Cheryl x Liam: I'll Be Loving You Always [Book #3 of Inevitable Series]

Part 20

The quietness surrounding Liam as he lay in the hospital bed later that afternoon after having received some IV fluids was almost deafening. His friends had left after staying for over an hour, his sisters had left around the same time, Garry too had left to go find Cheryl as she wasn't answering her phone. Karen and Geoff remained in the room with Liam; Geoff having changed out of the bloody clothing and so was fresher than he had been.

"Liam, what's on your mind, son?" Karen asked, noticing that her son seemed to be staring at the wall, deep in thought as his brow furrowed slightly.

"I'm worried about Cheryl," he looked up at his mother, "Do you think she's okay?"

"I'm sure she's fine, son; she's just probably needed some air or something – this is hard for her to see you like this." Karen tried to reassure her son. Liam went to say something else before being interrupted when the door burst open, a little voice causing him to break into a beaming grin straight away.

"Payno!"

"Hey Soph." he softly spoke, giving her a tired smile as she slowly wandered over to him. He watched as his beautiful fiancée wandered in behind her with their adorable three-month-old son in her arms; the little boy looking like butter wouldn't melt as he rested in his mother's arms with his dummy in his mouth.

"Hey you." He greeted, giving her a small smile. She smiled slightly back at him, leaning down and softly kissing his lips whilst stroking his cheek. Liam could see that she'd changed into some more casual wear, a clear indication that she'd obviously gone home at some point, and he could tell that she had also been crying.

"I told them Daddy was sick and had to stay here for a few days and to be careful." She smiled sadly as she sat down. Liam nodded his head before smiling more as Sophia laid on the side of him that wasn't injured, cuddling into him.

"Are you okay, Liam? I know you don't like hospitals too." Sophia quietly spoke, holding on to him as he kissed the top of her head.

"I'm good, kiddo; don't you worry – I just have to stay here for a few days and I'll be back in tip top shape," he tapped her nose as she stuck her lip out, "Don't worry; you just have to look after Mummy and Austin for me yeah?"

Sophia softly nodded her head, remaining snuggled into his side. Silence consumed them once again; Liam simply sitting up in bed with Sophia resting against him whilst he was holding Cheryl's hand as she remained sat at his bedside, holding Austin in her other arm as he remained oblivious to what exactly was going on. After a few minutes, Karen and Geoff decided that Cheryl and Liam needed a bit of time to themselves, and so offered to take Austin and Sophia down to the cafeteria area for something to eat. Sophia happily accepted the offer; and so hopped off the bed to walk with them whilst Cheryl handed Austin and one of his bottles over to Karen. The older couple left the room with the children and closed the door, leaving Cheryl and Liam alone.

"Come here." He softly told her, holding his arm out. Cheryl nodded and took the spot where Sophia had just been, carefully snuggling into Liam as she didn't want to hurt him.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"Baby, don't." he whispered, stroking his hand up and down her back. She swallowed a bit, burying her face into his chest as she didn't want him to see her cry again.

"This is all my fault," she sniffled, "It's got to be something to do with me – nothing ever happened to you before you got with me."

"Cheryl, this could've been anything." Liam tried to reassure her.

"Liam, it wasn't just anything," she sat up to look at him as thick tears began flowing down her cheeks again, "The lads told me they heard the shots then a car sped off; that wasn't just anything – someone was watching you and I'm convinced it has to do with me. Liam, I almost lost you today – and I can't cope with that."