Dani wakes up with an arm around her waist, rubbing her eyes as she looks around the room. Michael is sleeping hard next to her, his glasses still on his face. She smiles as she turns to face him, takes his glasses off to set them on the nightstand and scoots closer to his chest, he subconsciously pulls her against him. She rests her head on his chest as dozes back off.

Hardy wakes up next, smiling at the sleeping girl in his arms. He sighs softly as he runs his fingers through her hair and rubs her back. She hums and stirs, stretching her arms and legs. "Mornin' baby." He grins.

"Mornin'. Sorry I fell asleep." She lays on her back and yawns.

"No worries, darlin', I don't mind at all." Hardy says as he copies her, rubbing his eyes. "How're you feelin'?"

"I'm okay." She whispers, forcing back tears.

"We talked 'bout this last night, baby, you don't have to put on a brave face if you don't want to." She nods as she starts crying again, he's quick to wrap his arms around her, rubbing her back comfortingly.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He rubs her back again, kissing the top of her head. She looks up at him, her eyes landing on his lips as she leans closer, her thumb running across them lightly. His eyes flutter as he moves her hand, his own sliding to her neck as he pulls her to kiss him. She kisses him back, adjusting herself to get more comfortable as Hardy kisses her hard, his tongue sliding into her mouth before she pulls away. "What?"

"Morgan-" she looks down at her engagement ring. "We're still together." He sighs heavily, pushing his growing hair out of his face.

"Fine, okay." He sits up and puts his glasses back on. "You're right..." she zones out as she watches him talk, leaning on suddenly to kiss him again, holding the side of his neck. He guides her to straddle his lap as he starts to tug on her shirt before holding onto her waist. She pulls her shirt off, leaving her in just a bra and pants.

"No, I can't-" Hardy is still kissing her neck and chest. "I'm engaged and I just lost a baby so I'm feelin' a lot of different emotions right now." She sighs heavily, gently holding his hand as she fiddles with his fingers. "I'm a mess right now." He nods and hands her shirt back. "Thank you."

"Do you need anything then?" She shakes her head as she slides off of him, laying on her side next to him. He stays silent, looking up at his ceiling, his heart beating hard in his chest as the girl he loves lays next to him.

+++

"Daniella?" Morgan whispers into his phone. "Baby, come back."

"I don't know, Morgan." She responds, sitting on the couch in Hardy's apartment. "You yelled at me."

"I know and I'm so sorry." He takes a deep breath. "There was a lot goin' on, y'know? My first tour ended all of a sudden, I got arrested-"

"For public intoxication and disorderly conduct; fightin'."

He rolls his eyes. "Then we lost our baby. It just happened all at once, it was hard to handle."

"So you took it out on me!? You screamin' at me helped you handle the situation!?"

"No, I didn't know how to handle it!"

"I don't want to be around you if you're gonna scream at me when somethin' bad happens."

"What're you sayin'?"

"I think we need a break." She whispers shakily. "Just for a little while, okay?"

"Fine. If that's what you want, that's what we'll do. I just can't lose you again, Ella."

"You're not, we're just takin' a break. I know I need a breather after losing the baby."

"Okay." He whispers. "I can respect that."

"Thank you." She smiles sadly. "I love you, Morgan."

"I love you too, Daniella."

After their phone call ends, Dani goes to Michael's bedroom. "You okay, darlin'?" He asks, spinning around in his chair.

She nods, sitting on his desk. "We're taking a break so I can clear my head after losing our baby."

"Understandable." He watches her spin her engagement ring around her finger. "So are you going back to his house?"

"I think I'm gonna stay here, if that's alright?"

"Yeah, of course it is. I've been missin' your cookin'." He winks at her, making her giggle. "C'mere." He pulls her into a hug.

"You hungry, then?" She asks, pulling away.

"Always am if you're cookin'." She rolls her eyes as she stands. "It usually puts you in a good mood, darlin'." He playfully smacks her ass as she goes to the kitchen.

+++

"So whatcha makin'?" He asks when he joins her in the kitchen. "Fried chicken?"

"I haven't made fried chicken since we first moved in together."

"Which is why you should make it!" She's glad that she's staying with Hardy. If she was with her dad, she'd be dwelling on the problem, Michael is trying to keep her mind off things. "So what're you makin'?"

"Fried chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, and slaw." He grins widely. "And here ya go, darlin'." She hands him a full plate and he giggles childishly.

"I feel so spoiled." She smiles as she shakes her head. "Are you gonna eat?" She nods as she fixes herself a plate. "Mmm, man I missed your cookin'." He says around a full mouth of food.

"Gross." She scrunches her nose up at him. "I gotta get some clothes and stuff from the house."

"That can wait." He says, wiping his mouth off with the napkin on his thigh.

"Have you been doin' any more songwritin'?"

"Yeah I have, mostly for myself."

"That's a change. Anything good?"

"Yeah actually, I'll play some for you when we're done eatin'."

+++

"This one is called- I actually don't really have a name set in stone yet but I've been fiddlin' 'round with This Ole Boy."

"Well, play it and I'll help." She smiles her single dimpled smile. He starts strumming while singing from a piece of notebook paper.

"This Ole Boy is perfect for that." She nods. "This ole boy is gonna love you is such a great line."

"I also have another one which is more of a slower type thing. It's called I'll Quit Lovin' You." He says before he starts to play it. He looks at her when he sings, "I'll never quit believing, girl, that you were sent from heaven."

She blushes and looks away. "That's a very nice song, Michael."

"You like it?"

She nods. "Is it about Paisley, that girl from Charsey's?" He shakes his head. "Who?" His silence gives her the answer. "Me?" He nods shyly as he keeps his eyes on his papers. "Wow."

"I just had to get it off my chest. I couldn't function if I kept thinking about it." He rushes out, his face is beet red.

"It's very sweet." She nods, going over to him to give him a side hug. "Thanks. Hey, I'm gonna lay down on the couch."

"No, you can use my bed again and I'll hang out on the couch." Hardy stands and sets get guitar on the stand and puts his music away as she cuddles into his bedsheets. "Sleep well, darlin'."

He starts to close the door. "Wait." She whispers. "Are you gonna nap too?" He shrugs. "Well I mean, you could stay here or somethin." She asks awkwardly, he smiles and climbs in with her, in a friendly way, for sure.

+++

A few hours later, Dani shoots up, breathing hard. "What?" Michael asks, sitting up with her. "What's wrong?"

"Just a nightmare." She breathes, running her hands through her sweaty hair. "Sorry." She flops back and takes a deep breath, trying to slow her heart rate. "Sorry." He lays back with her, his hand on her leg.

"Wanna talk 'bout it?"

"Morgan..." she trails off. "It was pretty bad."

"Sorry to hear that, darlin'." She turns and puts her head on his chest, trying to calm down. Hardy wraps his arm around her, rubbing his thumb against the back of her arm. "He's fine, I'm sure."

"I gotta call 'em." She sits up and grabs her phone and dials his number. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine, why? How are you?" He answers in a low voice.

"It's just- sorry I had-"

"That nightmare again?"

"Yeah, it felt real this time."

"Maybe it's a sign that you should come home?" He has hope mixed with doubt in his voice.

"It's been two days, darlin'. Gimme a few more days, baby."

"You got it. Hope you're feeling better, I love you." There's a strange woman's voice in the background on his side.

"Who's there?"

"It's just my, uh, momma. She brought over some lunch for me since you're not here cookin'. Gotta go."

"Uh, okay. Bye." Dani hesitantly responds before she hangs up. She turns to Hardy. "There was a girl in the background, he said it was his mom."

"You don't believe him do you?" She shakes her head. "You'll feel better when you're back to normal." They lock eyes for a second before she kisses him hard suddenly, not backing down this time as clothes come off. "You okay with this?"

"If he can do it, why can't I?"