MEGAN

"It looks like something fat has fallen on the couch." Miles whispered and I had to suppress my urge to laugh at his words. "Don't you think the couch is too small for her?"

I looked at what Miles was pointing at. Amber. She had been sitting on the couch with her legs stretched on it as her gown cascaded downwards. Zack had to sit at the top and they both had to look at the camera directly with attitude. At least that was what Dough meant when he had pulled the couch.

But with Miles's tantrums and weird comments, I was sure that it would take Amber another round of photo session to get her images right.

Maintaining the same posture, Zack mouthed to us behind him. "Would you please keep the volume down? I'm trying to admire here."

"If you want to admire, you should be doing it from afar." Miles nodded his head as we stood at the side looking at the couple pose. "That close, I understand it's too difficult."

The look on Amber's face said that she was too near to get Miles killed in an instant and she could do it in her bare hands. With a glare that was directed at Miles, she clenched her fists together, desperately trying to keep her calm.

"Call me fat one more time." Amber hissed as the photographer suggested another pose. "I dare you."

"Babe, come on," Zack said, pulling her towards him. Though she was angry she went to his arms without complaint. As Zack kissed the side of her forehead, I could see some of the tension vanish from her features. "You know Miles. They were just trying to make the photos come good."

"Exactly." Miles walked towards them with me in tow. "But you got to know one thing for sure, Amb."

I crumpled my eyebrows together in wonder. What more teases was Miles pulling on my poor friend? If she was not able to help the anger, I was sure she would burst out into a crying mess.

Miles pulled her cheeks to one side with a playful glint in his eyes. "That Zack would love you even if you became fat. And trust me, that's a good thing. I would have had to object to this wedding if it was otherwise."

The seriousness in his tone was what made Amber look at him in shock. The shudder wearied off and was quickly replaced with a rage that was too powerful to control. Miles had noticed it too. And when Amber pulled her gown to one side making it easy for her to run, Miles had already bolted off in the opposite direction to save himself.

I burst out laughing along with Zack who was now shaking his head looking at the two run after one another.

"This is the most fun shoot I have ever been to." Zack muttered as Dough tried to capture the running bride with a glare. "You are okay with him being around, right?"

The sudden question made me halt in my own steps. Given the circumstances, I was okay. I didn't faint at his voice and I didn't turn into a pool of crying mess when I saw him laugh. Maybe that was a good sign.

"I'm good." I said with a faint smile. Even if I wasn't, I would have endured it for Amber.

"Good. I don't regret making him my best man." Zack said.

I understood what he meant and I had a fair idea about the fact that Zack had chosen Miles rather than his friends to make him the best man. I knew that the two men weren't as close to one another and hence, the only solid reason was to believe that Amber had a cupid matchmaking plan.

Though a part of me wondered if it was all for something good, I knew that I had to come back from my infinite dark doom and face the world again. If meeting Miles was one step further, I was ready to take it.

Amber and Miles came back at that instant. While Amber wore a satisfied smile on her face, Miles was scowling at her as he rubbed a spot on his shoulder.

"Now, tell him." Amber hit Miles's shoulder again at the same spot he was clutching onto. I winced at her behavior, but I knew when to shut up.

"Zack, you are most lucky to have Amber at your side." Miles looked uncomfortably at Amber and when she glared at him, he opened his mouth again. "She's the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I'm really sorry for stating a few..."

"Untrue." Amber supplied and I had to bite back my laughter.

"Yes... untrue facts that I muttered in my stupidity." Miles finished his speech. "Happy?" He turned towards Amber who only beamed at him. "Just so you know, my fingers were crossed behind my back. So, those words don't count."

I couldn't hold back anymore, and I laughed. It was the first time that I had laughed without restrictions, without wanting to please anyone. And for the first time, I felt free of my previous baggage.

Instead of fighting among each other, the whole group had turned and were staring at me. Amber was fighting her own tears while Zack looked at me in horror. Miles was the only one who was smiling along with me.

Without another word, Amber pulled Miles into a hug. "Don't you dare snatch that laughter from her." She walked towards me and hugged me too, kissing my cheeks as she looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I love you, Megan. Way too much."

---

The photoshoot had gone presumably well and by the time Dough had said it was a wrap, it had been too late. We had early dinner with pizzas and coke, and I was glad that I didn't have to prepare anything to feed myself back at home.

"You are going to be alright?" Amber kept on asking the same question for the past fifteen minutes. "I mean, I can cancel my plans and drop you off."

Having gotten a ride from Amber, I didn't have a transportation to get back home. And since I had fancied walking to clear my head, I planned to walk back home if Amber was having other plans.

"You don't have too. Besides, I had a lot of food in the tea break." I tucked my hair behind my ears as I talked. "I'll walk home, you know, like some exercise."

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Miles roll his eyes.

"Drop her home." Zack patted Miles's shoulder as Miles gave a quick nod.

"No, no. That's alright." I said, waving my hands at them. "I don't want to trouble anyone."

"You and I both know that it won't be any trouble, Meg." Miles muttered.

While Amber and Zack repeated their concerns for letting me go with Miles, the playful banter that we had only a few hours ago was now turning into something very awkward. I could feel Miles's stance change from being polite and friendly to something I had seen distinctly when his ex had come home. It was a cold fury of rage sparkling from a distance.

"Relax guys." I smiled at them. "It's not that Miles is a vampire ready to suck my blood out. I'll be fine."

With much resistance, they reluctantly made their way out. Though I had managed to settle their concerns, my worry for Miles hadn't come down.

"You okay, Miles?" I asked tentatively, making sure that I was not crossing the boundary. I didn't know if I could take it if Miles was angry with me only after a few hours of joy we shared.

"Look, Megan. If you don't feel safe with me, I can call a cab." He breathed out. "I won't ever follow you. I'll just leave you around. I promise."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, though I had a fair idea. "Amber and Zack are just worried about me."

"I can't believe that they think I'm going to hurt you after all that..." He ran his fingers over his hair. "It's as if I would harm you... as if I don't care about you at all..."

I was dumb-folded with his outburst. So, all this while this was what was brewing inside his head? That he wasn't good enough to be with me, even if it was for a short journey of dropping me home?

Anger sputtered in me. I had been suffering all through and he thought so little of me? Words were out of my mouth before I could stop it. "For your information, I've never felt safer around anyone before you." My tone was harsh and for the minute, I couldn't care less. "They say that only because... only because they know that only you can hurt me."

Miles's mouth opened to say something more, but it closed on the realization of the meaning I had said. His angry orbs dimmed in its brightness and a new flame rose in him. The light was not new and my unshed tears had seen it often in him.

"Darling." He sighed and tried to take one step towards me. But I pulled back, as the first tear rolled down my cheeks. I could tell that he was hurting too...

All these years when I had the familiar consolation from my dear ones, I knew that Miles didn't have that luxury. It wasn't fair for my friends to pull him in when in need and push him out when the requirement was fulfilled.

He raised his hand and wiped my tears away. "I'm sorry for bursting out like that."

"I'm sorry too." I sniffed. "I'll talk to them first thing in the morning. They shouldn't have made such comments."

When he reached for me this time, I didn't hesitate. But as soon as I had made my way towards him, his phone started to ring, and I heard a faint curse leave him mouth before he pulled the device out. With a roll of his eyes, he received the call with an irritated hello thrown at the caller.

He waited for some time as I stood giving a little distance and wiped my eyes clean. I was getting better at controlling my emotions. If this had happened a few months ago, I might have as well had a panic attack.

"Now?" Miles glanced nervously at me. "I was busy with something... Yeah, with a kid." He rolled his eyes at me. He pulled the phone out and covered it. "It's Mark. Em needs babysitting."

"Aren't you free all evening?" I asked remembering what he had told. "We could pull it off."

There was a shimmer of realization, happiness and a layer of understanding in his dark eyes before he broke into a smile. He nodded at me once and pressed the phone to his ears again.

"What are friends for? We will be there in an hour." He said while I shook my head with a smile of my own.

---

The sky looked ugly with patches of black thrown among the blue clouds. Distant thunder was heard as I woke up with a jolt. My surroundings weren't familiar, and it took me a whole minute to realize that I was at Laura's babysitting little Emerald with Miles.

I looked to my side to see Miles sleeping peacefully with Emerald on top of him curled into a ball. My heart melted at that. All these times, I had envisioned Miles being the monster, hurting me and now, looking at him, care for that little girl had my heart racing. If someone were to tell me that I was going to be on speaking terms with Miles Jackson after three whole years, I wouldn't have believed them. Now, the possibility seemed like a new normal.

We had reached the house as we promised, and Emerald had been too excited and happy to see us both at her side. She had momentarily forgotten about her parents leaving and had waved her hands in enthusiasm when her parents had gone out.

I could tell that Miles loved Emerald way too much to spoil the kid. Even with the occasional teasing, Emerald wanted him to be at her side all the time. I chuckled to myself reminiscing the scenes I had witness when Em had made Miles watch Rapunzel and Frozen one after the other. Though Miles had earned soft hits from Em for badmouthing her favorite character, Miles hadn't stopped.

A part of me wondered if Emerald was jealous of me and the same part made me want to laugh out loudly at her innocent ways. Miles had reached over to hold my hand when Emerald had hit him for the fifth time. Our fingers had barely touched when Em yanked his hand away from me and held it to herself.

Laughing, Miles had kissed her and hadn't pulled any such stunts after that.

Smiling to myself, I got up and turned off the television and walked to the balcony. I wasn't sleepy anymore. Even though the pills were consumed, sleep was always a dream for me. Light drizzle was falling down and looking at the clouds, I could tell that it promised a heavy downpour.

I wondered why Laura and Mark hadn't come back yet. Another aloof thunder growled far away and I let out a sigh.

"Hey, not sleepy?" I jumped as the voice made its way. I clutched my chest and turned around to see a sleepy Miles walking towards me rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

He walked ahead and leaned against the railing close to me. His eyes were tired and I knew that he needed more rest than he actually had.

"Why don't you get some sleep? I'll wake you up when they come." I suggested.

"Nope, little Em kicks. I'm not going back in there." He scratched his neck and I snickered at his response. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No." I said, tucking my hair behind my ears. My hands were slightly shivering, and I knew for a fact that it wasn't because of the drizzle. "I'm glad that Emerald went to sleep without much tantrums."

If Miles noticed my change in topic, he didn't let it show. He only nodded his head. "I'm glad about it too. Mark and Laura should be back by now. I don't know what's keeping them late."

Suddenly, there was a bright thunder, slicing the clouds in two. The light spread till the bed and I could see Emerald tucked in her bed. The lighting was followed by an ear-piercing thunder and I looked at Em, wondering if it woke her up. She whimpered a little, but clung to her sleep, much to my relief.

"Well, you are staying here today, right?" I asked him, once I was confirmed that Emerald was not going to wake up anytime soon. "Why does it matter if they arrive late or early?"

"No." He turned towards the garden the small balcony faced. "I've an early meeting tomorrow."

"Oh," I assumed that he would be staying over too.

Though we had patched up in a way, we really hadn't spent some time alone. Our issues were still untouched and uncommunicated. And even if there was a chance given to us, I didn't know if I was strong enough to interconnect without breaking down. Perhaps, he had let go of it.

"Awe, you are missing me already?" Miles asked, making an adorable face at me. "I could drop you home, if you would. That way, you can have me for the time you will spend till I drop you off."

"Really?" It would give me an opportunity to spend more time with him. "That would be nice, actually."

Miles laughed. "Then, you agree that you would be missing me?" He asked as I rubbed my hands together and kept it to my cheeks. It worked to keep me from the cool and to hide my redden cheeks. "Don't worry, darling. I won't leave you alone, when I know that you are scared of that the most."

My eyes shot up "You remember?"

"There are a lot of things that I remember Megan." He said, his voice too soft. The drizzle now turned into blotches of water, promising a heavy rain in the near future. He didn't move an inch. He turned his gaze at me, studying me and it looked as if he was trying to figure me out. "Sometimes I have woken up at night, wondering if you are still scared."

There was so much sincerity in his voice that told me that we both have had our share of misfortunes thrown our way and we dealt with it differently. I walked up to him and took his hand in mine, squeezing it tightly.

"I want to forget the ugly pasts." I muttered. I really did. I didn't want to see him in such tremendous pain. I wanted a clean slate to start fresh. "Can you forgive me?"

"What?" Miles's eyes bulged as he watched me. "Darling... I'm the one with the mistakes. I was the one who took this further without considering what you would feel. I should be the one to be sorry."

My eyes filled to the brim. I hated feeling so weak in front of him. Sure, a relationship with him was still far away, but I didn't want him to think twice before he talked with me. I wanted the Miles who teased Amber, who would tell Zack that he would take care of me, who would be the crush of Emerald without having to worry about my feelings.

"Then... I want us to forgive each other." I sniffed.

Miles pulled me in as rain started pouring down. My tears went unseen as the shower washed them away for me. Our forehead touched and Miles let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, it felt so good to be next to him, in his hold as a silent promise went through us. A promise of something that was much greater than I could fathom at the moment.

A promise of not letting go. 

---

A/N: We are only a few chapters away from saying a big bye to Miles and Megan. I'm already teary eyed.

Anyway, I spent the whole of the weekend making a sweet called Kheer to overcome my tears. It's a dish with milk, resins, cashews, sugar and roasted vermicelli. Do you know what you call it in your language?