𝓤𝓼 𝓐𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭

- Chapter 13 -

A glitch of nausea and headache popped in Cillian's face the second he opened his eyes. The radiant sunshine he had always loved was casing him vertigo and almost had him vomit.
He stood up fighting all his body aches and the blocking memories on how did he get in bed. The last thing he recalled Jack and him were in pub so it would probably be Jack who got him home safe.

Checking the digital watch on bedside it was 1 pm "Scout" his poor dog he hadn't feed him since yesterday.
With heavy- footed he walked downstairs following his barking noise that was getting higher with each step.

He crashed into the kitchen to glance Scout jumping with excitement next to a feminine figure who was leaning to fill up his food bowl. Furrowed his eyebrows had he done something last night he would regret now all what was thinking. He came closer to her to catch
a familiar side profile " Noor. " he breathed and relieved it was her but still confused " what are you doing here?."

" And good afternoon to you too Mr. Murphy." she scoffed " Jack called me yesterday. He had to leave, his kids'nanny had emergency call and he didn't want to keep you alone."

Cillian rubbed his face embarrassed of what she might had witnessed yesterday " I'm sorry." he hissed apologizing , he had been told how annoying and noisy person he became when he drank too much and it definitely wasn't on his willy wishes list that Noor saw him as drunk old man.

"It's ok, coffee?" she offered him coffee mug which he welcomed warmly.

" Cil i think we need to talk." She said oblingly, trying not to stress him up.

" Shit have I done something improperly yesterday?." his hand stroked his lower lip trying to mnemonics if he screwed things with her when he wasn't his conscious self.

"Of course not." her denial interpreted his memory call .

" Alright what's it then?" He inquired, shaking the head slightly.

" You could've told me you know .. that your're feeling sad and hurt about the divorce. you didn't have to throw it inside like that, I'd understand." She said followed with a sad smile, monitoring his face with sympathy.

Cillian let out a deep heavy sigh. He tilted his head back into the cozy cushion, clenched his hands above his chest and he finally confessed " God's truth Noor, I thought I was taking the divorce well. It was my decision at the end I was sure about it until we had the talk with Matthew and Louis." and continued mumbled " Feel like I failed them somehow."

Silence reigned supreme before Noor decided to break it with so much hesitation to ask " What if-"

" NO." he shrugged and turned to her  "No no ifs."

"But maybe you could have second thoughts about it if I wasn't.."

He jeerly started nodding his head "you too think I haven't fought for my family enough." he blinked back tears , shifted the way he was sitting " do you know why i filed for divorce, Noor ? Because the woman I was married to for years betrayed me not fucking once but many times and in every possible way." He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

It felt surreal to Noor observing the one who had been comforting and being there for her the last weeks , so vulnerable and in need. He was no hurted than her but definitely way more generous with offering empathy and affection than she was or may would have been.

Her silky hand caressed his freckled face with tender, while his head leaned to her gently touch , closed his eyes and kissed her palm " I need you" he muttered between his heavy breaths. He opened his eyes tardily to maintain eye contact with her.

" I need you in my life  .. I want you in my life." moisted his lower lips with his tongue nervously and continued " but if you want to run off from this mess.. " pointing to himself with his hands
" I won't stop you."

" No.. no run off" she chuckled " this applied to you too." This beamed his face " God I would never."

Cillian cupped her face "we're gonna heal each other." his icy blue eyes roving between her warm brown ones to her mushy palm lips " and I promise you I'd never hurt you never. We'll make each other happy."

Noor pressed her forehead to his, their noses nudging into each others cheeks as their lips met with obvious passion and support and so much unspoken love announcing to themselves that they were officially now part of each other healing journey and they would get into this long road together and for each other.