"I thought forgetting you was easy, to only realise.

That something always seemed to be missing, left behind.

Untill that day, I saw your eyes

Making me see all the happy and sad memories combined.

Juxtaposed side by side,

Finally completing all the missing pieces of the puzzles of my life."

             ....

          8 years later

"Next Maam Sophie!"

The attendent at the reception of the hospital says, making Soph to stand up. Her hand intervined with Ethan's warm ones.

"This way please!"

She says making them  follow her towards the doctors cabin. The door is opened and they are greeted with the doctor's happy face.

With the doctor getting up to meet Ethan

"If it isn't a surprise. I thought Ethan Lockwood didn't took appointments.'

They both do a bro hug, greeting each other.

"Oh come on Oliver. Stop teasing."

Ethan says, hugging him back to only see him move next to greet Sophie.
Holding her hands,to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

"You look beautiful as always, Soph."

Soph smiles, looking down. A small blush evident on her cheeks, making Oliver to admire her smile.

Almost in a trance, to be only interrupted by his phone ringing.
He sees the caller and ends it, to only sit back in his seat.

Opening the reports.

To look at them.

Ethan and Soph sit there in anxiousness. To only see Oliver lean back, closing the file.

Looking up back at them.

"I have read the reports and examined the damage. The therepy is working for her but the progress is slow."

Soph clenches her fists looking down, to only have both Ethan and Oliver to look at her.

Oliver moves forward, holding Soph's trembling hands. To only make her flinch first.

She slowly calms down by his thumb running circles on her knuckles, making her finally look at him.

"Surgery would be much better Soph. I promise you that you will get back your voice."

She tightly held Ethan's hand using her other free hand, looking at him in fear.

"It's fine. Oliver she is still not comfortable with the idea. Is there no other way?"

Ethan asks,with hopeful eyes to only have Oliver move his head in a no.

"It will be most affective in her case."

Oliver says, to make Ethan look at Soph again.
She is scared of anything related to injections and medicines, they infuse fear in her.

Making her refusing to be treated.

"Soph please-"

Soph closes her eyes. Moving her head in a no. Not ready to listen to anything.
To make Ethan sigh.

Oliver looks at Ethan.

"Can you give us a moment ,Ethan."

He nods, getting up.

"I will be outside."

He says looking at Soph who nods, telling him she was fine being with Oliver.

She somehow felt comfortable with him.

Coming out Ethan breathes heavily, leaning against the wall when he sees his phone ringing.
Walking down the hall,he was busy on his call.

When he hears a child crying.

Ignoring it, he presses his finger in his other ear. Trying to listen to the person on the phone.

When his eyes stop at the source of the shrill voice.

Making him freeze. The person on the call standing ignored as no other voice mattered.

He was almost in a trance.

A small girl who looked to be around 7 years was crying at the top of her lungs, the doctors and nurses trying their best to calm her.

But all in vain.

But that's not what caught his attention. It was her eyes

Emerald green.

Unique and the most beautiful pair he has ever seen. Resembling someone that had a very important part in his heart.

Someone he has lost.

He couldn't stop his footsteps. They start going towards her on his own.

To only find himself standing beside her.
His fingers moving on their own accord to touch her face.

Her crying seizes immediately as she looks up at the stranger.

Those big green eyes, drawing him in.

"Hey sweety."

She just stares at the man. Making everyone to look up at the man in surprise.

"Sir, are you the father?"

"I.."

He couldn't say anything. When the nurses, rush. Getting the injection ready.

"Please hold her Sir."

He couldn't understand anything, but one thing was for sure. He wanted to child to calm down, he didn't liked tears in her beautiful green eyes.

Surprising even himself,he picked up the girl in his arms, as she stared back at him with big fat tears.

"What's your name Sweety?"

The girl bites her lips,debating. To only whisper lowly, while playing with the collar of his shirt shyly

"Nix"

Ethan furrows his brows, looking at her in surprise. Why will someone name a girl with a boy's name.

"Is that a short form of Nicholas. "

The girl moves her head in no. While the doctor nods at him from behind. Telling him to distract her while she injected him.

He nods, smiling at Nix.

"Ummm then for Nick?"

The girl again moves her head in a no. To finally look up at him again and speak.

"It's... it's for Phoenix. My name  is Phoenix."

Ethan still. His body going numb for a second. Everything else oblivious to him, except those green eyes.

No ...it can't be... it's just s coincidence.

You are again loosing your shit Ethan. She is not here...she has left you because of your own mistakes.

Your little Phoenix died.

Saving you and Soph. She laid her life for you to live.

If only that night had not happened...if only he could beg her...if only he could correct his mistakes.

If only she was alive.

A heaviness settles in his chest.
When the little child places her palms on his face, getting him out of his thoughts.

"Wh..at happened?"

"You.. you don't like my name?"

Ethan recovers. Giving her a small smile. Trying to hide his sadness.

Caressing her cheek with gentleness.

"No sweety. I infact love your name."

The girl gives him a wide smile, showing him a dimple and he smiles along. Nit able to hold it.

The little girl was indeed the most beautiful girl he has ever seen.

As beautiful as his Phoenix.

"Sir. It's done."

The doctor says, nodding at him. To only make the girls eyes to widen, she didn't even realise when they injected her.

Too lost in the stranger's company.

She looks back at the smiling nurse, to bring her green orbs back at Ethan.

"Will...will I get a lollipop?"

She cutely asks making everyone around to chuckle. The doctor offers it to her, making her shyly take it.

"Here you go beautiful"

"Th...ank you"

Thanking the doctor,she turns around hugging Ethan again. Catching him off guard. To only relax and hug him back.

As she whispers in his ear.

"Thank...you Mr Stranger."

Ethan doesn't remember when he last smiled like this. Full from the bottom of heart. Not for others, but for himself.

A pure, heartfelt laugh.

"Pleasure Sweetheart."

He was enjoying the childs embrace. Her small arms tightly enclosed around his neck, somehow making him feel complete.

When he hears a voice behind him. Making the child to jump up from his arms.

"Fifi?"

"Mommaaaa!!"

He keeps down the excited to kid, to see him run towards someone. The staff , looking at someone behind him.

"Thank God! Does it hurt? Are you fine?"

Ethan freezes hearing the voice. No..it has to be his hallucination or a co incidence.

"Yes Mommy...I am a stro..ng girl!"

"Doctor! Here the medicines you asked for!"

"Oh it's fine Mrs. You husband was able to calm down your child and we gave her an IV."

"My husband?"

She asks and that's when Ethan turns around. Sure of this just being a mistake by chance. Someone with similar voice as hers....the voice he has heart infinite times in his dreams.

The voice that calls him every night...tells him how much she lives him...to only disappear in the morning.

It has to be a mistake...it has to be.

He turns around and that's when his brown orbs lock on her green ones.
Making her to go still, just like him.

The bag of medicines drops from her hands,as her eyes widen. Unable to believe this.

Nix

Phoenix

Green eyes

It all made sense now. It was indeed, his Vivian that stood in front of him now. Making his heart to thud rapidly in his chest.

"V... Vivian?"

He manages to whisper, to only have her take a step back. Fear, longing, hate, disbelief....all evident in them.

He takes a step forward, but stops hearing an alarmed voice behind her.

"Vivian! I got the remaining medicines-"

The man looked young, just their age. With blue eyes and blonde hair.

The little girl runs towards him, making him pick her up. Smiling at her.

"My Fifi! How are you love? Let's check your fever"

The man places his hand on the child's forehead to smile at her, making the girl to giggle.

"Wow! You defeated it. Isn't my Nix a warrior princess!"

The man places a kiss on the little girls cheek. And Ethan clenches his fists.

It was clear.

There was nothing , to say. She was settled now...she had her own family now.
She was happy without him  When he saw Vivian's eyes looking back at him.

"Ethan"

She whispers,and he closes his eyes. Her voice still having the effect on him.

She looked beautiful though, he couldn't deny it. But when was she not.

She was his little Phoenix.

Who now belonged to someone else. Taking a deep breath. He walks beside her, feeling her stare on him.

But not able to match it.

To only stop beside her, before looking at the man and the child, to whisper lowly to her.

"Congratulations"

That was all. One last eye contact. And the world seemed to be have torn apart for him.

She was happy now and he was no one to take it away from her.

She didn't needed him,like he needed her.

He was not the man she loved now, he was incapable of her love.

Lowering his head, he gulps. Moving past her.

Leaving her , thinking this to be the final call of fate.

When his way is  blocked at the threshold, making his eyes to widen as he looks up at her blocking his way.

"Soph?"

           .........

"You think life has taken away everything from you.

To only realise one day, it was a test to make you the strong person you are today.

The test, to mend your mistakes.

The test to change your fate.

To only end up, standing here with you face to face."

...

Authors note: All those who answered with a no. Can stop here. Considering to be a seperate happily ever after.

For those with a yes, remember the narrator is yet to announce her final speech.Stay tuned for the next chapter of HNSBW 2