Running From The Big Bad Wolf

25

After the park, we went to the shops, picked up some stuff, clothes really for myself and Rhydian before dinner.

Dinner was hectic, at a flashy restaurant. Everyone made a path for us, getting out off our way and I didn't know why, but I sat at the table shown, sitting between Axel and Rhydian.

Rhydian fussed as I knew he would and I gave in to him for his dessert to keep him happy.

"Why did you do that?" Axel asked me quietly.

"To keep him quiet." I replied to him. "I felt like everyone was looking at me, judging me. He was being noisy and loud and the only way to quiet him was give him dessert." I defended my actions. Usually I wouldn't at home, but this was the first time I had taken Rhydian out to a restaurant.

"Trust me, baby, no one is judging you." Axel told me, putting food in his mouth.

I gave him a pointed look about calling me baby, but he didn't pay attention, and if he did, he pretended not to.

We didn't get home till late that night, Rhydian was asleep in the car and I had half a bottle of wine in me.

Axel took Rhydian inside as I followed, slightly dragging my feet.

I didn't want to go home yet. I was out off the house, I wasn't ready to go back inside.

Axel stood by the front door, waiting, his arms crossed and a small smile on his face. "I'm coming." I mumbled as I went closer.

I walked in, heading to the kitchen, Axel behind me when I heard a pop noise, scaring the shit out off me, making me drop to the ground with my hands over my head. "Get Rhy!" I cried out, ready to run while squatting.

I heard a deep laugh then and looked up at Axel through my arms. He was laughing. In his hands he held a wine bottle in one and a corkscrew with a cork in another.

"It's only wine." Axel laughed, extending his hands. Then his face went all serious as I didn't accept his hand, helping myself up. "Are you that rattled by all this?" He asked me in a serious tone.

Still slightly shaking, I nodded my head. "I'm petrified." I whispered to him. Axel filled two glasses and handed one to me. I took it and looked at the red liquid.

"Nothing will happen to you, I promise. And no, the wine isn't poisoned."

I lifted my nose from the glass, inhaling the scent. "I'm not checking to see if it's poisoned." I defended myself, taking a sip.

Axel led me to the couch in the sitting room, bringing the bottle with us. I wearily drank it, mixing it with the white wine from dinner.

After that glass, I felt myself relax. After the next glass, I was laughing, talking openly and freely, but still guarding what I say, making sure I don't mention Rhydian's proper name, not letting on where I was for the past three years.

I remember turning on some music, on a low volume, I remember sitting comfortably after getting into some cotton shorts and shirt, wrapping my hair up high on my head, loose shorter bits falling down out of the hair band.

I felt my hair being played with and I turned to Axel. "What are you doing?" I giggled out, yet slightly annoyed with the sensation.

"I like it. It suits you." Axel said softly to me. That comment hand my hand going to the other side of my neck, pulling at the strands that fell out, twisting it loosely around my fingers.

I could feel my cheeks heat up, but I wasn't sure if it was from the wine or me blushing. I dragged my eyes back to Axel. He looked like he was closer to me?

"What?" I murmured under my breathe.

"The colour, I like the colour, but not the length. I preferred it if it was longer, like it use to be."

"It can grow back." I told him, in a soft voice.

"Many things can grow back, Caity." Was his husky tone. It was basically shaking me awake, shaking something awake.

By now, I was on glass three.

Axel stood up as I heard a new song start, something that I heard years ago and couldn't pinpoint where. It was violins playing. The tune was familiar.

I felt my hands lift and I watched in a trance, intrigued as well as I stood and felt Axel's hands glide over my sides, pulling me to him.

I gasped in surprise and then we swayed, danced slowly to the music.

"I promise, Caity, no harm will ever come to you." Axel whispered. I could feel his hot breathe in my ear, making me shudder. My hands glided up to his shoulders resting there, our chests against each other's. "You won't ever be alone."

I blinked at his words, how soothing they were.

"You will be loved immensely, cherished, adored." Axel added, his lips against my ear. I knew my heart was racing, my thoughts were clouded, my actions were not of my own.

I linked my hands together behind Axel's neck, he was so much taller than me, he was bent over to be in the position that he was in.

"Stop fighting with yourself, baby, give in to it." Axel added and I found myself panting. I felt so scared. Scared of giving in, scared if the heartbreak again. Scared for what I really feel.

"Let me love you, baby. Let me show you how much. Like we use to."

I pulled my head away, turning to face Axel, looking in to his dark eyes.

My hand went to his cheek, resting against it, my thumb on his lips as he kissed it, not breaking eye contact with me.

Then I leaned forward and kissed him.

The rest of the night was a blur. I remember laughing, being carried, holding a wine bottle and falling. Everything else wasn't there. It was like my brain refused to remember.

But what I do remember was I felt safe, I felt secure and I felt free.