Always (Wolves of Mercy Falls fanfiction)

Cahpter 17

Sam's POV:

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, inspecting my face. My left cheek was red and swollen where Ian had hit me making the other half of my face look paler than usual.

There was a knock on the bathroom door and I reached over and unlocked it. Cole stepped in wearing a thoughtful expression, something that looked strange, or at least unusual, on his face.

"Hey." He said. There was a brief awkward pause when he didn't say anything and we just stood there looking at each other. Then suddenly, "Come on man, you're better than that. That look on your face. You think you deserve it. If you think you deserve it, you don't deserve her. It's gonna be hard; you should now that by now. Sam, it's gonna be hard. Get back out there. I bet she's worrying she's fallen in love with a coward." Although his last word were supposed to be light, they startled me, a single thought jarring my brain.

"Oh God. Cole, why does she love me?" I turned back to the mirror looking at the reflection, self doubt running through my veins like poison. I was just a lanky boy pretending to be ready for the future that was mine and was rushing at me too fast for me to brace myself for. My heart was Grace's I knew that with all my being. But why should she love me? What was stopping her from taking her love back at any minute?

"Sam," Cole said, desperation clear in his voice, "think of the things she's gone through for you. Think of what you'd do for her. Love isn't something that's easily reservable, it sticks with you, it leaves scars but end of the wars you have to fight to keep it it's stronger than anything. And that includes her father." He said with a smile but I could see the glassy look in his eyes as if his mind was truly elsewhere. In that moment, after considering his words, knew that he understood. The look on his face clearly said he didn't want to talk about it, though, so I pulled the bathroom door the rest if the way open stepped toward the room where the rest of my life waited.

When I got the doorway, unnoticed by the group of almost unfamiliar people sitting at my table I let my eyes find Grace, in the kitchen. I was struck again by her beauty. A rush of warmth swam through me at the thought of us raising our first child together, the one that was growing in her stomach. On the other hand I wanted time. I wanted time for just us, nothing but us. Days filled with the feelings her lips allowed. A future that was coming at us, but slowly and not like this.

Grace's eyes met mine across the room and saw a quick flash if fear cross them mixed in with the love that was clear and dominant. It really hit me then how scared she must be about this although she was the one who had putting on the brave face and was assuring me it would all work out. But in the end she was the one that would be most impacted and every right to be weeping from fear of the unknown.

I crossed the room in several large strides, making short work of the large space and catching the attention of both Grace's and my parents.

When I reached Grace I wrapped my arms around her and just held her for several minutes realising again how in love I was with her.

After a while I pulled back and gently move her face so she was looking at me and held her eye contact as I pressed my lips to hers in a sweet, infinite kiss. "I love you so much." I said to her.

She responded by fiercely pressing her lips back to mine in a not-so-sweet kiss. I wrapped my arms around her back as hers played with the hair at the top of my neck.

I depend the kiss as she wrapped her leg around my waist and opened her mouth to let my tongue slide in.

Grace pulled away to get air as I kissed my way down her neck. She tilted her head to the side and let out a low moan. I met her lips again and she immediately opened them. My hand moved to rest on her hips before one moved to her stomach and one to her thigh.

Our kiss continued in the same very not-chaste way until a voice cleared behind us causing Grace to startle and break away panting.

"Excuse me. There's only so much molesting of my daughter I can watch," Ian said, "Please stop."

"I'll second that." My mother said from the dinning area.

I couldn't help the animal-like growl that escaped my lips and the way my top lip turned up in a snarl. "You have no say in anything in my house."

My father stood in front of my mother protectively. "That's no way to talk to your mother. And stop snarling."

He was pushing me. I couldn't get my lip out of the position it was in and I couldn't calm the anger that was beginning to boil inside me again. Another threatening growl ripped from my mouth and Grace put her hand on my arm as if to calm me. "Get out of this house. I can't- I won't deal with you now. Get out."

Immediately the water works started again. "Sam, we're sorry. We're so sorry." She sobbed.

"Save it for another day, Mother. Please just go." I whispered.

"O-okay. Come on." She grabbed my father's forearm and walk toward the doorway. Before they disappeared around the corner she turned and addressed Grace. "It was lovely meeting you, Grace. I hope we can see you soon." A few seconds later the door clicked followed by the sound of an engine roaring to life.

The silence in the room was broken by Amy. "Okay, Sweetie. Your Dad and I should probably head home too." She leaned over toward Grace and pecked her cheek before meeting Grace's eyes and resting her hand over Grace's stomach. "I love you." Ian gave Grace a hug before suggesting she walked them to the door.

I leaned against the counter staring into nothing. "What're you thinking about?" Grace leaned her head against my chest wrapping her arm around my back.

"Nothing," I answered vaguely.

She smiled up at me, "Nice to be alone again."

"We're never alone anymore." I sad with a bright smile waiting until her smile stretched wider across her face when she understood.

"Mmm. You know, I love you, Samuel Roth."

"I love you too, Grace Brisbane."

Her smile stretched impossibly further. "Lets go to bed. It's been a long night."

"It sure has and I couldn't agree more." I said taking her hand and leading her to our room.

I was so lucky to have Grace. She was my heaven.