Forever

79

Pietro steps out of the elevator with his hands in his pockets to find Bree sitting tiredly in a stool with a small bowl of oatmeal in front of her. He makes his way over to slowly and gently place his hands on the sides of her head to press a single kiss to the top.

He backs up a bit while brushing down her hair, pulling it behind her shoulders as he begins to walk away, but she quickly reaches behind for him. He moves closer for her to hang her arms over his shoulders as he slowly grazes his fingers up and down her bare torso.

"You're so soft." He states quietly and she tilts her head to look up at him. "Kiss me."

She tilts her head more and he leans down to her lips for a few seconds before she lays back with a sigh.

"Finish eating and come to me?" He hopes and she nods while letting him go.

He takes a seat on the corner cushion of the couch and turns on the TV as she stares at the bowl in front of her with her arms crossed loosely over her abdomen. Still half-full, though she can't eat anymore. She feels like she's failed lately, eating more than she used to daily when she was deep into this disorder.

So she'll pretend it's half-empty. If she's a glass half-empty kind of person, why can't the bowl be too?

She sits there for a minute before she gently shoves the bowl to the other side of the island and slips down the stool to head around to the sink. She rinses it out and places it in the dishwasher before she makes her way to the living room while Pietro watches from his seat.

He takes her hand and hip to pull her down to sit between his legs with her back to his front. He wraps his arms around her small frame with furrowed brows as she pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and over their legs. She lays back with her arms laid over his and he trails his hand up her bicep while grazing his knuckles over her cheek.

As the movie he put on in front of them continues, Bree is soon to fall asleep in his hold while FRIDAY darkens the windows to keep out the light from her eyes. Pietro stares down at her pretty face and skinny frame and slowly opens his hand on her cheek with his fingers in her hair.

He just can't help his mind from wandering as he admires every part of her. But he worries, too, about her health. It's clear that's she's made it far and is fighting the urge to cut off all foods, but it's also very clear that she hasn't tried enough.

She still looks a little sick and unhealthy. She still has her dizzy and off moments. She still hesitates, no clue of the single pair of blue eyes watching her contemplate her next move before she gives in with a sigh, rubs her face with a deep breath, and eats it anyway. Or when she throws the food away completely, just as he saw her do this morning.

And, again, he knows she's trying, but it breaks his heart to physically see how much she hates herself. As if the scars on her wrist aren't enough, she has to slowly kill herself, to never feel worthy in the end anyway. She's lost faith and, as far as the eye can see, there's no getting it back. And, truthfully, he's lost too.

Bree wakes to a shaking feeling beneath her, drowsy as she leans into his hand. She feels his head on top of hers and opens her eyes to quickly realize what's happening. She tilts her head up to look at him with furrowed brows and he immediately lifts his off of hers while taking a deep breath and wiping his face.

"What's wrong?" She turns to cup his cheek while pushing the blanket out of the way.

"Nothing." He shakes his head with a sniffle and she moves to sit sideways in his lap.

"Why're you crying?" She places her hand on the back of his head.

"I just..." He starts with raised brows before he can't hold back anymore.

He covers his eyes by his fingers and she immeditaly sits up higher to pull his head to her chest, worried and fearful of the sight she found moments after waking. He hugs her tight, gripping her shoulder and side as he tries to calm down, but can barely control his breathing.

"I love you so much." He whimpers and she looks down at him with tears in her eyes.

"Baby, what is going on?" She gently pulls his head back as she lowers a bit in front of him. "What happened?"

"I'm just so happy you're still alive." He shakes his head while holding the side of her neck. "I know, you don't want to be here, and, I know, you don't like yourself, but I want you to know that I couldn't be more grateful that you're still here." He states and her arms slowly drop. "Your life means so much to me."

As he spoke that last sentence, she slowly turned away with a sigh and wrinkled brows, causing his to furrow with a tilted head.

"Hey." He turns her back.

"I'm sorry." She shakes her head as a single tear falls. "I don't mean to make you feel like this." She cups his cheek. "You shouldn't feel the need to cry, just because I haven't killed myself, that's horrible." She sighs with her hand out. "That's so bad, how could I do that to you? You don't deserve that."

"Don't apologize, because I'm proud of you." He shakes his head with a soft sigh. "I'm thankful, Anjel. But, you're right, I don't deserve you." He nods sideways and her bottom lip starts to quiver. "I don't deserve someone that's made it so far all on her own, just after hitting rock bottom only weeks before."

"I wasn't alone." She corrects. "You're the only reason I'm still alive, I can't be here without you, so don't doubt yourself." She points. "Don't start thinking like me, that's not who you are. And this is exactly what I mean." She turns more towards him. "It's my fault you think like this, I'm causing all these bad thoughts and you don't care. Why don't you care about how much I've hurt you?" She breathes.

"You hurt me once, Bree." He nods. "Just once and you made up for that, because you fought to get better. You fought to win me back, but you didn't have to, because you had me the whole time. But I was scared that you would do it again, yes, and what you did hurt like Hell." He nods surely and she covers her mouth by the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry." She whimpers softly.

"But I believe in second chances, and for you, I'd give all the chances in the world, just to know that I'd have you for the rest of my life." He places his hand on her chest. "Knowing that you're still alive and you're not going anywhere is the best feeling in the world." He gently pulls her a bit closer with her help as he sits up. "You don't make me doubt, you don't hurt me, or make me angry or sad." He shakes his head. "You make me happy. I am so happy with you everyday." He kisses her cheek and lays his forehead to her temple and she closes her eyes. "I was crying because I'm so happy you're alive. I'm proud of you."