Four Days Later

Chris laid horizontal on the bed while his head hung off, into a a garbage hand. He didn't know that stopping the pills would take this much of a toll on his body. He can't move because he's in pain, he has a constant headache, he can't eat or drink anything. All he can do is lay in bed.

Chris rolled on his back after puking up the fluids on his stomach. He was really suffering and the only person he wanted right now was Aubree but he knew she wanted nothing to do with him. His memory from that night came back and he felt even worse for putting her through this.

Slowly sitting up he grabbed his phone and went to his moms contact. He dialed her number and placed the phone speaker so that he could lay back down. The phone rung for a while before she answered. "Hello."

"Ma."

"Yes baby?"

"I really need you to come over here...I need help."

"What's wrong?"

"I've been trying to shake my little problem and I didn't know that the withdrawals would be this bad it's just pills man."

"How often were you taking them?"

He took a while to respond. "Almost everyday."

Joyce sighed. "Well Chris your immune system was used to the medicine it's going to take a while for you to bounce back."

"Can you come? Please. I can't do nothing for myself. I haven't even had the strength to take a shower."

"Okay Chris."

"You're welcome."

The call disconnected.

Joyce looked at her phone screen then up at her soon to be daughter in law who was feeding Caiden while Royalty and Ariel played. "Aubree." She called out. As bad as she wanted to be there for her son, she knew what he really wanted and needed.

"Yes?" Aubree answered never taking her eyes off her son. She loved how even though he looked just like her he had the perfect amount of Chris in him. Their genes blended extremely well and she often wondered what a baby girl between the two would look like.

"He needs you."

Aubree's eyes fluttered up to Joyce. "I heard him ask for you though."

"Because you two aren't on speaking terms but I know what Chris really wants. I know you don't want to help but Aubree please. He's trying, so give him some credit."

Sighing, Aubree looked up at the ceiling to stop herself from crying once again. It's been tough not running to his rescue. She just didn't want to experience the same pain she did while helping her mother. Rachel would always promise things would get better but it never did until 5 years later. "I wanna help him bu—."

"But nothing, it's been four days and he's doing what you asked him to do. You don't have to fix your relationship just help my baby, please."

Aubree sat there for a while, she looked at their baby again. She didn't want him in the same predicament as her and her siblings. Getting up from her seat, she passed the baby over to Joyce. "I'll be back....I'm doing this for you and my children, not him."

"And that's perfectly fine. Thank you Aubree."

"You're welcome."

After throwing up for the 100th time I felt even worse. This shit is bad man, I wouldn't wish this feeling on my worse enemy but it has to be done so that I can get my family back. It's only been four days but I miss my babies like it's been four years. How could I be so stupid?

Can't believe I let Aubree down like this. Over some stupid ass pills. Ima fix this though and we'll be happily walking down the aisle.

The door alarm went off then it was disabled. I could hear bags shuffling around then somebody climbed the stairs.

"Ma, is that you?" I called out.

She didn't respond.

A pair of shoes came into my view that I knew my mom didn't own. I looked up and Aubree stood there. I managed to sit up. "Baby."

"Lay down Chris." She said while sitting the grocery bags on the nightstand.

"I thought my mom was coming, you didn't have to do this. I know you don't want anything to do with me."

"Can you stand?" She asked, ignoring what I said.

"Not really, I have no energy."

"When's the last time you took a bath or brushed your teeth?"

"Uuh, about three days ago."

"Oh my god." She walked away and into the closet. A few minutes later she came back with my stuff then went into the bathroom and cut the water on. She walked over to me and held her hands out. Slowly I sat up and grabbed onto her hands. The minute I was completely up I almost fell from feeling dizzy and she caught me. "You got it. Take a few deep breaths."

I did what she told me.

"Not too deep your breath is horrible, god."

I laughed. "Shut up before I kiss you."

She smirked. "And I'll kill you."

We slowly walked into the bathroom. I went and leaned against the counter while she cut off my water.

"Okay I want you to brush your teeth before you get in here." She lifted my toothbrush that already had toothpaste on it and wet it. "Here you go."

I took care of that. It felt better tasting mint instead of throw up. Once that was done she started helping me get undressed then I got inside of the tub. She had the water just right and my body felt so damn good for once. I thought she'd leave but she sat on the edge. I grabbed her hand. "How you been?"

"Okay...I guess."

"I miss my babies."

"I'll bring them by once we get you all situated."

"Bring them by? They live here and you do too."

"As of now we don't. I have to make sure you're on the right path and stay on it."

"I'm going to do better. Aubree I know what I said the last time you were here but I do plan on marrying you in two weeks. That's not stopping, that's not changing."

She looked at me, then at the wall ahead of us. "Let's just focus on yo—."

"Aubree no man. If I gotta apologize a million times I will. I'm not letting you go. I love you and I should've told you about the pills but I knew that this would be the outcome."

She snatched her hand away. "If you knew that then why do it Chris?!"

"Because I'm stupid, that's why."

"Can't argue with that."

"Look you can be mad at me all you want. You have every right to be. You just gotta promise me that you'll be at the alter April 12th. I know you're worried because of what you went through with your mom but I'm not going to put you through that."

Aubree exhaled while getting up. Her nose was turning red so I knew tears would be falling next. "I'm going to go make something that'll settle your stomach. Call me when you are ready to get out." She walked out.

"Baby......BABY!"'

No response.

I can't be mad at nobody but my damn self for this shit.

¥¥

Once I got out the tub, Aubree helped me get dressed. She gave me something that her mom said would keep me from vomiting for a while. Now I'm sitting watching TV while she changed the bed. Well my attention is on her mainly.

She was so focused on getting the sheets perfect. This is every time we clean up our room. You can tell her dad was in the army from the envelope fold she puts at the bottom.

"I can't believe you've been laying in vomit Chris." The disgust laced her voice.

"Baby I didn't even care no more. I was too tired to move so I just laid there."

"Well keep that bucket by you at all times please."

"I will. Come sit down, you've been cleaning for a while. I know you're feet hurt."

"You had my house looking awful. And I have to finish up so that I can get back to the kids."

I looked down at my hands. "But what if I need you through the night? What am I supposed to do?"

"I'll make sure you're all set before I go. Don't worry."

"Stay....please. You ain't gotta sleep in here with me. Shit I'll sleep somewhere else if you want. Just stay."

She looked up at me. "I'll think about it."

"Okay."

Aubree went back to cleaning and I focused on the TV. When Aubree got done she sat in the chair next to mine. "Finished."

"It looks different in here." I said while chuckling. "Smells amazing."

"Yeah I lit some candles."

"Trying to set the mood?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not at all."

"How long do you plan on giving me the cold shoulder?"

"I'm not giving you the cold shoulder. I appreciate you getting your shit together but this doesn't take the pain away. This won't be a situation that's swept under the rug, you did Drugs, you put your hands on me, you said some crazy stuff, I can't just forgive you as easily as I did before Chris. Not this time."

"Aubree What about the wedding?"

"You should've thought about the wedding before you popped a pill Chris. Don't talk to me about that fucking wedding!"

"Baby I am so sorry for everything!" My eyes started burning. I sat up on the end of the chair. "I messed up so bad and I hate myself for doing that and hurting you and fucking up my family. I can't change what I did but I can try to make it better from here. Aubree there's nothing I want more in this world than to make you my wife." My voice started cracking. It's crazy how she can make me cry faster than anything else. "All I want is to make you happy."

She looked at me for a while before breaking out in tears. I quickly got out of my seat and wrapped my arms around her. "I can't lose somebody else that I love to drugs." She cried. "Why would you do this to me?! Why would you take those pills?!"

"I'm so sorry Aubree. I'm so sorry baby."

Seeing her like this just made me feel even worse and I didn't even think that was possible. How do I even fix this? I know it's not going to be as easy but I HAVE TO FIX THIS.

Aubree will be my wife.

We will be good.

The sound of an alarm going off over and over caused my eyes to pull open. Chris's arms wrapped around my tighter. I looked at the clock on the wall and it was 8 in the morning. Yawning, I sat up after finally getting out of Chris's grasp. Glancing over at him I laughed because you could tell he haven't gotten sleep like this in a while. Climbing out of bed I went into the bathroom to freshen up.

I only stayed because he was basically on his knees begging me to.

After I finished my morning routine I went over to the bed to wake him up. I was going to make him be active today. "Chris." I shook him.

"Hmmmmm?" He groaned rolling around.

"Get up, come help me make breakfast."

"I'm tired Aubree, you do it."

"No, get your ass up. You need some real food on your stomach. Come on." I smacked his ass.

"Bro don't do that shit."

"Then get up before I do it again."

He huffed and puffed looking just like his daughter then sat up. I can't lie he looked adorable with this pout on. "Man it's early as hell."

"Chris stop complaining and get up before I leave."

"Alright alright." He got up and headed to the bathroom. I grabbed my phone then went downstairs and started taking out the breakfast stuff.

As I was stirring the waffle mix my phone went off. It was a reminder for a meeting today with our coordinator to make final decisions. Exhaling I tossed my phone but then a loud boom echoed through the house. I dropped everything in my hand and rushed upstairs. When I got into the room Chris was sitting on the floor with his head in his hands. "Oh my gosh are you okay?!" I rushed to his side.

"My head is spinning baby." He tightly grabbed my hand.

"Okay, sit still don't move....close your eyes and take deep breaths."

I held his face. Tears slipped down his cheeks causing me to get emotional. I wiped them away. "It's going to be okay baby. You just gotta get through this first phase."

He didn't respond but more tears fell.

We just sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"How you feeling?" I asked.

"Better."

"Can you stand up or you still need a minute?"

"I can get up."

"Okay." I grabbed his hand and helped him up.

He took a deep breath before wiping his face then looking at me. I just gently rubbed his back. "How long is this shit going to last?" He asked.

"I'm not sure but you'll get through it. Let's go eat, we have somewhere to be."

"Okay."

We headed downstairs and made breakfast. I made sure he was being extra careful. I was literally watching him like a hawk making sure he sat down every now and then.

Can't wait until this is over.

Once we ate and got dressed we headed out. Chris needed sun, he was so damn pale.

We eventually pulled up to the wedding planners office. I could feel Chris staring at me.

"What we doing here?" He asked.

"Some last finalizations for the wedding if there needs to be any."

"But I thought—."

"I know I gave my ring back it's just because of how disappointed I am Chris and I just need time to get through this and finish being mad. We can get married and I'll still probably be mad the next day. I want you to be my husband too but I want you to get your shit together as well. Being here doesn't mean we're all good and everything will bounce right back. I still need time. This is just to showing you I'm not completely giving up on us because I know the man I love is still in there." I pointed to his heart.

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. Then quickly jumped out the car and walked fast as hell to the door making me burst out laughing.

He's a handful and makes the dumbest decisions but I love him to death and I can't wait to be his wife.