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  “I’m scared too, but we have to stay strong, Tate, because those two women need us. We can’t get into it with William, because believe me, I would love to, but we can’t. It hurts Fallon and it would hurt Audrey if she knew.”

  Tate nodded as he wiped his face along his bicep, “I want her back.”

  “I know. I do too, but promise me you’ll let William run his mouth and ignore it. Do it for Audrey, please.”

  Tate swallowed loudly, his eyes pooling with tears as he thought about what she would think if she had been awake to see them all fighting like that. She would have lost her damn mind, and probably killed all of them. Audrey loved her father, even if he was a completely jackass. Tate was never like this, and he blamed his quick temper on the fact his emotions were out of whack and he hadn’t played hockey in almost a week. He needed his hockey like he needed Audrey. They were his vises, his way of living. But Lucas was right. He couldn’t fight with William, not when he knew Audrey wouldn’t like it and that William’s anger was probably just frustration from not knowing answers about his daughter.

  If he was William and it was his daughter lying there and no one had the answers for him, Tate would probably pick on the punk kid in the corner too. Maybe it was a daddy thing.

  Tate was in that club now.

  Turning to look at Lucas, he nodded, “I promise.”

  Lucas shot him a thankful smile and then said, “Thanks man, now come on, let’s get back in there.”

  “I need a minute,” Tate said softly.

  Lucas nodded before he cupped his shoulder and left him to watch the skyline. Closing his eyes, he took in deep breaths as he tried to get it together. He wanted to focus on anything but what was going on, and when he heard Only Girl by Rihanna playing, it took him back to three weeks before.

  “I'm gonna make you feel, like you're the only girl in the world. Like you're the only one who I'll ever love, like you're the only one who knows my heart,” he sang, looking up at Audrey as she sat on the top of his piano watching him. Her eyes were wide, watching his face as he sang the Boyce Avenue version of the song. When he heard it, he knew he had to learn it for Audrey. She seemed to love it too, making all his hard work worth it.

  As he played the intense piano solo, she smiled as she watched his fingers move quickly over the keys. Looking back up at her, he started the chorus again and reached up, resting his hand on her knee as he played with one hand, finishing the song. She giggled and when he looked up, she leaned forward to kiss his lips eagerly.

  The thing he loved about kissing her was that when she kissed, she would sometimes bite his bottom lip, like now. As she kissed him, her hands running up the back of his neck, her teeth sank into his bottom lip, pulling him towards her as she backed away. He went willing, standing up as his hands moved up her bare thighs, taking over the kiss. Her hands came up, her fingers tangling with his hair as she pulled back and looked deep into his eyes. He could see the lust swirling in her eyes and if she wasn’t careful, he was going to have his way with her against the piano.

  Again.

  “You make me feel, Tate. Really feel. I’ve never been this in love before.”

  Tate smiled, nipping at her lip as he nodded, “I know what you mean, I am right there with you. I promise I’ll be everything you need; no one will ever be put above you. You are the only girl in the world for me. I love you, baby, only you.”

  Her eyes filled quickly with tears as she gave him a quick grin, “I think I’m gonna have to get used to the back pain from having sex on this piano.”

  He laughed, “Why, we can go across the hall.”

  “No, we can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can’t wait.”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, he coughed out a sob as his body shook with fear. He wouldn’t let them take her off that ventilator. He couldn’t. She was going to wake up, she was going to make it, and they were going to raise their child. He would be there for her 100%, loving her even when she feels like she is big from the pregnancy, because to him she will be gorgeous. He wanted to get a new house for them, somewhere close to Lucas and Fallon since she would want to be near her sister during her pregnancy. He wanted to put that piano in the middle of their room so that when she wanted him to ravish her, the bed would only be two second away. He had so many plans, and all he needed was her.

  He didn’t want his life to go back to the darkness it used to be.

  He needed his light.

  His Audrey.

  Later that night, Tate was leaning against the wall with his eyes drifting shut as he fell asleep which caused his head to fall forward. Before he could fall though, he would wake up, and glance around the room, hoping no one saw him. He was exhausted and he had spent the whole afternoon without Audrey in front of him. William and Nora opted to have the surgery for Audrey’s nose and ankle while she was still out. It had gone well, but it made Tate nervous and his heart still wasn’t beating at a normal rate. Glancing down at his love, he noticed that the swelling was going down along her jaw and outside her eyes. The inside around her nose was puffy and bruised, but Tate could see his Audrey. She was there; she just needed to wake up.

  Fallon held Audrey’s hand, with her knees tucked under her chin, watching Audrey as Lucas lay on the floor, snoring loudly. William and Nora were in the waiting room sleeping while Tate fought his sleepy body with everything inside him. Looking over at Fallon, he saw her eyes drift shut and he felt horrible for having her sit there like that.

  “Fallon why don’t you go home, take a nap?”

  She shook her head, “I’m fine.”

  “Fallon, you are dead on your feet, this isn’t good for your baby.”

  “Tate, leave me alone,” Fallon said sharply. “I can’t argue with you about my health when you are not watching yours. We both need sleep, I know that, but we both won’t go. So let’s just let it go.” He watched as the tears streamed down her face, while she played thumb war with Audrey’s limp hand.

  “I’m sorry; I was only looking out for you.”

  Fallon nodded, not looking back at him. She laid her head back on her legs and tangled her fingers with Audrey’s before closing her eyes. Tate leaned his head back, taking in a deep breath and letting it out before closing his eyes. He knew there was no use in fighting with her. Fallon was one tough chick, and she was stubborn as hell. Shaking his head, he took in another breath before letting it out slowly and trying to stay awake with his eyes closed.

  It didn’t work, and Tate was almost asleep when Fallon cried out. His eyes shot open as Lucas sat up quickly knocking his head against the bed while Fallon stood, crying out loudly as she held Audrey’s hand. When he looked down at Audrey’s face, his gaze met hers.

  All the air rushed out of Tate as he ran to the other side of her bed, picking her hand up slowly and kissing the back of her knuckles. He felt light headed as the relief from her eyes locking with his, made his hands shake. Hell, his whole body. He couldn’t breathe, his heart was jack hammering against his chest and he wanted to cry out in joy. He wanted to tell her everything he was feeling, he wanted to gather her in his arms, tell her how much he loved her and how much he missed her. But when he saw the tears start to rush down Audrey’s cheeks, he stopped. She looked terrified as she looked from Fallon to him.

  “Oh my God, Audrey, I love you, oh my God,” Fallon cried, as Lucas came up behind her, smiling down at Audrey as he ran his hand up and down Fallon’s back.

  “Everything is fine, baby, breathe, it is okay,” Tate said calmly since all Fallon could do was cry and whisper she loved Audrey. It was what he wanted to do, but someone had to be the calm one here. Lucas still looked half asleep, so Tate knew he was no help. “I’m here, Fallon’s here, everyone is here. Just breathe.”

  Audrey nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up at him. He gave her a full smile as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her hands were shaking and Tate knew she was freaking out. Leani