I woke up and rolled towards Daniels side of the bed to find it empty. I wasn't expecting to feel so worried about him but with his sickness, anything could have happened. I sat up abruptly and was about to throw the blankets off of me to go look for him when the door opened, I inhaled sharply and smiled at the scene in front of me. A man (He looked like he could crush someone's head with his bare hands and was at least 6 feet tall with muscles bigger then my waist) was pushing Daniel in a wheelchair as he held Olivia, he looked up at me, his hair was wet as if he had just bathed and he looked to be in a robe and slippers. I couldn't help but smile raising my brows at him: Daniel, you don't have to do that, I am more than capable of getting her.
"Nonsense, little Olie here loves her Daddy/Brother Daniel" My mouth dropped open before falling backwards on the bed laughing: You did not just call yourself Daddy/Brother Daniel, I can't tell which is worse, that sound like you're either in a cult or that you're from the deep south.
Daniel laughed but didn't take his eyes off Olivia as he rubbed her little feet while she chewed on her fingers. He looked up at me smiling and said: When will she start her treatment?
My smile slowly disappeared as my eyes became misty thinking about it. His brows furrowed looking at me as I spoke: She goes in tomorrow; I know it's best for her but it's still hard.
The man had wheeled Daniel over to the bed and he set Olivia on it allowing her to crawl to the middle and stretch her legs and arms making us both start laughing. I lifted her out of the way and held her to my chest as the man lifted and then lowered Daniel into the bed: Thanks Vlad! He laid back and opened his arms pulling me and Olivia gently into them. We laid there together till Olivia fell asleep and for the first time in two years I felt like I had a family.
After I brought Olivia to the hospital I stayed until visiting hours were over and they actually had to ask me to leave. I walked out of the hospital feeling about as low as I did when social services pulled Olivia from my arms, being separated from her than almost sent me down a very dark path and I was lucky to find my way out of it in order to get custody and be reunited with her, I couldn't allow myself to go astray again, I had to focus on her coming home. I wiped the tears from my eyes so I could see and was completely surprised to see Daniel in the back of his limo with the window down giving me an apologetic smile: Hi beautiful! I thought you could use a ride home.
I laughed softly before my laugh turned into a small sob and Daniel opened his door for me to enter. I crawled over him and sat beside him crying in his arms. He just kept stroking my hair saying: Sh, its okay, she will be home soon enough. Its gonna be okay Lizzie.
When I finally stopped sniffling and dried my tear stained cheeks, I was able to look up to him: Daniel, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what you just did for me.
"Well, you are my w…" I interrupted him by pulling his face to mine and kissing him softly, he deepened the kiss as he pulled me closer and for a moment, I was able to forget it all. My body forgot the loss and pain I had experienced I forgot that he was dying, in this moment he was just a man who was there when I needed him most. When we finally parted I felt breathless and we stared into each other's eyes for a few moments before we heard Jerry clear his throat to tell us we were home.
I had to shake off the feelings I'm so fucked, I'm falling for him, and he's going to die and leave me alone again, I can't do this! My eyes involuntarily started to tear, and I had to stare out the window, so he didn't see me. Once we were at the door I helped in whatever way I could to get him back to bed but then I went to take a shower, it was the only place in this place that I felt I wasn't being watched. I stood under the water crying for a good 20 minutes before I felt I had the energy to face Daniel again. I could see concern written across Daniels face as I walked in, but before he could say anything I slid into bed and turned my light off. I yawned and said good night not leaving room for a conversation. The next week went by slowly, I avoided Daniel as much as possible and when we were together, I talked about Olivia as much as I could. Just when I thought he was going to leave it alone he shook me awake: Lizzie! Can you wake up?
I groaned as I rolled over saying: Hmm? What is it? He turned the light on making me flinch as the light burned my eyes: Ugh
"Sorry… Lizzie we need to talk" His face, what I could see of it looked tired as if he hadn't slept, his expression stern as he stared at me waiting for me to wake up all the way: Talk about what?
He raised a brow as if I already knew what, I did but I didn't want to admit it: Lizzie, when you kissed me in the limo, I know you felt something because I did too, and since then you've pushed me away and I want to know why Lizzie?
I sighed heavily as I lifted myself to a sitting position, I guess we're doing this: I felt like dying after my parents died and almost did after they took Olivia. I'm hanging by a thread with her in the hospital and now you…. You…
"I… I what?" He looked at me as if he didn't have a clue making it so much harder: You are amazing, I wish you were horrible because it would make it so much easier but you're not, you're amazing and I… I'm.
I looked down at my hands hoping if I didn't look at him I'd be able to finish. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and choked back the tears that were threatening to form to get the last bit out: I'm falling for you… happy now? I'm falling in love with you Daniel and you're going to die and leave me alone. I don't know if I can survive it again.