Sophie had brought me to the bathroom, and helped me shave my legs, my hands kept shaking, she just took it out of my hands with a gentle smile. I could feel my face burn with embracement. She just continued to talk, it didn't seem to phase her at all. She somehow produced a bottle of nail polish, and insisted she paint my nails. She wouldn't take no for an answer. She was being really sweet and gentle. I think she was just as excited to talk to another girl. Even though I didn't say much. Once she was satisfied with everything we could in the bathroom, she lead me back to my room, and gave me clean clothes.

And then she sat me down in the chair beside the bed, wrapped a blanket around me and stood behind me, and gently brushed my hair. It had been so long since I actually took care of myself, I actually forgot what it was like to feel okay. But it felt like a fake exterior. My body was still covered in bruises, cuts, rope burns, ruined scared skin, and a haunted empty dark feeling. The panic was always simmering at the surface.

Sophie chatted the whole time, telling me all kinds of stories. She told me goofy ones of the three of them and a few adventure stories. Her hands paused for a moment.

"You know...the first week after he woke up, he struggled the most, he tried to uh... he tried something...Zayn stopped him. If it wasn't for him Gally wouldn't have been here."

I felt my body freezing up, my lungs tightened.

"Why?"

"Because he lost you. He said he was the one to pull that trigger...and he lost you, he didn't want to be in a place you weren't. He felt so incredibly guilty...like SO bad, it was scary. He's got a lot better, he's been working on himself, and he was in a good place. I mean...he never got over you. I don't think he would ever...I haven't seen him be this gentle before. Or smile this much. Like jeez, that boy loves you."

She paused, and ran the brush through my hair a few more times.

"I want to find a guy who's going to love me the way Gally loves you." She said quietly, almost longingly.

"I'm sure my... issues are gonna eventually scare him off. He'll get frustrated with me." I whisper, voicing a fear that had been scratching at the back of my head. Janson had messed with me so much, I don't think I would ever be back to what I used to be. Maybe if my memory was swiped again... But I'm sure if I keep freaking out like I have been he would eventually get tired of it and leave.

"Charlie! You can't possibly think that! After what I just told you? And how much he's changed in like a day, just because your back in his arms!"

"I don't know..." I whispered.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Sophie finished with the braid and came around, and sat on the bed in front of me. Her usual bright smile was gone, replaced by a tight lipped frown. She ran a hand through her hair.

"Okay, look... I know he never got over you. 'Cause... " She paused and sighed. "Because I kissed him one time and he whispered your name. Not mine...yours. He freaked out and ran. Zayn found him, he was devastated. He thought you were dead, and yet he felt guilty. He sobbed, Charlie, he was so angry and upset with himself."

I lifted my head and watched her. Her face was open and honest, I knew she felt guilty, I could see it, it pained her. I was surprised by how little that confession made me feel. I just didn't feel the need to be angry, at either of them.

"It was after an incident in the Crank city. He saved me from a Crank, and he was so sweet, took care of me. Not the way he does with you, he was quiet and awkward, he didn't look at me the same way he looks at you. And I felt...I don't know, I took advantage of the situation. I'm sorry Charlie."

"Your apologizing to me? Why?" I asked quietly.

"Because..." She shrugged. "I want us to be friends, and you were questioning his love and loyalty. I can't have that... I need you to understand he would rather be alone than without you. He tried to kill himself because you weren't here, he whispers your name when another girl kissed him, you are the reason for his smile and I know he feels whole. I can see it in the way he looks at you! I can see it in the way helps you from the shit Janson did to you!"

She had thrown her hands onto the air in frustration trying to explain what she was thinking. Her big blue eyes were pleading with me to understand.

"I don't know what you guys were like before, I didn't know you before...but girl, how you threw yourself out of Magnus's arms into his last night! The way you lay your head down and felt safe enough to fall asleep. How you trusted him to wash your hair and the blood off. Girl... that is love. And I want that one day!"

I blinked a few times, I unwrapped my arms and let me knees fall so I was sitting cross legged in the chair.

"I'm not mad."

"What?"

"I don't blame you or him. It happened...and we both thought the other was dead. Though I didn't have time for kissing..." I tried to make a light of the situation, "though a guard tried to force me..." I spat, turning my head away, blinking hard a few times.

"Well shit." Sophie said.

"Sorry." I whispered again, ashamed. I always ruin the conversations with the things that come out of my mouth.

"Don't be. Let it out. You keep it bottled up you're going to explode...and not in a good way."

I just nodded.

Sophie leaned over and grabbed my hand out of my lap, and squeezed it gently.

"Come sit here with me and tell me what he was like before... I want all these spicy details I was promised!" She giggled.

I couldn't help smile, Sophie made me feel like someone actually liked me, like she was actually interested in being my friend. She gently pulled me up off the chair and down onto the bed.

"Oh Wait! Stop! Before you do, are you okay to wait for a few minutes while I run to the kitchen and grab some snacks? Girl talk always needs snacks."

"Oh...okay.." I said hesitantly.

She jumped up and tore out of the room. It was quiet I looked back down to my lap, fiddling with my fingers. I hard the door open, thinking it was Sophie I picked my head up. It wasn't her. It was Gally. He had stopped in the doorway, his eyes travelling all over me.

"Hey."

"Hi." I said quietly.

"Sophie got her hands on you, didn't she?" He had a crooked half smirk on his face.

I just gave him a small smile.

"For what it's worth, I think your beautiful however you look."

I felt my face grow warm, I looked down at my hands. I heard him walking over, and then felt him sit down beside me. His warm hand gently cupped my cheek, lifting my face to his.

"I ran into Sophie in the hall just now, she said Hans made you have another attack?" His eyes were soft and filled with worry.

I nodded and told him quickly what happened. He frowned.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think about what would happen if you woke up alone. I'm sorry Charlie. I wont do that again."

"I'm sorry...for being such an...inconvenience." I sniffed, feeling the tears sting.

Gally shifted so he was closer, he pulled my face closer to his, he lifted his other hand and cupped my cheek, he brushed his thumbs gently over my bruised cheek bones.

"Charlie, you listen good. You are not an inconvenience, you loved and cared for. You took care of me in the Glade, I was horrible and mean to you. It's my turn to take care of you, and maybe you can forgive me. I love you and if it takes the rest of our lives to work through the trauma...I will be there."

I sniffed again, I felt the tear slid over my lashes. He leaned his forehead onto mine. I closed my eyes.

"Gally?"

"Yes?"

"I hate you." I whispered.

"I know Charlie. I hate you too!" He grinned.

He gently tilted my head and for the first time in over six months I felt his lips on mine. I missed the taste of him. I felt starved and I wanted more. I missed him so much. I felt something warm in my chest. It slowly ate away at the dark emptiness. He was gentle and soft. He didn't move his hands, scared to hurt a bruise. His kiss gave me life. Filling me with some energy. I gingerly moved so I was now sitting on his lap. His hand finally slid gently down to my side and then across to spread out over my back. My eyes fluttered closed again, and I let the warm spark fan bigger. Gally cautiously slid his tongue into my mouth. I felt his chest rumble. I could feel all his muscles tense, but his hands were so gentle, hardly touching my bruised raw sensitive skin. His kisses were soft and tender. My heart knew I loved this young man and that he loved me, even when I was beaten, bruised and full of all kinds of trauma. The way he was treating me showed that.

If I wasn't so sore and tired I would have let this go further... I had to break our kiss, I couldn't breath.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" He asked quickly.

"No." I shook my head, "just couldn't breath. If...if I wasn't so sore and tired I-"

"No, no apologizing. Remember? This is not your fault." He whispered against my lips. It tickled making me giggle just slightly.

"I missed your laugh."

"That's the kind of spice I'm talking about!" Sophie whooped from the doorway.

I flinched from the sudden loud noise and appearance. Gally's arms instinctively tightened protectively around me. His head jerked up and around, glaring at Sophie. She just stood there with her arms full of snacks and a huge grin on her face.

"Way to go lover boy!"

"Hey Soph?" Gally called.

"Yes, Lover boy?"

"Shut up!"

"No."

"Yes."

"No! LOVER BOY!"

"Why are you here?"

"Me and your lovely girlfriend are gonna eat snacks and gossip. No boys allowed. Even you lover boy!"

Gally groaned and rolled his eyes. He turned back towards me.

"You sure you wanna hang out with this nut case?"

I smiled shyly at him. "I've never had a girl friend before." I said quietly.

He sighed and kissed my forehead.

"I'll come check on you later, I'll go find Magnus. I love you Pipsqueak."

"I love you too, Captain Gally."

He chuckled as he slid me off his lap and got up, as he passed Sophie I heard him warn, "be good!"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

He closed the door and Sophie giggled, "no promises!" And shot me an mischievous smile.

She skipped over and dumped the snacks on the chair. And then flopped onto the bed and laid back.

"I wasn't sure what you like ... So I brought it all!"

I looked at the huge array of food and my mouth dropped. Then snapped it closed and shook my head. And then shrugged.

"Umm. I...I don't know. I've never even seen most of this! Frypan made cookies every once in a while. But...." I picked up a bag of something, "what the shuck is this?"

She gasped, "you don't know what potato chips are?"

I shook my head. She just sighed dramatically. She snatched the bag and ripped it open, grabbing a handful and stuffed her face.

"Only the best snack to ever exist! I mean other than popcorn! Go on. Try one!"

I hesitantly tried one. Sophie made me try at least one mouthful of everything. She was almost better than Gally at forcing me to eat.

"I can't any more. This is the most I've eaten at once in awhile, I feel really sick." I whimpered.

"Okay okay. No more. But...I'm glad you are. Gally will be so proud of you!" She grinned.

I lay down to ease the turning sensation in my stomach. Sophie rubbed my back. She lay down beside me and she started chatting about something else. I turned towards her, and curled up, listening to her stories. My eyes grew heavy, Sophie kept talking. Though she had shifted so our heads were touching.

She made me feel safe. She validated my feelings and emotions, she was honest but kind. Firm and gentle...such a chatter box. Her sarcasm and quick mouth made me think of Minho. Maybe that's why I attached to her, she reminded me of a female version of Minho.

My eyelids were sliding closed. I snuggled closer to my new friend. And I lost the battle to sleep.

I stirred, I felt someone moving and some hushed voices. And then I felt a body lay down. I recognized the musky spicy clean minty smell. And I smiled even though I was mostly asleep.

"Hey Sweetie. Go back to sleep, I'm here now." Gally whispered, kissing my forehead.

I sighed, he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer. I burried my face into his neck and let my body relax and I feel asleep.