Cara was taking a much needed break from her busy schedule. Everyone was on edge lately, the carefree blonde not being an exception. There had been an endless amount of travels during her successful career and she put her foot down. She needed time to be with her family and dedicate time to her girlfriend of four years. They had just recently gotten engaged in the summertime and planning a wedding couldn't be done long distance, no matter how hard they both had tried.

Kristen flipped through the pages of a heavy bridal book, delivered personally by a wedding planner earlier that morning. A small, hopeful smile played on her lips as she took in all the different decorations and ideas put together for them. Cara had been extremely helpful now that she was more grounded at home. Still, a part of her hoped that her fiance's sister in law would come around. She couldn't understand the situation very well, but she could just comprehend why Anastasia was so withdrawn.

It must be painful to be around people planning a wedding right now, especially after her own had gone sour before the honeymoon period began.

"Here, babe," Cara handed Kristen a cup of tea, taking the book from her and sitting next to her with it.

Kristen sighed, content still, and took Cara's hand. "How is she?"

"Well, she's eating. I caught her out in the garden today."

She raised her brows in surprise. "Really?"

Cara nodded. "It was all so strange. She was just staring out at the garden, she didn't hear me. It was... It was like she was waiting for him to return."

The two women sat in silence for a brief moment. It made sense. Based on what Zayn had told her and the bit Anastasia had shared, the girl's reaction on the phone wasn't so weird at all. It was like she was waiting for him to guide her, as if she couldn't handle making it on her own. As much as Cara tried to fight it- she knew that Anastasia behaved that way because she had no one else. According to Zayn, she never had. So it was understandable, even if it seemed like she was used to Zayn abandoning her or leaving her in the care of people while he went and tried to mend whatever he had broken.

She hoped he'd stick to his promise. Not so much for her, though she wanted him at the wedding, but for his wife. If he didn't, Cara didn't even want to imagine what would happen. Anastasia could spiral down further or seriously do something crazy.

"They spoke yesterday," Cara spoke up.

"How'd that go?" 

The blonde shook her head no. "It seemed okay at first. When they got off the phone she hugged me and went to her room."

Kristen looked confused. "That doesn't sound so bad..."

"I walked by before I went to sleep myself and I could hear her sobbing. I hadn't even made it up the stairs when I could hear her crying. Zayn told her to put her ring back on, I think. She had it on this morning."

Cara wrapped an arm around Kristen. The pain Anastasia felt was something she never wanted to experience, especially because the thought of losing her fiance was unbearable. Maybe that's why she felt so compelled to help the girl, because she was so young still and was going through so much. She probably felt so alone.  

"You should invite her out with us today, maybe she'll wanna come."

Cara nodded. "Maybe. I know Zayn told her to distract herself... but who knows."

Kristen kissed Cara's cheek and put her tea on the table in front of the couch, adjusting her blouse as she stood up, "I'll go. Just get the car ready and we'll meet you out front."

They exchanged a sweet kiss and hugged for a moment. They had always been so connected. Whenever something was troubling Cara, Kristen felt it. It went deeper than knowing someone's everyday mannerisms and expressions, they were on the same brainwave. That was why it was easy for both of them to support each other and appreciate what they had. Any time spent apart was torture even for a few days, so they just felt fortunate to be in the position they were in. Able to do things on their own terms and be together through any madness life had planned for them.

-

"Anastasia? Can I come in?" Kristen knocked a few times and the door opened slowly, revealing the small girl in a big sweater.

"Hi," she greeted quietly. 

Kristen smiled at her. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay."

She was clearly not in the mood to talk and that was fine. As long as they could get her out of the house and out into the real world again. 

"Cara and I are gonna go shopping for some wedding things, maybe check out the fair before it gets too crowded. Wanna come with?"

Anastasia appeared unsure. She bit her lip while nerves traveled through her body, the thought of being around people was unsettling and she didn't know why she didn't like it when she used to enjoy socializing so much before. Her severe anxiety could ruin their day, she thought, maybe it was best she didn't tag along. 

Kristen spotted the large engagement and wedding band on her finger again, shining proudly. It made her wonder how receptive she was to Zayn's demands and why it was so important to him that she remain close to Cara and specifically stay in this house. She knew Zayn had initially purchased it for her, Cara had told her all about it when Zayn informed them he wanted them to take care of it, but it was like a castle. It was way too spacious for just the two of them, the four of them eventually, and it was difficult to guess why he had told them not to tell her about who the house was really for. 

He was always secretive, especially in regards to Anastasia. He was particular about the way she needed to be treated - anything she wanted, she could have as long as it wasn't harmful to her. She couldn't go out alone, she couldn't be left alone for long periods of time, which explained the many employees around the house and the tall fence around the property. 

"I don't wanna ruin your day."

Kristen took her hand in a reassuring manner, but immediately let it go when Anastasia tensed. "Nonsense, we want you to come with us. It'll be fun. Besides, maybe you'll find something nice to wear for the wedding and you'll get more excited."

"Sorry I'm not very enthusiastic. It just makes me sad. I think I'll go, but I'll wait for Zayn to go with me shopping, so we can do something nice like that together."

Sadness hit Kristen hard. That was as much as she had gotten out of her in two weeks, but she seemed to like talking about Zayn. At least she knew how to get her talking now. "Great, sounds like a plan. He'll be happy you were so sweet and waited for him."

"He likes to dress me, he would say I was like his little doll."

The way she spoke about him was unnerving, like she thought he was at work and she was delusional enough to believe he would be back in a few hours. Imagine being that far gone, that reality is impossible to grasp.

-

The day passed by so quickly. The girls had managed to do everything except look for things for the wedding, but they had a productive day. Anastasia had managed to start talking a little more, though her social anxiety was through the roof. Many times through out the day, especially when they walked by the bridal stores with dresses in the displays, Kristen would catch her sighing.

The spring weather complemented Cara's mood, though. She was feeling happy simply because Kristen was with her and Anastasia had decided to come along. There had to be something they could do to end the day with a bang. Cara knew that Kristen hated heights, but she wanted to go on the bungee at the fair. They walked through the fair grounds, Cara excitedly pulled the two girls with her in the direction of the bungee. 

Kristen immediately put a stop to her fun. "Hell no, you know what happened last time."

Anastasia tiled her head curiously. "What did happen last time?"

Cara giggled. "Kristen and I went on a zip-line on our last vacation and she threw up." Kristen rolled her eyes, "It was disgusting."

"You know I hate heights, asshole."

Anastasia watched the exchange and felt a bit jealous. Perhaps it was the fact that they had the bond she desperately wanted with Zayn, or maybe because they seemed to go on with their relationship without hurting each other, or getting even. She was willing to leave it all in the past and move on once he returned. She was actually willing to try and make it work the right way with him, though so much had happened between them. 

Cara waved her hand in Anastasia's face playfully. "Helloooo? You there?"

Anastasia looked embarrassed. "What were you saying?"

"Are you in or are you out? I don't wanna do it all alone and I think you'd like it."

She had never been one to be afraid of heights and she had never done it before. A part of her was curious about what it felt like to be suspended in air, flying almost. It was as close as she'd ever get to flying for real, and maybe it would be a good experience for her to share with her sister in law.

"I'm in."

Twenty minutes had gone by in preparation. After they had reached the top, they were immediately put into some heavy-ish gear to secure them from falling to their deaths. Anastasia was shaking like a leaf, her nerves visible on her face.

"You look terrified," Cara teased, "You can go first if you want, i'll hold your hand til you have to go down."

"I am terrified. I'm scared that something will go wrong."

Cara waved her off. "Nonsense. You're safe. I've done this many times before and each time is better than the last. The important thing is to not overthink it, just go with the moment. Enjoy it while it lasts because trust me, it doesn't last very long."

The man in charge of their gear spoke up. "Alright girls, who's going first?"

Cara pointed at Anastasia, "She's a first timer."

"Alright, this is gonna be fun for you. You'll like it, trust me. I get a lot of people up here who keep coming back to do it again," he gave Anastasia a pat on the back and guided her to the edge of the metal ledge that extended from the platform, her eyes taking in the entire city before her. She smiled to herself nervously, adrenaline running through her veins quickly, making her shake harder. She was 440 feet up in the sky and the small body of water wasn't nearly as comforting as she thought it would be in case something went wrong. Everything looked better from the top of the world, but her fear was only on the surface. Deep down, she hoped something would go wrong, some freak accident taking her away from the ongoing pain she was enduring. She had enough. 

"Cara's gonna hold onto your harness and she's gonna let you go in about 30 seconds, okay? That'll make it a little easier, if someone you trust is helping you."

Anastasia nodded and took a deep breath, looking at Cara in the eyes. 

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Cara looked at her knowingly. "You have to let go eventually. Why are you holding back? You're already at the top."

"You're right..." 

"The only thing holding you back is you.

Before I can even respond, this gush of air is hitting me and I'm sent flying downwards, I feel all the anxiety disappear, the nerves I had before jumping are obliterated. I've felt this before, it's like I'm at the very top of a roller coaster and I'm spinning, but only without the dizziness. I thought that once I got closer to the ground, there would be some sort of pain for some odd reason, but it's so smooth. I just want to fly down further from a higher platform and keep flying, never worrying about touching the ground again,

It wasn't a dream anymore.

I was flying.

I was free.