That Beautiful Boy... and Me

Chapter 26: There's No Place Like Home

Okay, here we are - Chapter 26. I actually kind of like this chapter, and I hope you will too. :)

So... vote, FAN and Comment. I love hearing your opinions :D

Lauren :)

The song on the side is 'Feels Like Home' by Chantal Kreviazuk, because its a great song and I thought it fit well with the title :)

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*Alex's POV*

I woke the following morning, my head throbbing. My eyes stung with dried tears and I was sure red blotches covered my cheeks. I had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning crying as Nate held me in his arms, and finally drifted off to sleep sometime around 5am. Removing the muscular arm that was strewn around me, I slid myself over to the edge of the bed, my legs dangling off the side. Letting out a breath, I ran a hand over my face, and through my mangled hair before grabbing my phone. I flipped it open, finding it to be a little after nine. I was still exhausted, both physically and emotionally, but I couldn't stay in bed.

Rising from my position, I made my way to our en suite bathroom. Feeling the plush cream carpet of our hotel suite beneath my feet provided me with some comfort as I made my way to the much-needed shower. After stripping off my clothes, I stepped under the soothing hot water, allowing it to wash away any evidence of the hurt I was feeling. I stayed there for a good 20 minutes, and when I stepped out, I felt better than I had done in the previous few hours. I wrapped a towel around my body before stepping out into the bedroom to get dressed. A dry laugh escaped me as I thought of how similar a situation this was to the morning before, but how different things really were. Just 24 hours before, I had made love to my boyfriend, and now? Now my mother was lying on her death bed; life just wasn't fair.

Deciding not to dwell on it, and try my hardest to stay strong for mom's sake, I mentally shook myself and continued to get ready. By the time I had dressed and was starting to pack all my belongings away, I heard Nate stir across the room. He panicked for a second on waking up in an empty bed, but soon calmed as he met my gaze.

"Morning." I greeted, trying my best to sound happier than I felt.

"Morning, baby girl." he replied, hopping out of bed and coming to wrap his arms around my waist from behind. He placed a small kiss on my cheek, before continuing. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm okay," I replied honestly, "I just need to stay strong for mom. It's her that's going through this, not me."

"I know, baby." he nodded, "But, you know it's okay not to be okay?"

"Quoting Jessie J. now are we?" I joked, trying to make light of the situation, but receiving myself a blank stare. "Ugh.. Yes! I know!"

"Good." he smiled, kissing my cheek once more, before releasing me from his hold. "Let's get packed to go home then. They're moving your mom at noon. Oh and Alex?"

"Yeah?" I asked, looking up to where he was hanging out of the bathroom door.

"Remember, I'm always here if you need me. Okay?" he told me, sincerity lacing his words. "I love you."

"I know you are, baby." I assured him, a smile creeping its way onto my features at his words. " I love you, too."

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Come 5pm, we had made our way back home, and New York had never seemed so far away. Mom was settled into the oncology ward of our local hospital, and in all honesty, she looked a right sight better than she had done the day before. Looking at her, you'd never think this woman was dying - maybe suffering from a bad dose of the flu - but definitely not dying. We stayed at the hospital for a few hours, way past visiting hours, until the staff eventually kicked us out. I suppose it was for the best; mom needed her rest after all. Dad stayed by her bedside, despite our suggestions that he go home and get some rest, while one of us stayed. He refused to leave the love of his life in her time of need, and I couldn't help but smile at him. Even after 20-odd years of marriage, he still held that look in his eyes. The look that old me, and everyone else, that he was still totally and irrevocably in love with my mother, and would be until he drew his very last breath. Whenever he looked at her, his eyes softened and twinkled brighter than ever. It was heartwarming to say the least, and made me yearn for the love that my parents shared. I knew Nate loved me, but did he look at me that way? Turning my head to the side, I stole a glance at my boyfriend, meeting his gaze as I did so. In that second, I knew. I knew that this boy loved me just as much as he claimed, and I hoped with all my heart he always would. I didn't want to envision a day when that look faded from his eyes, and I never wanted to experience it, because, in truth, it would all but break me.