*three years ago. *'

The rain poured against her and quickly soaked the thin fabric of her pajamas. She clutched her phone to her chest in the hopes of keeping water off of it and staggered her way through the sprawling and dark back yard, across the bridge over the stream, to the gate that led to Harry's back yard. Their lawn was even bigger than the one adjacent to Cecilia's house, with bright white flood lights that illuminated the night, protecting the property from dangers lurking in the dark. As she closed the gate behind her she noticed Harry's slender frame rushing towards her with an umbrella.

"Cilly Baby? What happened? You're soaked! Come on." He led her inside the mostly dark house, all quiet except for their footsteps. She undressed in his bathroom, or attempted to since her hands shook too much from shivering and the aches between her legs made her knees feel weak and her calves too heavy to stand. She hit the floor despite her efforts to keep herself up and knocked his carefully lined up bottles of cologne off the sink in the process, causing a loud clatter to sound. She was trying to pick them up when he opened the door. "Cilly Baby, what-"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." His mouth hung open at the sight of her, he helped her up, trying to get her to sit on the closed lid of the toilet. She shook her head vigorously. "I can't sit down..." Her eyes pled with him. "It hurts too bad."

He started to ask her again about what had happened to her, but before he could she staggered a bit on her feet.

"Come lay down. I'll get you out of these clothes." She nodded and he led her to the bed. She loathed laying down on his dark blue comforter in her wet clothes, but he didn't seem to mind or notice at all. He peeled her pajama pants and shirt off, she closed her eyes and tried not to flinch at his fingers brushing her skin. "You're shaking! I know you're cold...um your underwear are wet too, Cil...is it okay if.... I promise I'll hurry up. I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

She whispered, and Harry gently pulled her underwear down. The bruises and marks forming on her hips and all over her thighs were purple and red. She winced as the fabric rolled over them.

"I'm sorry."

She raised her legs up and pulled them out of her underwear. Harry glimpsed the swelling between her legs and the tears that rolled slowly down her cheek as she lowered them; tears that Cecilia herself didn't notice were there. She laid naked from the waist down and Harry threw a blanket over her to cover her before lifting her shirt up over her head. There were bruises from where she'd been gripped too tightly around her waist, and she winced as she raised her arms. He pulled her wet hair up and took the hairband off of her wrist to tie around it.

"Thanks."

She was in too much pain and too exhausted to be embarrassed at the idea of being half naked in her boyfriend's bed with his parents just down the hall. She stared at the ceiling, admiring the swirled paint pattern and counting the circles, anything to take her mind off of the throbbing, burning and stinging between her legs.

"What happened Cilly?"

He asked, leaning next to her and holding her face in his hand. Her lip trembled. She'd avoided telling him for so long; she didn't see how she could do that anymore, but she was desperate to stall him for as long as she could.

"My bra is wet too."

He blinked a few times then shook his head. His hair shook with it, making Cecilia smile in spite of the pain.

"Oh, um, okay...erm, well..."

"You just took off my underwear... It's okay."

He looked deeply embarrassed. She wrapped the blanket around herself and rolled over onto her stomach; his fingers trembled as he unfastened the hooks of her bra. He eventually pulled the straps down her arm, with great care not to make her lift or bend them too much, and then he pulled the plain black bra from beneath her. She sighed as she pulled the blanket up while looking down to make sure she was covered.

"I'll give you clothes to sleep in..."

His voice trailed off and his heart rate sped up as she shook her head no.

"I don't feel like putting anything on. It hurts too much." She watched as his mouth started to form the question she'd been dreading. She spoke before he could. "Do you still promise not to tell?"

"Of course..."

"My stepfather, does...things...to me." She stopped speaking and stared at the comforter beneath her. She felt his hand intertwine with hers. "It isnt usually this bad but he was wasted, so...I guess he was too drunk to do what he wanted so he...he had to use other...things..."

Her voice trailed off and Harry didn't push it anymore. He's heard enough to break his heart and stir his fury; neither emotion mattered much at the moment, not when she so obviously needed to rest.

"I understand. Lay on the pillows; try to go to sleep."

"Oh, I won't stay here all night, I'll go home and leave you alone."

He smiled as he stood up, pulling off his night clothes and revealing boxers.

"You need to stay and you need to sleep. You'll feel much better in the morning."

She winced as she lifted herself up onto her elbows and watched him cross the room to his door.

"What will your parents think? I'm naked!"

"The door's locked."

"That's even worse."

"They don't pay any attention to me Cilly. Your not the first girl who-"

He blushed and stopped speaking as he sat next to her on the bed. She smiled at him.

"Have you had other girls here, in Brentwood?"

She tried to sound curious, not interested, not jealous. But inside she prepared herself to hear words she would despise, a pit of dread in her heart could sense them coming.

"No, I haven't. I've only wanted you."

She smiled a little wider. He leaned over her body and brought his face up to hers.

"That's good to know."

"I'm sorry he does this to you."

"So am I."

He kissed her lips softly , then pulled back the comforter on the bed. They snuggled beneath it. Harry pulled his boxers off once he was completely covered and threw them across the room. Cecilia giggled. Harry raised his eyebrows and winked. She stared up at him as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her body. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes.

*now*

He opens the door to his apartment and I follow him inside. I've managed to stop crying some how, but neither of us have spoken since we got in the cab. He opens his refrigerator and frowns.

"I know you must be hungry...I should have bought some groceries, I just am so completely useless in a grocery store..."

I couldn't eat anything right now. I crawl onto the bed and curl into a ball, still and silent. He looks over from across the room and frowns. I hardly notice as I stare at the wall. I feel tears sliding down my face again, but they fall slowly and don't blind me at this time. My view of the wall is obstructed by Harry, who lays next to me, facing me. His head rests on the pillow, we're laying eye to eye. The first bit of peace I find with anything that's happened over the last few hours is in his eyes. They have no right to be as beautiful as they are.

"Don't cry anymore, Cilly Baby."

He asks. I continue to stare before speaking.

"Say it again, Harry."

"What?"

"Tell me why she won't believe me."

I sound fragile and broken, and my voice is soft and airy like a child's.

"She can't believe you because she can't accept it Baby. She loves you and she can't imagine that could have happened to you without her knowing...it's easier for her to pretend it isn't true."

"She loves me?"

"Of course she loves you. Everyone loves you."

I believe it when he says it. I shut my eyes at the sound of his voice; low, slow, steady, and deep. Then to my surprise I place my arms around his neck. I straighten my legs and he pulls my body close to his. He holds me tight and I breathe out for what feels like the first time since Peter appeared at my door.

And suddenly at that thought it dawns on me; like a slap in the face it hits me. I tense up immediately in his arms and my breath hitches.

"He knows where I am. He knows where I live." I let go of Harry and push him away. "He knows...he found me..."

It gets cold in the room as I realize it: I can't live with Di any more. I won't live anywhere that he knows about, I won't let him get me ever again. I can't.

"Cil, calm down."

"No!" My voice shakes as I turn over and sit up, hugging my knees to my chest. Harry sits up too. He just looks at me, waiting for me to continue. "I'm not going back there."

"You don't have to."

"I want to stay here with you." I say it so quietly it's barely audible. I know I shouldn't, but I mean it, and I know that means I've lost my mind completely. "Can I?"

"Of course, Cil." He kisses my forehead and holds me tighter than before. "Get some rest....nothing happened today that can't be fixed. Peter doesn't know you're here and if he does you know he won't come here, right?" I nod. I do know that. "You're safe."

And when he says that I believe it too.