Just like the moon, she had a side of hers unknown to everyone. There were scars residing back of her facade of coldness and numbness.

She is vulnerable inside which was kept hidden from everyone, she is broken and tired.

She is angry, depressed, hopeless but more than anything, she is scared. Craving for peace and warmness in her chaotic life.

All she needed was someone's warmth and love to bring her back to normal self. To bring her lost soul back.

~♥~

" Macey, I brought her! " I shouted in front of the door and she opened it with a panic expression.

" Lay her on the couch. I am bringing water. " She said and went to fetch a glass of water, I laid her on the couch but she didn't leave my coat.

She kept clinging upon it. I could feel my eyes watering, I bit my lips, gulping down those swirl of emotions.

"Please get up Alaia...." I whispered, choking on my own tears.

I can't see you lying like this, all pale and cold. I need you in my life, I need you bossing me around, I need you commanding me around.

I need you.

"My heart is aching for you, it's like someone is stabbing it continuously. " I whispered, caressing her hair. Her face looked pale and lifeless yet so beautiful.

" Ashton here, take this water and sprinkle few droplets upon her " Macey said as soon as she entered with water.

I looked up and took water from her hands and did as she said, hoping for her to wake up.

Few tears escaped from my eyes but I wiped them before anyone could notice. Sniffling slightly, I looked at her with pleading eyes.

Please Wake up. Listen Alaia, I already feel like crying buckets, do you really want me to make fun of myself like this, huh? Get up, please.

For me.

I heard few murmurs, wait!

Alaia!?

" Alaia " This time I didn't wiped those stray tears which fell from my eyes.

" Thank God! " Macey exclaimed, running a hand through her face.

" NO! " Alaia woke up with a shout which startled both of us. Her body trembled, she didn't seem to be in her senses.

"Alaia" it came as a whisper from Macey's lips, more tears rolling down her jaw.

She hugged her tightly, trying to soothe her down and rubbed her back but Alaia pushed her.

" No... please leave me! No" she shouted and Macey looked at her with tears in her eyes while I gasped.

I have never seen her this miserable. Ever. It felt as if I were seeing some other person. Her devilish state, red and puffy eyes, trembling hands, everything screamed vulnerability.

And for the first time, I felt my strong Alaia breaking down. The person I used to seek strength from looked emotionally drained. My heart pricked seeing her like this. It pained me.

I hugged her tightly and brought her close to my heart, she did try pushing me but my strength overpowered her.
She kept beating me with her tiny fist and I winced a little.

Her punches are powerful.

She cried on my chest and I caressed her hair. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked down at her tiny figure which was trembling.

" Calm down Alaia.... Nothing will happen to you. See I am here, nothing will happen " I cooed, trying to console her and she clutched onto my coat tighter.

" Alaia " Macey touched her back and she flinched.

I shuddered slightly and bit my lips, to not burst into sobs. Did I failed to notice such a big part of her life? My hands trembled when I wanted to touch her back and comfort her, I did not wanted her to feel scared from me. That was the last thing I wanted.

Closing my hands in a fist, I got them a little away from her body. My hands itched to pull her closer to my myself and never let her go. But I had promised to myself that it will be her, who will take the first step towards any sort of intimacy.

" Ashton we need to give her this medicine, her psychologist had prescribed these whenever she gets attacks like these. " She said, wiping her own tears away.

Getting a tablet and a glass of water in her hands, she sat down beside us.

" Alaia, please have this " Macey whispered but Alaia snuggled more closer to me and held me tighter. My heart fluttered when her lips unknowingly touched my covered chest.

Macey looked at me helplessly and I returned a reassuring look.

" Alaia " I whispered.

She looked up and her tear stricken eyes met mine. I froze. Her red and puffy eyes stirred something in my heart.

" Alaia, please just take this medicine. Please. " I said, softly, looking straight into her eyes and she looked scared, but nodded.

Macey was looking at us with some unknown emotion in her eyes, with small smile.

Weird. . .

She took the medicine and I helped her drinking water. She again snuggled into my chest and this time, I didn't hold back. I held her in my arms, close to my heart. I wrapped my arm around her waist and the other one brushed her wavy locks of hair away from her face.

Suddenly Macey got a phone call and she looked at the screen with a bored look.

" Yes, max" She answered with a neutral face.

" What the fuck are you saying, how can I leave her here like this! " she almost shouted but took a glance at Alaia and controlled her panicked voice.

" What! " her face paled, she looked at Alaia and then at her hands which were clutched tightly in a fist.

"But how? OK..... I am coming. " she cut the call and took few deep breaths to calm her nerves.

" Is everything fine? " I asked, seeing her all disturbed.

" Nothing is fine Ashton! Not a damn thing is fine! " she replied, frustrated.

" I need to go Paris. Right now! It is very important. But how will I leave Alaia alone? She needs someone now, What do I do? " She mumbled and ran a hand through her strawberry hair.

" If you don't mind I can stay with her, I mean, you can trust me with her " I mumbled, hoping that she doesn't misunderstands me.

" I trust you, Ashton. I trust you with Alaia but even you have your work. " she said, biting her lips.

" Hey she is my first priority right now, I promise I will take care of her."

My gaze shifted to Alaia who was not shivering now but was still in a trance, staring at a group photo, the same one where there were four people.

" Thank you so much, Ashton. I will come soon, if you have any problem or confusion then call me." She said and literally ran to her room and came back with a truffle bag.

" I am leaving! Call me if you need something and if you want to change clothes then go to 2nd room, open the right side cupboard. It has clothes and everything you need. OK bye, I need to run." she rambled and bid me a quick goodbye before I could even answer.

Huh! So she's gone. And now what am I supposed to do?

Wait, Alaia?

I looked down and saw her cuddled up on my chest and fast asleep, my lips curved into a small smile.

I always wanted you in my arms, Alaia but never like this, all broken and tired. But I will still wait for that day when you will happily hug me and find solace.

"Today I understood that you bore more than pain I could ever imagine, there is much more to this story. " I whispered, caressing her hair.

"I will wait for that day when you will trust me enough to share your darkest secrets with me, that will be more special to me, even more than you loving me back."

Gaining someone's trust is way more difficult than gaining someone's love, and the day you will trust me, it will be the most special day in my life.

Because loving might be hard but trusting and keep holding is hardest.

I am ready to embrace your every scar Alaia, for me your past does not matters to me until you are comfortable with me.

I just want you happy and if your past is the barrier in your happiness then I will free you from your past.

" Rest well...." I whispered, kissing her forehead.

She was fast asleep in my arms and snuggled more closer to me. Maybe it were those medications that made her sleep.

" You are my sanity, heartbeat to this heart. I forever want us like this but for now, you need to rest. "

Picking her up in my arms, I entered the bedroom, I don't know which one is her bedroom but I took her in second one.

The one Macey told me about.

I laid her on the bed and was going to move away but she again clutched my hand. I looked at our intertwined hands and then her face with a smile.

" I am not going anywhere, Alaia. I promise I won't leave you alone, ever. " I whispered and squeezed her hands slightly. Despite her being asleep, her grip on my hand was firm.

" Damn, lord, you are a mess, Alaia. But a mess I want myself entangled to."

I unwillingly freed my hand from her hold and went to change. Believe me sometimes these clothes just annoy the hell out of me! Crappy coats and pants.

OK so what did Macey said? Uh.... left cupboard or right? I scratched back of my head and looked at both them.

Ugh, let's just open anyone. I opened the right one and thanks to my stars that it was the right one!

But wait.

Why the hell is she having men's clothing here?

Anyways, I took out black sweatpants and a T-shirt and they were fortunately of my size.

I walked back to Alaia and covered her with duvet. She looked so innocent and magnificent while sleeping but most importantly, she looked peaceful.

But there were dried tear strains on her face, I wiped them away and caressed her cheek softly.

" I hope you will be fine and I will get my bossy Alaia back " I joked waiting for her response but unfortunately, there was none. I sighed.

It had been my habit, to joke around her and her being all annoyed at me.

" Just get back to yourself, Alaia. " I whispered and kissed her forehead but this time she responded to me.

She held my hand tightly. Wait, she's fighting with me. She's sweating and crying as well.

Holy shit! Is she having a nightmare?
What am I supposed to do?

Of course you need to wake her up. Idiot.

My subconscious mind mocked me. I am actually an idiot it seems.

" Alaia....Get up, Alaia! " I tried shaking her and she woke up with a jerk.

" Are you fine? " I couldn't keep my concern aside and she cried silently with a constant mumble.

It was more like 'leave me'.

" Alaia " I pulled her into a hug and she tried to push me.

" Leave me. No! " she shouted with few weak punches on my chest.

Jeez woman, she definitely would have learned boxing. Her punches are really powerful, I winced and held her hands in mine to stop those showers of punches.

" Shh Alaia. See I am Ashton. Nothing will happen " I whispered and she looked up directly into my eyes.

Her hazel eyes met mine and that was when I noticed how beautiful and expressive her eyes were, the most beautiful hazel orbs.

" Ashton!" She whispered and I nodded.

She hugged me tightly and I hugged her back, her choked breathing fell upon my chest. I stroked her hair and stretched out to pick up water.

" Here, have some water " I whispered and gave her the glass.

I helped her drinking water and she shook her head.

Her eyes puffy and droopy, face pale yet she looked most beautiful girl ever. I hugged her more tightly and she snuggled closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

" You sleep here, I will take the guest room. " I said when she became normal, her breathing was calm and back to normal.

I was going to get up when I felt a tug on my hands.

I realised that she held my palms indicating with her eyes to not leave her. My eyes soften seeing her puffy teary eyes.

" Please don't leave me " she whispered and whimpered at last.

" Never, I will. " I assured and wiped her tears away.

She laid down on the bed and I followed her, maintaining a decent distance between us but to my surprise she slept on my chest wrapping her arms around my torso.

She snuggled more closer to me and I felt goosebumps all around. Her mere touch created ripples in my body, breathing out slightly, I smiled and leaned in, kissing her forehead.

Her lips touched crook of my neck and I shuddered. Wrapping my one arm around her waist, I caressed her hair with the other one. She was fast asleep in my arms. Her faint breathing fell on my neck and I kissed top her head.

This is all I ever wanted, to have you in these arms, close to this heart.

You're the heartbeat of this heart, Alaia.

I hope tomorrow will be a new beginning to everything.

♥

She forgot every mind game she had planned, she just wanted his warmth. She wanted him all to herself, she needed him. For her sanity, to calm her demons down, to fight her past.

Those scars needed to heal and he was the medicine, his love and warmth was.

She felt safe with him, unknown to her a new fire ignited in her heart

~♥~

I am sorry. I am really sorry for not updating last Sunday but I had many requests for the os book so I was busy in writing that.

And here is the update, I hope you all will like it. Please vote and comment to express your point of view.

Till my next update take care and stay safe. Byeeeee.