Until There Was You

by Stacey Harrison

  'Why are you here?' Liam questions when words fail me.

  'That's between me and my daughter, can you give us five minutes please?' She flutters her eyelashes again, its sickening to watch.

  'No, Liam stays.' I demand and he sits on the bed next to me with his arm rest protectively over my head, the other hand playing with my fingers.

  'You don't trust your own Mum?' She scoffs.

  'You're not my Mother Anne.' I snarl. I don't care if it hurts her, I am hurting so much more than she can ever imagine.

  'Say what you came to say and then leave, I will not have you upsetting her.' Liam snaps when tears fill my eyes.

  'I wanted to catch up with my eldest child and see how you have been doing.' Is she fucking blind as well as stupid, how does she think I am doing when she is visiting me in hospital!

  None of us speak, I can tell Liam wants to but he holds his tongue and stares my pathetic excuse of a Mother. I am trying not to crumble. She came back for me? Can I really hate her if she came back for me eventually?

  'Very well then, you can't press charges against Mike Alexis, he is sorry and he never meant to do this to you. He was a mess when I saw him yesterday.' She says with the most sympathy and remorse I have seen in her yet. And it's for him.

  'You went to see him before your own daughter?' Liam rages and I stare at my hands trying to control my feelings, she must really hate me.

  'As I was saying Alexis.' She continues stating my name but glaring at Liam. 'He is a mess and he only acted the way he did when he was provoked by your boyfriend here, you abandoning him brought back old feelings of me. He couldn't lose his little girl as well. So if this is anyone's fault it is mine, not poor Mike.'

  Liam is shaking in anger and he is going to blow up, I put my hand on his arm and he looks at me. I shake my head at him, I can handle this. She is my Mother.

  'You are right Anne.' I say and she smiles as Liam stands in outrage but I just hold my hand up to silence him before he has chance.

  'It is all your fault Anne, NOT mine. However it was me he beat and starved for the last four years whilst you lived your life. Its was me he tried to sell for sex to buy his beer with. It was me who he tried to beat to death, and very nearly succeeded....NOT YOU! It is all your fault, you couldn't just be a good Wife and Mother. Yet I paid for your fuck ups every single day since you left and started a new family.' I spit at her and it feels good to get it off my chest, but it still hurts to say it all out loud.

  'It was me Anne.....not you.' I whisper, holding back my tears and clinging to Liam for dear life as she stands there looking hurt.

  'How do you think it will look when you own Mother is on his side in court? When I tell the press my side, how you really are?' I pale and my breath catches in my throat. Why would she do this to me?

  'You don't want to play this game with me Mrs Hall.' Liam states his tone as cold as ice. 'I will have the press reading about how you abandoned a young girl with an abusive man, run off with your lover to have your love child. I will drag you and your new family through the dirt. How about how you never once called to check on your daughter? Or maybe how the first time you have seen or spoke to her since you walked out on her leaving a fucking NOTE was to badger her to drop the charges against the man who abused her and tried to kill her? I think the Police would like that one too.' He taps his chin in thought.

  'You wouldn't.' She blanches, fear evident in her eyes.

  'Try me.' He dares through gritted teeth.

  'Just think about what I said Alexis please.' She says as she leaves and I let out a big breath I didn't realize I was holding in. Wow Liam is amazing, I can't believe he said all that to her.

  'What a piece of work.' He fumes, pacing at the end of my bed. He looks at me and frowns when he realizes that I am crying. I wipe my tears away on the sleeve of my blue fluffy dressing gown that Nate bought me. They have both been so wonderful. Liam has never really left my side other than when Nate makes him leave for a shower because he stinks. I can't help worry about what it is costing him to be here all the time. He is a very powerful man and powerful men are often very busy men, I try to bring it up with him but he just hushes me. I get the same old 'Don't you worry yourself, I have everything under control' line. We mostly talk about light stuff and each other and as a couple we are going well.

  'Are you okay?' He mumbles sweetly.

  'I will be as long as I have you.' I smile.

  'Well then Nate wants to visit today.' He adds unamused.

  'Brilliant, I need a good laugh.' I reply excited and he doesn't look happy with my response, I suspect it has something to do with the Nate thing but I just don't understand it.

  'Well glad he can make you laugh.' He mutter petulantly with a sulky teenage boy face.

  'I don't get you, I really don't.' I laugh, he looks ridiculous.

  'Well don't I make you laugh? I hate how you and Nate are together.'

  'Aww are you jealous?' I tease and he glares at me confirming my suspicions.

  'You are!' I screech. 'I don't think I am Nate's type.' I add seriously.

  'Why would you say that?' He looks confused.

  'Because well.......I'm a woman.' I explain full of awkward embarrassment.

  'Believe me babe, I am aware of that fact.' He winks at me and I blush.

  'Well Nate.......He's gay......Isn't he?' I whisper my blush deepening.

  He doubles over letting out a roar of laughter that he doesn't seem to be able to stop and I hide my glowing face behind my hands.

  'Hahahaha........you think........Hahahahaha......Oh God.......You think Nate's........Hahahaha fucking hell.......I can't breath......'

  'Stop laughing at me.' I shout laughing myself. He doesn't stop as tears stream down his blood red face and he clutches his stomach.

  'Sorry...Haha you think Nate is hahaha....'

  'Nate is what exactly?' Nate's voice interrupts us. Oh hell this is embarrassing.

  'Gay!' He blurts out hysterical again and I blush and hide my face. He wasn't suppose to tell him, or find it funny as a matter of fact.

  'I can assure you Pretty Girl, I am not gay. I will prove it if you like.' He says winking at me. What is it with people winking at me today?

  'Watch yourself.' Liam warns, all laughter gone.

  'Why would you think I am gay?' He asks, amused by it all at least.

  'Well you are really friendly, good looking, nicely groomed and always well dressed. Oh and you always call me Pretty Girl.' I answer aware how stupid I sound. They both start laughing hysterically again. Thanks guys.

  'Nate is the biggest player/ladies man you will ever meet.' Liam laughs.

  'Damn straight, pun intended.' Nate confirms proudly and I laugh with them.

  We all sit and chat for a while, laughing that loud the nurse came in and shushed us to which Nate asks her.

  'Do you know who he is?!' Pointing to Liam as he does a really bad impression of him that had me laughing so hard it hurt. The nurse just rolls her eyes at our stupidity, but I can see she wants to laugh.

  Nate leaves not long after and I realize just how tired I am, wow laughing really takes it out of you. Liam has been so much fun today, it was nice to see him carefree and acting his age with Nate after the run in with my Mother.

  'You should get some rest babe.' He says kissing my forehead. He settles back into the armchair that has moulded to fit his body next to my bed.

  'What are you doing?'

  'Getting comfy, why? Do you need something?'

  'Yes, you to go home and get some proper rest.' I order.

  'We can go home together tomorrow, now hush and let me rest.' He sticks his tongue out like a child a it's so unlike him I burst out laughing.

  I wake in the morning happier than I have ever been, because today I get to go home and the best is I get to go home with Liam. Speaking of Liam, I am surprised to find him gone.

  I tumble out of bed to the bathroom and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
This isn't the first time I have saw the damage he did, but it still makes me cry. I wonder if my hair will grow back to make it easier to hide the hideous scar, my face is it's normal heart shape again just bruised, but at the end of the day I am lucky to be alive.

  I hear the door to my room close and instantly perk up now I know Liam is back.

  'And where did you sneak off to?' I tease as I exit the bathroom and then freeze in my tracks.

  'Oh sorry....I wasn't expect you.'

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  Chapter Twenty

  Lexi

  'I am sorry if this is not a good time, I can leave?' Mrs Coltan asks nervously. Wow, nervous does not look well on her.

  'Liam isn't here, but you can wait....'

  'It is you I came to see actually.' She cuts me off.

  'Oh...' What do I say to that?

  'I want to apologize to you Alexis, the way we....the way I treated you was disgraceful to say the least and most of all undeserved. For that I am truly sorry, I only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.' Okay I am stunned and speechless. Am I dreaming? Is she for real?

  'I wanted what was best for my Son, I wanted to find the perfect and amazing woman to complete him. You may not understand now but trust me you will when you have children of your own....I never trusted that Liam could find that woman himself but he did, he found you.'

  We both have tears streaming down our faces, it's unsettling to see this strong, outspoken woman cry.

  'I see how much my Son loves you and I also see how much you love him too, all I ask is, please don't break his heart. He is hard headed, stubborn, vain and many other things. I would love to say he gets it from his Father but we both know that would be a lie.' We both laugh through our tears. 'Also I would really like it if you and I could start again.....for Liam.' She winks and I laugh.

  'I would really like that Mrs Coltan....for Liam.' I say honestly.

  'Call me Rose Dear.' She chuckles.

  We sit and talk for a while then she leaves and it feels really nice to not have her hate me. I wonder if it will last? I am all packed and ready when Liam finally returns with a massive bunch of pink and white roses.

  'What have you done?' I ask suspiciously eyeing the beautiful flowers.

  'Nothing babe.' He looks puzzled by my question, his face all cute with furrowed eyebrows.

  'In my experience men only by flowers when they have done something wrong.' I tell him amused.

  'I was under the impression that you had no experience.' He smirks, shit he has me there.

  'They are beautiful, thank you.' I say sweetly.

  'That's more like it, you are very welcome.' He kisses me deeply, being so careful not to hurt me.

  'So... You're eager.' He says eyeing my packed bags with amusement. 'Are we just waiting on the doctor?'

  'Mmmmhmmm.' I mumble smelling my beautiful roses, I have never had flowers before. I never really understood the gesture until now.

  'Your Mother came by.' I turn to him and he frowns.

  'I swear if she upset you in any.....'

  'She apologized, asked to start over, told me to call her Rose.' I bounce on the spot excited for his reaction and yep, he is as shocked as me.

  'Wait a minute.....Did she actually say the word or just imply it? He asks skeptically.

  'She said it.' I gloat.

  'Woah.' He looks amazed and I am guessing it is as rare as I imagined. 'So she should after the stunt she pulled. What did you say?' He looks so hopeful.

  'I told her to shove it.' I joke and his face falls.

  'I understand that and I respect you decision.' He mutters disappointed.

  'I am kidding you idiot.' I laugh. 'I told her that I would love to start over.'

  'That wasn't very funny.' He sulks.

  'Neither was telling Nate I thought he was gay!' I reply and he starts laughing at the memory.

  'That was bloody brilliant!'

  'For you maybe.' I mutter embarrassed again, my cheeks flushed.

  'Aww your so cute when you blush.' He wraps his arms around my waist bring me flush against him careful not to hurt my ribs. He brings his lips down to mine in a soft but loving kiss, I wrap my arms around his neck and twist my fingers in his soft hair careful not to knock him out with my casts. Someone clears their throat behind us and we jump apart like naughty teenagers, well I suppose I am.

  'Well you look better Miss Cross.' Doctor Drew chuckles and I blush. Damn blush!

  'Yes, thank you.' I mumble, embarrassed at being caught.

  'Good I am glad....we need to discuss the do's and do not's so to speak, before I can discharge you.' He states professionally yet friendly and I just nod.

  The doctor talked to us about resting and recovery. How to take my painkillers, When my hip scan is. What are the signs I need to come back, a lot of other things but I can't concentrate. I am caught up in the fact I am actually leaving here and the mix emotions battling inside me.

  On one hand I am excited to start my new life with Liam, Mike free and on the other hand I can't help but worry, what if it doesn't work out? What if Mike gets me again? Can I survive any more bad in my life?

  'Hey, you were pretty out of it there for a while.' Liam chuckles.

  'Sorry.' I smile.

  'Are you ready?' He asks excited, he already stood by the door, my bags in one hand the other extended to me.

  'As long as I am with you, I am ready for anything.'

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