The Bonds We Keep

Steps Toward Forgiveness

Beckett's POV

I walked through the hall, steadying the tray of things I'd put together for Estella's feeding, medication, and some things to help her feel a little more comfortable. Over the past few days, making sure she had everything she needed had become a routine—checking her IV line, making sure her NG tube didn't shift around too much, and timing out her medication like clockwork. It wasn't the same as being in the hospital, but with a setup here at home, I could help her the best way I knew how.

She was in her room when I reached the doorway, curled up under a pile of blankets. There was a book resting on her knees, but her eyes weren't on the pages. Instead, she was looking out the window, lost in thought. That faraway look had become common lately, and I couldn't blame her. She had so much to process, and so much she was still holding back."Hey, El," I said, knocking lightly on the doorframe. "Brought your meds. Also, time for the next feeding."

She glanced over at me, a soft smile crossing her face as she nodded. "Hey, Beck. Come on in."I set the tray on her nightstand, glancing at her IV line and NG tube just to make sure they were both secure. "How's the tube? Any irritation or discomfort?"She shook her head, though she shifted a little, adjusting the pillow behind her. "It's fine. Just... weird, I guess." Her eyes met mine, and I could see a flicker of that frustration she still hadn't entirely let go of. "But you probably know that already.""I can imagine," I replied softly. "Still, I want to make sure it's as comfortable as possible. Let me know if it starts to bother you, alright?"

She nodded, looking away, and I could tell she didn't want to talk about it. In truth, I wanted to ask her so much more—about how she was feeling, what she was thinking—but I knew it was still too soon. I'd watched her struggle and felt the guilt of keeping things from her weighing me down, but I didn't know how to bring it up. Not yet.

---

Later that evening, the whole family gathered in the living room, the mood warm and relaxed. Milo had picked out a movie, something light and funny that we hoped would lift Estella's spirits, and Atlas had even spread out a blanket on the couch for her, with a stack of pillows at her back.

"Got the remote ready?" Ethan asked, waving it in the air."Let's not lose it this time, or Milo'll be complaining about the volume all night," Luca joked, nudging him.

Milo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Hey, not my fault you all have terrible taste in movies and think low volume is acceptable."Estella laughed softly, covering her mouth. "Sounds like Milo's still bitter about the last movie night."

We all laughed, and for a second, I caught her looking around at us, a little more warmth in her expression. It was like she was slowly letting herself enjoy the moment, even if the hurt was still there.

The movie started, and while everyone else was watching, I kept a careful eye on Estella's IV and her feeding pump, making sure everything was flowing right and noting when she'd need her next dose of meds. I didn't like seeing her hooked up like this, and I could tell she wasn't fond of it either. But it was what she needed right now, and all I wanted was to make things as easy as possible.

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After the movie ended, we gathered in the kitchen, talking and catching up. Estella was sitting at the kitchen island, sipping from a cup of tea since drinking didn't bother her feeding tube. She was listening to everyone chat, looking a little more at ease than she had the last few days."I swear, the garden's looking so much better these days, El," Jasper was saying as he leaned against the counter. "We'll get you out there soon. Sunlight's the best medicine, right?"She smiled, shrugging. "I'll take your word for it. I think I remember the garden."Ace chimed in, grinning. "Don't worry, we didn't touch your flowers. They're still going strong.""Good," she replied, a little laugh escaping. "You'd better not ruin those."