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***Christian's POV***

Savior above. Leah. In my arms. I want to know how. Why? However, I couldn't care fucking less in this moment.

Her scent is exquisite. Her warm skin is like blistering heat upon the cool marble of my own. I would burn eternally for this alone.

Her soft whispers of breath cause the fine hairs on my arm to stand up. It brushes across my skin while her head lays on my arm; her back lies back against my chest.

Our fingers are laced. Me holding her, trying to protect her, is all I can manage. It's more than enough.

In the height of the early morning hours, my beloved whimpers. Frantic beats of her heart are echoed by labored breaths. Head tossing, hair knotting, she lets out a terrified gasp. Tightening my hold on the woman that was made for me, I gently hum into her ear.

It takes a few moments. She becomes calm. When she does, Leah turns in my arms to press her cheek to my bare chest. Now that her breath cascades over my chest, errant thoughts of willing panted breaths fly through my mind. Doing my best to stifle the unwelcome lust, I think of Leah in her frailest moments.

Lust satiated or at least deferred, instead a sorrow fills my chest. Why must she always face hardships? Why was she chosen to climb the roughest of terrains? Could I offer any better than she is used to? Would she let me?

Maybe, hopefully. Eventually.

I should focus on making her life happy. If that is not with me, I have resigned myself to that. She came to me. She did. On her own accord, my beloved came for me.

What would she be capable of if she allowed herself to let love in? I do not know. I am willing to find out.

The sun comes out in all its glory, lighting the room with its radiance. I turn slightly, using my back to protect Leah from waking abruptly. A yawn alerts me that my efforts are futile. Leah's doe eyes open, unveiling something more precious than time. Leah stares at me.

A soft look of trust shines through. I relish in the favor. It's more than I expect.

"Good morning." I softly whisper into Leah's stunning face. My hand moves the wild tangle of locks from her face. She sleeps crazy. I love it.

"Morning." Lara's covers her mouth. I chuckle. Getting up, I move away from my beloved. Leah stands, heading straight towards the bathroom.

Knowing she may want privacy, I take my leave to go the kitchen.

Looking around, I start the coffee pot. I pull out the ingredients for French toast. I have to go to work. I will need to make sure Leah is fed if I leave her alone.

Tiny feet patter across the floor. I turn, catching a very dazzling Josie as he makes his way to the fridge. Tony follows behind like a puppy on a leash.

"That good?" I chuckle. Tony glares in my direction. He still pins Josie to the refrigerator, taking kisses from his neck.

"Christian. He's insatiable." Josie groans, ducking beneath Tony's arms to get to me. I open my arm for Josie to tuck himself into me.

"You wanted the monster. Now, feed the beast." Tony advances on Josie.

"Ten hours notice enough?" I comment on the loud sounds of desire that helped to keep me awake.

"Never." Tony grabs Josie, pulling him into his hold.

"Sore, Sire." Josie whimpers. That's all it takes. Tony picks the boy up. He begins catering to his beloved.

"Sorry, love. You're delicious." Tony kisses Josie softly. I can almost hear Josie softening to the affection.

Another noise arouses suspicion. I eye Leah as she makes her way to me. She stands closely but, far enough away to tell me we aren't there. Hopefully, there is a yet at the end of that thought.

"Coffee?" I ask. I hand Leah a cup. She doesn't even need to answer.

Tony grabs a cup for Josie, unequivocally putting himself in Josie's good graces.

"I have to go to work." I place the breakfast on the table, taking a cup of coffee for the road.

"I can go. Thank you for helping me last night." Leah moves to stand. I shake my head at her.

"You are welcomed to be here. I will be off at five. Home by six. It is your choice. You are not a prisoner." I walk out of the kitchen after grabbing my keys.

"Christian." Leah calls for me. I turn to smile at her.

"Have a good day. See you when you get home." Leah shyly tucks her hair behind her ears.

Walking quickly, I pick Leah's hand up. I pull her into my embrace. My lips meet her forehead. I want to stay this way forever.

"You too." I part from my beloved after the tender touch.

"We will take care of her." Josie belts out his promise. I do not have a doubt that Josie will. Tony may be an issue. He is already eyeing Josie like his next meal.

"No more sex." I yell down the hall as I leave the house.

Getting to work is easy. I'm used to it. I know the roads like the back of my hand. I had to drive faster than usual. I may have stayed in bed a bit too long. It was worth it.

My first patient gives me no trouble. Simple check-up. The patient walks away with a smile. I have nothing negative to say on the appointment. I simply make my notes before handing the chart off to the nurse.

The next two patients are much the same. The fourth patient makes me groan internally. Staring at the four year old, I decide how to dislodge the lego from his swollen nose.

The mother stares at me hopefully. The father looks less than amused to be here. I understand. We have seen this child too many times. Mommy is a bit airheaded. Justin often puts things where they have no business.

After the fourth attempt with tweezers, I book the operating room. I hate to sedate a child. However, that lego went in a whole hell of a lot easier than it is coming out.

An hour later, I throw my disposable scrubs in the trash. Washing up, I head to give the parents the update. He's fine. His nose will be sensitive. I beg them to keep tiny things out of the mischievous child's reach. So far he has had a rock in his ear, a washer in his throat and this makes the second object up his nose. He is running out of visible places to put things. That thought makes me shutter.

A few rounds with the elderly give me enough time to only see one more patient. Thankfully, this shouldn't take long. It is supposedly a regular. Those are a bit less of a hassle. I usually already have their history retained in my mental vault.

As the door opens in front of me, I roll my eyes. Just my fucking luck. Mr. Michael has a death wish today. If he is not careful, I will fulfill that wish.

"What now?" Anger filters into my voice. I hate this mother fucker. He is useless. He wastes every opportunity to get clean on selfish motives of getting high. I feel bad for the door later. It is probably getting unhinged.

"I need a referral." Michael picks at his skin with jittery arms.

"I'm not sending you to another doctor. You need help." I practically spit at my patient. He's just a menace.

"No. You're right. Refer me to rehab. I will finish this time. I promise. This time will be different. It has to be." Michael looks up at me pleadingly. The honesty shines in his eyes.

Taking a seat, I scoot my chair closer to Mr. Michael.

"Tell me about why it will be different." My tone is softer, understanding.

"My daughter is pregnant. It's her first. My first grandchild. I want to be around to see the baby grow up. I made a promise to my child. It is about time I follow through on my word. Help me, please." Michael sighs.

"Absolutely. If you need anything, you come to me. As long as you are ready, I am willing. We can do this together. This place has a great in-house program. You will stay for ninety days. They will detox you and help you build healthier habits. This isn't a miracle, Michael. This is a life long battle. Prepare to fight, hard. You can do this. Do it for your daughter, your grandchild, but mostly do it for yourself. This can be a great life. You can do this." The wrote the papers up to help Michael start the road to recovery.

I pass along my personal information for his records or if my patient just needs a listening ear. I don't mind helping. Especially, I don't mind helping an addict who looks to help themselves.

After my long day, I clock out with a smile. This day has already been better than I figured. I know going home will hold it's own trials. I don't care. I get to see my Leah when I get home.

In whatever capacity I get to see my beloved, I will accept it. If Leah just needs a friend, a friend I will be.

The road home is cheerful for me. The birds seem to sing louder, fly more freely and are more vibrant in color. The sun sets in all its magnificent glory. The air changes into a cooler form.

Pulling up, I can hear them all. All the newborns must be behaving. I sure hope none of them bothered my Leah.

I rush up to the porch in anticipation. The door opens, Josie flies into my arms much like always. I kiss his cooled skin before looking over his head. She waits. Patiently, my beloved perches against the wall. I smile at her.

Tony pulls Josie away. He kisses his beloved before yanking on him with a nod of his head. I make my way into the house. Hushed voices clear the air for me to fully focus on Leah.

Dropping my keys, phone and coat on the table, I make my way towards Leah. Softly I cup her jaw, running my finger along her bone structure. Leah sighs, cupping my hand with her own.

Without me asking, Leah pushes off of the wall to land in my arms. I wrap my arms around her gently, holding her to my chest. My fingers cup her head. She nuzzles against my body.

"Welcome home." Leah whispers into my shirt.

I pick her face up, moving my eyes to meet with those doe blue eyes. Leah smiles a bit. I smile largely. She's perfect.

"It's good to see you again." My admission is far less than how I feel on the inside. It's fucking fantastic to come home to such a beauty.

Leah lifts up on her tiptoes, initiating a more secure connection. Her lips meet my neck with the softest of kisses. Everything lights on fire. This girl will be my death, no doubt.

Without much left to say, I move us to the couch. Sitting down, Leah curls up beside me. I wrap my arms around her.

A few minutes pass by before the flood gates open. My Leah begins a recap of her whole day. Hours pass by with others moving, shifting around us. I do nothing but listen intently, responding when necessary.

Leah fills me in with every aspect of anything that happened, how she felt and what she was worried over. I couldn't picture a more perfect way to end my day. My beloved showers me in unnecessary information that I gladly soak in, storing away in the file within my heart. The file that will always be for Leah fills, overflows.

Hopefully, maybe, this is the beginning of something I never thought I would have.