A/N: fyi Regina's Care Centre is also another fictional place in London.

The next couple of weeks are going to get a bit crazy. Who's ready for the drama? *raises hand*

/ dedicated to readingchocolate for her amazing support /

ENJOY!

Christmas was on Monday this year so we had to leave on Sunday morning. Bruce worked extra time on Saturday so I didn't see him the entire day. He was actually pretty scarce this week and every time he kissed me, he drew back instantly and I wondered what it was that I could have possibly done this time.

"Are you ready?" I asked, opening the refrigerator and grabbing myself a bottle of water.

He replied with a brief kiss on my lips before leaning back and saying, "Completely packed for two days. When do we leave, your Highness?"

I pursed my lips and pretended to mull over his false proposal. "Maybe tomorrow. Or after Christmas," I suggested.

He gasped dramatically. "And risk skipping dinner with your parents? I wouldn't dare to," he replied, shaking his head like he couldn't even believe I had suggested missing the Christmas dinner in the first place.

I giggled, leaning on my tip toes and brushing my lips against his. First, teasingly and then hungrily as I slithered my hands up his arms and grasped them as the soft brush of lips turned into a hard kiss. I breathed him in, his lips on mine doing wonders to my body, when suddenly he pulled back, his brown eyes wide and conflicted.

He blinked, swallowing hard, before he loosened his hold on me but I gripped his arms from preventing him to reel backwards any more than he already did. "Are you okay, Bruce?"

"Peachy," he chirped with a smile I didn't believe in.

"Are you sure?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. I was concerned where this distant behaviour was coming from. "You've been acting rather strange lately."

"Have I?" he laughed, pulling back. He gave me a nonchalant shrug. "I don't recall any reason why I should act strange. You and are past the stage of being strangers, Madilyn."

"That's not what I meant," I said and at the same time I thought, are you sure about that? I knew Bruce Vela but simultaneously I didn't feel like I knew him.

"Come on, Madilyn. Let's get going," he said with a soft smile.

I sighed. "All right. Let's go."

"Riley is coming with Finn, right?" he asked as he walked to the front door where he left the bags at.

As he took them in his hands, I said, rolling my eyes when his back was to me, "Yes, Finn picked him up on Friday."

"But why?" Bruce asked, hauling the bags over his shoulder. He exited the house and I followed, closing the door behind me.

"Didn't I tell you that Rye stays over with his father on the weekends?" I asked, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

"You did. It's kind of hard to forget," he scoffed.

I turned to him with eyebrows raised daringly.

He sobered up when he saw that I was clearly not in a joking mood and cleared his throat. "Riley is always going to be there at the Christmas party and you said Finn would be there. Father and son can spend two whole days together and what better way to spend it than with family, huh?" he smiled, his chocolate brown eyes lit up with warmth.

He was trying to ease my irritation—apparently it hadn't gone unnoticed by him—and yet here I was, even more aggravated by what he said. "What's your problem, Bruce?" I inquired, folding my arms across my chest.

Bruce blinked, opening his mouth before closing it. He was speechless. He didn't know what he had done wrong and therefore had no way to rectify the mistake, a mistake he didn't even make. My irritation was beyond me—I didn't know where it was coming from and it was unfair to Bruce. This is what happened the last weekend. I took it out on Bruce and not wanting a repeat of those events, I shook my head.

"I'm sorry," I apologised. "It's probably the nerves. I only ever see my parents on special occasions, like birthdays or celebrations."

"Right," he nodded. "It makes sense."

He wasn't convinced but I was thankful when he gave me a soft encouraging smile and jerked his head to his car. There was only one thought going around in circles in my head and that was that this one hour ride was going to be a long one.

* * * * *

"The red or the blue?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Riley replied and laughed.

"You're my son. You have been for the last six years if I remember correctly and you know what colour best fits me," I argued, but could help the smile from breaking through my lips.

"So?"

"Come on," I pouted. "This is how a mother and her son bonds."

"Over dresses? Mum, I'm a boy."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Mr Adair," I said deeply in a mocking tone.

Riley grabbed a pillow and threw it at me. I deflected it by swatting my hands in front of me repeatedly. "You look silly," he giggled.

"You look silly," I mimicked him, trying to imitate his small boyish behaviour which sent him into a roar of laughter when I failed at copying him.

"When are we going to see Auntie Elisabeth?" he asked, bouncing on the bed.

I shook my head, narrowing my eyes at him. "Is Elisabeth more fun than I am?"

"Obviously," he replied, "Why do you think I want to see her again?"

I rolled my eyes before chuckling softly. "All right," I said, standing up and looking for my handbag.

"It's here," he aided, picking it up from beside him on the bed and handing it to me. "Is Bruce coming?"

"Oh, uh," I stuttered with a frown. "I don't know. Why don't we go and find him and ask if he'd like come with us?"

"I think he's with Grandpa," Riley said, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. I chuckled knowing that he was thinking how on earth was Dad and Bruce getting along together.

"Dad's a charmer," I explained.

"Grandpa failed to charm me," he replied, his face so serious that I couldn't help laughing. "What are you laughing about, Mum. I'm serious. Grandpa and I always have awkward pauses whenever we're together alone."

"That's my Dad you're talking about," I scolded raising my finger and shaking my head with disappointment as I played along.

"And?" Riley questioned, with a goofy smile.

I shook my head, smiling as I grabbed him and hugged him, my arm around his neck, and my other one ruffling his hair.

"Mum," he whined. "I thought you said it was bonding time."

"This is how we always bond," I stated, trying my best to keep my smile at bay even though it was threatening to break through my lips.

He glared at me. "You're confusing."

I scoffed. "I'm confusing. You're confusing! Six year olds have never been so complicated. Have I told you in my day—"

"Stop imitating Grandma!"

"But that was a good impression, wasn't it?" I winked at Riley and after a few seconds he cracked and finally smiled.

"Fine, you can do more imitations of Grandma as long as we actually get out of this bed and see Elisabeth," Riley bargained and I jumped up from the bed, hopping with delight like a little child as I squealed, "Yay!"

Riley shook his head at me. "And I'm the child," he said, before turning around and walking out of my room.

"Don't give me that attitude, young man," I shouted as he left the room. "Party pooper," I muttered under my breath but couldn't control the smile that took over my lips. Riley always managed to brighten up anything and everything.

* * * * *

Riley and I had found Bruce in my father's large garage, looking at all the cars that were put out on display but were forbidden to be drove in unless my father trusted the person with his valuables. I barely got along with my father but if Bruce was actually there and laughing along with Dad then I had no right to intrude—especially when a warm, fuzzy feeling enveloped my heart. It was like Bruce was becoming part of the family and a greater part of me saw the appeal. So Riley and I agreed to leave Dad and Bruce be as we made our way to Regina's Care Centre.

"Two visits in two weeks," Elisabeth exclaimed with delight as we entered her room, "This must be a Christmas miracle."

Elisabeth was a woman who always managed to make me feel happy whenever I visited her. It had become tradition to visit her on Christmas morning and something about having her in my company gave me the strength I needed for Christmas dinner with my parents—the very ones who always berated me on the life I led and how it was unlike that of an Adair to lead such a life.

"Auntie Lisa!" Riley exclaimed, running towards Elisabeth with open arms.

She chuckled that rich laugh of hers and patted Riley's back, his arms were spread wide across her.

"Give Auntie Lisa her space," I laughed, sitting down beside Elisabeth on her bed. "You're going to kill her."

"I'd rather die in the arms of Riley than in a bed alone," she said solemnly and Riley's eyes widened.

"What? You're dying?" Riley asked, his mouth hung open and his face holding the expression of a crestfallen one.

"Now, Rye, is that such a huge surprise?"

Riley whirled around to me. "Is she telling the truth?" Before I could even answer, he turned back to her and shook his head adamantly. "You're not dying," he commanded.

"Can you change reality, Riley?" Elisabeth asked softly.

He stared at her for a few seconds before he sighed, defeated, and looked down. "No."

"Then I am dying woman."

Riley frowned and I watched my son talk to his godmother with sincere heartbreak. My eyes stung. I knew I should have told him when I had gotten the news but I couldn't do that to Riley. I couldn't bring myself to tell him the bad news when I had still not come to terms with it. It was a few weeks ago when I came to visit Elisabeth. Riley was in school and I was having a hard time with the assignments I was given for the week. I couldn't deal with it and I needed something to make me feel better; I needed to laugh. Finn wasn't even in the equation then. What he had done to me last Christmas was an ill-nurtured wound and partially still was. Elisabeth was the only person who I could think of.

A few days later I had met Bruce, Finn re-entered back into my life with a dedication I had yet to see go away; he had motivation this time and it was to be there for his son because he was finally realising what it was to be a father. The last few weeks had flown past me in a blur, a mixture of all emotions. I hadn't even stopped to think for one second about Elisabeth.

I didn't have many friends after I got pregnant but Elisabeth was the one who stayed and giving her the honour of being my son's godmother was the least I could do for her. I still remember over six years ago when I saw that soft delighted look on her face, tears brimming her eyes.

"Look at you two," Elisabeth scoffed and Riley and I looked to her to find her staring at us unbelievingly. "You're acting as if you've never heard someone's died before."

I smiled, choking back on a sob. She always had a skewed but fascinating sense of humour.

"People die, sweethearts," she cooed.

"Not you, Auntie Lisa," Riley shook his head seriously. "You live to a hundred and seventy. You're only sixty-seven now!"

"And who told you that?"

"Mum."

"Maddie..."

"What?" I said defensively, shrugging my shoulders, "I wasn't lying. I thought you would live to be a hundred and seventy."

"What am I this tale? A dragon?" she scoffed.

"Of course not," I replied, "You were the dragon slayer."

Elisabeth laughed. We joined a second later and while there was nothing ridiculously funny about what I said all three of us laughed so hard. Elisabeth started coughing and the wide grin on my face softened.

"Are you okay, Elisabeth?"

She nodded, her face gaining colour. She was flushed. Quickly pouring the remaining water from the jug into the tall glass that was beside her table, I handed it to her. She smiled and mouthed her thanks to me before slowly taking small gulps of the water.

I stared at her, my heart beating erratically against my ribcage. It was in that precise moment that it hit me. Elisabeth was dying.

Noah and I shared the closest bond and Finn and I shared one too. Bruce and I were getting there. But Elisabeth... She had always been there for me when I needed her. I met her when I came to visit my grandmother was in the hospital and we had clicked off at the first meeting. Elisabeth had gotten admitted too and till this day I don't know for what. The day my grandmother died, I went with Dad and Mum to the hospital and met Elisabeth again. They were moving her here, to Regina's Care Centre.

I decided to visit her sometime later, a few weeks after my grandmother's death and I have never ever regretted that day. Elisabeth was an amazing woman and while she and I may have not been two sides of the same coin, she was still someone to me. She meant something.

And she was dying.

"Maddie, come on," she rolled her eyes as she took Riley's hand and beckoned him forward. My son, her godson, leaned closer to his godmother and she tucked him under the wing of her arm, smiling down at him. "Tell Mummy she doesn't need to worry."

"How can I when I'm worried, Auntie Lisa?"

At these words her face softened but the smile never went away. She stroked Riley's arm in a soothing manner before looking to me and holding out her hand. "Come here, Maddie."

I shifted closer and slipped my hand into hers, holding it carefully like I might break her and I wasn't ready to lose her just yet. She rolled her eyes before yanking on my arm and gripping my hand tighter. That caused a bubbly laugh to escape my lips as the back of my eyes began to prick with hot tears. But I wouldn't cry. I couldn't—not in front of Riley.

"Now I don't know what biology your mother has taught you," Elisabeth started, looking down at the small boy tucked by her side, "But we all have to go one day and maybe we get to go somewhere better."

Riley nodded. "You deserve to go somewhere better," he whispered, tears slipping out and sliding down him plum cheeks.
"Aw baby," she cooed, kissing his head. I couldn't do anything. I was trying my level best to keep the flood gates locked but with each second the tides seemed to be getting stronger.

"I know how to cheer you two up!" she chimed.

"How?" I croaked and hated that my voice sounded thick with emotion. I was not going to cry.

"Tell me about your week."

"What? That's not going to help, Auntie Lisa," Riley said, frowning.

"It will. You'll tell me about the fantastic week you had and it would make you feel better," she said softly. Riley was easy to persuade.

"I doubt that. Bruce and Mum have been fighting. I don't know if they're fighting actually but it's been a terrible week with them giving each other the cold shoulder," Riley said and I instantly froze. He noticed that?

I looked to him to find him frowning at me. He didn't understand what was going on and I didn't understand either. Bruce had been distant this week and I seriously didn't know if it was my doing or not. It was hard to tell since the last time we argued I was the one who had triggered the fight.

"Bruce?" Elisabeth questioned, her soft brown eyes lighting up. "You know Bruce?"

"You know Bruce?" I repeated, directing her question at herself.

"I do," she nodded. She looked dazed. "How is he?"

"He's good," I replied with a smile that I hoped was convincing. The truth was I didn't know if he was good or not. We barely had a conversation this entire week. "I forgot to mention this last week but...I have a boyfriend... Surprise!"

"Bruce is your boyfriend?" Elisabeth asked. She looked shocked.

"Uh, yeah. He's an amazing man."

She nodded, her lips slowly turning into a smile. "That's...that's lovely to hear."

"So?"

"So what?"

"How do you know Bruce, Lisa?" I chuckled.

"I knew his father," she replied. "Carlos Vela."

"Oh," I said, and this time I really couldn't hide the hurt that laced through my voice.

She narrowed her eyes at me and I looked away instantly, unable to look her in the eye, before I heard her say, "Can you refill this for me, sweetheart? You remember how you did it last time?"

"Lisa, he can't go out there. What if—"

"Relax, Maddie," she instructed. "Rye has done this before and it's not like any of the nurses are far away from here."

Reluctantly I nodded and she and I watched him walk out of the door with the jug in his hand obediently. There was a tense silence once he left—a silence I didn't know how to fill but didn't need to because she broke the tension seconds later.

"Maddie, what's going on?"

I looked to her and shrugged, my eyes now burning for a whole other reason. "I don't know, Elisabeth," I whispered.

"What's the problem?"

"That's it. I don't know," I said, biting down on my bottom lip and blinking my eyes rapidly to will away the tears.

"I'm going to tell you something, Madilyn, but the rest isn't my right to tell. I met Bruce once. He's an amazing man. Just like how Finn was."

"Finn and I..."

"It was over before it truly began, I know," she said. "But you had more chemistry with him than you do with Bruce."

"Clearly you haven't seen me with Bruce," I winked, giving out a shaky laugh.

"Now, I'm not telling you that you and Finn were a perfect match. I'm just telling you that you need to follow your heart and do what it pleases. For once, Maddie, stop thinking with your head and start thinking with your heart."

"That's part of the problem, Lisa. I don't know what my heart wants," I burst.

Her facial expression softened and she gave my hand a squeeze. "Then figure it out, baby girl."

She was looking at me and I at her with smiles across both our lips when Riley walked in, struggling to hold the jug that was full in his hand.

"Here, let me," I said, getting up from the bed and taking it from Riley's hands.

Placing the jug beside Elisabeth's table, I heard Riley ask from behind me, "What were you guys smiling about?"

"I was just telling Auntie Lisa how much I love her," I smiled, turning around to see Riley already settled beside his godmother.

"I love you also, Auntie Lisa! More than Mum does!" Riley exclaimed with a serious look on his face.

She laughed and beckoned me forward. I sat on the other side of her and took her hand, feeling her soft papery skin under my palm and feeling the thudding of my heart against my ribcage increase.

"I love you both so very much," she whispered, giving us each a kiss.

Riley and I stayed to have lunch with Elisabeth and at that precise moment I didn't care if I was missing the scheduled lunch date with Bruce. He was hiding something from me and right now Elisabeth needed me more than he did.

And, at that moment, I needed her more than I needed him.