𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts

Something beeping loudly pulled me out of my sleep. I tried to open my eyes several times, but the bright light caused me to quickly shut them as pain shot through my head.

Voices tore through the heavy fog, and my heart broke as I listened to Cedric crying for me.

“She will wake up when she is ready, son. The doctor reported everything went well with her surgery. Her body is healing. Have faith.” Mrs. Helen spoke softly, and her breath hitched, making it sound like she was crying too.

“I hope so, momma. God, I hope so. I need her to wake up. We are just getting started. I need more time with her.” His voice broke down.

“Son, why don't you head to the cafeteria? You have not eaten in two days.” Mrs. Helen suggested.

“No.” Cedric growled. “I'm not leaving her. I need to be here when she wakes up.”

Oh, Cedric! I know you're here, baby, but you need to eat.

“She wouldn't want you to be doing this to yourself, honey.” Mrs. Helen expressed my feelings for me.

She is right, I don't want him to do this. He should take care of himself. I love him and worry about him too. It's not just all about me, and he must understand that.

I try to push through the fog as I follow their voices, needing to get back to Cedric.

“I know, but I can't leave her. What if she wakes up, and I'm not here? What kind of boyfriend would I be?” He growled. “It's my fault she was taken. I didn't listen to my gut. I knew something was wrong, but I let it look what happened to the woman that I love.”

“It's not your-” Mrs. Helen started to say, but I finally opened my eyes to watch as Cedric laid his head down on my bed, his body shaking, and I knew he was crying.

“Fault” I whispered, my throat hurting and feeling like I just shoved a hot iron down it.

“Baby?” His head shot up and looked at me in shock before he jumped to his feet and grabbed my hands. “You awake.” He whispered in awe. “Thank you for not giving up on me, Avery.” He cried, happy tears now flowing down his cheeks as he smiled warmly at me.

“Someone has to put you in your place.” I told him, clearing my throat. “It's not your fault, and you should be eating.”

“I will. I'm glad you're awake, babe. I missed you so much.” He sighed happens, leaned forward and kissed me gently. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I said and kissed him back. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Three days. Your heart stopped, and I thought my world ended for those five minutes, but the doctors were able to bring you back, and you have had two surgeries on your throat.” Cedric growled. “I'm sorry I couldn't stop him in time, Avery. Forgive me.”

“Nothing to forgive.” I told him harshly. “My mouths dry.”

“Hang on baby, let me call your doctor to make sure it's okay. I'll be right back. I'm not leaving.” Cedric said before heading out the door.

“I'm glad you're awake, dear. My son was getting so lost.” Mrs. Helen smiled warmly at me as she pulled the covers up my body when she saw me start to shake. “You lost a lot of blood. Your irons low, so its normal for you to be cold right now.”

“Thank you.” I whispered.

“I should be thanking you. If you had given up, I would have not only have lost you, but I would have lost my son too.” Mrs. Helen cried before leaning over and giving me a gentle hug. “I should have said this sooner. Welcome to the family, honey. Thank you for making my son happy.”

“Ah, she is awake.” Mr. Glenn declared as he walked towards my bed. “Cedric's ordering the doctors around right now, and I couldn't wait for him. I had to see for myself. Welcome back, sweetie.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at him, as tears starting rolling down my cheek. I feel so loved and cared for right now, and it's just a bit overwhelming. I have not had that in a long time.

“Your awake.” Anna's soft voice reached me across the room. She is standing in the doorway looking both relieved and a little mad. “I'm glad you're okay, Ave's.”

“I'm sorry I kept this from you.” I whispered, needing her to know I didn't do this to hurt her. “We didn't want to put you in danger. Cedric and I both love you all, and we didn't want anything to happen. I didn't want anything to happen because of me.”

“I wish you would have told me. I could have supported you. I wouldn't have left you alone to be afraid. Your my best friend Ave's. I would have been there for you.” Anna cried as she walked towards my bed and sat down near my feet. “You scared the hell out of me. You're not allowed to do that again. Don't lie to me again, please, not if you're in danger.”

“I promise” I told her gently and held my hand up waiting for her to take it and when she finally did, I could breathe the nerves back down.

“It's good to see you awake. You have been asleep for three days. You were in a medical induced coma so that your body was allowed to heal itself. You will have a little scaring. I used glue, so in time, the scar will become invisible. You're a very lucky woman. They kept your heart beating until the ambulance got to you. You should be able to go home in a few days. You will need to take it slow. I don't want you to talk too much. Short sentences if you can. You need to eat soft things, like pudding and jello, your throat is still healing from the surgeries. Do you have any questions?” The female doctor asked me.

Honestly, I can't even think right now to even have any questions for her.

“No.” I whispered.

A few days later, I'm now back home and in bed. Cedric had been treating me like glass since I got home, and I don't like it. I'm not going to break. If last week had shown anything, it was that I was strong and didn't need for him to baby me every second of the day. He took off for a month from the station and though I really appreciate it he needed to go back to work.

People needed him.

Someone in the situation that I was in could be needing him.

We are laying in bed watching a movie as Cedric feeds me jello, and I can't help the thoughts that kept pushing themselves into my head as I looked at him.

“Does my scar bother you?” I ask him gently, terrified to hear the truth.

“What babe?” He asked confused. “Your scar?”

I didn't say anything, just nodded my head.

“Why the fuck would you even think that? Of course, it doesn't. I love you, Avery. Nothing about you surviving that bothers me.” He growled and set my jello on the night stand. “Why did you ask me that? What's spinning in that head of yours?”

“You haven't touched me.” I whined, embarrassed.

“Touched you? Baby, I touch you all the time. I hold you every night-” He defended himself, but that's not what I meant, and I told him that.

“Sex. We haven't had sex. You won't touch me like you did before, Cedric. you barely even kiss me.” I accused, needing to know if my scare bothers him or not.

“Babe. Your body is healing. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I just jumped you? You mean everything to me, Avery, and I can wait a while until you're ready to have sex.” He chuckled, thinking my little argument was crazy and maybe to him, it was, but I was completely serious.

It worried me and he needed to know that.

“Are you sure?" I asked him gently, watching his facial expression, and the only thing I saw was pure adoration for me.

“Baby. That scar means nothing to me, but that you're still alive and still with me. I fucking love that scar. I hate how you got it, but I love it because you are alive to have it instead of gone. Do you get me? It doesn't bother me. It will never bother me. Nothing will change how much I love you.” He said before pulling me into his arms and kissing me. “Once you're healed ill get back to showing just how much I love you babe, don't worry. I know you miss me being inside you.”

“Don't get cocky cop.” I growled, feeling a little embarrassed about even bringing up this conversation, but happy now that I finally know how he feels about it.

“I'm the one who should be asking if you're okay. I couldn't stop him sooner. I hate myself for it.” He whispered, sadness filling his

“Baby, you can't do this to yourself. You're not to blame. I knew you wouldn't give up until you found me. I never doubted you.” I told him fiercely. “I don't blame you, and you don't need to hate yourself for it.”

“You say that now, but months from now, that could change. You will have nightmares. You will feel this.” He growled, rubbing his hands down his face in frustration. “I should have stopped him sooner.”

“Babe. I'm not the one that's having nightmares. You think I lay down beside you at night and not think I'm safe? You came for me. Yes, he almost killed me, but Cedric, he planned to do much worse than that before you showed up. You stopped that. You stopped him. As soon as you found out where I could be, you came." I hissed, grabbing his face and forced him to look at me. “When I lay down in our bed, you next to me, I feel nothing but safe. I haven't had any nightmares and even if I do, I know you will be here fighting them back.”

“I love you babe,” He sighed before gently placing his lips on mine.

“I love you too,” I smiled against his lips and kissed him back hard.

I wonder where our lives will take us next. As long as I have this man next to me, I know we can handle anything and everything.

I didn't know that when I bought that house, I'd find the man of my dreams. I'm glad I did. I'm glad I was brave enough to start over.

It led me here, to Darlington and into the arms of a man who loves me and makes sure I feel that love every day.

I couldn't ask for a better life.