.

Dammit! The fuc** was smart! He knew this could be used as an evidence.

Slamming the phone on the ground, , he holds his head. Breathing heavily. The recording rewinding in his mind again.

And he almost wanted to cry at his helpless state.

He felt weak.

To weak to defend his loved ones.

How can he save the two most important people in his life, without hurting one of them.

His thoughts are interrupted when he hears heavy footsteps behind him, moving up his head he tried to reverse back the tears that were almost at the brim to slide down his eyes.

He sees Ashton approaching.

With hands behind his back and face stoic as usual.

He stands beside him, holding the railing.Looking at the lavish gardens below.

"Dad? You are awake so late?'

Ashton doesn't say anything. Just stares at his Son. To finally nod and sigh, looking up at the stars.

"I told you this is going to be difficult Son. "

Ethan let's out his own rugged breath. Looking at his father in helplessness.

"I know Dad. But I never expected him to be so heartless. He is blackmailing me by saying that if I don't bring Vivian tomorrow. His men will rape Soph."

"This world is more cruel than you know Son. People can go to any extent to get what they want."

Silence stretches between them. With neither of them saying anything. When Ethan decides to lay his heart open to his father like always. Even when he was a kid.

"We were successful till now. You made Delia help Elijah escape so that they can find us and save Vivian.I was able to go inside James den without anyone doubting it was our plan. I went inside....our doubts were right. James held Soph in captivity all these years."

"And he left me just like you predicted."

"But....I don't know Dad....I don't know if I can carry out the last leg of our plan? What if...what if someone gets hurt.... it's fine till I was the one getting hurt...but not them...I can't let Soph or Vivian get hurt.?"

"I can't loose Vivian again. I... can't Dad. She finally believes me...she said she trusts me. How can I deceive her?"

"I wish to tell her....I want her to atleast know what we are doing Dad."

"I can't betray her!"

Ashton sighs, before looking at him and continuing

"Go ahead. Tell her. But remember Ethan. Vivian is selfless."

"If she get's an opportunity to lay her life in order to save Soph? She will do it without a second thought."

"She will willingly fall into the trap James has set for her."

Ethan clenches his fist, looking at the floor. His dad was right. He knew Vivian was selfless, she will willingly sacrifice herself to James and in hell will he let this happen.

"You need to hurt her and make her leave you Son."

"She needs to be far away from this when we attack James Base."

"If she remains with you James will always use her as a leverage to blackmail you."

"Let her go for her own safety while we clear this mess."

Ethan sighs looking at Ashton. Daring to ask him the question he always wanted to ask him.

"Did something like this happened with you and mom dad? Did you gave her away to her aunt to be kidnapped."

Ashton stills, his grip on the railing tightening. And he finally tells him the truth, not ashamed to admit his mistake.

"Yes."

"I am not perfect Ethan. I am flawed in more ways you can think of."

"But despite the flaws that I carry , I loved your mom with my everything."

"I admit I did some foolish mistakes back then...by letting her aunt take Elle...and I still regret it.....but trust me . I didn't back away. I spent years mending my mistakes."

Ethan trusted his dad. He knew he was saying the truth. He has seen his love for his mom and it couldn't be described in words. He trusted him....he always did.

"It's fine Dad. We all make mistakes. I once rejected Vivian myself? How can I judge you."

Ashton places his hand on Ethan's shoulder.Nodding at him.

"Don't do the mistakes I did Son. Don't throw her in danger for anything, no matter what."

Ethan holds his father's hand in his, sadly smiling at him.

"I trust you dad. We are in this together."

Ashton pulls him for a hug, enjoying his son's embrace. He doesn't remember how fast the little boy covered with Nutella, grew up to be a man just like him.

But he was proud of him anyways, he was proud to call Ethan to be his Lockwood blood.

"You are lucky to have a girl like Vivian love you so much. How will you make her hate you?"

"Leave it on me Dad
I did it in real once."

"Faking it wouldn't be a problem."

"Don't fake too much. I don't want her to be more hurt by from a douche like you."

Ethan rubs his neck awkwardly.

"Ehh I will try. But as you said. It's necessary. Hurting her once will be better than hurting her forever."
.
.
He says the next words lowly to himself.

"Plus I always thought I didn't deserved her love."

Patting Ethan's back, he nods at his dad finally. Wishing him a good night. To leave Ashton in his thoughts, staring at the stars. Remembering the mistakes he did in his history, which left his love at wheelchair for almost 5 years.
It was going to be his child's battle tomorrow and he will fight it like his own. The fear of unknown present, but trust and love stronger

He stands there in silence, stargazing lost in thoughts. When suddenly he feels two arms wrap around his back. A smile coming on his lips automatically.

The warmth of her arms, solace as he closes his eyes smiling.

"Couldn't sleep?"

She asks. Totally oblivious of the struggles their son and her husband will face tomorrow. And Ashton turns around pulling her to him.
Making her front hit the railing as he places his chin on her shoulder and embraces her from behind.
Locking her back to his front.

"You forgot to give me my goodnight kiss UD. How could I sleep?"

She chuckles, looking back at him. And he gets lost in her brown orbs. They stare at each other, to only have her peck his lip for a second.

And he groans like a kid.

"Ughhh Ell.... that's unfair!"

She chuckles, to only have him tighten his grip on her. Sliding in his hand in her shirt, he sees her eyes widening.

"Wanna try again my ugly duckling?"

She bites her lip contemplating. When he looks at his lips, his controls loosing.

"Fuck it!'

He mutters under his breath and next she knows, he captured her lips , kissing her passionately. And she smiles, moving her hands in his locks, returning it with equal passion.

........

Ethan comes back in his room, to only see her wide awake. Sitting on the bed.

Her long legs visible to him, as the robe she wore, left alot to imagination.
Biting his lip, he looks up to see her green eyes already fixed at his.

She was making no attempts to seduce him , but it seems her failed attempts were tempting him more. He loved her innocence more than anything.

This was it, his first and last chance to make him hurt her one last time.

Moving closer to her ,he smirks. As she lowers her eyes shyly. Holding the comforter tightly in her arms.

Her mouth opens and closes struggling to say something but he doesn't wait for it.

Moving on top of her, he straddles her. By placing his legs on her either side and using his palms to adjust himself on top of her.

" Wanna say something my little Phoenix?"

She nods. Looking into his eyes. A blush evident on her cheeks.

"I....I... was thinking....that now....that everything is sorter.....Dad is taking care of the case and we are together again...... isn't this a happy ending......."

He stills. Oh Vivian. If only you knew we were far away from the ending. Happy or not, that was something which only time will tell.

"So?"

He asks, teasing her deliberately. Dipping his head lower, to place featherly kisses down her neck.

She bites her lip, suppression her moan. As her thighs rub against each other, trying to hide the wetness between them.

"So ...I ....want to say....that I...."

He smirks, teasing her more , kissing her further down.

"That ?"

"That...I am ready...to take this further...."

He again smiles. She couldn't even say it. Placing his hand on her hip and pulling her to him. He looks back at her widened eyes.

"You can't even say the words my little Phoenix."

She lowers her eyes to his chest ,as he places his head against her forehead.

"I...can..."

He chuckles. Rubbing circles around her waist. Loving how the goosebumps appear on her chin and her chest heaves up and down.

"Oh really. Then say it Viv."

He looks into her eyes. To see them blinking at him.

"Say that you want me to fuc* you."

A gasp leaves her lips ,to only have his eyes flicker to her lips. His fingers playing with the rope of the robe.

"I....."

He tugs it , making the front of the robe to open. To only have her move herself up to hide it, by touching her front to his.

"Say it Viv"

She gulps.
Her fingers playing with the collar of his robe, as she whispers. Looking back into his eyes.

"I want you to......"

Placing a peck on his lip, she completes her sentence.

"Love me Ethan."
.
.

"Show me how much you have loved me."

And that's when he captures her lips and let's go of all his restraints. He knew he was doing the biggest mistake of his life. Tomorrow morning the things will no way what she expected.

He has to do it.

He has to make her hate him, to love herself.

He was willing to let her go after this night, because the love that hurts you more than it heals.

Should end.

And tonight he has laid the foundation of her stone of hate.

Forgive me Vivian. But you were always better without me. And it's time I make you realise this.

Forgive me my little Phoenix.

We are going to enter a fire of burning flames.
Where I hope you will stay true to your name.

And despite everything that happens now, you will rise back from your ashes once again.