Fierce Love

Chapter 30: Nate

Nate's POV: 

"How about we go to the Maldives?" I said, swooshing around my apple juice that Lilly put in my scotch glass. 

"Nate-" She started talking but I cut her off, "Who drinks apple juice at 3:27 in the afternoon?" 

Lilly scoffed and gave me one of her mastered sarcastic looks, "normal people." 

I shrugged, sipping on the fruity juice, apparently Lilly is working on helping me stop drinking altogether, it was a difficult thing to do considering my slight addiction, but a part of me started feeling more repulsed by the alcohol after the near death situation. 

Lilly ran her fingers through my hair, "See, it isn't so difficult." She murmured. Making a smile appear on my lips as I clasped her hands tightly in mine. 

"I love you." I whispered kissing her hand softly, when I heard a throat clearing, jolting me out of my trance. 

Lilly and I both looked up to see my parents standing by the kitchen's entrance with tight smiles on their faces. 

"Nathaniel, can we talk to you?" My father spoke firmly. 

Lilly fumbled to take her hands out of mine, "I'll see you later." She mumbled, quickly pecking my lips, "I love you too." Then she was out of the doorway. 

Every time Lilly told me I love you, my heart races as a huge grin envelops my lips, we both grew accustomed to saying those words, afraid of losing one another one more time. 

My mother stood in front of me her eyes tearing up slightly, "Mom?" I asked confused about what was happening. 

Then I felt her slim arms wrap around me, I felt my heart beating skyrocket, the feeling of being in my mother's arm was so foreign to me lately, but right now being enveloped in my mother's arms felt like one of the best feelings in the world, I quickly wrapped my arms tightly around her much smaller frame, when I felt her tears soaking my shirt, I was confused all of a sudden, my mother was never one to shed tears, she never showed weakness. 

"I'm so sorry, Nathaniel, I'm so sorry, sweetie." She murmured repeatedly, "Forgive me for being a horrible mother, I'm so sorry, baby, I can't lose you." 

A gasp escaped my lips at hearing my mother's words, as my heart ached for her, she was mournful and guilty, but I couldn't help but let everything she ever did, all the years of neglect escape my memory the moment I heard her apology, she was my mother. 

I hugged her tighter, "It's okay, mom, it's fine, I forgive you." I murmured back, causing a choked sob to escape her lips. 

I slowly pulled away to see my mother's tear streaked face, which was so unlike her, I quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks, "Stop crying, mom, please." I whispered. 

"Love, enough." I heard my father's strong voice, but underneath that rough tone there was underlying affection as he pulled mom into his arms. 

"Nathaniel, son, I'm so sorry." He said, clasping my shoulder. 

I was in a state of disbelief and shock, where I couldn't pin point if what was happening right now was real or I was hallucinating. 

I shook my head in confusion as I rubbed my eyes, but they were still standing in front of. 

"Is this seriously happening?" I asked, my brain going into haywire. 

I heard a slight giggle escape mom's lips. 

"Oh, Nathaniel don't make it seem like I'm that horrible." Dad said, shaking his head, then wincing, "I was more than horrible." He whispered. 

A huge smile appeared on my lips as I realised what was happening clearly, my parents were making amends after all those years. And I would forgive them in a heartbeat, because underneath my tough exterior all I ever wanted was my parents' love, affection and approval.