It's been a few days since I woke up at the hospital. I'm still feeling some headache from time to time and my body is still very sore, but I'm thankful I'll be okay. At least that's what the doctors said.

My parents are still here, even though I know they must get back to work soon. They had some vacation time saved and were planning to visit me, but I know they can't stay for too long.

I'll have to be at home, resting for a couple of weeks, and Lisa is also taking some vacation time to stay with me. Sophie also offered to help and promised to stop by every few days to check on me, so things will work out well.

I'm really grateful for having a great family and dear friends.

My mom is sitting on a chair by my side reading a book, and dad went out to get some rest at the hotel they're staying. They said my place is too far, and they wanted to be as close to me as possible now. I'm pretending to be asleep because the moment I open my eyes, she will ask me about Lucas.

A conversation I'm not sure I want to have right now.

I told her we are seeing each other and that things are still pretty much new between us, but I know she can see right through me. She told me that apart from his bruises; he hurt his leg in the accident. Nothing really serious, but it's clear he's hurting too. He slept here every day during the time I was in a coma, and now all I get is a generic text at the beginning and the end of the day.

I hate that I can't go to him, that I can't make him see things through my eyes. I hate that he is not here, and there's nothing I can do about it.

I'm startled when the door cracks open, and for a second I think it's him. My hopes go down the drain the second I see it's my dad with Greg following behind.

"Lexy..." Greg whispers, his eyes wide.

"Am I that bad?" I joke.

"You'll always be beautiful, baby. You just scared the crap out of-" He looks at my mom and smiles. "Sorry."

"All good, sweetie." She stands up and hugs him tightly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good. I actually came up here to visit Alexia the other way... before the accident..." He smiles at me.

"Oh?" My mom looks between us, and I hurry to explain.

"We got the closure we needed, mom. We are good now." I raise my eyebrows so she can cut the twenty questions I know she has ready for us.

"Well, good! That's good! We'll go to the cafeteria to have some coffee so you two can have some privacy." She says while holding my dad's hand.

"Please, you don't need to leave. I just needed to see if Alexia was really okay," Greg says.

"That's okay, honey." She kisses him on the cheek. "It was nice seeing you again. Don't be a stranger."

"I'm glad you two sorted things out. You were always like a son to me. It's good I won't have to hunt you down and shoot you," dad jokes, making us all chuckle before he leaves the room with mom.

"So, why the sad face? What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" Greg asks, pulling a chair to sit by my side.

"Well, I was in a car accident," I say, but he knows me too well to believe me.

"Try again, Lexy!" He crosses his arms.

"So what? We're best buddies now?" I roll my eyes and hiss in pain.

"I thought we were still friends," he says, and I can hear the hurt in his voice.

"Sorry." I close my eyes.

"It's okay. Just know I'm here if you ever need anything."

"I know, and I can't thank you enough for that. It's just- Lucas feels responsible for the accident and things are weird between us right now. He hasn't been here since the day I woke up." I open my eyes to look at him.

"I see." He frowns, and I know he is holding his tongue.

"What is it, Greg?"

"I understand he feels guilty, but he is not the one all banged up in a hospital bed, so it shouldn't be about what he feels but how you feel."

"Things are not so simple..."

"They never are, baby." He smiles sadly at me, and I don't know what to do when I see the longing in his eyes.

*****

I can't believe I'm almost ready to go home and Lucas hasn't visited me.

He texted me every day, and every text broke my heart a little. It was not like he was being cold... He was just... Just not my Lucas. I never called him, though, too proud to be the one to reach out first.

Thing is, I'm going crazy and even though I'll be probably going home tomorrow, I can't stand the distance anymore. I need to talk to him.

My parents slept in their hotel after I begged them to have at least one night of full rest, and they haven't come back yet. So, before I have time to talk myself out of it, I'm reaching to my phone and calling Lucas.

He answers after the first ring, "Alexia, are you okay?"

"Hey," I whisper, feeling my eyes water.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything? I can-"

"Yeah... I... I just wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, I was going to text you."

"Text me?"

"I thought maybe you needed some space..."

"Space? From you? What-" I try but I just can't contain my tears anymore.

"Please, don't cry! I'm begging you! I can't stand to hear you cry," he says, his voice hoarse with emotion too.

"I wish you were here... I miss you."

"Alexia-" he starts, but I interrupt him.

"Yeah. I guess I'll see you around." I hang up before he can say anything else, my emotions just all over the place.

******

It's finally time to go home.

The doctors gave me a list of recommendations and I have an appointment next week. My headaches have been less frequent during the day, and I'm now able to stay awake for over two hours straight.

My parents are going home with me today to help me settle, but they have to leave tomorrow night to get back to their lives. Mom is asking the doctor for the hundredth time if I'll be okay, and I can't help but laugh at her.

"Mom, let's go, please. What else does the doc have to say so you believe I'll be fine?" I say, rubbing my left side.

God, even laughing makes my ribs hurt.

"Well, I just want to make sure." She helps me out of the bed.

There is a nurse waiting for me with a wheelchair, and I can't wait to get home. Lisa is coming the day after tomorrow, but it's not like I can't be alone for one day or two. My ribs still hurt, but if I take it easy, I'll be fine.

When we arrive, my father gets my keys to open the door of my apartment for me, gently holding me to his side. "Welcome home, sweetheart!" He pushes the door open, and I gasp.

"Welcome home!" I hear my dear friends calling from inside the apartment.

They've decorated it with balloons and flowers and my eyes water when I see all of them smiling at me.

"Oh my God!" I say, looking at them, my eyes falling on Lisa. "You said you'd not be able to come today."

"Surprise!" She cheers, making her way to me. "You scared me to death, girl." She hugs me tightly, making me wince.

"Oops, sorry," she says while wiping her tears.

"Hey, no crying! I'm fine." I put a smile on my face.

"Guys, I have no words to say how happy I am you're all here to welcome me home," I say, scanning the room. My eyes go to Greg, John, Sophie, even my grandparents are here, all crowded in my small apartment. I smile widely when my grandfather claps, and I'm about to thank them again when my eyes fall on Lucas..

He is standing by the window, and my first instinct is to go to him. I hold myself away, though. He hasn't visited or called me since the day I woke up, and I'm not sure I'm ready to let it go so easily.

"Oh, my baby," my grandmother says, making her way to me. "I tried to come earlier, but your grandfather was feeling a bit under the weather."

"It was just a cold..." grandpa murmurs, and I smile at them.

"That put you in bed for about four days," she says before kissing my cheek.

After greeting all of them and thanking them profoundly again for taking their time to welcome me home, I can't contain my yawn. My medication has made me a little sleepy, but I'm embarrassed to go to bed while they're all here.

Sophie takes it as her cue to leave and is the first to say goodbye along with John. "Alexia, hun! I love to see you're fine, but I think we should go so you can rest."

"Yeah, I live just a few minutes from you, so if you ever need anything..." John smiles, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you, guys." I hug them.

"We'll take your grandparents to the hotel now, and then tomorrow we'll come to see you and spend the day before flying back home. We bought food and everything you might need. So, please just rest, no stressing over anything right now, young lady, " my father says.

"Okay, Dad," I say, kissing and hugging them all before they leave.

"Uh... I'll give you two some privacy," Lisa says, awkwardly. "Come on, Greg! Let's get some coffee down the block."

"Are you going to be fine?" He comes closer to me, and my eyes dart to Lucas for a second.

"Yeah, thanks. And thanks again for coming to check on me," I say, and he searches my eyes for a second or two before nodding and leaving with Lisa.

Once I hear the door locking, I head to the sofa, slowly sitting down, and Lucas finally pushes himself from the spot he was rooted in since I arrived.

When he sits beside me, I close my eyes, waiting for him to talk.

"The only words that come to my mind are I'm sorry." He lets out a long breath, and I can hear the emotion in his voice.

"It was not your fault, to begin with, so there's no need for apologies."

"You don't-"

"I could have died," I say, opening my eyes to look at him. "You could have died! Damn, we both could have died!" I take a deep breath. "But we didn't! And I'm so fucking grateful for that, you know?" This time I can't contain the tears.

"I know! Don't you think I know that?" He comes closer to me, rubbing his thumb under my eyes to dry my tears.

I close my eyes, savoring his touch, wondering if things are ever going to work for us. When I open my eyes again and see him so close, I can't hide the hurt in my voice.

"You ran," I whisper.

"Alexia..."

"You hurt me."

"God! I-I just wanted to give you space. When I got you to the hospital, I thought you... You wouldn't wake up. They said you would wake up soon, and-and it took you a week to..."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that again. I know how guilty you still feel. But, Jesus, Lucas! Shit happens! Life happens! I don't know what fate is trying to teach us, but you can't decide how I feel or should feel. I'm telling you for the hundredth time, I don't think it was your fault! It was raining! The roads were- You know what? I'm tired and sore. I just want to lie down for a while."

"Okay. Sorry, I'll go-" He makes a move to leave, but I hold his hand.

"With you! I want it all with you, Lucas," I interrupt him, looking into his eyes and letting him know how much I care about him.

He searches my eyes and is silent for a long time. I brace myself for the rejection, but he surprises me by kissing my hand. "Well, let's get you to bed, then." He gives me a small smile, but one that reaches his eyes, and my heart jumps happily in my chest.

"I didn't mean it like that." I pinch his side, making him chuckle.

"Like what?" he asks.

"You're such a dork!"

"And beautiful. Don't forget beautiful!" He teases, lighting the mood.

"You know what? I think I'll go to bed by myself! Where is Nate, anyway?" I stand up.

"He is having a playdate at Julia's, I'll be picking him up later."

"Well, then I'll go get my nap... alone." I smile at his pouty face, heading to my room.

"Hey?" He comes behind me, pressing his hand to my belly to stop me. "I'm sorry I'm so fucked up. It's just I couldn't believe it was happening to me again. I feel like I'm cursed or something... like I don't deserve you. Like I'll just fuck up with your life."

"I wish you could see how wonderful you are. There's no curse or anything. Life happens. Accidents happen, Lucas. The day after I woke up, I saw on TV that the roads were shitty that day. Nobody expected that much rain so fast. And I kind of distracted you... So... I'm sorry too."

"I should've known better than let myself get distracted." He swallows hard. "But I was so excited to get you home, I fucked up. And for that, I'll always be sorry." He kisses my shoulder, guiding me to my room.

As glad as I am that we've talked, I know that Lucas still feels guilty, that his past still haunts him on a daily basis. So, as much as he hurt me, I can't really hold it against him. Him getting involved in a car accident again when he finally opens up to someone after Monica feels like fate is playing a sick game on us.

But I'll be dammed if I'll let it win.

We still have a long road ahead of us, but for now, I'm just grateful we're both fine.

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A/N: So glad you guys keep reading and enjoying Lucas and Alexia's story! :)

Thanks for reading and for all the support! ❤️

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