My little trouble maker

Sitting inside the doctor's office, Regan was discussing about Anna's condition.

"She's fine for now. Just keep her away from stress or anxiety as it can trigger her panic attacks again. You can take her home in a few hours after she wakes up."

Regan nodded in understanding.

"I would like to take her home if that is alright. I don't want her to wake up on a hospital bed again. She'll be more comfortable at home."

"Very well then. You can take her home."

Regan was about to step outside the door when the doctor called out.

"Mr. Knight."

He turned around to see the doctor behind him.

"I know that I don't need to tell you this, but still as a doctor it's my duty. She needs your love right now. Take care of her. I would suggest a change of environment if that's possible. It would help her to overcome this stressful period."

Regan curtly nodded and went back to Anna. She was still sleeping due to the sedatives. By the time he reached her room, he had already called his chauffeur to drive his car along with Nolan to complete the remaining hospital formalities. He carefully lifted her in his arms carrying her to the car. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she felt his warmth. She rested her head on his chest while he walked outside. Soon they reached their home and Regan laid her on the bed.

He sat there observing her for a few moments. Time and again, she would flinch or whimper in her sleep. He could still feel her distress and suffering due to the incident. He sat beside holding her hand.

"You say that you trust me Anna, but I am still waiting for the day when you would trust me enough to share your past. Earlier, every time I used to see your empty eyes, I could feel something was untoward, but I never realized it to be so deep. I promise, I would share all your pains. Just give me a chance heart."

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After a couple of hours, Anna woke up to find herself in the familiar warmth of her bed. She sat up and found the room empty. Her eyes frantically searched for Regan who was nowhere. She had just stood up and walked a few steps, but the earlier events had drained her completely. Her legs were weak and she could feel her body shivering lightly. She would have slumped down but Regan's comforting hand held her back from collapsing. Her knees didn't reach the floor as he scooped her in his arms and carried to the bed again.

Instead of questioning his actions, she gently laid her head on his chest still feeling exhausted. The sense of relief that she felt in his arms was inexpressible and she accepted it as she leaned more into him.

"Why did you stood up from the bed? You need to rest Anna." He admonished her softly.

"I was searching for you."

"You don't need to search me because I'm not going anywhere. I had just went to the rest room."

"Regan?"

"Hmmm....."

"I don't want to go to bed again."

He stopped and looked down at her. She had her eyes closed as she unknowingly cuddled into his warmth bringing a faint smile on his face after a long stressful day.

"But you are tired and need to rest."

"I am not."

He chuckled on hearing her and kissed her hair lovingly.

"Okay. Anything for you. Where do you want to go?"

She looked up to see him already looking at her.

"Anywhere except this bed."

She closed her eyes and snuggled into him again. She didn't even realize when he brought her to another room and laid her down. She was amused to find herself on the bed. She looked at him questioningly while he sat in front of her with a smile.

"I am not going to compromise with your health. You need a lot of rest. If not there, then here." Saying he stood up but she held his hand and he stopped.

"Are you.....leaving?"

He bent down and kissed her hand.

"Never. Coming in a minute. Wait for me?" He said and she nodded.

He came after a few minutes with a tray of food and fruit juice for her. It contained vegetable paella and caesar salad. As soon as he placed the food in front of her, she scrunched her nose in disgust as a habit and he shook his head already knowing about her reaction towards it. Before she could deny, he raised his hand to stop her.

"You have to eat it unless you want me to feed you."

"I will do it myself. I have already troubled you enough for the day." She said and looked down.

Deep down she knew how anxious he would have been for her. The way he stayed by her side throughout the day, although she slept most of the time, her heart had grown to feel his presence around her. She could hear the weariness in his voice. He looked fatigued as his sparkling face looked pale. Her insides clenched in guilt for being the reason of his anxiety. It was the last thing that she ever wished for anyone whom she cared for. And she cared for him too much.

"I am sorry. Since the day I have come into your life, I have been creating a lot of troubles for you. You wouldn't have to suffer or be like this if I weren't with you. I am sorry for everything." She said softly.

He sighed while placing the food aside.

"You should be and you are right. Since the day you have stepped into my life, you have created a lot of troubles for me."

She looked at him with hurt evident in her eyes. She knew he was correct, but hearing the same thing from him somewhere broke her heart as she didn't know what to do to make up for her doings. Before she could stop, a tear rolled down her cheek and she lowered her lashes to hide the pain that his words evoked in her little heart.

"Infact, you are a little trouble maker." He held her hand that she had rested in her lap and brought to his chest where his heart beat. "My little trouble maker."

His heart was pulsating under her hand syncopating her own with his, in a rhythm that she was sure she had felt numerous times before. She moved her eyes to look at him but was adhered with his grey orbs that steadily gazed her with a burning passion that coursed through her veins making her forget about all the pains. In that moment, it was only him and her. Only them.

"You want to know how do you trouble me Anastasia?"

She tilted her head as if silently replying to his question.

"Can you feel it? You trouble my heart as it palpitates like this. Everytime in your presence."

She moved her eyes towards the vibrating rhythm and looked back again. The way she looked at him was bewitching as he felt entranced.

"You trouble me with your beautiful soul and innocent pure heart which has captured mine since the day you have stepped into my life. Your ability to smile when you are sad or exasperated troubles me Anastasia. The longing to be near you, the need to protect you.....It all troubles me."

He took a deep breath struggling to stabilize his emotions when he felt her clutching his shirt. She had went through too much that day and he didn't want her to drown her in the intensity of his love for her. Regardless, the more he tried to stop himself, the more her innocent gaze lured him to open his heart in front of her to show and make her realize that she could be anything but not a trouble for him.

"You trouble me when you don't take care of yourself. You trouble me when I know how much you dislike eating and I have to keep worrying if you have taken your meals on time, and you troubled me today. I died numerous times watching you laying on that hospital bed in that condition. You trouble me when you keep your pains within yourself."

Her hand was still placed on his chest, above his heart, while he caressed her face with the other. She undoubtedly had become his weakness and he was worried on the mere thought of failing to protect her.

"Let me in Anna. Let me share your pain. Let me be the one to take it away. Let me. Please."

She blinked her moist eyes. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to reciprocate his unconditional love that she felt everytime. She had not forgotten about her past yet which was back to threaten her again that had taken away her everything in the past.

His selfless love was breaking her walls compelling her to give him everything that she could and he deserved. But she cowered on the thought of something happening to him because of her. This time, she was scared of losing his warmth instead of herself and she felt more petrified on the new realization. She wanted to stay away but couldn't. His presence mattered to her more than she had thought. He had gradually become the light in the darkness that always surrounded her. And this time she wanted to give in for she was tired of fighting with herself. She didn't know if she could forget Ashton or would ever be able to reciprocate his love, but realizing that whatever the reasons were, they were tied in the sacred bond of marriage intending to spend their lives together, she decided to open up her wounds to show him how broken she was and let him decide if he still wanted her in his life with the baggage that she carried along with the scars on her soul.