She is broken, life broke him but see the irony, it is only them who can heal each other. Only they both make each other feel loved and protected.

They both have lost something in their lives, but now, their souls will complete each other.

~♥~

" I hate you " I mumbled against his chest, wrapping my arms around him.

I heard him chuckle and held me tighter, I snuggled more closer to him. Those damn tears fell freely on his chest and this time, I did not control them. I did not wanted to.

" and I love you too" he said, stroking my hair.

I frowned and looked up from my tear stricken face, he was smiling softly at me. My heart pace quickened, signing quietly, I gripped his palm in my hand.

" but I said I hate you "

His eyes softened, caressing my hair, he leaned closer and whispered, " And even I said that I love you too" his nose brushed against my forehead and I closed my eyes to feel him, I sniffled as he stroked my cheeks.

" Let me hate you... Please.... I want to hate you so bad. Let me." I whimpered and bit my lips to not cry out loud.

That was the worst fear I had, falling miserable in front of someone and give them a chance to judge me for my past.

" And why do you want to hate me? " He said, caging me in his arms.

I stared in his eyes, for a moment I felt I saw something different in them, like a different sort of emotion but it was again filled with care. For sure, his eyes were like a mirror to his soul. I had heard this phrase thousands of times but never found someone who actually has such expressive eyes but he does.

Ashton does.

"I can't stand loving once again. This time, not only my soul but my body will die too. I am not that strong to love someone once again." I whispered, choking on my tears.

I could feel those tears in corner of his eyes which were threatening to fall, he then, softly pressed his lips on my forehead. I don't fight or move away so he allows his lips to linger.

I sighed, I was exhausted from fighting with my heart....

Trying to hate him was exhausting.

Fighting from heart was exhausting.

He leaned down near my ear and I felt goosebumps rising on my skin. Breathing out, I dared to look into his eyes which were glossy and shining with love.

In that moment, I wanted to lose myself to him. He made me feel those whirling emotions of desire which resided deep inside me.

" I want to claim you as mine, I want to heal your soul and teach your heart to love again" he whispered, kissing my earlobes and I shuddered.

A lone drop of tear escaped from my eye and before it could fall, Ashton cought it in his palm. I gazed at him while he gazed at the tear drop as if it pained him.

Looking up at me with still that drop of tear in his hand, he said,

" I can't promise you, love, that it will the last time you shed tears but there is one thing that I promise you, Alaia. You will never be alone while you cry. Till the time I am alive, you will never find yourself alone while you are having a break down. I will sit beside you to console you or just let you cry. But I will be there "

I blinked back that another tear before it could escape my eye and gazed at him with slight fear.

I was afraid. I was afraid of the promises made. No one kept the promise when they said they will stay by my side. Ashton just knew what to utter at the right and wrong moment and just now, he was uttering just the wrong thing which was fluttering my heart.

" I have scars, Ashton." I admitted.

Looking up, I saw him smiling slightly.

" So do I, let us embrace each other with our scars" he whispered, taking my right hand in his. I breathed out and shut my eyes. While opening them, I did not dare to look into his eyes because I knew, I will be selfish to hold his hand for a lifetime.

As if reading my thoughts, he himself held my hand and brushed the knuckles with his thumb.

" I am lost " I admitted softly, looking down at his thighs where I was sitting.

I felt his hold around me get stronger and the beautiful murmur creased my heart, " Then let me find you. Let me find your soul which is lost somewhere among the chaos, let me bring the old Alaia back. "

" Maybe she died. " I whispered.

" Maybe she is just hidden in part of your heart. Sometimes you think, you want to just disappear but the truth is that you want to be found by someone, let me find you again, Alaia. Give me a chance. "

I leaned closer and rested my head on his chest, I could feel his warmth and love reflecting. I could hear his heartbeats which were beating fastly, maybe for me, maybe his heart was actually beating for me.

"Hold my hand and I promise, I will never let you go. " I heard him whisper and his hands appeared in front of my eyes.

I looked up and found him looking at me with uttermost love and hope, I looked at his hand and then at him. I voiced my fears out, " but I do not believe in promises, no one has ever kept them. "

" Then let me be the first one, let me make you my priority, let me be your last love " he said, stroking my chin.

" Let me hold you while you cry ugly, while you let your emotions out, let me be the first man who ever kissed your broken soul. Let me be the first one whom your heart will trust " He murmured, staring deeply in my orbs. 

I could feel my eyes water up and biting my lips, I nodded. I finally gave in. I lost the battle. But this time, I was contented that I lost. My selfish little heart won and more than disappointment, I felt happiness engulfing around.

" Words, my love " I heard him murmur.

" I allow you. I want you. "

Hugging him tightly, I cried harder. Craving for peace in the chaos, I finally found him. The pole star. He was not the moon in my life but he was pole star who would be present even in the darkest night when the moon would be behind the veil.

Pole star guides people and he, he guided my heart to choose the right thing at the right or maybe even wrong time.

Ashton hugged me back, hiding his face in crook of my neck but carefully to not injure wound.

My tears found a home in him, my fears were taken care by him, he dealt with cracks of my heart, my insecurities were taken away by him.

I felt something wet on my shoulders, I frowned. Tightening my hold around him, I rubbed his back.

" Please don't cry, I can never see tears in your eyes. It hurts me. Please." I admitted, caressing his hairs softly.

His sniffles broke my heart, his grip tightened around me as if I will leave any moment.

" Let me cry today, let my eyes swell, I know I am in arms of someone who would never judge me. " I heard him murmur.

I tried controlling my tears and pulled back from the hug, he still kept clinging on to me. I felt something breaking inside me, seeing his face which was almost red due to sobbing and eyes bloodshot.

I caressed his face and he leaned in my touch, I gestured him to come closer and he did.

I hugged him tightly, resting my chin on top of his head. His head rested on my chest and his arms, gripped my waist tightly. I could feel his tears on my bare skin.

" You know, when I lost mom and dad, I blamed myself for that " he mumbled against my neck, snuggling more closer in my embrace.

I wrapped my right arm around his torso, trying to shield him from every pain. The sea of pain trapped in his heart slowly came out.

" I felt that it was because of me that this accident happened, it was for my birthday that t-they were flying there" he cried and I shook my head.

It was NOT his fault. Anyone but him.

" After they left me, I always tried staying cold to hide my emotions but eventually I understood that griping on those memories will just pain me more so I tried becoming normal but I had already lost my reason to smile "

In that moment, I realized, I was not the only one broken but maybe he was same as me. We both were broken, we both have scars, we both are lost.

" But then, I saw you " I heard him mumble, I looked down to face him.

He was smiling slightly, his eyes were closed as if he was finally at peace, there was such a prick in this moment.

" Looking like an angel, it was love at first sight for me. I was not attracted to your beauty but your personality, I saw fire in your eyes and in that moment I knew, either I would be tamed or burnt " he whispered with a small smile.

I smiled a little but what he said next broke my heart.

" But then, even you started ignoring me from past few days. Do you know how bad I was feeling, How hurt I was? " he cried and I shook my head violently.

I cupped his face, connecting my forehead to his. Tears rolled down our cheeks, I closed my eyes pained.

" I am sorry.... Please, forgive me. I thought I would hurt you more. I thought your happiness would be when you will be away from me. " I whimpered, my body shook violently.

I could feel my wound hurting due to movement of my hand.

" but you not talking me hurt me even more Alaia " he whispered, looking in my eyes.

" Please forgive me. I thought this would be the best, I could not stand your hatred for me so I thought of ignoring you " I cried, lowering my head.

" This is our life Alaia , you can never take decision for both of us. You cannot give up on me just because you assumed something." he said, choking on his tears.

I closed my eyes and breathed heavily.

" I know my mistake is bigger than this apology but....I am sorry " I wept, taking his hands in mine, I kissed back of his palm.

" I am sorry " I whispered, looking into his eyes.

I stroked his cheeks with my fingertip and he held my palms.

" I will forgive you if you never try doing something like this later. If you have any misunderstanding, just talk and not assume anything " he said, kissing back of my hand.

I nodded with tears, inching closer to him.

" We will never give up on love, this is our love story, our love story does not needs sacrifices. Our happiness lies in each other, we will fight for each other " he whispered.

I nodded and hugged him tightly.

" I love you.... I love you so much..." he mumbled.

I smiled softly and hugged him tighter.

" So you won't ignore me anymore right? " he mumbled and I chuckled softly.

I shook my head and pulled back from the hug. His smile was just like laugh of a grumpy kid which came back on the little cajoling.

" I promise, I will never hurt you " I whispered and stretched myself to kiss his forehead.

He closed his eyes with a heaving smile.

" I love you " he mumbled and I blushed.

Looking up, in my eyes, he whispered," Can I ask you something?" I nodded and he shifted slightly.

" Will you see a therapist? "

My smile faltered at his question, he kept gazing at me, waiting for an answer.

" Do I need to? " I whispered, voice barely coming out of my mouth.

" You do. You might not realize, Alaia, but therapy is something you need. You need to leave behind the baggage of past you're carrying. I had said that I'll heal you but that doesn't means I'll let you neglect your mental health. You will always find me beside you, holding your hand, providing you comfort. " He said, caressing my cheek.

" You need to get all that out of your chest, Alaia. I had to seek therapy too, when mum and dad died, it took a toll over my mental health. I was same as you, an emotional mess. " He whispered, choking on his own tears.

He held my palm and planted a soft kiss on them.

" I will think about it " I said after a minute of thinking. Today was too emotionally exhausting for me to take any decision right now.

He nodded, understandingly. A long breath escaped from his mouth before he once again gazed at me. As if, couldn't get enough of me.

" See it is very late now. Go and sleep, Ashton " I whispered, stroking his hair.

He closed his eyes and shook his head like a stubborn child.

" Let me sleep with you, in your arms " he said, giving me puppy dog eyes.

I almost groaned, they were so freaking cute! I smiled inwardly and slumped my shoulder, clearly exhausted not only physically but also emotionally.

" OK fine but let's sleep now " I said and got up, giving my right hand for him to get up.

He held my hand with a smile and stood up, dusting his sweats from his palms. I walked to my bed and adjusted the pillows, he hopped on my bed with a bounce, startling me.

" Wow! Your bed is so soft, we can use it like a trampoline " he said, excitedly and I looked at him wide eyed.

Is he the same person who was just bawling his eyes out a few moments ago?

" Don't you dare jump on my bed, now just sleep " I warned him, caressing my bed with a pout.

It is like my baby, my most favorite thing ever. Don't worry bed I won't let anything happen to you and make sure this Ashton does not uses it as his trampoline.

He rolled his eyes and got inside the covers, I inched closer and switched off the lamp.

I sat on the bed and adjusted the pillow on my left side as suggested by Liam so that my wound won't hurt me like a bitch while I sleep.

I laid down and closed my eyes. But I could not help my curiosity, I peeped at him from one eye.

" I can feel your gaze on me " he mumbled and I hid my face with my hand, embarrassed as hell. I heard him chuckle and his next moment almost made me choke on my own saliva.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, snuggling in crook of my neck. I could feel his faint breathing on my shoulders and I shuddered.

His mere romantic touches created ripples in my body and in a good way. He ends up making me feel butterflies and lightheaded.

" Sleep Alaia " he murmured.

I breathed out and wrapped my right hand around his shoulders. I could feel him smiling as his lips kept touching my bare skin. He snuggled closer to me and tangled his leg with mine making me almost laugh at his attempt to cage me tonight.

And in that moment, with him wrapped around me like an octopus, I fell for him like a raindrop. Slowly and gradually waiting to fall down from the cloud and then falling all at once.

This man, Ashton Johnson, made me feel alive and for once, made me want to live life and not endure it. His eyes made me dream a mundane life with him standing beside me, grasping my hand in his. Damn you Ashton Johnson. Damn you.

" Good night " he whispered.

I smiled.

" Good night. "

♥

Last time when she asked him to stay back, it was because of her past wound but this time when he asked her to stay back, it was because of his pain and their love.

Today.... She understood, it was not only her who was broken, who are hurt but it was also him.

He was lost along with her.

~♥~

Yes! Done!! And I hope you all liked it, so I'm up with intense and crying scenes so from next update it will be all fun.

Hope you all are excited as much as I am for writing.

As writing them in pain literally pained me, I was just feeling so low for a day when I was writing this.

And giving some brains to Alaia was needed, she needed to understand that love is not about sacrifices she was about to make. So in a soft way, I presented that as well.

So next update will be new morning with a new start.

So do read next chapters and soon this story will come to an end.

And copyright thing

So till my next update take care and stay safe. Byeeeeeee