Trigger warnings for this one. This chapter contains depictions of abuse. I will put a warning where when it comes up. Read with caution. You have been warned.

***Hope's POV***

I am making breakfast as Alastor left to take his gifts to his room and I feel so disappointed in myself. I'm disappointed because I know Alastor and yet, I still flinched when he reached for me. I know he wouldn't hurt me and that the fear I was feeling was silly, but I couldn't force down good enough. I very sure he noticed and now is wondering why I'm afraid of him all of a sudden. I'm not afraid of him.

The fear and unease I was feeling was just remnants of being with someone who was seriously messed up. Being with someone who believed hurting me was his way of showing he cared. By his logic hurting me was teaching me a lesson and by teaching me a lesson he was showing that he cared.

I sigh as I try to focus back on cooking.

The moment that part of my life ended I was happier. I was hurting at the time, but I was happy to be away from him. That day was the last day I saw him before I died. Well technically I didn't see him kill me either, but I know it was him by his voice.

I tried to shift my thought back to happier ones as I cook. Like how well Alastor treats me. He cares about how I feel and what I like. Like during the first week of us dating he saw I was feeling a bit down and to make me feel better he gave me a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. He walked away without saying anything, but he didn't need to. He noticed how I was feeling and gave me one of my favorite foods to make me feel better. That heartwarming action meant more than any words he could say.

After a few more minutes of focusing on that I felt much better. Shortly after that Alastor returned. I gave him a heartwarming and loving smile as he walked into the room. Any fear or unease has dissipated by now. He kind of looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn't.

I wonder why.

***Alastor's POV***

Currently I'm sitting at the desk in my room. Hope went to bed a bit ago. This morning I was going to ask her about why she was suddenly scared of me, but when I walked into the kitchen and she gave me a loving heartwarming smile, I couldn't bring myself to ask.

I didn't want to dampen her mood or bring back the feelings of fear she felt before. She was in a much better mood when I came back. For now, I let it go. But now I still wonder why she was afraid of me before.

Instantly after that thought leaves my mind the sound of something shaking comes from one of my desk drawers. I open the drawer the sound is coming from. It's the stone I got from Hope's niece. The stone is glowing a deep blue and is shaking.

I pick it up without really thinking about it. Once the stone is in my hand it stops shaking and a cold sensation moves into my hand. The cold feeling begins moving up my arm, through my shoulder, and into my chest.

The feeling hits me right in the heart.

I know this feeling.

I may not have felt it in a long time, but I know it. This feeling is fear. Not just any kind of fear. It's the kind that is deeply rooted and terrifying. The kind that may be manageable, but never truly goes away. Remnants of it may remain and show up unexpectedly.

I think I understand a bit more now. She wasn't necessarily afraid of me. She was afraid of the situation. Because it reminded her of a fearful situation from the past.

I place the still stone back into the drawer. After closing the drawer I'm feeling pretty tired. Seems like it's time for bed.

With a snap I'm in my night wear and I lay down in bed. In a matter of moment, I fall asleep.

*Dream*(Trigger warning starts here. Read with caution.)

I open my eyes and look around.

Where am I?

I appear to be in a grey and foggy area. I try to use my powers to try and somehow get my bearings of where I am. Nothing happens.

Before I can question it, I hear a voice behind me.

"Hi there." A cheerful voice I recognize says behind me.

Hope!

I turn and there she is. Only she's human. I look down at myself and can tell by the fact I still have claws that I'm still my demon self. But she's not afraid of me.

Before I can question it the world around us changes. We are in a jewelry store. When I look back at Hope, she isn't talking to me anymore. She's talking to a store clerk.

I look down at my claws for second and realize I'm see through.

Is this another one of Hope's memories?

I tune into what they are talking about and apparently Hope had ordered a gold watch for her boyfriend. My blood runs cold upon hearing that statement.

Wait. Is she talking about who I think she is talking about?

Next thing I know the world changes again. This time I'm in a house. I hear humming and turn to see Hope preparing a table. On the table near her is a box. It must be the box from the jewelry store.

Seconds later after that thought the front door opens. Hope looks a little scared and quickly grabs the box. She hides the behind her back just as he walks in.

Its that same bastard that killed Hope. The one she said liked hurting her to teach her a lesson. An involuntary growl escaped my throat. Neither of them heard it though.

"Oh! Hey hun you're home early. I s-s-still had a bit to finish up. Like..."

"Like what Hope? What are you hiding?" He question with a hard look on his face as he sits at the table.

What he asks sends a chill through my body. I asked her that same question. Mine might have been out of mostly concern for Hope's safety, but that question could have been what trigger her fear response. Especially if this is going where I think it's going.

She sets the box on the table in front of him. He raises an eyebrow in very slight interest. After looking in the box he looks rather unimpressed.

"It's a birthday present for you. I wanted to get you something nice. So, I saved up a bit of money and-"

"You're HIDING money from me!" He interrupts with anger in his expression and voice.

"No. I was hiding it from you. I just had it saved so I could get you a nice gift."

"And how did you pay for this? You're working a job under nose again. AREN'T YOU?"

He slams his hands on the table and stands after that shouted question.

"I-I...I'm sorry."

She is now looking down at the ground as she apologizes.

"HOW are you THIS STUPID? Did you forget that I PROVIDE you with everything you NEED? You have anything and everything you could ever WANT!"

"P-please. I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just trying to do something special for you."

"SOMETHING SPECIAL??!? I don't believe giving me trash is special. Besides I don't expect anything special from you. What I DO EXPECT of you is to follow MY RULES and here I find you BREAKING them again. Why do you continuously DISRESPECT me? ARE YOU TOO STUPID TO FOLLOW SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS?"

Oh, how I wish I could tear this guy apart again. How dare he shouts at her like that. Looking at Hope I can tell she's trying not to cry, but it seems to be a challenge for her.

"I'm sorry. You watch looked worn out and I just thought..."

"And that's the problem Hope. You think when we both know you are as dumb as a rock. You are so FUCKING STUPID."

"It was just a gift..."

"Just a gift. JUST A GIFT? NO! THIS is about YOU BEING DISREPECT TO ME IN MY HOUSE!"

Before she could say anything else he grabs the box and throws it at her head. Hope's eyes widen as he picks up the box.

"No! Put that down!" She shouts at him before he throws the box.

She ducks out of the way of the box as it hits the wall behind her. After she dodges the box she gasps and stands looking scared. He is walking toward her enraged. Instinctually I step in front of him to prevent him from getting any closer to her. He walks right through me and I remember that this is a memory. As much as I wish I could stop this, I can't.

"I didn't mean to raise my voice at you. I just-"

*Smack*

He punches her across the face. Right away there is a big red mark on her cheek. She is dazed and ends up falling backwards on her butt. She tries to back away from him and is stopped by the wall behind her.

"I'm sorry. Please. I promise I will never do this again."

As she says that tears are flowing down her cheeks. The way she said broke my heart a little. She didn't deserve any of this. The shouting. The abuse. The clear insults. None of it. She was doing something sweet for him and he treats her this way? How I wish I could bring him back and torture him again. Repeatedly.

He grabs her by the hair and pulls her head back to look at him.

"I know you will NEVER learn your lesson. You need to be punished. No ifs ands or buts."

He then gives her another firm hit on the head.

I was forced to watch him beat her up for a bit longer before a knock brings me out of this nightmare and back to reality.