ZeyBar One Shots -DoğduğunEvKaderindir

3. Peace (M)

Based on the fragman for episode 32. We have Mehdi going all mob-boss and Zeynep fearing for her life as a result of getting him out of prison.

And then we have Ozlem attempting to belittle what Zeynep feels for Baris and attribute it to some victim/savior complex. I wanted to write something around that, and also give #ZeyBar some alone time.

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Baris called Zeynep into his office. He hated mixing work with personal stuff but she'd been looking frazzled for the past few days, and the call he just got from Nermin Hanim made him feel compelled to say something.

She closed the door behind her and looked at him inquiringly.

"Is everything okay, Zeynep?" he asked, in that low voice that instantly calmed her nerves.

"Iyim, iyim," she replied automatically. It had been her go-to response for so many years. She was always trying to give the impression of being fine to everyone around her...until she wasn't.

Baris sighed. "This is me Zeynep. Talk to me."

"I'm afraid," she blurted out. "I feel like someone is following me. I think Mehdi has made some new enemies."

Baris nodded, relieved that she had opened up to him. "Nermin hanim just called me. She's worried too. She thinks you should move out of the mohalle and move in with her."

Zeynep rubbed at her thumb involuntarily, her voice shaking a little , "Is anywhere really safe though?"

Baris' heart broke for her. There was never any peace in her life and he wanted to give her that more than anything. An idea formed in his head.

"I have a cabin in the woods. I go there once in a while to get away from the noise of the city. I've been thinking of going for a while now, my sister has been getting on my nerves."

She was leaning against his door and he moved closer to her and took her hand, preventing her from injuring her thumb further. "Come with me. Let's just forget about the world for a few days. We can come back and face everything later, but just for a little while let's pretend like everything is okay."

Zeynep hesitated. She didn't realize until she heard it just how much she wanted it. A few days of peace and quiet sounded like heaven on earth. But she didn't want him to do yet another thing for her.

Baris mistook her hesitation for reluctance to spend time with him. He released her hand in disappointment. "It's fine. It was just a thought. Maybe you can go to the cabin with Emine or Nermin Hanim. That will be good for you."

Zeynep's eyes filled at his inherent kindness. She shifted closer to him so their bodies touched. He looked at her in surprise . "I would love to get away," she said.

Baris nodded, looking down, he didn't want her to see the disappointment in his eyes. "Tamam, I'll arrange for the cabin to be set up for you and Emine, or whoever you want to take with you."

"You". She took his hand in hers, initiating contact for the first time. "I want to go with you."

Baris thought his heart might burst in happiness. "I'm glad." He squeezed her hand in relief, "Lets leave tonight then."

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The drove to the cabin later in the evening. It was a one-hour drive from Istanbul and Zeynep felt the tension leave her body as the distance from the city grew. She turned on the radio and stopped at a station that was playing one of her favorite songs, her face breaking out into a wide smile when Baris started to hum along. There was so much she didn't know about him yet and she couldn't wait to find out. She started singing along too, and Baris turned to give her a small wink that sent a little thrill through her.