Aaron's POV

A clicking sound jolts me awake and my eyes take their time to regard the lights in the room as the realisation dawns upon me that I am not in my apartment. The senses start kicking in and my eyes move to the hospital bed where Emily is fast asleep. From her, my eyes immediately travel to fragile arms wrapped around my torso and a head lying on my shoulder.

I look down at Diana and it takes me a few minutes to realise that this isn't a dream, she really has her arms wrapped around me as she sleeps peacefully. My mind goes back to a couple of hours back when she kissed me, kissed me like she meant it with every damn thing in the world.

A small smile spreads through my face as I look down at her, and move to kiss her forehead. Two clicking sound, however, disrupt my moment and I look for the source of it. Ella is almost hovering over the couch chair above the two of us and I am shocked at how I didn't realise her presence sooner.

"Jesus, El!" I breathe and she gives me a wicked smile, "Way to be creepy."

She shakes her head, "I am not sure why but hospitals turn that little head sleepy." She points to her best friend.

I think about it for a moment, "It's probably because she gets tired." I shrug and she nods.

"Did the two of you—?" She asks but I am so eager to nod my head that I cut her off.

"Yes, we are good."

"Thank heavens!" She breathes, and turns around.

"Where are you going?" I call out, she turns around briefly to answer.

"Wake her up, I'm going to call the nurse or doc, whoever I can find first to check up on Em." She explains and I nod.

I turn towards Diana and hate the thought of ruining her peaceful sleep but I am afraid if I don't comply to Ella, she'll serve out the punch much sooner than expected, the punch that she's been saving since the day she found that I broke her best friend's trust.

My hand move to Diana's face and I stroke her cheeks, making her eyes flutter a little. She lets out a small groan as she nuzzles her face further into my neck. I smile at how adorable she looks right now but I really need to wake her up.

"Dee," I call out, my hands constantly caressing her cheek, "Baby.."

She shakes her head and I laugh a little, "Babe, you need to wake up. Ella is getting the doc to check up on Emily." I say and her eyes snap open at the mention of Emily.

Her gaze meets mine and for a second, she looks confused and I am afraid whether she has changed her mind regarding me. It reminds me of the first day of our relationship, she was sick when she told me that she wanted to give us a chance, and in that moment itself I could see her reconsidering her decision, a lot like her expressions right now. I remember every moment with her clear as a day.

"Don't take it back please." I beg, repeating my words from that very day.

She frowns even further, "What?"

I sigh, "Don't reconsider your decision."

She slowly brings a smile on her face, "I was not, why would you even think that? I was just a little confused right after I woke up." She clarifies and I let out a huge breathe I didn't realise I was holding.

When she realises how worried she got me, she places her palm against my cheek and I lean in her touch. She slowly brings her face even closer and places her lips on mine. We don't deepen the kiss, it just lingers there as I hold her in my arms. Another clicking sound jolts us apart and I groan, "Seriously Ella?" I narrow my eyes at her and she gives out a cheeky grin as she pushes her phone in my face.

"Look at how adorable you two are. How couldn't I?" She asks, mentioning to the photographs in her phone and I shake my head.

Diana takes it from my hand and scrolls through the photos Ella took while we were asleep, or when she was asleep and I was looking at her.

"Aww babe, you look like a lovesick puppy." Diana teases me and I laugh.

"Well, can't argue there. I am." I shrug and she meets my eyes with a huge smile on her face.

She leans forward and squishes my face before placing a peck on my cheeks and I chuckle. "Go check on Emily." I remind her and she nods before slipping out of the couch chair and I immediately miss the warmth she brought to my body.

New York is getting chillier, even though there are no signs of snow anytime soon. December has already started, and I can't wait for the festive season to come up so I can celebrate it with Diana and Emily. I watch her as she carefully wakes up her daughter with a whisper voice. I don't think she ever realises how great of a mother she is to her. It may not seem that way to people, it definitely didn't seem like it to me, but she is incredible with Emily. I can never doubt that. Ever!

A lady in white court enters the room and I immediately know that she's Emily's doctor. She looks between the three of us and narrows her eyes a little, "You know, hospital policy says only one in a room with the patient." She says and Ella gives her a look while I stand up.

"We'll wait outside, call us when it's done." I look at Diana and she nods, giving me a small smile.

I am not sure how sick Emily is, but I hope she's better. Diana said that she puked last night, keeping her up till late but she seemed okay during the time I was here. I believe the medications must be working. Ella turns towards me and eyes me a little.

"Don't screw it up again." She states and I nod.

"I promise, I won't." I say, and she holds out her pinky finger and I smile a little before locking the promise. "Emily is rubbing off on all of us."

"She's a great kid." She grins and I immediately agree.

"That she is."

I understand why she's worried, she has seen Diana go through the worst struggling phase of her life, and then she saw her go through a heartbreak by me. As much as I hate to admit it, I did break her heart. But I also want to be the one to mend it, she knows how to fix it herself because she doesn't need anyone's help but I just want to be with her every step of the way. If Ella wouldn't have been concerned about Diana, well, that would have been concerning.

After five minutes, the doctor walks out and Ella and I take that as a cue to walk in. Emily is now awake and sitting up. She looks a little pale and I go to sit by her side, she immediately moves in my arms and I love the bond I have built up with her in just a few time. Diana looks at two of us with a sense of content in her eyes and I immediately feel at peace.

"What did the doctor say?" Ella asks as I put the back of my hand on Emily's forehead to see her temperature. I can barely feel it, she must be better.

"They're discharging her. She said they want to do it in the morning but I asked her to do it tonight so she can have a good sleep in her bed." She explains and both of us nod at the information.

"Connor said sorry because he couldn't make it, he had some work to catch up with." Ella explains and Diana shakes her head.

"You both already do enough for me, please, nothing to worry about." She assures her and then as if a realisation dawns upon her, she slams her palm against her forehead.

"What is it?" I ask, immediately worried.

"I have to fill in the insurance information before her discharge. I don't have the details, the papers are back at the apartment." She informs and I sigh, relaxed that it's nothing serious.

"That's okay baby, I'll go and get it for you." I assure her, my free hand immediately moving forward to hold hers.

"You would?" She asks, surprised and I nod.

"Yes." I confirm and she leans forward to place a peck on my cheeks before moving down to place another peck on Emily's cheeks who immediately smiles at her.

"I'm feeling a little left out." Ella states and Diana laughs before moving to give her a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Keys?" I ask, holding out my hand and she nods, moving to her purse and rummaging through it before taking it out and handing it to me.

"They're in the drawer cupboard opposite to bed, either in the bottom most or the one above that. Just check through it." She says, distracted and I nod.

"I am going to go now and get it for you so that we can take her back home anytime you want." I tell her and she gives out a smile.

"I have some of your clothes in my closet I believe, don't ask me how, but I do. Change before you come back, those don't really look comfortable." She points at my office slacks and shirt.

"Alright." I move Emily out of my arms and she scoots to Diana before I leave the room.

The hospital has basement parking, so I take the lift directly down there and unlock my car. It takes me fifteen minutes to reach her apartment and exactly two minutes to get inside. When you are alone and not in someone's company, it's natural to count every minute that goes by. I enter her apartment and the familiar presence immediately hits me. I have always loved the homey feeling of her apartment, from day one, even though the first time I stepped in here was the night of a party.

I move to her bedroom and the photograph on the back of her bed immediately makes me smile; I don't think Diana has ever looked so beautiful as she does in the photograph. Just the simplicity of the moment between a mother and daughter brings something entirely different and beautiful to it.

Before looking for her insurance papers, I move to her closet and rummage through her clothes a little to find a t-shirt and jeans for myself. I really don't know how she ended up with these though, because I didn't even realise that these were missing. After quickly changing, I put my pile in her clothes basket and sit down on the carpeted floor to look for the papers in the bottom most drawer.

I am pretty sure she was distracted, but I didn't know that caused her to ask me to look through her underwear drawer. I frown a little, pretty much sure that the second is supposed to be the one where she keeps her lingerie — yes, I realise that I sound creepy but I have been here before and Diana has specifically made herself clear about where she keeps her stuff. I shake my head a little as I realise that she actually has occupied two drawers and my thoughts take me elsewhere as I imagine her in one of these.

Fuck! Concentrate, Aaron.

Sighing, I close it shut before opening the second drawer from bottom. As soon as I open it, I am immediately left stunned with what's inside. My hand moves to the books piling up on the left side as I pick out one of the books with a frown on my face.

T.S. Eliot.

She told me she didn't read, that she had no interest in literature whatsoever. At first I am a little confused until I realise that these must be from her graduation time. However, something sticking out of a book below catches my eye. I feel like I am prying on her private life when all I am supposed to do is get her papers and get the hell out of here, but I just cannot get myself to retreat back my hand.

I pull open the book and what falls through the book immediately makes my heart clench in pain. It's a photo strip, and as I look at it, I am hit with a punch in the gut as I notice a blonde hair guy smiling right at the camera, his arms wrapped around a red head girl who is looking at him with a grin across her face. The second photograph is of the two of them sticking their tongues out, but it's the last two that makes it hard for me to breath. They are kissing, his lips are moulding hers and she has her eyes closed as she savours the moment.

The red head is Diana.

The blonde guy is Nate.

I don't even have to question it, because I know that this guy is no other than the famous Nate who has managed to wreck her life. I have a sudden urge to rip his arms off her in the photograph but I know I cannot do it, it's in the past. I hate the fact that he's kissing her like that, or that he's touching her at all. She looks like an entirely different person, with such a sweet smile on her face and her red hair falling down till her waist. She doesn't look like the Diana I know at all. The thought that his actions changed her so much makes my heart ache and I try to subside the feeling.

I take a deep breath while my eyes move to the book that's lying open in my lap right now. A page is folded and lines are marked. With a frown on my face, I read the first thing that catches my eye.

"God, but life is loneliness, despite all the opiates, despite the shrill tinsel gaiety of "parties" with no purpose, despite the false grinning faces we all wear. And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter - they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfillment and companionship - but the loneliness of the soul in its appalling self-consciousness is horrible and overpowering."

I read and read again, every word sinking in as I realise how much Diana could relate to it. My eyes move over the book and read the cover, "The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath." I keep reading the underlined and highlighted parts, every word hitting me harder than the previous.

"I like people too much or not at all. I've got to go down deep, to fall into people, to really know them."

I scroll through each page, my eyes running over the text, my fingers constantly trying to grasp the meaning and I think, I think hard about what might have compelled her to highlight each line, and then I relate it to her. I understand, I do. When I see a small letters in her handwriting apart from all the highlights, I immediately stop to read.

"How we need another soul to cling to, another body to keep us warm. To rest and trust; to give your soul in confidence: I need this, I need someone to pour myself into." || Aaron

Aaron. Aaron. Aaron. She wrote my name, right next to it. I read it again and again and a feeling of warmth spreads through my heart. I was convinced that these have nothing to do with her graduation text material, but now I have no doubts. Diana likes poetry, I think she loves poetry. I am still confused as to why she never told me about it but the buzzing of my phone snaps me out of it.

I look at the screen and seeing Diana's name immediately makes me feel guilty for going through her stuff. I take a deep breath, and answer the phone.

"Hey, did you find the papers?" She asks and I slap my palm against my head.

Her insurance papers. How the hell did that completely forego my mind while I started reading through her books? We need to get Emily discharged today. Hell, I am the worst responsible person ever.

"Yeah, I am sorry, I was just looking through it." I tell her, half lying.

"See it on the right side," she says and I nod even though she can't see me.

"Your drawer is a mess." I tell her honestly and I can feel her smiling on the other side.

"I know, now find the papers. And and and, I talked in the reception, just send me the photographs of those, I'll get them scanned and printed out. You don't have to come back all the way, they are discharging her right now anyway." She informs and I frown.

"Dee, I am coming there, just give me a minute to look for it." I tell her and immediately start looking at the right side. A black manila folder catches my eye and I pull it out. After looking inside for the contents, I am sure its what she needs.

"Aaron, for one moment, don't be stubborn. Just mail me photographs, I'll get them printed here. There's no use of you coming here, and in case you want to seem helpful, just make soup for her till the time we come back. Ella is here to help me through stuff." She tries to convince me, using her bossy tone and I roll my eyes.

"Fine, but you call me the second you need me. Got it?" I say.

"Yes, I promise. Bye now, love you." She says, immediately making my heart jump a little with joy at such a small gesture.

"I love you more, bye."

We hang up and I immediately get to work to mail her the photographs. I use the phone scanner to make things easier for her, so she just has to get them printed. After doing that, I look through her books but shake my head, asking myself to stop invading her privacy further. If she wanted me to know about this, she would have told so. I arrange everything just as it was before getting up and making my way in the kitchen.

I prepare corn soup for Emily, aware that she prefers it over tomato any time of the day. It's weird how good I know both of them in such short amount of time. It takes me half an hour to prepare the soup, and by the time I am almost done, the front door opens. I am pouring a pinch of salt in it when Diana and Ella enter through, Emily wrapped around Diana in her arms.

Diana's gaze falls on me and she stops in her tracks as her eyes take me in. Her gaze then moves down to the stove and back to my face and it lingers there before she looks down at my body and gulps a little, and her reaction pleases me awful a lot.

"I'm going to put her to bed, okay?" She says, and I nod.

She disappears inside before Ella speaks up, "You both need to talk, you know. I'm going to head home, Connor must be there by now. We're going to drop tomorrow evening." She tells me and I nod.

When Diana comes back out, Ella gives her a quick hug and then says goodbye, shutting the door behind her. I pour the soup in one bowl and put a lid on the remaining, because I know Diana would want to feed Emily first before having it herself.

"My kitchen suits you really well." She comments and I smile.

"Yeah? Like what you see?" I tease her and she nods, making her way to me.

She stands on her toes and places a kiss on my cheek, "Come, let's feed her and then she can sleep for the night. It's already seven thirty anyway." She says, looking at the watch in the living room.

"You sure she'll not mind me being there while you feed her?" I ask and she frowns.

"No, of course not. If you haven't noticed by now, she seems to love you way too much." She smiles and I nod.

When in Emily's room, I take a seat on the floor at the edge of her bed and Diana eyes me before picking Emily in her arms and sitting right in front of me as well.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Sitting."

"Yes, smart ass, I can see that. Be on the bed, please. I just didn't sit there because three of us wouldn't fit on a single bed." I point out and she shakes her head.

"Doesn't matter, we like sitting on the carpet, right baby?" She asks Emily who grins at her, nodding.

"Stubborn woman." I say under my breath and Emily laughs, obviously hearing me and Diana narrows her eyes at me.

"Aaron and Mommy friends again." Emily claps her hand, excitedly and I give her a cheeky smile.

"Yes, Em. We are." I look at Diana who just shakes her head with a smile on her face as she makes Emily have soup.

After she's done, I clear out the bowl and immediately wash it rather than keeping it in the pile. Diana comes out to collect a little bag that Ella dropped on the couch and looks at me, "I'll just give her medicine and be out." She informs and I nod.

I decide to do the dishes during the time Emily falls asleep. There's not much, because as soon as I am done, Diana steps out in living room. She sprawls down on the couch and I make my way to her. She lifts her head enough to let me take a seat and I keep her head in my lap as I settle down.

"Tired?" I ask and she nods.

"Exhausted." She sighs.

I lean down and place a peck on her forehead, "We need to talk, you know." I tell her and she frowns, sitting up.

"We do?" She sounds confused as she folds her legs Indian style and sits facing me.

I scoot a little closer to her, my hands coming up to cup her cheeks before I look directly into her eyes and start speaking, "I know you have forgiven me but I need, not want, but need you to know that you have my full trust, what I did.. it was all because I lacked trust on my part even though you had done nothing to prove me otherwise. I need you to know how sorry I am for putting you through it, I will never, ever, do anything to break your heart again." I promise her and I notice the tears brimming in the corner of her eyes.

She just nods, not uttering any word before scooting to my lap and wrapping her arms tightly around me. Her actions speak for her and I feel content as I hug her back, realising how much I have missed holding her in my arms like this.

"I love you." She says and something overpowers me before I speak the next few words.

"How we need another soul to cling to, another body to keep us warm. To rest and trust; to give your soul in confidence: I need this, I need someone to pour myself into." I quote and she stiffens in my arms, obviously surprised before she slowly parts away and looks at my face.

"Did you —?"

I nod, "I am sorry, I wasn't meaning to invade your privacy. The books were right in front of me when I was looking for the papers. I am so sorry if you think otherwise." I apologise, meaning it and she shakes her head.

"No, no! I am not mad, but aren't you? I never told you about it." She says, sounding worried and I frown.

"No, I am not mad either. Yes, a little disappointed because I didn't know this entirely different side of yours. You love poetry, that's going to take a lot of time to process." I tell her honestly and she smiles a little.

"Yeah? I just don't know, I don't like literature, I really don't but there's something about poems that click with me. I am sorry I never told you, I never told anyone." She explains.

"That's okay baby. I also found a photo strip." I inform her and her eyes widen.

She attempts to move away from me but I tighten my grasp on her. She looks into my eyes but there's something behind them I can't put a finger on, she almost looks ashamed. Why does she look ashamed?

"Hey, what is it?" I ask, my finger under her chin.

She frowns a little, "Are you not hurt that I have that with me?"

I shake my head, "That would be ridiculous, Dee. He's the father of your child, you'll obviously have something of him. What surprised me was how different you were back then," Almost mindlessly, I run my free hand through her hair length, "your hair were so long, and you smiled more carelessly."

Her gaze is fixed on me as she reads my face, "I wasn't myself. I was trying to be what everyone else expected from me, Aaron. I hated those red hair, I am a natural blonde but just because people assumed that blondes are bimbos, I dyed my hair. I was a people-pleaser. Not anymore." She shakes her head.

It takes me a while to understand it, but I do. All this while I assumed that what happened changed her, but honestly, it brought out the best version of herself. Those who are close to her are the only ones who get to meet this side of hers.

"Never again, Dee. You never have to please anyone." I tell her and she smiles.

"Anyone but you." She grins, closing her lips against mine.

"Anyone but me, baby." I kiss her back.

She pulls me closer to herself as she starts to back down on the couch, taking me with her. A low moan escape my lips when our hips come in contact and I immediately part away, shaking my head.

"I am not making love to you on your couch within twenty four hours of us getting back together." I tell her and she pouts.

"What? No. We are making love, right now." She puts out her bossy tone and I laugh.

"Nope. Not when Emily is sick and few feet away from us."

She narrows her eyes at me, "You know parents do make love when their children are under the same roof."

A part of me wants to ignore the fact that she said parents, plural form, but I just can't so I lean down and place a lingering kiss on her lips. "Yes they do, when their child isn't sick." I say and she huffs like a baby.

"Alright, you're staying the night. If I don't get any action, at least I want a lot of cuddles." She informs me and I chuckle.

"Is she going to be okay with that?" I ask and she thinks about it for a minute.

"We have to start someday, right?"

It's a rhetorical question so I just smile at her before getting up and away from her in order to resist myself.

"Go take a shower, I'll reheat the soup." I tell her and she nods before disappearing down the hall.

Future finally seems a little hopeful to me.