Jimi's P.O.V.

The Next Morning...

I woke up with my arms carefully around Karen. She was still sleeping and I smiled. How'd I get so lucky. Then it hit me. She's not with me. We're playing pretend. She did say that when she for divorced she go out with me. Is she that serious? Or is she trying to make me happy while she's with me? I watched her sleep for a few minutes, then she started to wake up. "Good morning beautiful." She opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Good morning" As she said that she started rubbing my chest with her hand. She was laying on her side with the least amount of cuts, or at least I hope she is, her head on my upper arm and shoulder and had a leg tangled with mine.

"How did you sleep?"

"Great in your arms."

"That's good."

"That's very good. I might have to sleep here more often if I keep feeling like this"

"How do you feel?"

"Safe, protected, happy, and slightly turned on." I laugh and she giggles.

"I guess you'll just have to stay here then if you wanna keep feeling like that."

"Careful. I might actually take you up on that offer. With me getting a divorce I'll need a place to stay, until I can find my own place."

"Your place can be here. If you don't wanna be in here every night, the guest room is there."

"You're very sweet, but I'd rather not be a burden."

"You're not. You never will be." She kisses my shoulder

"Thank you"

I smile and kiss her head . "Always."

I eventually got up and went to cook breakfast. As I was cooking I heard a thump. I turned off the stove and ran into the bedroom "Karen?!" I see her sitting on the floor with jeans around her ankles.

"I'm okay. I just haven't mastered putting all my weight on one leg while trying to balance as I put jeans on." I walks over and. Kneel beside her.

"I could have helped you. You are technically suppose to stay in bed."

"I'm fine. And I can get dressed on my own."

"Doesn't look like it."

"Shut it."

"Rawr. Kiki is getting angry." She gives me the death glare and I put my arms up in defence. "Sorry." I help her stand and finish getting dressed. "You know we are goin to have to take those right back off again" She looks confused "I gotta change your bandages later." She nods

"But not right now." She starts walking towards the kitchen and I follow. She sits on the couch and I go back to the kitchen and finish cooking. I finished a few minutes later and put everything on two plates and brought them into the living room and handed her one. We both started eating.

A couple hours later...

Karen's P.O.V.

We ate breakfast and decided to watch TV for a while. Jimi was sitting side ways on the couch and I sat between his legs. He had his hands around me and I had my arms on his. I was nearly asleep when he moved his hand and it was red. "You're bleeding!"

"I didn't even know" I sat up and moved off him carefully and looked at my blood soaked shirt. He sat up and helped me take it off and one of the bandages was full off blood. He gently took it off and looked.

"Two stitches let go. Probably from when you fell this morning. C'mon, I'll help clean you up and fix them. Its time to change the other bandages as well." He stood up and helped me up taking me to the bathroom.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be sorry, just please slow down and take it easy, and ask for help with things you usually do on your own. Like getting dressed and walking. Stuff like that. I don't mind helping. That's why you're here." He started cleaning the blood around the cut. "Those stitches held a fair bit of skin together Kiki. I may have to bring you in and get it restitched."

"No. Please don't bring me in. Don't you have a needle and thread?"

"Karen I'm not a doctor, and me doin that it could be dangerous and it could get infected."

"So..?" He gives me a look and I give in. "If you really need too. I need to ask the doctor a question anyways."

"What kind of question?"

"You'll find out if he says yes. If he says no then you'll never know until I'm healed."

"If you're gonna ask what I think you are, don't even. Cause there is no way, not until you're healed."

"If the doctor says its okay then I don't see it being a problem."

"You find you're way around everything, don't you? You have a talent for changing guys' minds." I shrug and give him a smirk. "I think that's pretty sexy how you can manipulate men."

"A rare talent. They usually don't know I manipulated them until the morning after and I leave. I used to do it all the time before Mark."

"How did you two meet anyways?"

"That's a long story."

"I got time." I watch him as he cleans each one of my cuts.

"I was in college and so was he. Me and Kim were hanging out and she knew I was the college slut. At least that's what everyone called me because I was more of the popular ones that apparently slept with the whole school. when I would walk in a room everyone stopped talking and looked at me in 'awe'. One night we were in her dorm room when there was noises coming from the hallway. We were trying to study for a final but they just kept making noise. Kim being her shy self stayed in the dorm room. So me being the person I am opened the door and yelled. I told them to shut up and I didn't know him at the time, but Mark stood in front and looked at me. He was kinda an ass cause his buddies were there and said 'Make me' and took a few steps forword. I laughed at him and said 'You wouldn't want me to make you cause you'd end up goin back home to your momma.' His buddies laughed and told him forget about me and keep walking down the hall. So he did and I went back into the room with Kim. He spent everyday doin' something to irritate me and I eventually told him if he wants to piss me off to come to my room... And he did. And we ended up... Yeah... And after that he kept doin things during the day and coming over every night. We just started walking together and doin stuff together and after we graduated the following Christmas he we went to his parents' and he proposed... I met you that new years and me and Kim wanted to start a band so we asked you, we found Phillip and we started having practices and interviews and time flew by and it was my wedding, the abuse started on our honeymoon... He knew I was officially his and he hit I think... 17 times that night... And raped me 5 times... I don't remember, maybe it was the other way around... All I know is that continued until a few days ago... When you called to go out for drinks at the club he already assumed I was cheating. He beat me that night and those were the bruises you saw... I went home and he was waiting for me... He beat me unconscious and tied me to the bed. He waited until I was awake before raped me... After that he beat me more and I didn't see the knife until he picked it up off the night stand... That was the first time he used a weapon instead of his bare hands..." I had glossy eyes but I refused to let tears fall. Jimi had tears falling and stopped cleaning long ago to listen to everything I said. I took a breathe and continued. "But each morning when I woke up. I found the strength to walk to the bathroom look at the damage. And hide it. When I see the damage I always thought that I wasn't worth it. I was nothing. Nobody loved me. Nobody wanted to be around me. I was a waste of space and a waste of good oxygen. I don't know how many time I wanted to die. And I honestly don't know why I'm still here... But I am. And when I'd go to band practices or out in public, I wanted to scream for help. For someone to get me out... But I couldn't do it knowing what could be waiting for me when I got home... I wrote songs and let you guys play them... And you still didn't get it... Evangeline is me. I'm her... Too stupid to get out of the marriage cause I thought he loved me..." I finally let a tear fall and Jimi was broken hearted. I could see it in his eyes. "You're the only person who knows." He didn't say anything. He just sat there starring at me, crying and taking it all in. We both sat there quietly for a while. I took and breathe "Are you gonna finish?" I waited for an answer but he just sat there. I took the stuff from his hands and finishes cleaning myself and put a bandage over the cut. "I think I should sleep in the guest bedroom tonight... It's probably best" I got up and went to the guest bedroom. I laid on the bed in my clothes. I didn't care anymore. I moved to my good side and kept thinking of the look on Jimi's face. I should have never told him. It was a mistake. He will hate me for saying that stuff about Mark. Mark was his best friend. He won't believe what I just told him. How could he? He's known me for 3, maybe 4 years. And known Mark since he was a kid. I'm screwed. Jimi is gonna tell me to leave and I'll have to go back to Mark. I started to cry. I can't go back to Mark. If I do I will die.

An Hour Later...

I lay there still crying but softly. I hear the door open and then shut again. I though Jimi was just looking in and then goin to bed. But the bed moved and he laid behind me on his side so his chest was against my back and his arm went around waist carefully. "I'm so sorry, I was speechless. I didn't know this was goin on for that long. I've known Mark my entire life and never knew. I'm so sorry. I should have told you that I will be here for you. I should have told you that I choose you and Mark was an asshole. No one should ever have to live through what you went through. And I'm sorry I was an ass and didn't talk. I should have. I should have told you that you're not a waste of space. You should never want to die. I love you and I'll be there for you when ever you need me."

"You believe me...?"

"Of course. I will always believe you. I see what he did to you, and what he continues to do in your head. I know you think he will get you, or you'll have to go back. But as long as I'm alive. You'll never have to go back. And I might have some stupid moments like an hour ago... But I will always choose you. Because I love you."

"I love you too. Don't leave me..."

"Never." I put my hand on his and held it tight. He chooses me. I don't know why but he did. He put his head against mine and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight Kiki. I love you."

"Goodnight, I love you too Jimi."