In the end

Chapter 41 - I know

~ Jared POV ~

I couldn't take my eyes off of her, I didn't want to fall asleep. I was so scared I would wake up and find out it had all been a dream. We lay there tangled in the sheets just holding each other. I felt her sigh and she tightened her arms around me. "Jared. I'm so... sorry. I didn't want... I was just trying to keep you safe. There's something I need to tell you, things I've never told anyone. But you deserve to know why." I sat up and looked at her. "It's ok. You don't have to say anything." She raised herself up to rest on her elbows. "No I do. I need to tell you why I left, that it had nothing to do with you." I didn't know what say, how to tell her that I already knew.

I got up and walked into the kitchen to retrieve the folder I'd stashed in one of the drawers. I could feel her eyes following me as I returned, and then shift to the folder in my hands. "What's that." I put the folder on the bed and sit down.
"There's somethings I need to tell you first. When you left I didn't handle things very well." Her face fell and I could see the guilt she felt breaking the surface. "I don't want you to feel guilty for leaving. I understand now. When Misha told me that he saw you in the market that day he told me that you looked terrified and that you didn't want to be found. That maybe I should let you go. But I couldn't, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. I'm sorry if that wasn't the right thing to do."

Her tears spilled over and ran down her face in torrents. I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. "So I decided no matter what it took, I wasn't leaving here without looking for you. Do you remember Clif?" She nodded. "So at that point I was still in pretty heavy denial that you weren't coming back so I moved all of your things into storage." The look on her face was almost funny. "Are you serious? You didn't have to do that." "I know but I had to ya know. And that's how I got this." He gestured to the folder. "Clif somehow lifted your fingerprints from something." She raised her eyebrows. "I know, apparently he 'knows people'."

I picked up the folder. "I don't know if you'll want to see this. There's pictures... of your parents." She ducked her head into my chest and I could feel her tears soaking through my shirt. "I don't need to see it, I know everything in there already. Um... will you help me do something?" "Anything Br- um do I call you Bree?" She pulled back enough to sit up and wrapped her arms around her knees. "It's what my dad used to call me. Mikrí prinkípissa mou, My little princess." Her laugh came out thick and full of pain. "He was the last person to ever say my name." I shifted closer to her until I was pressed against her side. She sniffed and wiped her face on the sheet. I pulled to me and just held her, smoothing her hair and rubbing her back. Anything to let her know I was here and she was safe.

When I woke up I thought I had been dreaming at first, until I felt her body beside to me. I can't put into words how it felt to wake up next to her again. I just knew I wanted to forever. I slipped out of bed trying not to wake her and got dressed, leaving a note letting her know I'd be right back. The front desk told me where I could find what I was looking for.

~ Bree POV ~

I stretched and rolled over, my hand automatically seeking his warmth, but his side of the bed was cold. My eyes flew open in a panic. I scrambled to get up and my hand came across a small piece paper. 'Had to run out for a bit, be back soon - J', written on hotel stationary. I willed my heart to slow down and tried to just breathe and relax. I had absolutely no right to be scared that he would leave. It was what I deserved after all. I got up and got dressed, if he did change his mind and decide he didn't want me anymore I'd rather not be naked when it happened. I was putting on my shoes when I heard the keycard slide in. He called my name as soon as he opened the door.

"In here. The um I guess it's the living room." He came around the corner holding a tray of coffees. His looked... joyously happy. I still couldn't help but be mesmerized by his beauty. He was perfect. His smile was radiant and warm and I would give anything for him to be like this always. So happy and full of life that it radiated from him. I wanted to be the one that made him smile and laugh and get to tell him everyday how amazing and wonderful he was. How loved he is. As soon as he put the coffee down I got up and launched myself at him, desperate to touch him. I didn't even kiss him, I just needed to feel him close to me, to know he was there and that for now he wanted me. "Sorry I just... I missed you." I looked up at him and kissed my hair. "Trust me I know how you feel."