What We Keep Hidden (Jai Brooks- Ariana Grande)

The Worst is finally Over

9am

Sleep eventually won the battle and Ariana found herself curled up in the very uncomfortable hospital chair unconscious. Hearing voices around her, however, caused her to instantly wake up in confusion. With a small groan, she uncurled herself and looked up, seeing a nurse tending to Brandon and speaking to Jai in hushed tones.

"What's going on?" Ariana whispered, sitting up and looking at her still sleeping son and then looking at the nurse and her boyfriend, who was quick to reassure her.

"She's just replacing the IV baby," Jai whispered, sitting back down next to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Ariana sighed and nodded groggily, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?" she mumbled, seeing some sunlight pour into the room from the open door and the slightly shut curtains.

Jai checked the time on his watch, not bothering to pull his phone from his pocket before responding. "Almost nine thirty." He mumbled through a yawn. "Want breakfast? I can run down to the cafeteria real fast."

Ariana nodded and smiled at him in thanks as gave her a kiss and then was off. Watching his retreating back, she looked at her still slumbering son and gently pushed some hair from his face before kissing his forehead softly and standing up, telling the nurse quietly she was going to get coffee from the machine in the waiting room.

The middle-aged nurse smiled at the young mother with a nod as she continued her work.

Ariana quietly made her way out into the now hustling and bustling hallway, a vast change from the quiet and stillness of the night before. She walked into the waiting room and found her new friends husband getting himself some coffee.

She smiled as she approached him, taking a paper cup from the table and inserting the needed amount of money into the machine.

Shoving the cup under the nozzle as the coffee began to pour out of it, she turned and looked at him with a smile. "You're Miley's husband, right?"

Zac paused his stirring to look at the petite girl beside him. He smiled back curiously with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah.. You know my wife?"

Ariana giggled at his confused expression, nodding. "Yeah - we met last night. Your son is very handsome, he looks like you."

Zac grinned proudly, standing up straight and puffing out his chest. "Thank you. But I think he gets his good looks from Miley."

Ariana smiled and nodded, picking up her coffee and going about the usual routine of adding sugar and milk. "Well, she sure is beautiful. And really nice."

Zac smiled to himself at the thought of Miley and nodded in agreement. "She really is something. My entire life, actually."

The younger girl grinned at him as she gingerly sipped her coffee. "I know I don't know you two at all, but from what I saw last night, she really, really loves you."

"Damn I hope so." Zac laughed and offered his hand to her with a friendly smile. "I'm Zac."

"Ariana," the teenager smiled and shook his hand just as Jai popped his head into the waiting room, looking for her. She looked over and met his eyes, smiling at him and waving him over once she let go of Zac's hand.

Jai raised an eyebrow and walked into the waiting room, eyeing Zac curiously as he walked towards his girlfriend.

"Jai, this is Zac," Ariana quickly introduced them with a bright smile. "I met his wife last night when you were asleep. Zac, this is my boyfriend, Jai."

The two men smiled at each other, Jai in relief that the older man wasn't a threat to his relationship with Ariana. "Nice to meet you," Jai greeted, shaking his hand.