CHAPTER 23- Alone 

Demi's POV

        When we got home from the diner, Mac went to play with her dolls and Nick pulled me into the kitchen. 

"Nick can we please not-" I was cut off by his lips on mine. 

"You know..." He murmured once we broke away, "Valentine's day is coming up next week, and I was wondering if you'd allow me to take you on a date?" 

I smiled and nodded, pulling his lips to mine. Suddenly, his phone began to ring and I groaned, "Don't answer it." 

He chuckled and pulled it out, "It's my mom." 

A smile came across my face at the mention of Denise, we'd always got along. "Okay answer it." 

He gave me a wink before putting the phone to his ear and walking out to the patio to talk. I walked back into the living room where Mac was playing and watched her for a few minutes, thinking about what Nick said. I sighed, thinking about her nightmares and her disease. I didn't want to leave her, even if it were only for a short time, but I know Nick can take care of her. The door opened behind me and I turned with a smile that quickly faltered when I saw the tears in Nick's eyes. 

"Nick? What-" 

"He's dead." 

I walked up to him and wiped his cheeks, leading him away from an oblivious Mac, "Nick talk to me, who's dead?" 

He sniffled and sat on the bed where I directed him, "My grandpa." 

I could feel my heart breaking as I pulled his body into me, "Oh my God." I whispered, Nick and his grandfather were always extremely close, since he was a kid. He began to sob into me, and all I could do was stroke his shoulders. I didn't know what to say. 

"T-They found him in bed, he had a heart attack." Nick choked out, and I nodded understandingly. 

"Nick I'm so sorry baby." 

He shook his head and looked down at his hands, "I hvaen't seen him in a while. I couldn't make time for him and now he's gone. I told him I'd come over next week just a few days ago." 

I grabbed his hand, "I know what you're thinking Nick. This is not your fault." He nodded, but I could see the doubt in his eyes, "Baby I'm serious, you can't think like that. He loved you so much, and he knows you love him." 

Nick pushed his face into a pillow and his voice came out muffled, "Can you just go? I want to be alone." 

I nodded even though he couldn't see me, and kissed his cheek softly, "Alright, let me know if you need anything. I love you." 

He grunted in response and I got off the bed, walking out and shutting the door behind me. 

"Is dada okay?" Turning, I saw Mac standing behind me with a worried expression. 

"Yeah he's gonna be okay, he's just really sad right now because someone he loved a lot went up to heaven." 

Mac nodded, and once againI was struck by the level of understanding she always seemed to have when I explained things to her. I picked her up and walked into the living room, "Why don't you and I watch a movie" 

She nodded and rested her head on my chest, facing the TV screen as I put on Lion King 2. Every time we wanted to watch a movie together it was one of the Lion Kings. She could practically recite the entire film by heart. But I didn't mind many times we watched it. I know watched her instead of the animated characters because she's so much more entertaining. Her nose scrunches up at the scary parts and he legs twitch when she gets annoyed with Simba. When a funny scene plays she giggles and I can't help but place a kiss on the side of her temple, nuzzling her neck gently as she cuddles into me. It was moments like this when I was so extremely grateful the dream during the coma had only been just that- a dream. I don't know what I'd do with my life if I lost her. Just the thought of it- 

"Mama why are you crying?" I touched my cheek and found that they were indeed, wet. 

"I just love you a lot babygirl." 

She smiled, "I love you too momma." 

I pulled her into my arms tightly, never wanting to let go. 

"Always." 

~*~

        Later that night, I walked into the spare bedroom to see Nick laying on his side and staring at the wall. 

"Hey baby." I murmured, sitting on the bed and rubbing his shoulders, "You wanna come to bed?" 

He sighed, "No I want to be alone." 

I frowned, but understood as I leaned down. Just before my lips hit his he turned his head, and my eyes began to sting with the rejection. 

"Alright, I'll see you in the morning. I love you." 

Again, he grunted in response, and I shut the door behind me to let him greive. When I laid down I felt empty. I just wanted to comfort Nick lie he comforts me everyday. I wanted to help him grieve, but he's the type of person to hide his feelings and put on a brave face. The bed felt too big and cold with Nick laying next to me, so all night I tossed and turned barely getting a few hours of sleep before my alarm rang to get up. With a sigh I stood, and showered, then walked into Mac's room. 

"Hey babygirl." I whispered, shaking her shoulder lightly to wake her up. Slowly, her eyes slid open and she wrinkled her nose adorably, pushing her face into a pillow. 

"Come on baby, we gotta get up, we have things to do today." 

She nodded and sat up, letting me pick her up and bring her downstairs. While she ate breakfast, I went to the spare bedroom to get Nick it was empty. Frowning, I walked around before finding him in the home gym, slamming his bare fists into a punching bag. 

"Nick!" I gasped, catching sight of his bruised and bloody knuckles. "Baby stop you're hurting yourself." 

He was in a trace, his face contorted in pain as he continued to hit the bag. I touched his bare back, glistening with sweat and he flinched away, blindly throwing one of his fists at my face that I easily ducked under and rushed forward to take his face in my hands. His eyes were wild, and his chest heaving as we sat down on the bench, me straddling his lap and holding his head. 

"Shhh Nick, it's okay." 

He slowly began to calm down and his breathing evened out, letting his head fall against my chest as his exhaustion took over and his eyes fluttered. 

"Nick come on, let's get you to bed." He nodded and I leaned down to look at his pump, "How do you feel? Do you need to eat?" 

Slowly, he shook his head, "I just want to sleep." 

I nodded and carefully help him up, walking towards the door to the bedroom where he collapsed onto the mattress. 

"Are you gonna be okay here?" He nodded numbly and I sighed, "Were you in the gym all night?" Again he nodded, and I gently pushed hair out of his face, "Okay, I'll wake you up in a few hours, we're going to your mom's house tonight, you need to be with family," 

Nick shook his head, "I don't want to go." 

I sighed, "Nick they need you to be there and I think it'll be good for y-" 

"I said no!" He snapped, and turned over on his side, "Just leave me alone for Christ's sake." 

I stood there for a second, then kissed his cheek and walked out to where Mac sat on the counter. 

"Why is dada so sad?" She asked, as I put her finished bowl of cereal in the sink. 

"Because he misses his grandpa a lot babygirl." I answered, and she cocked her head. 

"Is he gonna be okay again?" 

I nodded and picked her up, "He's gonna be fine, but let's do something fun. Where do you wanna go?" 

Mac grinned, "Chuck E Cheese!" 

I smiled, "Alright go get your coat and shoes on and wait by the door for me." 

She scurried away and I walked back into the spare bedroom where Nick was awake and staring at the ceiling. 

"Hey." He barely glanced at me and I sighed, sitting on the bed and taking his hand gently in mine. "I'm taking Mac to Chuck E Cheese. I told her last night we'd do something fun, but I can get Marissa to take her if you want me here." 

Nick shook his head, "I want to be alone. How many times do I have to tell you that?" 

Ignoring his hostility, I leaned down to kiss his cheek, resting our foreheads together. "I love you so much." I whispered, and felt him sigh. 

"Love you too." I gently leaned forward and kissed him, pulling away when his lips continued to be unresponsive against mine. 

"Okay, when I get back we're gonna talk even if you don't want to. Do you want me to bring you home anything to eat?" 

Nick sighed, "Can you get me my pouch? I'll call you if I want anything." 

I nodded and handed him the small black bag, "Okay, I'm gonna go now, love you." 

Nick nodded and I walked out, Mac was sitting on the floor by the door with a frustrated expression and attempting to tie her shoes. I chuck;ed and bent down, slowly tying both of her laces as she watched. 

"It's easy baby, I'll teach you tonight." 

Mac nodded and reached up for me to take her in my arms and walked out to the car. After cursing my way through her car seat, I began the half hour drive to Chuck E Cheese. When I turned the radio on, Give Your Heart a Break began to blast through the speakers and Mac giggled. 

"Momma that's you! Sing!" I smiled and began to sing loudly in unison to the music. Once the song was over, Mac squealed and clapped her hands, "Do it again!" 

I shook my head, "It's the radio babygirl, it doesn't work that way. 

She frowned, "Can you sing more?" 

I shrugged and pulled in my phone to AUX chord of my car, then flipped on shuffle. Miley's song PArty in the USA came on and I loudly belted out the words to Mac's delight. About five minutes away from Chuck E Cheese, the bluetooth in the car began to ring and Nick's face flashed on the screen of my phone. It turned down the music and hit answer. 

"Hey baby." Nick was silent on the other end, "Nick?" 

There was a shuffle, then he finally spoke, "Demi something's wrong." 

Panicking slightly, I pulled over to the side of the road. "Nick what are you talking about? What happened?" 

His breath crackled through the speakers, "I don't know I can't move I'm so tired.." 

"Nick don't fall asleep. Stay with me baby okay? I'm gonna call someone to come get you then call your right back okay?" He mumbled something illegible, "What was that?" Silence. "Shit!" I hissed, hanging up and immediately dialing nine-one-one. 

"Nine-one-one what is your emergency?" 

"My boyfriend just called me and passed out on the phone. He's diabetic and I think something is seriously wrong. I need you to send an ambulance." I managed to choke out. After giving them my address and his location in the house there was a short silence. 

"Okay ma'am I just dispatched them now. I suggest you make your way towards the hospital." 

"Thank you so much." I said, before hanging up and turning around, speeding off to the hospital. 

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-Rachel