Rafe Cameron Imagines

Always By Your Side🤍

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the Outer Banks. You stood in front of Tannyhill, looking up at the house that had always been Rafe's domain, yet it didn't feel like home when he wasn't there. Lately, you hadn't seen much of him. His world had become tangled with his father's expectations, the chaos of the Cameron family, and the weight of everything he was trying to handle alone.

But tonight, you weren't going to stay away any longer.

You raised your hand and knocked softly on the door, knowing Rafe would hear it. After a few moments, you heard his footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and you were met with his familiar gaze, one that flickered between surprise and something softer, like relief.

"Hey," you said quietly, offering him a small smile as you stepped inside. "Been a while, huh?"

Rafe stepped aside to let you in, his eyes never leaving yours. "Yeah. I didn't realize how much I missed you until now," he replied, his voice a little rough, like he hadn't had a chance to say what he'd been feeling.

You followed him into the living room, your eyes scanning the place that usually felt so chaotic with Rafe's presence but now seemed almost too quiet. He was always at the center of things, and when he wasn't around, everything felt off.

You sat down on the couch, and Rafe didn't hesitate before sitting next to you, his arm naturally finding its way around your shoulders, pulling you close.

"I've missed you too," you said softly, resting your head on his chest. "More than I've let on."

Rafe sighed deeply, his fingers gently tracing patterns along your arm. "I've been distracted. Trying to handle everything with my dad. I know I've been pulling away from you, and... I'm sorry. I don't know how to balance it all sometimes."

You shifted slightly so you could look up at him, meeting his gaze. "You don't have to do it alone, Rafe. You don't have to figure it all out by yourself. I'm here. I want to be here."

His jaw tightened as he glanced away for a moment. "I don't want to drag you into all the shit I'm dealing with. You don't deserve that. You deserve better than me at my worst."

You lifted your hand to his face, gently cupping his cheek and making him meet your eyes again. "I don't need better, Rafe. I just need you. Even when you're struggling. Even when you don't have everything together. I'll take the worst of you because I want you anyway."

He looked at you for a long time, as if trying to process the weight of your words. Then he smiled, a smile so soft and genuine it made your heart flutter. "You really mean that?"

You nodded, your thumb brushing across his skin. "I do. I want all of you. The good, the bad, the parts that scare you. You're not too much for me, Rafe. I want you exactly as you are."

Rafe's gaze softened as he exhaled slowly, the tension in his body starting to release. He leaned down and kissed your forehead gently. "I don't know how to thank you for being here. For being patient with me."

"There's nothing to thank me for," you said, your voice filled with conviction. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here. You don't have to go through the hard stuff alone. I want to be the one you lean on when everything else is falling apart."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. Instead, he just pulled you into his arms, holding you tightly like you were the only thing keeping him grounded. You wrapped your arms around him in return, savoring the comfort of his presence. There was something calming about being close to him, about knowing that despite everything going on, this—you and him—was real.

"I've been so messed up," Rafe whispered, his voice full of raw honesty. "I've made a lot of mistakes. But I know that when I'm with you, things feel different. I don't feel so lost." He paused, lifting his head to look at you. "But I don't know how to be the person you deserve. I don't know how to be better."

You smiled softly, cupping his face in your hands, looking him directly in the eyes. "You don't have to be perfect, Rafe. You're already enough. I don't want you to change. I just want to be with you. The way you are. The way you've always been with me."

He took a shaky breath, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You don't know how much that means to me. I'm so used to pushing people away, to thinking I'm too much for anyone. But with you... I don't know. You make me feel like maybe I don't have to be perfect after all."

You leaned in and kissed him gently, slowly, your lips brushing against his with all the softness and tenderness you'd been holding back for days. When you pulled back, you rested your forehead against his, both of you taking a moment to just breathe in the closeness, to remember what it felt like to be together.

"I want to build a future with you, Rafe," you said softly, your hand tracing the lines of his arm. "Whatever that looks like. I want to face everything together."

Rafe looked at you with a mixture of disbelief and awe. "You really mean that?"

"I do," you whispered. "I'm not asking for perfection, Rafe. I'm asking for us—our future. I want it with you, even when things get tough. I want to go through the hard stuff, the good stuff, everything with you by my side."

Rafe pulled you back into his arms, pressing a kiss to your forehead once more. "You have no idea how much that means to me. I'm not sure I deserve you, but I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you never regret being here."

"You don't have to do anything special," you whispered back. "Just be you. That's all I've ever wanted."

And as the evening continued, the two of you stayed close, your hearts intertwined as you talked about your future together—what you wanted, what you hoped for. The worries and pressures that had been clouding Rafe's mind seemed a little lighter now that you were with him. Because, with you by his side, he knew he wasn't facing the storm alone.

And for the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe everything was going to be okay.