Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 47~

~Raelyn~

~April 24th~

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the bedroom. I woke up to the gentle rise and fall of Colby's chest beneath my head. I grunted in pain, not just from the pregnancy but from the bruises and cuts that still marred my body. Colby stirred beside me, his eyes fluttering open as he felt me shift.

"Are you okay, Raelyn?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep and concern.

I nodded weakly, trying to muster a reassuring smile. "Yeah, just a bit sore. Let's go downstairs."

We slowly made our way downstairs after getting Blake up, where the rest of the trap house crew was already up and about. Katrina and Devyn were in the kitchen, the smell of breakfast wafting through the air. As I sat down at the dining table, everyone turned their attention to me.

"How are you feeling, Rae?" Jake asked, his eyes filled with worry.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the pain. "I'm fine. Really, I appreciate you all watching over me for the last couple of days."

"It's no problem at all," Katrina said, placing a plate of pancakes in front of me. "We love taking care of you."

Blake leaned into me and hugged my leg, "We love you mama." I smiled and kissed his head. "I love you too B."

"Yeah, we're just glad you're safe," Sam added, giving me a warm smile.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their concern. "I think you all could use a break. Why don't you go out today? I'll be fine here with Colby and Blake."

They exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure, Rae?" Corey asked, his brow furrowed in worry.

"Yeah, nothing's gonna happen to me when Colby or Blake is here," I insisted, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

After a moment of hesitation, they all agreed. "Alright, but promise to call us if you need anything," Devyn said, giving me a quick hug.

"Promise," I replied, smiling at her.

I didn't even bother asking Colby if he wanted to go with them. I knew he could also use a break, but I knew he wouldn't leave me here alone with Blake and Sadie, so it would better if I just left it.

As they went to get ready, I flopped onto the couch, letting out a sigh of relief. Blake had gone upstairs to go play with his toys. Colby knelt beside me, his eyes searching mine. "Are you really okay with this, Rae?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I think it'll be good for them to get out for a bit. And I'll be fine with you here."

"Alright," he said, still looking a bit unsure. "I'll be in the office if you need me."

I watched him disappear into the office, the door closing softly behind him. For a while, I just sat there, trying to keep my mind occupied. Eventually they all left for their day out leaving me along with Colby and Blake. But as the minutes ticked by, the silence began to weigh on me. The memories I'd been trying so hard to suppress started creeping back in.

Colby's dad...

The bunker...

The way he kicked and violently threw me against the walls.

I could've lost my baby.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth. Tears streamed down my face as the panic set in, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.

"Raelyn?" Colby's voice broke through the haze of my panic. I looked up to see him standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with worry. He rushed over to me, kneeling beside the couch. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm here."

I couldn't find the words to respond, my body shaking uncontrollably. Colby gently pulled me into his arms, holding me close as I sobbed into his chest. "He won't touch you again, I promise. I'll make sure of it."

"I'm so scared, Colby," I managed to choke out between sobs. "What if he comes back? What if he hurts our baby?"

"Over my dead body," he said fiercely, his grip tightening around me. "I won't let that happen. You're safe here with me."

I tried to be strong, to push the fear away, but it was no use. "I feel so weak," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"You're not weak," Colby said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You're the strongest person I know. You've been through so much, and you're still here. That's strength."

I shook my head, the tears still flowing. "It doesn't feel like it."

"It is," he insisted, kissing my forehead. "And it's okay to be scared. But you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, and so is the rest of us. We won't let anything happen to you."

His words were a small comfort, but the fear still lingered. Colby got up and made me some tea, hoping it would help calm my nerves. I sipped it slowly, the warmth soothing my throat but doing little to ease the turmoil inside me.

The hours passed in a blur. Colby stayed close, never straying far from my side. We cuddled on the couch as a movie played on the TV, I felt so safe with him. He said that Layne would never come near me again and I believed him.

~Colby~

I heard the soft creak of the stairs and looked up to see Blake coming down, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He made his way over to me and snuggled into my side. "How's mommy doing Colby?" he asked in a small voice.

"She's going to be just fine," I reassured him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "She just needs some rest."

Blake nodded, seeming comforted by my words, and soon enough, he drifted off to sleep. I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me too, and before long, I found myself dozing off on the couch with Blake nestled against me.

I woke up to the sound of the front door opening and the familiar voices of the trap house crew filtering in. They all walked in, their faces softening when they saw us asleep on the couch.

"Look at them," Katrina whispered. "They must be exhausted."

"Raelyn's been through so much these last few days," Devyn added, her voice tinged with sadness.

I stirred and opened my eyes, blinking at the group. Sam noticed I was awake and walked over. "Hey, Colby. How's Rae doing?"

"She's fine," I said, my voice a little hoarse from sleep. "She had a small panic attack earlier, and has been asleep on me ever since. Blake came down after and fell asleep with us after Rae did."

"Why don't you guys join us?" I suggested, trying to muster a smile. "Put on some pajamas and come back downstairs. We can all crash on the couch together."

The crew exchanged glances and nodded. They headed upstairs to change, and after a few minutes, they returned in their pajamas, looking more relaxed. One by one, they found spots on the couch and the floor, and we all settled in together.

"Raelyn's so strong," Tara said softly, breaking the silence. "I can't imagine going through what she has."

"Yeah," Corey agreed. "She's been holding it together for everyone."

"She really has," I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. "But it's been hard on her. I'm just glad we have each other to lean on."

"Absolutely," Jake added. "We're all here for her, and for each other."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the last few days hanging over us. But there was also a sense of solidarity, of being in this together. Slowly, one by one, we all drifted off to sleep, finding comfort in each other's presence.

As I lay there, surrounded by my friends, I felt a sense of peace. No matter what came next, I knew we would face it together. And that made all the difference.