Something To Believe In - Jack Hughes [New Jersey Devils]

2: Better

"I feel so much better by just being here" I took a deep comforting breath.

"I feel so much better now that you're here. I was worried about you" Jack said taking a seat next to me on the couch.

"Don't be, I'm just fine. Even better now that I'm here and not there" I sadly smiled.

"I'll always worry about you" he said seriously as his phone rang. "Oh and apparently so will Luke" he chuckled holding up his phone.

I smiled slightly as he answered the phone.

"Yeah she's here, she's fine. No I don't think so, yeah trust me she's safe"

I tried not to listen to too much of their conversation but it was hard not to focus on anything else. When Jack finally hung up he turned to face me with a smile.

"Sorry, he wanted to know you were here and you were safe. I hope it's not a problem I told my family what was going on" he explained.

"No problem at all, they should know just in case anything happens. That was sweet of him. You, Quinn and Luke have always been so sweet to me." I said before his phone started ringing again.

"Speaking of Quinn" he lightly laughed before answering the phone. "She's safe, she's with me. I'll tell her"

Jack's voice started fading into the background. My thoughts wandered to how simple things were when we were kids. Everything was different now, everything was more complicated. The only thing that hadn't changed was the way the Hughes brothers cared, the way they took care of me.

"Quinn says hi, he loves you, he's glad you're safe and you're always welcome to go by him if you get sick of me"

I smiled slightly in response. Quinn was honestly more like a brother than a friend. The love I had ran deep for every brother, there was no denying that.

"Are you hungry? Have you eaten?" He asked me seriously.

I shook my head. "I barely stopped for anything, I just wanted to get here"

"Good, I made some food for us" he smiled moving to get off the couch.

"Wait, us? You didn't eat already?" I asked following him into the kitchen.

"I was waiting for you" he turned back to me quickly with a smile before pulling some plates and utensils out.

"You didn't have to wait for me to eat, I honestly thought you were going to be asleep by the time I got here. I felt bad thinking I was going to wake you up"

"Of course I was going to wait for you, I've been on edge ever since you told me you left. There was no way I was going to be able to eat or sleep until you were here"

I smiled to myself, he hadn't changed at all. He was the same sweet, caring, wonderful person I'd always loved growing up.

I made my way to him and wrapped my arms around his middle as he served us both some food.

"Thank you, for literally everything. I'll never be able to repay you" I hugged him tightly.

"You're here and you're safe, that's payment enough" he kissed the top of my head.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" I asked softly more to myself than anything.

"Stop being silly" he pulled away and placed a light kiss to my forehead. "Let's eat"

He handed me a plate then guided me to sit back on the couch.

"We're not eating at the table?" I asked curiously.

"Seems to formal for your first night here" he chuckled making me smile.

"Speaking of that, I'm going to try my hardest to find a place and get on my own feet I swear. I won't be a burden to you forever"

"You're not at all a burden. In fact, I think I would prefer you stay here for at least a little while. It would make me feel better knowing you're safe and if you need me I'm just a yell away"

"I...I can't do that to you. I can't just invade your life like that. I can't hold you back from living your life and have you do nothing but worry about me and...oh no" I looked at him sadly.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked concerned.

"I've already done that Jack, look at us. It's late, you're tired, worried about me and waiting to eat with me. I'm so sorry" I explained on the verge of tears.

"Don't do that, don't cry" he put his plate down before grabbing mine and placing it next to his. He pulled me into his side and wrapped me in his arms. "I would worry about you either way, you being here at least gives me peace of mind that I know for a fact you're safe. This is the best for us right now, trust me"

I slowly wrapped my arms around him and breathed him in. I always loved the way he smelled, the perfect blend of cologne and whatever his shampoo was that he used. In that moment, it's what comfort smelled like.

"Better?" He asked when my breathing had calmed down as I still sat in his arms.

"Better" I pulled myself up to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

"You better eat before it gets cold" he barely whispered still looking at me.

"Only if you eat with me" I slightly smiled.

"Deal" he grinned grabbing our plates again.

We ate while we caught each other up on every little detail of our lives that had been happening. After we ate we found ourselves still sitting on the couch Jack in a sitting position, myself laying across the couch with my head in his lap as he rubbed my head gently.

"I miss this" Jack confessed quietly.

"Me too" I smiled up at him.

Growing up, this position was no stranger to the both of us. When one of us had had a bad day we always found ourselves in a form of this position.

"I've missed you so much, I'm glad you felt safe enough to open up to me and come here" he still rubbed my head.

"I wouldn't feel safe anywhere else right now, I always feel the safest when I'm with you" I explained taking a breath and closing my eyes to just enjoy the relaxing moment.

I hadn't felt this calm, safe or relaxed in years.

"I quit my job" I sighed softly shifting to look up at him again.

"You did?" He looked down at me questioningly.

"I never want to go back there, I think it's better for me to start new someplace else you know, wipe the slate clean and all that"

"Whatever will make you happy" he smiled down at me.

That was a loaded statement. I didn't know what would make me happy...or if complete happiness would ever be an option for me. The past few years of my life had been nothing short of a living hell. I had convinced myself that I wasn't deserving of true happiness but as I looked up at Jack's smiling face I knew, I had found happiness here.

"You make me happy" I returned his smile.