Come Home

Chapter 24

Alice woke to her phone ringing. "Yes Officer Romeo?" a deep voice asked from beside her. She instantly woke up and beamed seeing Jackson sitting beside her bed. He smirked and winked at her as she got out of bed and sat in his lap. "That's good, thank you, I will let her know once she wakes. Goodbye."

"My King," she beamed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're here."

"I am," he nodded, "I just got in." He pushed some hair out of her face and kissed her nose. "How are you feeling?"

"I hurt a little," she admitted, "but I'm better now that you are here. Do you have to go back?"

"No," he smiled at her little squeal of excitement, "I'm here for you, My Pet. We can unpack my things after breakfast."

"Okay," She giggled as she hugged him.

There was a knock on the door, and she turned to see Sean standing in the doorway. "Here's the things to change her bandage. Can I show you how to do it?"

"Please," Jackson nodded, "Appreciate it." She laid down on the bed and Jackson lifted her shirt to show the bandage across her tailbone area.

He watched as Sean gently removed the bandage, applied some ointment, and applied a fresh bandage across her back. "It's healing great, here soon we will be able to remove the stitches."

"Good," Alice mumbled into the pillow. Jackson chuckled as he ran his fingers through her hair, and she sighed in content.

"Breakfast will be ready soon," Sean said as he gathered up the supplies and stood.

"Thank you," Jackson nodded as Sean left.

"Jasper?" She asked curiously as she pouted when he quit running his fingers through her hair. "," she whined making him chuckle.

"Such a needy Pet," he smirked as he went back to running his fingers through her hair, "I love it. Jasper is still on base. He isn't able to leave just yet but hopefully he will soon."

"Okay," she pouted.

"Now, my needy little pet, how are you really doing?" He asked seriously.

She knew better than to lie to him and sighed softly. "Not good," she admitted.

"Talk to me," he said making sure his phone was recording so he could let Jasper know as well.

"It's just everything," she whispered as she drew random designs on his thigh.

"Explain," he gently commanded while continuing to caress her hair.

"I want to stay mad at them, but they are confusing me," she whispered. "Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not," he said truthfully. "Why would we be mad at you?"

"Because I can't stay mad and hurt at them anymore," she admitted.

He chuckled, "Oh Il Mio Cuore, you don't always have to be mad at your exes. You can let go of all the hurt and be civil with them. That doesn't mean you want them back, there are plenty of exes who are friends afterwards, it means you are maturing and healing."

"I am?" she asked confused. "I thought..." she sighed, "I guess I thought I would just feel the pain from their hurt every time I look at them but now with everything they are doing, it isn't hurting as much but it's still there."

"What are they doing?" he asked.

"You already know, My King," she pouted. "I never hide anything from you or Meine Liebe. You know about what they did for my business and getting my foods and just everything. It's confusing me."

"Do you think they are trying to earn your forgiveness or trying to win your heart back?" Jackson asked curiously. He had a nervous feeling in his stomach, but he also had faith in his heart of where her place was in their relationship and where she knew she belonged.

"Both?" she asked scared.

"And what does your heart say?"

She carefully sat up and straddled him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes, "I belong with you and Meine Liebe. I love both of you but..."

"A tiny part of you still cares for them despite all the hurt they caused you because they were your first loves?" he asked softly.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked scared.

He smiled softly as he pushed the strand of hair that fell in her face. "Of course not Il Mio Cuore. That just shows me how caring you are. You have such a big heart, it's one of the things we love about you. We understand, we really do. Thank you for being honest with me, Il Mio Cuore."

She sighed in relief and smiled hugely as she hugged him, "I love you My King Meine Liebe too."

He smiled into her hair as he hugged her, "We love you too."