Calum's PoV:

I watched as Nessa was rolled out of the hospital room and taken to the operating room.

It was only leg surgery, I knew that, but she was scared and therefore I was scared for her.

I walked out to the waiting room where my friends were waiting and sat down next to them.

"So?" Luke asked.

"They just took her back."

"And i'm guessing my advice worked because you two are back together." Kate smiled.

"Yeah." I laughed. "It's great, but i'm worried about her."

"Why?" Ashton asked.

"Because she's terrified of this surgery, and I just want her to get better."

"Trust me, this is a simple surgery. She'll make it through. Physical therapy will be tough, and she'll need a lot of support but as long you don't turn into a total dick again, things should be fine." Michael smirked.

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, i'm going to go to the hospital gift shop and buy her some flowers."

I stood up and Kate came with me as we went down to the gift shop.

I was looking at different flower options when Kate came up next to me.

"Red roses are her favorite." She said.

"Noted." I picked up a vase.

"Also, it'd be cute if you had Eli and Cade write her a get well soon card or something for when she gets out of surgery."

"That's a really good idea, actually. I'll call my mom."

I did as such and she said she'd bring the kids by, and so we went back up to the waiting room to wait for Nessa's surgery to be over.

It was going to take hours, and as they passed by a nurse came out to update us to say it was going well so far.

After a while I looked over to see my parents walking in with Eli and Cade. I hadn't seen them since I had started taking care of Nessa.

"Daddy!" Eli ran towards me and I caught him in a hug.

"Hey, bud." I smiled.

Cade then ran over and I hugged him as well before kissing his cheek.

"Where's Nessa?" Eli asked me.

"She's in surgery right now."

"We made her pictures!" He then showed me the cards he and Eli had made.

"Those are awesome." I said.

"Calum, can I talk to you for a moment?" My mom then asked me, and I held Cade while Eli went to Kate to show her the picture he drew.

I followed my mom and dad  into the hall outside the waiting room.

"We were just wondering, do you think it's the best thing for Eli to see Nessa if you've broken up." My father said.

"We got back together, actually." I said.

"You did?" My mother raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah. It took a lot of convincing and a broken leg to wear her down but we're back on." I tried to joke.

"Are you going to bring her to dinner so we can meet her for more than five minutes this time?" My mother asked.

"Yes. But let her get healed first."

"Mr. Hood, Ms. Rothchester is out of surgery now." One of Nessa's nurses walked up to me.

"Can I go see her?"

"Yes, she is back in recovery."

"Thank you."

I walked back into the waiting room with Cade and then took held Elis' hand as we followed the nurse to Nessa's room.

When we walked in Nessa was laying on the bed, her eyes closed as she slept.

"Now she's on a lot of morphine, but you can try to wake her up if you'd like."

"Thanks." I nodded at her.

"Nessa." Eli went over and touched her shoulder and I saw Nessa's eyes flutter.

"Ness." I stepped up, looking over her as her eyes slowly opened.

"You're here." She managed to get out in a quiet voice.

"Yeah, I am." I smiled.

"Nessa, i'm here too." Eli said and she turned her head to the side to look at him.

"You are." She whispered. "Hi, Eli."

"Hi, Nessa." He smiled at her and then leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Okay, lets let Nessa sleep." I said and Cade reached out for Nessa as I took them back to my parents.

Kate went to go see Nessa and I thanked my parents for watching the kids while I grabbed the flowers and their card before going back.

"It's funny to see this spitfire of a girl so helpless and vulnerable." Kate said as I walked in.

"Yeah." I set the vase of roses on the table alongside the card.

"You gonna wait here until she wakes up?"

"I told her I would." I smiled. "I've broken her heart before and I don't plan on doing it again."

"Good. Because if you do i'll have to kill you."

"I give you permission." I laughed.

I sat down in the chair next to Kate, preparing to wait it out until Nessa really woke up.

Nurses kept monitoring her but said this was normal for her to sleep so long, and finally around dinner time she began to stir.

I stood up and looked over her face as she opened her eyes and looked around, her gaze falling on me.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" I asked her, placing my hand on her cheek.

"Where's my leg?" She asked, her words slurred as if she was drunk.

"It's attached to your body." I chuckled.

"I don't feel it." She then reached down with her hand and I had to move it away.

"No no no, it's there I promise you. But you can't touch your leg now."

"Why?"

"Because you just got out of surgery. It needs to heal."

"Oh." She said and then looked up at me again. "What are you doing here?"

"Well you're my girlfriend and you just had surgery, so you tell me."

"Oh." She began to laugh and then reached up to touch my nose. "I love you."

Kate hit my arm next to me with wide eyes.

"You are on so much pain medicine." I laughed her words off.

"Mhmm." She nodded. "But I love you so don't let Seth take my popcorn."

"Okay. I won't." I laughed.

"She loves you!" Kate whispered excitedly.

"Kate, she just told me to not let her brother steal her popcorn, i'm sure she doesn't know anything she is saying."

"You're probably right. But still, that was sweet."

"Calum?" Nessa said and I looked back at her.

"Yes?"

"Can I go home now?"

"Not yet."

"Oh."

She began to pout and I laughed at her before leaning in to kiss her.

"That feels nice, do that again." Nessa said and I continued to laugh as I did as such.

"Have we had sex before?" She asked me.

"Uh." I coughed as Kate cracked up next to me. "Not yet."

"Well I have a boyfriend."

"I know, i'm your boyfriend."

"Oh."

I shook my head at Kate.

The door to the room opened and one of the nurses walked in.

"Hello Nessa, how are you feeling?" She asked Nessa.

"I have a boyfriend." Nessa replied.

"Well you are just higher than a kite aren't you." She laughed.

"How long will recovery be?" I asked the nurse.

"A few days, and then she can go back home." She smiled.

"Will she be like this the whole time?"

"She should sober up in an hour or two." She patted my hand. "She talking nonsense?"

"Oh yeah." I laughed.

"Calum, i'm going to sleep now." Nessa mumbled.

"Okay baby, go back to sleep." I smiled.

Kate and I got food from the cafeteria and I then said goodbye to her as she left and then went back up to Nessa's room.

She was still asleep and so I sat down in the chair and looked at the news app on my phone until I heard her begin to move.

I stood up and walked over to her bed to see her looking around in confusion.

"Hey." I said and she looked up at me.

"Hey."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like my leg was cut open."

I laughed. She was back.

"Well you're less loopy now."

"Yeah? How bad was it?"

"Um, well you told me that you loved me, you thought your leg was missing, you told me to not let Seth take your popcorn, and then questioned our sexual history."

"That sounds about right." She laughed. "So I said I loved you?"

"Yeah." I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.

"Did you say it back?"

"Uh..."

"I'm messing with you." She then smiled.

I laughed in relief.

"So, the boys made you a card." I then picked up the red and pink construction paper and passed it to her.

"Oh, this is sweet." She smiled. "Who brought me flowers?"

"Those are from me."

"Thank you."

I leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"So how long until I can leave?"

"The nurse said recovery should last a few days and then you can go home."

"Are you still going to take care of me?"

"Yes." I smiled.

"Thank you, for being here with me and taking off from work to help take care of me." She reached up with her good arm to hold my hand.

"There's no where else i'd rather be."

We looked up as the nurse then came in with a roll away bed for me.

I thanked her before moving the chairs and then putting the bed next to the wall by the window and setting it up.

While I did this the nurse attended to Nessa and after eating it was time to give her more morphine.

I knew she was about to be out, so I quickly kissed her and told her goodnight, chuckling at her hooded eyes before she fell asleep and I went to lay down in the roll away bed, watching her until I fell asleep as well.

Nessa's PoV:

I was so absolutely tired of always laying down.

Two days after surgery they had taken me to cast my leg after removing my stitches.

Calum stayed with me the whole time too.

We didn't get to have too many conversations because I was knocked out on pain meds almost the entire time.

Finally I was discharged and Calum got me into my wheelchair before taking me out of the hospital and to his car so he could drive me back to my house.

When we arrived he laid me in my bed before doing chores like washing our clothes and making us dinner.

"You seem sad." He commented as he set a plate of grilled chicken in front of me.

"I guess I just miss being out and about with everyone. I miss going out with Kate and working and living life...it sucks being stuck in a house all day."

"What if I had the boys come over tonight to visit? We could watch a movie with them and play board games, and then tomorrow I can take you to the corner store and we can see everyone." He suggested.

"That would be amazing." I smiled.

So after dinner, Calum called his mom to
bring over the boys. I was in bed and I heard the knock on the door and a minute later he walked around the corner with Eli and Cade.

"Nessa!" Eli gasped and ran over to the bed.

"Eli!"

"You have to be careful Eli, you can't touch her leg." Calum warned him and Eli nodded before climbing up on the bed with me.

"Give me a hug." I smiled at Eli and he moved over to hug me.

"I've missed you." He cheekily looked up at me.

"I've missed you too."

"I think someone else wants to see you." Calum said and I looked up to see him smiling at Cade who was reaching out for me.

Eli moved so Calum could lay Cade on my chest.

"Nwessa." Cade giggled and I hugged him, glancing up at Calum who was touching Cades hair.

"Thank you." I whispered to him.

"Of course."

We all moved into the living room so we could watch a movie with the kids.

Calum rolled his eyes, but I suggested we watch The Jungle Book for Eli's amusement. It made me happy to see him happy.

I held Cade in my lap as I sat sideways on the couch with my leg extended, the little boy cuddled up to me. I leaned against Calum's side while Eli sat in his lap.

"Daddy do we get to spend the night at Nessa's house?" Eli asked after a while and I looked back at Calum.

"If it's okay with Nessa." He said, looking back at me.

"I think that sounds fun." I smiled, laughing as Eli began to cheer.

When the movie was over, Calum had me get in bed before going to get the boys and himself ready for bed.

As I was pulling my hair back into a pony tail Eli walked into the room and climbed up on the bed on Calum's side.

"Nessa, are you still my Daddy's girlfriend?" He asked me.

"I am." I smiled at him.

"Are we gonna live with you now?"

"Live with me?" I asked. "Why do you think that?"

"Because Daddy lives with you."

"Well he is here taking care of me since I can't do a lot. But once i'm better he'll go back to living with you and Cade at your house." I explained.

"I want to live here too." He said and I smiled at him, pulling him closer so I could hug him.

"How long until you get better?" He asked me.

"I don't know." I rested my cheek on the top of his head.

I looked up as I saw Calum enter my room in navy blue basketball shorts and a plain white tee shirt.

"Eli, it's time for bed dude." He said.

"Can I stay with Nessa?" He asked Calum who I just smiled at.

"No, you need to go sleep in the other room with Cade so he's not in there by himself."

"But aren't you sleeping in there?" Eli asked him causing me to smirk.

"No, i'm sleeping in here with Nessa so I can help her if she needs anything."

Eli began to laugh at this.

"What's so funny?" I asked him.

"Are you going to kiss?" He asked us and Calum's cheeks flared up as we both smiled.

"Bed, Eli." Calum chuckled and Eli sighed before letting me go and getting off the bed.

"Goodnight, Eli." I said as they left the room and Calum went to put him to bed in the other room.

After a few minutes he came back and got in bed next to me, my medicine bottle and a glass of water in hand.

"Putting Cade to sleep was a trick. I didn't have a rocking chair so I had to sit on the edge of the bed and like sway back and forth." He chuckled as he took two pills out of the bottle.

"Yeah, Eli was asking me why he couldn't live here too since you were living here." I said after downing the two pills.

"He's hilarious." Calum shook his head.

"Come closer." I gave him an adorable pout and he scooted closer to me so I could lean up against him.

"How's your leg feeling?" He asked as he slid his arm around my shoulders.

"It's sore but once these pills kick in i'll be feeling pretty good."

He laughed at this before he quieted down and I could tell he was about to get more serious.

"I know we haven't had a lot of chances to talk the past few days since we got back together, but I want to thank you for giving me- giving us a second chance." He said sincerely and I smiled at him.

"I know we ended badly and we got back together oddly, but I think we both learned something from what happened, and we don't have to spend time raking over the coals, we can move on."

"I'd love that." He squeezed me gently. "You know, do you remember when I said that I wanted you more than i'd wanted anything in a really long time? Well that's still true. And i'm going to be a better man for you."

"I'll be better to." I nestled into him.

"You're already perfect, all I want is for you to feel better again."

"Me too."

At this point I tilted my head up so we could kiss, Calum not holding back with his passion. With my good hand I touched his cheek, holding him closer to me.

I could feel myself getting drowsy and slowed down to end our make out session.

Calum helped me get comfortable before he turned off the lamp and set his alarm, the two of us falling asleep together.

I was awoken in the morning not by an alarm or Calum waking me up, but by the crying of Cade.

Calum was out of the bed quickly and came back in the room with Cade in his arms.

I sat up as he sat down on the bed, rocking the little boy back and forth.

"I know, you woke up in a new bed in a new house. Things are changing for you, bubba." Calum spoke to him and I smiled as I watched the two of them.

"Do you want to see Nessa?" He asked him and Cade looked towards me and smiled. "Come on, let's say good morning to Nessa."

Calum moved next to me and I leaned down to kiss Cade's cheek.

"Good morning, Cade."

"Nwessa. Nwessa mrowing."

"I think he just told you good morning." Calum smiled.

"I think he did." I kissed Cade's cheek again.

He twisted out of Calum's arms and crawled over to my lap where he sat himself down.

"Kwiss." He said and reached up to touch my mouth before he sat up and kissed me.

I hugged him close to me, smiling happily. Calum ended up taking a picture of me holding  Cade with his phone before he set me in the wheel chair, Cade still in my lap, and then took us to the living room.

He went to go wake up Eli who walked in with his hair in all directions and he came to sit next to me while Calum prepared us breakfast.

When breakfast was ready we began to eat, the four of us at my kitchen table, and I couldn't fight my smile.

This is how my new life was supposed to be for now.

--

New chapter! Nessa is out of surgery and doing well!

Will living together while she recovers be good or bad for Calum and Nessa's relationship?

More to come!

Much love xx-M