The pieces of my puzzle.

Forty three.

(Azara's POV)

The days spent on Bora bora swept by in a haze of adventure, love, and magical moments. Bradly and I spent most mornings cuddling in bed, talking softly until we got dressed and decided on whatever we planned to do that day.

Today was the last day here before we went home. I was seated on the porch, my brown gaze rested on the horizon, admiring the orange hues of the setting sun as I sipped the drink held in my hand.

It had been a kind of routine ever since we arrived, that we would sit on the porch and watch the sun set every night until the last rays faded. It brought me peace, knowing with everything came a time to fade away and then start again.

Bradly usually joined me, laughing at my excitement for something as simple as a sunset. But tonight he didn't join me, probably sensing the underlying tension coiling through me; the way my shoulders hunched slightly, and my usually relaxed posture stiff and rigid.

I inhaled sharply, forcing deep breaths to enter my lungs in an attempt to calm my racing thoughts.

I had managed to take my mind off of everything while I was here, forcing nothing but the feeling of satisfaction and joy to enter my thoughts. But now that our stay was over, the fog of blissfulness was parting, giving way to the reality of memories I would much rather not relive. Memories of her.

I still don't understand why she would've shown up at my wedding? After putting both me and my dad through hell. What, did she randomly decide she was going to arrive and I'd shes tears of joy and fall into her embrace?

The creaking sound of the door opening dragging me out of my spiral of thoughts. I saw him sitting down in the chair beside me, the little side table separating us. I kept my gaze on the horizon as I felt his on me.

I knew what his gaze implied, his silent question asked me if I wanted to talk. And I knew I needed to tell him, tell him everything, everything that has played such a big role in creating who I am today.

I turned my head slightly and met his gaze; brown colliding with hazel. His expression was warm, patient.

I held his gaze, tilting my head slightly as my mouth twisted in contemplation.

How on earth was I going to tell him?!
This man is expecting another sob story about my trashy family drama and I'm just going to burden him with all this?
How-

"Tell me." His steady voice halted my racing thoughts, prompting me to glance over at him.

A sigh slipped past my lips as I hanged my head, staring at the wooden deck beneath me, composing myself before letting out a whisper of a sentence.

"Where do I start?" It came out so soft I thought he wouldn't hear it, but as I met his gaze again, I saw only quiet understanding.

He clasped his hands, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees. "Where all stories start; the beginning."

I took another breath before nodding, turning to the horizon as I spoke. "Ok. As you know, my dad was a bit of a playboy back when him and your dad were in Top Gun, many more than a few of his nights were apparently spent with women. And one of those nights were spent with his and your dad's Top Gun instructor and that, inevitably, resulted in, well, me."

A frown was set on my brow as I started recounting the story, knowing full well we wouldn't reach the happy ending until much later in the story.

"When she found out she was pregnant, her and my dad had already broken up 2 months prior and she had been banned from the base for being found using drugs during work hours. She had tried keeping it a secret but my dad eventually found out and said he'd help be there for my part. She ignored him and had moved to another town. So i lived the first 3 years with her, not knowing who my dad was, content with just my mother and I. And at first it was enough, she wasn't half bad a mom, or at least she acted like she was."