She can see them.

They are in the same room as her and instinctively, she reaches out to them both.

Fingertips touching but it's not enough.

She tries again but each time she reaches for them, they seem to move back out, they are just out of her reach.

Her babies.

Then she sees him.

The face that haunts her dreams, turning them into nightmares.

He is the reason for where she is today.

For who she is today.

He disappears, taking her babies with him.

Now she is running.

Running after their shadows.

His laughter is taunting.

As are their cries.

She runs until she feels she can no longer breathe, yet she keeps running.

Because if she stops running, he wins.

He wins.

Grace woke up with a start, clawing at the covers on the bed as she tried to untangle herself, so she could put some distance between herself and him.

Him.

"Grace!" she heard his voice from beside her and instantly started to push and punch at him.

Why is he here in her room?

How did he..?

Strong hands gripped her arms, not to hurt her, but to cease her movements before he leaned in, his cheek touching hers.

Then she smelled him.

And she stopped.

"Harry?" she whispered as she stopped struggling, the familiar scent enveloped her.

She waited for him to speak, to confirm that it was him and not her mind still playing tricks on her.

"I'm here Grace," Harry answered, "I'm here."

The fear that was running through her veins started to ease, her heart that was beating so furiously that she felt it in her ears, began to slow.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I thought...can you forgive me?" she begged.

Harry released her arms and wrapped his own around her, pulling Grace close to him.

"There's nothing to forgive," he replied, "you've done nothing to forgive."

He felt her body lose its tension as she slumped against him, her own arms clutching his hoodie so tightly that if she let go, he would disappear.

She despised herself for feeling so weak and needy.

She was so ashamed of herself.

"You're not," she heard Harry say.

Grace pulled away just enough so she could meet his gaze, embarrassed that what she was thinking in her head, she had actually voiced out loud.

"You're not weak or needy Grace," Harry said softly, "you're one of the strongest people I've ever meet, trust me," he smiled at her, "emotions aren't something to be ashamed of either."

"It's just..." she sighed, "you shouldn't be seeing me like this, I'm your boss..." she trailed off when she saw his raised eyebrow, "what?" she asked.

"I think we're a little bit past employee and boss, don't you think?" he asked with a touch of smugness about him.

"I...well..." she blushed a little before her smile fell and her eyes widened, and Harry felt her body tense up all over again.

"Grace?" Harry asked, slightly alarmed.

"James," she replied, "James knows about us...Lucy...Lucy told him she saw us..." her face crumpled up again.

"I know," Harry quickly said causing Grace to look at him in confusion, "when you were asleep, he came in here," he paused, "we had quite the conversation...well he talked more and I listened..."

"What...what did he tell you?" Grace asked, looking positively scared.

"He only told me a couple of things," Harry began, "he told me about Mason-"

Grace gasped out loud at his words.

"And about your medicine..." he trailed off, reaching over to pick up the bottle next to the bed.

Grace looked down shamefully when she saw the bottle in Harry's hand.

"Grace there's nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about," Harry went on, "there must have been a reason you were prescribed these, they wouldn't give them to you lightly," he said, "if you need to take them, then you should take them, simple as that," he shrugged his shoulders.

He thought was, he if could make it sound very matter of fact then maybe Grace wouldn't feel like she was right now.

Of course, he wanted to know why, and that Grace would be the one to reveal why, but he also knew that maybe, she might never tell.

"James didn't say why you were taking them, he said that's for you to tell me, if you feel you should," he went on, "you know you can trust me," he added.

"I know," she replied, "I do know that, but sometimes even though I know it, it's still hard to believe it, I'm sorry does that make sense?"

Harry smiled encouragingly.

"It does," he said.

"I can't believe he told you about Mason," she let out a long breath, "what did he say?"

"Just that they'd been together for a few years, that you've been covering for him and that his mother would lose her shit and disown him if she knew," he replied with a wry smile, "that about cover it?"

"Pretty much," Grace replied, "Joan is very black and white and of course there is only one way...hers."

"The fact that you've held his secret for him though, that's pretty selfless," Harry said, "it's not something just anyone could do I don't think."

Grace looked down at her lap, her hand reaching to pick at something on the covers.

"I...I don't know..." she finally whispered.

"You don't have to say anything," Harry said, "it's just an observation."

Grace nodded, thankful she didn't have to try and explain herself to Harry.

He wanted to bring up the fact that James had encouraged Grace to find someone for herself but didn't quite know how to without it sounding...

Well.

Without it sounding that he quite wanted to kiss her like his life depended on it.

He'd had a taste of what was once forbidden fruit and it left him wanting more.

And now that it wasn't forbidden...

"What are you thinking about?" Grace suddenly interrupted his thoughts, which probably wasn't a bad idea.

"Uh...nothing," he said, mentally face palming himself for where his mind had wandered off to.

"Don't lie," she replied, "your mind was a million miles away."

He shook his head and blushed.

"I just had...thoughts..." he said quietly.

"Of?" Grace nudged him, wanting to know what had him thinking so deeply.

He sighed heavily before looking up to meet her gaze.

"You," he said, his gaze moving from her eyes to her mouth and back again, "just you.  I'm sorry," he suddenly said, "after all you've been through since last night it's so wrong of me and I-"

"I think you should go back home," Grace cut him off.

"I...what?" Harry replied, confused at what she had said.

"I think it would be best for all involved if you returned home," Grace repeated, moving herself out of Harry's embrace, "it's best for you."

Harry sat there, stunned as he looked at her.

"You don't mean that," he said.

Grace looked away from him, her gaze focused on the wall.

"Things are not as settled as they once were," she said, "I don't want you getting caught up in it Harry, it's a mess," she paused, "one huge fucking mess."

"Grace look at me," he said quietly, only to be met with the shake of her head, refusing to look at him, "Grace...look at me...please?" he implored.

She bit her lip, willing herself not to break at the tone in his voice.

This beautiful, sweet soul who had inadvertently wound his way into her life.

No.

Into her heart.

And for him to stay that way, she had to let him go.

"Grace...please..." he begged her again.

"Please don't make me," she whispered.

"Why?" he whispered in response, moving closer to her so his nose nuzzled her cheek.

"I don't want you to be hurt," she squeezed her eyes shut as her heart sped up from how close he was.

It always did.

Harry reached up with his hand and placed it under her chin, turning her face gently until she had no choice but to look at him.

"If you send me away," he whispered, "that will hurt me the most," he said before slowly placing his lips on hers, waiting for Grace to push him away.

Instead he felt her sigh against his mouth as her hand reached up to tangle in the back of his hair.

And instead of pushing him away.

She pulled him closer to her.