Breaking the Chains

Chapter Forty One

"She's stable," the doctor said immediately as he looked toward the group. Eli quickly nudged his Nona to wake her up, and almost right away, she jumped up from her spot. "Her heartbeat is going back to normal and she is able to move by herself." Matt stood with a bit of sandwich still in his mouth. A smile broke on his lips before he walked toward the doctor and gave him a hug. The man's eyes grew a little wide but he patted the boy on the back anyway.

"Thank you," Matt said with a full mouth before he finally swallowed it all down. He looked up at the doctor before pulling away. "It means a lot to us." Matt glanced toward Riley before looking back to the doctor, who nodded.

"It's our job," the doctor said quietly before smiling a bit. "You're welcome," he added before patting the boy's shoulder. "She will still need some surgery done, but she is getting better which is a good step."

"Oh thank goodness," Nona breathed out tiredly once she caught on to what was happening. Riley glanced toward her with the smallest of grins. "These kids deserve their family." Nona stole a glance from Riley before looking back to the man in the white doctor's coat. Riley could see how tired she was, and she could only agree.

Eli took a step toward her and wrapped an arm around her waist, causing her to stumble just a bit toward his body. She felt her body throb but she felt comfortable once she wrapped her arms around his torso. "I'm so happy," Riley breathed out as she rested her head on Eli's shoulder and chest.

"I'm glad," Eli said quietly into Riley's hair before kissing the top of her head. "You have your family back, Riley." The name felt like it fit in his mouth at that moment. All the other times, it felt foreign, as if he weren't supposed to say it. But now, it felt like it belonged to his mouth. It was as if it was meant to be spoken by him.

"Thank you," Riley said to Eli as she stayed in her position. She watched Matt talk to the doctor, who looked overly exhausted but grateful that things worked out so well. Riley knew that he had to have some time off but she wasn't sure how doctors did that sort of thing. She didn't know or remembered much anymore, which was to be expected after what she went through.

"Hm?" He asked, curious. Eli kissed the top of her head again as he brought her closer toward him. He closed his eyes softly as he relaxed. Matt was nearly laughing with joy, the doctor left to do other important matter, Nona was sitting back in her chair with a smile on her lips and Riley had her body against him. He could hear her gentle breaths against the fabric of his shirt which made him snicker.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me," Riley said slowly, trying to find the best words. She was slowly getting used to talking this much after years of being shushed and locked away. It wasn't too hard to get back into the grip of things but it was still something to get used to. If she spoke more than a few words, she'd feel like she would be punished. But she hadn't for a little while.

"Don't thank me," Eli said gently as he pulled away from her slightly so that she could look up to his face fully. He smirked when she did just what he hoped she would. His eyes met her's and everything went back to that moment when they were both on the ground in the old metal cell, where he first laid his eyes on her. He thought that she had the most beautiful eyes ever. Her face was covered with scars and bruises, but all he could see was her beauty and the pain she had to go through to get all of the marks. "You're just as beautiful as you were when I first met you," he breathed out quietly before placing a hand gently on her cheek. "I love you," he said with complete certainty before his lips gently met her's. Eli closed his eyes and let the moment roll on for as long as it could. But then he had to get air so he pulled away just enough so their mouths weren't together.

"I love you too," Riley murmured as she pressed her forehead against his, lightly kissing the tip of his nose as she did.

"Good," Eli said before he kissed her again, shorter than the previous one. The moment was cut short because of Matt, the youngest person in the room that decided to watch the couple.

"Ew, gross," he mumbled as he sat back down on his chair to stuff his face happily with the rest of the sandwich.

"I agree," Nona piped in, which made both Riley and Eli shoot their gazes toward her with a bit of surprise. "What? Did I say something?" Riley's lips spread into a gentle smile before a laugh rolled it's way out of her throat.

-----

It had been about two months after the hospital trip. Riley was sitting on one of the lawn chairs her parents had recently bought for their new house, which was in a small little town about ten miles away from Eli's. Riley tried to convince them to move closer, but they kept their thoughts about the house they chose. In the end, they all grew to love it.

Eli had been over more times than Riley's dad would've liked. He was overly protective over the daughter he hadn't seen for years, which made sense. Eli came anyway and though Riley's dad bugged her about him, she knew that he really did like Eli by how he treated him.

Riley's mom decided to host a little barbecue to celebrate their successful move. Riley was thankful that when she finished choosing an outfit for the occasion, Eli was there by her bedroom door with flowers. He had grey jeans on with a black shirt, which Riley learnt suited him quite well. She had changed into her white summer dress before she was led outside by her boyfriend.

Zeke and Nancy had just shown up when Eli and Riley came out. Tally was giggling like crazy when she saw the couple, which made Riley's insides warm up. When she first met Tally, she thought that the little girl didn't like her, but boy was she wrong. Tally wouldn't stop reaching out toward her whenever she was around and Riley was perfectly fine with carrying her around and keeping her entertained.

Jude and Darcy were also already there, sneaking some of the homemade cookies that Riley's dad had baked. Riley had gotten along with them as well and felt included very easily whenever she was around. Eli was glad that everything worked out between them so well.

And all of that was all Riley could ever hope for. Her family was happy and healthy, her boyfriend shared the love she had for him, and she had a bigger family than she could have ever imagined.

It was the best time of her life.

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Yay! Happy ending!

I was so planning on writing a chapter after this but I think this works out so great.

It was longer than the previous ones so I'm impressed!

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Peace out Secrets and God bless you all!

-S