My head was swimming with all the possible scenarios of how everything could have been ruined today. If they would have gotten to Ryan and the others, I would've never been able to forgive myself.

We were at Evan's apartment and it was a little over 10 at night. It was too risky to go back to Ryan's place because Jack had seen that place and he was still with Stella.

The sight of him in handcuffs standing in front of Stella shaking his head at me in warning was something that wasn't leaving my head. Why was he in handcuffs? Why did he warn me? But above all, what was Stella doing in Seattle? As far as I knew Stella, she always left all the dirty work for his men and never showed up herself, so why now?

Mia and Aiden had passed out on the couch in the rehearsal/living room. Evan had carried a very drunk Jenny inside his room and Noah and Sophia had also crashed here, in the guest room. They were all exhausted and being drunk didn't help either.

I walked inside the kitchen to see Ryan holding a glass of water and looking outside the window lost in his own thoughts. I don't know what came over me, but I just couldn't stop myself from crossing the small room and hug him from behind, burying my nose in his shirt. The fresh smell of his cologne filled my senses and I felt myself relax a little. Ryan didn't make any move to detach himself from me and instead placed a warm hand on my arm around his waist.

" I almost got everyone killed today, " I whispered slowly. I didn't even want to think about what could've happened if they would have managed to get one us. Or all of us.

Ryan turned around and without removing my arms from around his waist, silently gathered me in his arms and placed his head on top of mine. It was an innocent yet emotional hug. The kind which makes you want to just stay there forever with the warmth surrounding you like a blanket.

He didn't say anything instead just held me close and I was grateful for that. A million emotions were running through me and I didn't know what to do with them. His scent was messing up with my head. I felt safe. I felt protected. It was the best feeling in the world. That and I was falling.

I was falling for him real hard. God help me.

After what felt like an eternity, Ryan finally pulled away and I looked up into his eyes. His face looked beautiful under the moon light coming from the kitchen window. His lips had a faint hint of a smile on them and his eyes looked darker than usual.

He lifted his hand to my face and slowly moved a few loose strands of hair behind my ear. " Beautiful, " He whispered so lightly that if I hadn't been standing so close to him I wouldn't have heard it. My cheek tinted with colour and I quickly averted my eyes to the window. He chuckled softly at my reaction.

" What do we do now, Ryan? She's here in Seattle and sooner or later she will find me, " I sighed looking up at the shining stars through the window. Ryan let out a deep breath slowly and turned me to face him. " You need to stop thinking so much, Eve. We'll figure something out, stop stressing over it, " He said. " I can't stop thinking Ryan. I know what she is capable of and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. "

I wanted to just close my eyes and forget about everything that was happening around me, but I couldn't. It was all too much to handle.

" And I know what you're capable of. I saw enough tonight," He smiled proudly at me and my lips tugged upwards. "Eve, I know you were alone for so long that you're used to doing everything on your own, but you're not alone anymore. You have us, you have me, and I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to help you, " I saw sincerity in his blue eyes. " It's your choice Evelyn, whether you want us to help save you or you want to keep doing this all alone? " He said in a serious tone.

I searched his beautiful face, wondering how I got so lucky to meet a man like him. All the other men in my life had only ever made me hate their kind, with a passion, yet Ryan was so different. He might've looked like a bad boy because of his tattoos and everything but under all that he had a heart of gold. The fact that he had taken responsibility to help me without even thinking twice or asking anything in return told me that he was raised well.

I smiled at him sadly and said, " I don't want you to save me Ryan, I'm more than capable of doing that myself. I just want you to run away with me. To Portland. Or some other place, far away from all this chaos. " I meant it. This was all too much for me to handle. All I wanted was to run away to some far away place where no one would know who I was. He smiled back at me and gently stroked my cheek with his fingers, " We will Eve, soon, I promise. "

"However, I do have a place to show you right now, if you want, " He suggested stepping away from me. "Right now? " I asked and he nodded in return. " But it's almost eleven Ryan, " I pointed out. He grinned playfully at me, " Who doesn't like a long midnight drive? " He did have a point. I loved midnight drives. Something about them was just so romantic and relaxing. "Okay, " I said grinning excitedly. "Okay? " He confirmed and I nodded my head enthusiastically.

Softly laughing at my childish display, he held his hand out for me and I took it, interlacing our fingers. I liked to think how perfectly his hand fitted into mine. It was as if they were made for each other, molding perfectly against the other's skin. Smiling to myself I followed Ryan as he walked over to the front door. Locking it behind us, we made our way out of the building.

I slid inside the driver's side and Ryan didn't make any fuss about it this time. I felt a proud feeling inside my chest on thinking that he trusted my driving now, unlike earlier.

• A/N :- Listen to the song added above •

Pulling the car out of the parking lot, I asked Ryan for the direction. An old 90's slow song was playing on the radio and even though I didn't recognize it, the melody calmed my insides. Ryan however seemed to know the song well and was humming along. I was suddenly reminded of the collection of old records I had seen in his room earlier.

"You like old music, don't you? " I asked softy, not wanting to disturb the calm aura inside the car. " Mmm hmm, my mom likes such music, I got it from her, beside this was my parents' wedding song, " he chuckled softly. I looked over at him to see that he was smiling fondly. I noticed that this was the first time that he had mentioned his parents. " Your mom? How come you never talk about her? " I asked while focusing my eyes on the road ahead.

He laughed softly, " It's not like that Eve, I love my mom and dad. It's just, the topic never came up, " He said. I nodded. My heart clenched painfully on hearing him talk about his parents so happily. Why couldn't I ever have that?

Pushing the negative thoughts at the back of my head, I smiled at his happiness, " Oh yeah? Tell me more about them. " He chuckled slightly, " My mom and dad live in L.A. with my little brother and sister. My mom's a very gentle soul. She's beautiful inside and out and she loves her kids more that anything. My dad is a more reserved kind of a man. He loves his family but doesn't really know how to express it. I guess I got that trait of his. I'm not very good with words either. " I smiled at the adoration on his face. He loved his family. He had a family.

" You are saying you're not good with words? You write songs Ryan! And might I add, those songs are freaking masterpieces! " I chuckled amusedly. He laughed loudly, " I know. That's the biggest irony of my life! " I laughed at his words.

" And your siblings? What are their names? " I asked and he smiled proudly, obviously remembering them. " Oh Christophe and Cheryl, their like the twin trouble of the family. They're loud and funny and Dad calls them the fire alarm of the house, " He said and I laughed. "They're twins? "

" Yup, and they're just 6 years old so you can only imagine the amount of wreckage they cause back at home. " I laughed at the thought. I had never had siblings or any cousins before so I didn't really know what Ryan was talking about but the amused look on his face was enough to tell me that it was pretty bad.

" You're lucky to have such a lovely family, Ryan, " I said with a sad smile on my face. He turned to me and mirrored my expression, " Trust me Eve, I know how precious they are. " I smiled, " Good."

" Turn over there, " Ryan said and I did as he told me. My eyes widened at the sight of the Seattle Needle right in front of us. "Ryan? " I gasped. I had always wanted to come here.

"You like it? " He asked and I nodded with a stupid goofy grin on my face. "How're we gonna get in though? It's almost midnight. " I pointed out. "Don't worry, I have my ways! " He winked at me.

Hmm, this should be fun.

*********

• Author's note •

This was a pretty normal chapter. What do you think?

QUTD :- What is your favourite era of music?

I like to think that the 80's were a golden era of music. But obviously today's artists do a great job too.

Much love

M :)