The moment I saw him, the world seemed to spin, and everything seemed to get back in its place. His curly hairs, the dark eyes, his constant need to observe, his loneliness, everything made sense.

He looked at me, confusion etched on his face, trying to understand what I was telling him. His face, for once looked fresh and I involuntarily thanked the Lords. He would need all his strength for the conversation I wanted to have with him tonight.

"Scarlet, aren't you early today?" Luke asked putting his head out from his bonnet, giving me a sly smile. "Were you missing the tracks that much?" He asked, but when he saw me, his whole expression changed. "Scar? What's wrong?"

Luke came forward, leaving everything that he was doing to make sure I was alright, while the person in question, sat still on the floor, watching me intently. I didn't avert my eyes from Robert, trying my best to let him know that I wanted to talk to him in private. Luke stood between Robert and me, blocking my view.

There were questions I wanted answers for. Though it was not my place to ask him and get answers, I had jumped in too deep not to know now. We were close enough to share a bed and I felt like I deserved that much.

Luke held my arm and made me turn to look at him. He studied me, his eyes never leaving mine as he tried to reveal my layers of truth.

"I'm fine, Luke." I said.

"Please don't do that, you look scarier than usual." Luke smiled. The fact that he had tried to crack a joke to get me laughing was soothing. I smiled back at him, genuinely this time. "There's the smile I was looking for."

"Rob, can I talk to you in private?" I asked, bending to see Robert who was obstructed from my vision by Luke.

At my confession, Luke stood next to me, waiting for the answer. Robert looked away giving a curt nod. He asked for two minutes, putting all his tools back in its place and grabbing a coat from the hook. After his two-minute delay, he stood directly in front of me, looking like he had figured it all out.

"Luke, I'm going to be fine." I said, sparing him a look. At least that was what I hoped.

Luke looked at Robert and me alternatively, still not fully convinced to let me go. "You will call me if you need anything. I repeat, anything. I'm not even kidding about it, Scar."

As I nodded my head, Luke patted my back awkwardly before letting me go. Robert led the way to his car and I didn't protest. He pulled open the car door open for me. I raised my eye brows at his sudden gentleman actions, but didn't voice it out. He ran to the other side and buckled up.

I didn't try to put the seat belt on. I turned towards him, watching him intently. How had I missed all those signals before? It was right in front of me and I over looked it, pretending it to be something else. That meant he knew it all along and played neat with everything.

His curly hair was a mess, his sweat breaking down his forehead as he pulled into the road. I had a fair idea that he had come to know about it. After all, wasn't he good at observing?

His lips were dry, but his eyes were vigilant, monitoring everything in its view. He turned his face towards me, looking crossly at my insane idea of not putting on my seat belt, but he was hesitant to tell anything about it.

It was one of the times I didn't ask him where we were heading to. I was not afraid of him anymore and I knew it was the other way round. Though I was not scared for him, I was terrified of his past.

I had only gotten bits and pieces from others, stitching them all together to see what I had finally found. Though I didn't know if that was the truth, but all of their conversations converged to the same place.

I wanted to confront him. I didn't want him to run anymore. I wanted him to stay and fight, not for anyone else, but for himself.

The tyres creaked to a halt and that was when I shifted my gaze to the surroundings. We were at the beach. I didn't know if it was okay for us to hang out in the beach at this time of the day. It was already nine and if we did start talking, I didn't want us to get interfered in between.

"There's a party going on." Robert said, silently answering my questions. "The guy has rented this place for the night, we will be okay here."

I was still fascinated at how easy it was for him to read people even without having to hear them out completely. Yet, he had chosen to abandon them when he thought it was for the best. How could he be so selfish?

Instead of putting all my thoughts out in the open, I shut my mouth nodding my head to his sentences. I wondered if he had supplied goods here and that was how he got to know about the whole renting situation.

We got down and silently walked to the far end of the party where we wouldn't be disturbed. My hands got clammy and I didn't know how to start what I had in mind. He had read my mind before, could he do that again and spare me from this mental exhaustion?

"Scarlet." He started and I turned around to look at him. His eyes were vulnerable now, all his walls crumpled around him.

He looked like that thirteen year old boy who had gotten into that accident. Suddenly, I wanted to run to him and console him that no matter what happened, I was there for him, that he didn't have to deal all of it alone.

Instead, I looked away, not trusting my instincts with him. If I didn't hold my ground, I was sure I would have betrayed my morals.

"I have a few questions for you." I said, not daring to meet his eye. "Promise me you will answer them honestly."

I heard him take a step towards me while I stood rooted to the ground. The cold breeze flew my free hair in all directions, getting me an upper hand in hiding my real emotions. I held my breath when Robert lifted his hand at me. He gently tucked those free stands behind my ears and lifted up my chin, making me look at him.

His brown eyes spoke volumes that his mouth failed. "I promise." He murmured.

I took a step back, not wanting to fall for his charms. I looked at the sea, not facing him. The night was serene with the crescent moon cradling in the sky. The waves was pleasingly calm, gently roaring along with the distant hoots of the party.

The moon was merciful enough to give us a little light to take in our vulnerabilities while it hid inside the clouds when we had to mask ourselves. Under any other circumstances, I would have enjoyed the tranquility, but tonight it made me jittery.

"How did you get into racing, Rob?" I asked, my voice was very low and I wondered if he could have heard it. Before I could repeat it again and turn towards him, I felt him behind me, circling his arms around me. I didn't dare to turn around to see him as I was sure, if I did, I would have melted under the raw pain it held. "I have a few theories, but I want you to tell me before I assume the worse."

His grip on me tightened and for a second, I felt comfortable and safe in his arms. Having not seen him over five days had had its effect on me and I had to struggle to keep my thoughts at the matter in hand.

"Scarlet." He breathed and suddenly, it felt as if he had transformed into someone else whom I didn't know. "I... Your assumptions... whatever it may be are true."

I turned around too see him. He had bent his head as if in shame, not ready to meet my eye. His hold on me still remained, scared that I might leave him any minute. He was too gloomy for a Friday night and I wanted to curse myself for getting him in this state in the first place. I placed my palm on his cheeks and ran my thumb over his stubble slowly.

"How do you know Mira?" I asked, my voice was barely above a whisper. "Are you Ratan?" At this, he crashed onto the sand, his head low. "Rob, please... I just want to know. If you are not comfortable, we can pretend that this didn't happen at all."

He didn't move or say anything as I bent on my knees for him. We crouched there, on the shore holding each other, I don't know for how long, but I knew he needed it. Robert who talked a lot, seemed to have run out of words. He was eerily silent and I wondered why.

I leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on his cheeks getting him out of his trance. I wanted him to know that no matter what happened, I was there with him. I had jumped in too deep in this to let him do it all on his own. I involuntarily traced small circles on his palm, encouraging him to speak up.

"I... you probably know most of the things by now." Robert started, not looking at me. His eyes were strained on the waves ahead of us. "My father had left mom then. I had loved him, you know?" I turned towards me and I could tell that he was fighting tears. "We were a happy family until he left... for another woman."

I nodded my head, silently telling him to continue.

"He was my world. He was there for every practice at school, all soccer games, football matches, meetings and everything." He said. "When he left, I felt alone. He didn't turn back once to look at me."

"Robert..." I drawled.

I had lost a mother but all the times, I knew she had loved me. But knowing that one of the parent left without giving the love for you was always the worst and Robert had it bad.

"What was the point in going to school if he wasn't coming to collect my report cards or watch how I was doing in sports?" Robert asked, looking at me. Tears had reached his eyes to its brim and my heart broke out for him. "At home, they acted as if nothing went wrong. As if we were still a happy family. It sickened me."

Knowing Mira, I was sure she would have done it. Monica was too practical to shed tears for the person who had walked away from the golden family, leaving Rob alone.

"I wanted to forget... to be like them, at least pretend that all was fine." Robert looked away, probably disgusted by the events that happened next. "I went drinking, weed, girls... you name it, I had done them all."

"It was not your fault, Rob." I said, getting closer to him. That was when the first tear poured down his cheeks. I wanted to reach out and wipe it away, but I didn't dare do it.

"You have no idea what those combinations can do to you." He chuckled sadly. "That was why I told you not to drink anymore."

"That is why you don't drink." I corrected.

Robert looked away. "I had a fight with Mom that day, about Dad. She had come to know about my absence in class and drinking habits. She had never raised a hand on me, but that day, she hit me as tears rolled down her face."

I took a sharp breath, taking in the scene. I couldn't have imagined Mira being aggressive.

"She was right in doing so, but at that age, I was furious. I took her car and went driving." Robert said. "I was a rebel, back then. Did they say you that?"

His smile was sad and it only made me hold him tighter. "You got into an accident."

He nodded. "There was a thunderstorm that day." His eyes travelled to me and I knew instantly what he was referring to. His fear had started that day and his fate had changed completely. "I was high on weed and with the slippery roads, I couldn't see the truck that hit me."

He wiped away his tears and looked at me, smiling sadly.

"This scar is because of that." He pointed his forehead. "I don't remember in detail, but one boy had got hurt and the truck driver had run over him." Robert said. "I ran away."

"Oh, Robert." My voice trembled as I realized the fucked up childhood he had. "They all thought that boy was you."

"I know and I let it be." Robert murmured. "I did all kinds of jobs and learnt to live on my own."

"You could have gone back." I said, my voice higher this time. I wanted to hit his head and put some sense into it. Why did he have to run away?

"I was scared, Scarlet." He looked at the sea again. "Blood and all. I knew I was going to jail just for that. And people thought I was dead. That gave me opportunity to start fresh."

"So you became Robert Hastings." I said.

"It was not easy though." He said. "I picked up fights with people due to my hot head nature." I took his hand in mine and turned it around, his knuckles had scars all over it and I knew Gary was right all along. "Until I met Gary, it had become difficult. I had spent a lot of days with only one meal per day."

"Robert..." I stumbled. I couldn't have imagined a boy with no one to reach back having to spend days without food. That was the reason why he was such a clean meticulous cook, not wanting to waste any food.

"Gary... He became the father I always wished for. His wife often reminded me of my own mother." He said. "But the guilt was eating me alive. I found a job in the garage and I let myself out of their house for good."

I looked at him, his face held a lot of emotions and for a guy of his age, he sure had gone through a lot to get himself where he was now.

"When I saw Mom with you in that party, all hell had opened up for me." Robert said, travelling back in time. "She was so fragile and I wanted to reach out... she... it was my mother, Scar."

I nodded in understanding. I could almost feel his pain smearing from him.

"And Mon... she has grown up... she handled everything." He said, he tears streaming out. "It was supposed to be me looking after them and yet, I had run away... just like father."

"Mira misses you, Rob." I told him. He needed to know. He needed to know that he was still an important part of their lives like he was back then. It might have been years since he had eloped, but the connection was still there. "She's having a break down because she thinks she saw you."

"What?" Robert asked, yanking his hand free. He stood up, taking a few steps away from me. I followed him, maintaining a close distance. "That is not possible. They hated me... and often told that I was fit to be nothing... No, that cannot be possible,"

"It is, Robert." I said, pulling him closer to me. I didn't want to scare him or make him rum away again, but he had to learn the truth. He had to understand that he was necessary for the family, not only now but back then too. "Mira's been hallucinating ever since you left. She loves you."

Robert shook his head no, not believing me. I didn't want to overwhelm him with all the information.

"Was that the reason why you were avoiding me?" I asked.

At my change in question, he looked at me, his eyes losing the confusion it had in them a moment ago. "Scarlet," He came closer to me, holding my face in his hands. He pressed his lips on my forehead, placing my hand on his chest. "I saw the damage I made to them that night. I don't want to do the same to you."

I pulled back, angry and frustrated at his words. "What the fuck did you say? Damage? Have you seen your bloody phone and realized how many calls I have made in the past few days?"

"Scarlet," He pulled me back and I resisted.

He had to know that it was not okay to distance himself when he thought it was right. "You have no idea how much I want to strike your cheeks right now."

At this, Robert's face broke into a small smile that I was missing so much. "Well, you could, but out of all people, I don't want you to be my mother."

My anger melted at his words but the frustration was building up. "Promise me one thing." I huffed, closing my eyes. "You will not run away from me, no matter what."

He wanted to fit in and I could see him try harder every day. He had wanted to pretend to be happy when his sister and mother were. He didn't want to be the odd one out to recognize the pain in their lives. He tired to forget, but he couldn't.

His constant need to make observations and his ability to collect information about all the things that were there, was nothing but another step to make himself at home in this foreign world. Whatever he was today, he had not chosen it, but the field had chosen him. Trying to make himself one among the others, he had lost himself along the way.

In the process, he had lost not only his father, but his mother and sister as well. I now understood the reason behind those mystery of not letting people in. He had given me a chance now and I didn't want to ruin it.

"Promise me." I repeated again.

He always had the tendency to run away from the things he thought he couldn't handle. It had come from his childhood. He had run away with the drinks when he found out about his Dad. When he couldn't face his mother's wrath, he had faked his death and stayed away from home. Now, when he had a slight idea that I had known him for him, he had avoided me.

He had trust issues.

I looked at him expectantly, patiently waiting for his answer. When I saw a slow nod from his side, my lips tugged upwards. Though it was not very convincing, I took what I got.

"Did... how is she?" He asked hesitantly. The way he tried to avoid my eye contact tugged my heart strings. "And Mon?"

I took a deep breath. I knew that he had to know the truth about what remnants he had left behind when he turned his back to his people. But with all the revelations that was out there, I didn't know if he was ready to hear more.

"Rob, I'm not sure if you are ready yet." I said in all honestly. He had reluctantly agreed that he would stay this time and I didn't know if I could hold onto him on that. "It's been a tough time for them."

Robert ran his fingers over his curls desperately. "Please Scarlet." He begged. "I just want to know. I won't even go to them."

I remembered the conversation I had with Mira the other day and I trembled on the spot. Mira and Monica, given the situation at the party hadn't recognized him. Mira had specifically asked me to get Robert for her to meet and greet. How was I able to do that when I knew this boy was her son?

Robert came closer and put his hand on mine and gripped it tightly. His eyes were swimming with indescribable emotions and I couldn't hold back.

"Mira has hallucinations about you." I said, my voice barely audible. "She was more affected by your abandoning rather than her husband's. She feels guilty for your death and blames herself for it."

"What? No!" Robert said, confusion and shock etched on his face. His face had lost all its color and it stood matching its complexion with the crescent moon. He looked horrified, as if his mother couldn't care enough for him. "She told me that I was the cause of her problems."

For a guy who spoke volumes about almost everything, he seemed little dull when it came to motherly emotions and admonish. Mira could have told them in the heat of the moment and yet, he had taken it into heart, taking great measures to remedy it.

I took a step forward towards him, taking his face in my hands. I didn't know how else to make him understand. "Look, Rob." I sighed. "I'm in no position to defend any of you."

"I know." Robert sighed. "It's... just too hard... after all these years."

"Mira was asking for you the other day." I said. "She doesn't know about you, but she still wants to meet you."

"No, it's not possible." He said, looking away. "I only cause more damage and I don't want to hurt her anymore."

"Look," I pulled him towards me so that he was facing me again. "You have already caused a lot of damage to them." I shrugged. "I think it would be better if you come out clean."

For a second, I thought I saw anger in his eyes. "What makes you think that I'm going to take in your advice? I've lived alone all my life and I still can!"

I heaved a sigh. With everything that was happening, I didn't want to fight and shoo him away. "Of course you can, Rob." I said, looking at him. "But what about us?"

---

A/N: Robert came out clean! Would he come clean to his sister and mother too?