The Man I Call Strong

Chapter 26: Called Home

"...Aurora..." He whispers out as I feel him moving closer to me. "I-I l--"

"Ladies and gentlemen. May I have your attention please. Thank you for coming tonight. Dinner is served if you would like to move to the dinning area through the north door. Thank you." I exhale in a desperate attempt to steady my breathing.

I look up to Sebastian and his face reads frustration and disappointment. I giggle softly before taking his hand in mine. "Can I sit next to you tonight?" I ask softly. He looks up, surprise in his eyes. "Of course." He says as he leads me to the dining area.

Every seat is filled at the long wooden tables that run across the rooms. I look around for Lilac and Coral, fear starting to grip me. Until I feel a soft hand squeeze mine. "Don't worry. They're fine. Nothing will happen to them."

I look up at Sebastian and smile. "Why do you have to be so perfect?" The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them. We stop walking and he looks down to me, smiling softly. "Because that's what you deserve; perfect." I put a hand on his cheek. We stand in silence for a few moments, only taking in each other's company.

"I'm so sorry, Sebastian. I thought you were leaving me. I got scared." He covers my hand with his hand over his cheek. "I would never leave you. Aurora... I l--"

"Ian, sit down." I hear an exuberant, chipper voice call to Mr. Strong. "She insisted on coming as a humming bird." I chuckle and look back to Selena's costume. It's pink, blue, and green with the pattern of little hummingbird-like feathers. "Come sit with me." Sebastian whispers in my ear, sending a sweet delicious shiver down my back. I look back at him and smile as he tightens his grip on my hand.

We sit down on the left of Mr. Strong's father who is sitting at the head of the center table. "Good afternoon, Miss. LaRue." I hear Mr. Strong's father speaking to me and I look up from my empty plate to him. "Good evening. Thank you for having me. It's a really lovely party." He smiles to me before bring up a topic I had hoped would stay put away. "I heard about your father... I'm so sorry." Everyone around me from the Strong family stares at me, pity in there eyes.

I feel a tear forming in my eye. As I look down to my plate, I take a deep breath and relax my nerves. "He-he's not a bad man.... He just.... He lost what meant the most to him. Loss can change people in ways we can't understand." I feel Sebastian put a hand around my hand and squeeze it gently. "How did your mother die?" Selena asks gently.

"Selena, enough." I hear Sebastian scold her slightly. "No... S-she's fine." I look up to Selena and smile softly. "She died in a car crash." Tears spring to my eyes. "And-and there's not one day in my life that I wish I had... done something.... anything... to save her." My voice cracks and a tear runs down my cheek. "You couldn't have helped her, darling, you weren't there, you couldn't do anything." Mrs. Strong tries to comfort me.

"But I was there. She was driving me to... To school... Because I missed the bus." My tears can't be held back anymore. "I-I-I'm the reason she's dead and... And I--" I feel a hand on my should. "It's alright, Rora. I'm here." I hear Coral's voice from behind me. I look to Lilac and see her signing. It wasn't your fault. Fate would have found a way even if she didn't go at that moment. God was calling her home.

Lilac started tearing at her last sentence. I smile and push away the tears, being strong for my sisters. "She's in a better place now. Right, girls?" I see them both nod. "And besides... If it weren't for her death.... I would have never come to know... Sebastian." I put a hand over Sebastian's hand.

Coral puts a soft kiss on my cheek before leaving back to her seat. Lilac signs one more thing before leaving. She loved nature, didn't she? I smile and sign. Yes, yes she did. That's why she named us the way she did. She smiles and walks back to her seat.

"I didn't know you had sisters, Aurora." Selena smiles gently as she tries to get off the harsh subject. "Neither did I until they found me at my old apartment after I ran away from the hospital."

Mrs. Strong chuckles. "You should have seen Ian's face when he walked in to that empty hospital bed. He almost murdered the nurse." I look over to Sebastian. "You did?" He has a red blush across his face as he smiles gently to me. "I thought I'd lost you. Loss changes people in ways you wouldn't understand. Especially when you lose something so precious." I feel a tear form in my eye before I put a hand on his cheek, slowly slipping it around his neck. "You are perfect, aren't you?" I smile gently after asking him.

"I try." He answers snidely but playfully. I giggle softly and hear chatter around the table and utensils hitting plates as everyone is already digging in to the food on the table. "Do you have any suggestions on what I should try first?" I ask Sebastian before looking around the center of the table, looking at the different foods. "I don't think I've ever seen more food in one place in my life."

Sebastian helps me as he points out every food on our side of the table. As I eat, I can't believe there are this many wonderful tastes and smells that I've never tried before.

"I really hope you'll stay at Strong Enterprises, Aurora." Sebastian tells me. I only smile and continue eating. Then a thought came to my mind.

No, no I won't be staying. I smile and continue eating. "Why are you smiling?" I look to Sebastian and see his suspicious smirk on his face. "Nothing..." I answer simply.

"Nothing at all."

* * *

I walk into the office with nothing but a piece of paper and a coffee in my hand. I'm wearing jeans and a black t-shirt as I walk up to the front desk. "Aurora, you look really good today." I smile softly and sign myself in. "Bye," I whisper softly to Gloria and Nancy as I make my way to the elevator.

I press the familiar marble button in the elevator. "Strong."

"It's Miss LaRue." I say, feeling a little more shy then usual. "Glad to have you back, Miss LaRue." I smile and feel the elevator start to go up.

I walk out and into the familiar light filled room that leads to the corridor that leads to Mr. Strong's office. "Good morning, Mr. Strong."

"Good morning, Miss LaRue. Do you mind accompanying me to my next meeting?" I smile softly. "Of course, but... I need to give you something really quick." I take the paper in my hand and place in front of Mr. Strong.

"What's this?" I smile and wait for him to read it. "Your resignation." He says sadly. His face is pure sadness, just as I had expected him to be. "But-but.... Why?" He asks me. I smile slyly and walk around his desk. "Because..." I put a hand on his cheek. "...If you're my boss..." I put my hands through his hair. ".... I wouldn't be able to do this." I lean in and feel his lips push against mine. I hear him moan as he gets up from his chair, dropping my resignation to floor. I lift my hands up and run them through his dark, soft hair.

I moan softly as he puts his arms around me and pulls me closer then ever. I pull away and look in Sebastian's eyes. "I love you."

His blue eyes light up as he grabs my waist and picks me up, putting my down on top of his desk. "I love you more." He stands between my legs as I sit on the desk, pushing his lips against mine again. His lips are everything I've ever imagined them to be. I put my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, not wanting to let go of him. Ever.

Because I'm where I want to be. I'm home.