More Than a Soldier

Chapter 60 - Moving Forward

Y/n's POV:

Saying goodbye to Scarlett was particularly hard this time around. I really needed her through this time and I'm so glad that she was there through it all. I don't know what I would have done had she not been here. She was my rock and was the only reason that I didn't complete break after what happened.

We spent the evening together at the hotel, the TV playing in the background, but neither of us really paying attention. Scarlett just held me, providing so much comfort through her presence. Her soft touches helped me to fall into a comfortable sleep. Though waking up, knowing that I was having to fly home today just brought the sadness back.

As we're walking through the airport, I remind myself that it's only two weeks and she'll be back with us and, other than potentially some reshoots for Endgame, she's around for the foreseeable future. It still doesn't make me feel better that I'll go back to waking up to an empty bed for a few weeks.

After a long goodbye with a couple of tears from both sides, I reluctantly make my way through security. Turning at the last minute to catch a glimpse of Scarlett one last time. She waves to me and I blow her a kiss that she pretends to catch, making me laugh. How did I get so lucky to have someone that supports me like she does?

Once I'm on the plane, the thoughts of what happened with Charlotte and Dale start to return. Being with Scarlett, she was able to help muffle them, but now I'm on my own, they're as loud as ever. I can't believe they basically used me to try and get money to help Dale's business.

Something had felt a little off on the first time we met, but I had put that down to the fact that we were all nervous and meeting for the first time. I thought they were just nervous because they were ashamed of what they had done. I try to convince myself that I didn't want a relationship anyway and that this is probably for the best. But I know that I'm just lying to myself. Although I never wanted them to be my parents, there was a part of me that wondered if we'd have some kind of connection.

I guess what hurts the most, is that they used my desire for closure to their advantage. They knew this was going to be a vulnerable moment where I would want to be able to get some answers. They manipulated that for their own gain.

I guess I should be grateful that this came to light earlier rather than later. It was clear that Dale let the cat out of the bag too early, by the glare that was on Charlotte's face. They clearly had the plan to create that relationship first to make it more likely that I would say yes to helping them with the money situation. So, in that sense, I'm glad it happened now, because I think that would have broken me more.

It's so strange to me that they are my biological parents. Other than the resemblance to Charlotte, I was nothing like them. As we talked, I didn't get any feeling that we had the same interests, or that I took after them in a personality sense. But the biggest difference is that I could never imagine hurting someone like that for my own gain.

I know I said to Scarlett that I didn't need them, and I have all the family I need, but I still feel a sadness over it all. I also feel this guilt that I agreed to meet them when I have the most amazing parents waiting for me back home. I feel like I've thrown it back into their faces for everything they've done by running off to England to meet my biological parents at first contact. All I know is I can't wait to hug them and tell them I'm sorry and show them how much they mean to me.

Scarlett admitted that she had called dad to ask for them to pick me up from the airport. She was nervous when she told me, worried I would react badly. But it just made me adore her even more. She could see that was exactly what I needed without me having to tell her. Just like she has been this whole time, she was protecting me. I know that they don't know what happened and I'm going to have to tell them. But right now, I just want to have a hug from my mum and dad. After Scarlett, they are the people I feel most safe with.