BRIAN

I didn’t get much sleep. I couldn’t. I just laid awake and watched Kate sleeping. I thought of how I was a verb away from losing her and I couldn’t stand it. How could I have been so stupid? I knew Kate would never cheat on me but seeing Chase just waltz into my house and go up to Kate made me furious. I have never been so jealous in my whole life. That’s not the kind of guy I am. For the first time since I met Kate, I realized how I never wanted to lose her.

She looked so beautiful when she’s sleeping. All of the tension and worry in her face was completely washed away and she looked at peace. She had a slight smile on her face and she held onto my hand tight. Leaving again was going to be hard.

As the sun started to rise, it crept across the bed and spilled onto Kate’s face and bare shoulders. I smiled and kissed them softly. I saw her smiled and she turned to face me. She reached up and touched my face.

“Good morning baby.” She said sleepily. I smiled softly at her and kissed her.

“Good morning.” I said back. Kate stretched and sat up.

“I love you.” I whispered to her.

Kate smiled and curled into my lap.

“I love you too. Don’t leave?” She said. I chuckled.

“Babe-“ She cut me off.

“I know you have to, I was just saying.” She said. I kissed the top of her head and she turned to face me.

“How much longer do we have?” She asked. I sighed and looked at the clock.

“Two hours.” I told her. Kate closed her eyes and sighed. Then a smiled crept onto her face.

“Well, let’s go take a shower then.” She said with a wink.

I smirked and followed her. This was something I could definitely get used to.

Once we were, more or less cleaned, I pulled on my shirt and watched Kate get dressed. God I could stay in bed with her all day and just screw her senseless. Maybe when I get home.

“Come on, I’ll drive you up to the hospital so we can pick up Matt.” Kate said. I sighed and we got in my car and Kate drove.

“I think it’ll be easier now.” She said. I looked over to her. She was smiling.

“You do?” I asked her. She nodded.

“Yeah, I mean now that we know that the other’s faithful and would never cheat, I think we’ll be able to be away from each other.” She said. I shrugged.

“Yeah, but I’m still going to miss the hell out of you.” I told her as I took her free hand.

Kate smiled and gave mine a squeeze.

“Oh I’m gonna miss you too believe me. But you’ll be home soon. Sooner then we both think.” She said. I smiled and touched her face.

“You’re amazing you know that?” I told her. She giggled.

“Yeah, you told me in the shower.” She said with a sly look. I laughed and kissed her cheek.

Yes she was amazing in that sense too.

We pulled up to the hospital soon after that. Kate attached herself to my side. I wrapped my arm around her and we walked up to Val’s room. The door was closed, so I knocked twice on it. A few seconds later, Matt opened it. His face was worn like he hadn’t slept and his eyes were red. Kate gave him a half smile and patted his arm.

“You about ready?” Matt asked me. I sighed and took Kate in my arms.

“Almost.” I said. I pulled Kate close to me and kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back with the same intensity.

When we pulled apart, Kate was smiling.

“I love you.” She said. I smiled back.

“I love you. Always.” I told her. She smiled again and kissed my cheek.

“Oh, check the bedroom when you go home.” I told her as Matt and I were walking down the hallway.

Seeing the confusion and surprise on her face made me chuckled.

“What did you do?” Matt asked as we got into our cab.

“Almost something I would’ve regretted for the rest of my life.” I told him. He laughed and gave me a slight shove.

We finally caught up with the rest of the band around 4 in the afternoon. Zacky was the first to see us.

“Alright you’re back!” He shouted. We grinned and did a three way guy hug.

“How’s Val and the baby?” He asked Matt. Matt smiled.

“Fine, they’re both fine.” He said. Zacky nodded.

“Good, good. Are you guys gonna be up for the show tonight?” He asked. I looked at Matt and shrugged.

“I am.” I said. Matt nodded.

“Yeah definitely.” He said. Zacky nodded.

“Sweet, let’s go warm up Brian.” Zacky said. I nodded and grabbed my guitar from the rack and went to warm up for the show.

KATE

After Matt and Brian walked out of the hospital, I sighed and walked into Val’s room. She was smiling. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“So are you two okay now?” Val asked me. I nodded.

“Yeah, I think so.” I said with a smile. Val smiled back at me.

“Good, Chase came to visit me last night.” She said with one eyebrow raised. I groaned.

“Yeah I know, I told him too.” I said. Val patted the bed and I sat down beside her.

“He said Brian wasn’t too thrilled to meet him.” Val said. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

“No, definitely not. He thought I was sleeping with Chase.” I said.

Val tried not to laugh.

“Really, with Chase? Didn’t you tell him you were just friends?” Val asked me. I opened my eyes and rolled them at her.

“I tried, he just got pissed and stormed out. Luckily Chase texted Brent and he told him the truth.” I said. Val shook her head.

“He was that mad?” She asked. I nodded.

“Oh yeah. For the first time, I was actually afraid of him. He was shouting and his eyes were so full of hate. It brought me back to when Scott used to…” I couldn’t finish what I was saying.

In my head, all I could see was my abusive ex boyfriend Scott, who kidnapped Matt and I last spring and tried to kill us both. Thankfully Brian showed up in time and stopped him by stabbing him in the chest, but before he died, Scott managed to shoot Brian in the stomach.

I watched Val’s eyes grow wide and she shook her head fast.

“Kate, Brian would never ever hurt you. You know that.” She said. I nodded and sighed and turned to face her.

“I know, but it was just terrifying. He was backing me up against a wall and he punched it right above my head and I just saw Scott. I saw him screaming at me, calling me a slut and a whore and just beating me senseless.” I said. My voice was shaky and I had to close my eyes.

“Did you talk to Brian about it?” Val asked me softly. I shook my head.

“No, I didn’t want to upset him more.” I said.

Val took my hand and stroked it with her thumb.

“Did anything else happen last night?” Val asked me after a few minutes of silence.

I nodded and sighed.

“I know he didn’t mean it, but he called me a groupie slut.” I said quietly. Val inhaled sharply.

“That son of a bitch.” She said. I shook my head.

“Val, it’s fine. He apologized as soon as he got home. Don’t be mad at him okay?” I said quickly.

I didn’t want Val to be mad at Brian for nothing. Besides, it’s over and done with now.

“Fine, but only because I love you.” She said. I smiled.

“Thanks.” I said. She nodded.

“So,” I said changing the subject.

“When do you get outta here?” I asked.

Val gave me a smirk.

“Whenever you’re ready to bust me out!” She said.

We laughed and Val buzzed for the nurse so we could get her discharge papers. Not long after that, I pulled the car around and Val and Baby Eli were helped into it. Soon we were pulling in the driveway and bringing the baby home.

“Thank God we had Chase set up that crib.” I said as Val was putting Eli into it. She nodded.

“Oh, he’s coming by later.” She said. I shrugged and nodded.

“He’s so cute Val.” I told her.

Val was touching Eli’s face and smiling proudly.

“You’re gonna be a great mommy.” I whispered. Val turned around and smiled at me.

“I think so too.” We watched as Eli fell asleep, then we went downstairs.

“When I was in the hospital, holding him for the first time, I realized that I’m gonna be able to do this. I can be a mother.” Val said to me as we were sitting on the couch.

I smiled to her and took her hand.

“I know you can. You and Matt are going to make awesome parents.” I told her. She laughed.

“And you are gonna be an awesome auntie Kate.” She said. I laughed and gave her a hug.

Suddenly, I remembered Brian telling me to look in the bedroom. I pulled away from her and stood up.

“Hey, you think you’ll be okay alone for a while?” I asked her. She raised her eyebrow.

“Yeah. I mean I’ll have to get used to being with my son at some point.” She said. I laughed and nodded and went to go to Brian’s.

I unlocked the door and half ran to the bedroom. I noticed that Brian made the bed and sitting on my pillow was a small blue bag from Tiffany’s and a not. I smiled softly and picked the note up.

Kate, I just wanted you to know that I love you. I’m sorry for everything that’s been going on. I promise to be a better man for you.

I love you, Brian.

Tears came to my eyes as I read it. I held it close to my heart as I peeked inside the bag. Inside was a long, rectangular box. I opened it up and gasped slightly. It was a beautiful necklace with two charms on it. One was a small camera with black diamonds and the other was a small ‘Death Bat’. I smiled wider and put it on. It hung just above my cleavage.

I folded the note and put it in a box under my side of the bed. After looking around one more time, I grabbed some more clothes and went back to Val’s.