"Charlotte! Slow down!" I huffed as I tried miserably to catch up with my crazy five year old as she tore down the hallway of the hospital. I cursed and grumbled under my breath as I fought with the IV pole, the tube having wrapped around my arm. I was distracted by Char's excited squeal. Jerking my head up, I caught sight of the stunning brunette as she swerved and grabbed my daughter, lifting her up in the air and spinning her around. Evelyn's long hair waved in the breeze she created, and a smile lit up the contours of her face. She looked ethereal, her silver eyes sparkling in the light of the day. Her laughter soothed all my worries and made me forget my pain.

I hobbled down the hallway towards them, following the sounds of my daughter's shrieking. Evelyn set her down as I neared and leveled me with a look that could bring mountains down. I tipped my head and offered her a sheepish smile. Dr. Daniels hadn't yet cleared me to be up and walking, but I was tired of sitting in one place for so long. My body needed to move. My scary-as-hell girlfriend placed her hands on her hips and stared at me. Since she obviously was trying to intimidate me, I decided to make the best of it.

My eyes started at the top of her head, following the loose curls of her deep chestnut brown hair, to the soft yet brutally hard planes of her face, following every contour and perfectly sculpted bone. I continued down to her shoulders, draped in a gray and black plaid shirt with the middle left unbuttoned. Underneath she wore a black tank that rose a little above her navel, exposing a strip of tanned skin. Her long legs were hidden underneath black skinny jeans with various rips dotting the outsides. To finish off the look, she adorned a pair of black and white converse.

She looked years younger than she was, yet impossibly wiser.

She was a goddess.

Tears pricked my eyes as we locked gazes. She read me inside and out, and I let her. Because I loved her, and there was no one else in this world that I would rather give my heart and soul to.

"You," she drawled as she sidled closer. "are not supposed to be out of bed."

My head tilted back as she came to stand in front of me, crossing her arms and looking me up and down. My body bloomed with heat. I could only imagine what I looked like right now. A dirty homeless girl with a birds nest for hair and scars littering her body. But Evelyn did not look at me as if she was tired of what she was seeing. Every time she looked at me, it was as if she was seeing me for the first time.

Her hands framed my face, sliding down to rest at the top of my neck as she pulled our foreheads together. Her lashes dusted her cheekbones as she watched me. I knew she'd read my thoughts through my facial expressions. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

The tears broke free and fled down my cheeks. Evelyn made a pained sound as she brushed them away. "Il mio cuore, why are you crying?" She pressed her lips gently to my forehead, speaking against my skin.

"Because you are everything I've ever wanted and something I'd never thought I'd get."

She pulled back so I could witness the awe that spread across her face. "You are preciously mature for your age, my love. You deserve every bit of our love and I will spend lifetimes trying to prove that to you."

Unable to stand it any longer, I pulled our faces together and connected our mouths. Evelyn breathed a low groan as I tilted my head back, allowing her better access. She pulled my bottom lip gently in her mouth and sucked lightly. Pleasure bloomed through me as I wound my fingers into the soft fabric of her tank. She pushed me gently back and I flinched as my side made contact with the metal railing that ran down the hallway.

I pulled back from the kiss with a pained grimace. "Ow." I sighed, looking down at my side. Evelyn froze immediately, and dropped her gaze to the bandage. "D-did I hurt you?" Layers of panic blurred together in her voice and for once the storm in her eyes was completely wild with fear.

I latched onto her shirt. "No! No, not at all. I just tweaked it a little, that's all." I offered her a slight grin.

She sighed in relief and before I could blink she had me in her arms, cradled carefully against my chest. I squealed in surprise and clutched at her shirt to hold on. Her lips spread in a smile as she looked down at me. The IV pole strolled along beside us as she carried me down the hallway. Many of the patients and doctors eyed us but I just blushed and buried my face in her shirt.

My daughter had one of her small hands wrapped in a belt loop of Evelyn's pants as she trailed along beside us. "Evewyn? Is mommy gonna be okay?"

My heart tore open at her innocent question. Evelyn's eyes blazed down at me for a moment before she turned to face Char. "Yes, my love. She is going to be just fine." The skin around Charlotte's eyes wrinkled as a grin took up half her face. I was once again filled with awe and wonder as this woman who I hadn't known for very long brought so much happiness into my life.

"I love you." I blurted out. My eyes widened in surprise at myself.

Evelyn stopped immediately and stared down at me with an intense look on her face. I squirmed a little, uncomfortable and slightly terrified of her response. But then a smile spread across her face, lighting up the ugly hospital walls and filling my heart with joy. She leaned down and pressed her lips gently to mine. "And I you."

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered for the thousandth time how I'd been so lucky.

<><><>

"Alright, let's get down to business." Doctor Daniels rubbed her hands together as a mischievous grin filled her face. I looked worriedly at Evelyn, who just rolled her eyes and pinned the woman with a look.

Shaylyn stuck her lip out in a pout. "You never let me have any fun." She grumbled as she unwrapped the stethoscope from her neck and made her way over to me. I focused on the back wall as her cold fingers shifted the collar of the nightgown so that she could reach my skin. Heat bloomed across my back where Evelyn soothingly ran her fingers.

Shaylyn pulled back a minute later, winding the contraption around her beck again as she faced me. The light danced in her brown eyes. "Your heart is getting stronger, but you're still going to have to see me once a week until there isn't so much of a stutter." I groaned, and behind me Evelyn trilled with laughter.

Shaylyn frowned and placed her hands on her hips. "Excuse you lot, I'm actually pretty fun to be around, thank you very much." She huffed, glaring at us.

My lips twitched in a grin, and she winked back. "Well, I'll let you rest." She swiveled on her heels and faced Evelyn, pointing a finger at her threateningly. "No funny business. I know she looks damn hot in that hospital gown but so help me..." Evelyn made a low noise in the back of her throat, meanwhile I was trying not to laugh. My face was bright red.

Seemingly satisfied, the woman flashed us a pearly smile before gliding out the door, her white doctors coat billowing slightly with her self-created breeze. We sat there for a long moment before bursting into laughter. We laughed and laughed for who knows how long, but as I turned and looked over at her, at the light of pure happiness and love in her eyes, all my broken pieces suddenly clicked together. Never had anyone affected me the way she has. Unfortunately a few things still stood in our way.

"Evelyn, what about the school?"

She stilled and slowly faced me, running her hands through her hair as she let out a low breath. "I have resigned."

My stomach dropped. "What?? You can't!" I protested, leaning forward in my desperation.

A small smile twitched at her lips. "It is okay, Scout."

I shook my head. "No, I won't let you do that. Not for me."

Her fingers gripped my chin, holding me in place. Her gaze hardened. "I've loved Long Beach, and my stay there. But no, it is not where I am meant to be. I have avoided my family for too long. As soon as you are better, we will be staying with them."

My heart stuttered slightly. "Wait what? Staying with your family? What will they think of you bringing your 19 year old girlfriend and her daughter to their home?"

"Rest assured, little one, they already love you." A low raspy voice spoke from the doorway of my room. I swung around and found Evelyn's sister, along with a tall dark-haired man, and a willowy woman at his side, her light-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.

My mouth dropped as two pairs of silver eyes descended on me. Evelyn's parents were in the doorway of my hospital room.

❤️