Her Rock

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

The next time I woke up, the bed next to me was empty. I immediately frown. After everything he said to me, did he just leave me?

I look around and check the time, it's eleven. Eleven what?

I looked out the window and saw a faint light that tells me that it is eleven in the morning. I wonder how long I was asleep. The last time I remember it was six but not sure if it is six at night or in the morning.

I didn't even know that I fell asleep again.

I felt myself and realized that I feel much better than the last time I woke up.

I slowly sat up from my bed when I heard glass shattering outside my bedroom.

Oh, God! Did someone break into my apartment?

I slowly stood up more alert this time. Though I felt a little dizzy, I sauntered towards the door and slowly opened it not to alert the robbers.

But I was not prepared for what I saw.

Faye was standing in the middle of my apartment with silent tears on her face and broken glass on her feet.

I opened the door widely. "Faye?" I called her out not believing that she was there. But when I opened the door, I saw Aenid on the dining table with plates in her hands.

"Mommy!" She called out and ran towards me. I opened my arms ignoring the way she addresses me. I'll think about it later.

"I'm sorry," She apologized in between sobs as soon as her body crashed on mine.

I frowned. "What for?" I asked in time for Nate to come out of my kitchen carrying a broom and a dustpan which I know what is for. His eyes met mine, he was frowning at first before his eyes were laced with worry.

"I broke your glass," Faye said in a croaked voice.

I watch as Nate picks up the shards of glass on the floor and a faint smile appears on my lips. Never in my dreams would I see Nathan Vann sweeping a floor, more so, my floor.

I pulled myself from Faye and cupped her wet cheeks. I dried them up with my thumb. "Baby, that's okay. Are you hurt?" I asked while I checked her hand and feet for possible cuts and shards of glass.

Faye shook her head. That time, Nate was already gone to the kitchen, and Aenid was already standing behind Faye.

"Did we wake you up?" Aenid asked with concern. These girls are genuine.

I shook my head then I saw Nate in the corner of my eyes walking toward us. "I was already awake a couple of minutes ago,"

When Nate reaches us, wraps his arms around my shoulder and pulls me close to him. Then he places a kiss on my temple. I immediately blushed then my eyes widened when I realized that Faye and Aenid were still standing in front of us.

When I looked down at them, I saw the amusement in their eyes before Aenid leaned closer to Faye's ears and whispered. "She's going to be our Mom," Faye giggled with excitement then they went back to the dining table.

I heard Nate chuckle and I shot him an eye. How could he make such moves in front of his daughters?!

"I guess I won't have to break the news to them as they could already tell. How are you feeling?" He asked as he placed his palm on my cheeks and rubbed the dark circles under my eyes with his thumb. I sure as hell look ridiculous. I haven't even got the time to look at myself in the mirror. I suddenly felt conscious. Gosh! I haven't got a decent shower for days now!

"You still look beautiful, love." He said as if he could read my thoughts, making me more self-conscious. "So how are you feeling?" He asked again.

"Better than before," I saw him flash his mesmerizing smile before he leaned and kissed me on my forehead. It has become his habit and damn I am getting used to it.

"Good. I prepared an early lunch because you missed breakfast." He said as he pulled me onto my small dining table that could, fortunately, fit the four of us.

"How come they are here?" I asked in a low voice, careful that the girls wouldn't hear me. Not that I don't want them to be here, in fact, I love them being here but I was just wondering.

"They called me this morning asking if they could come to see you. They've been calling every day asking for you. They were worried and I know that until they see you they will not believe it if I say that you are fine. I had Stan bring them here and I also asked him to buy the groceries." He explained as he pulled a chair for me and I thought about how sweet his girls are. They could even match the sweetness of their father.

We started eating and in all fairness, Nate did a really good job in making my meal keto-friendly.

As we eat, Aenid and Faye talk about school and how they've been these past few days that they were not able to talk to me after school. So, all through our meal, they tell me about everything that they said 'I missed' these past few days.

Aenid and Faye were doing great in school and I know that Nate is very much aware of that. They were constantly at the top of the class.

Aenid has gained a lot of friends while Faye is just starting which I thought is good considering how she had school anxiety at the beginning of school. Nate had known about Faye's school anxiety and encouraged the girls to become more open to us when someone is bullying them.

I could already tell that Nate would not spare anyone that would bully his princesses.

I was also glad that Nate had become a big help to Faye to overcome her anxiety.

After we had our early lunch, the girls went to watch a movie in my living room while Nate insisted on washing our plates. At first, I was reluctant, because why would I let my Boss wash our plates? But he is adamant and just told me to take a bath. He even prepared a warm bath for me.

After I had taken a shower I felt much better. Though there is still pain in my neck and lower back, it is much more tolerable now. And the fatigue is already gone.

I went to join the kids in the living room to watch a movie and soon Nate joined us. He took a seat beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulder and pulled me close to him.

I am still not used to this intimacy but Nate made it hard not to get used to it. He reached out for my head and rested it on his chest. Faye is sprawled beside me with her head on my lap while Aenid is on the accent chair.

The sight was something that I never thought I would have in this lifetime.

It didn't take time for me to fall asleep again. After all the sleep I had, I thought I already had enough.

When I woke up, it was already dark outside. Nate and I were cuddling on my bed. Aenid and Faye are nowhere around.

When I tried to move I was startled when Nate spoke. I thought he was asleep.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me for the third time today. Every time I open my eyes that is the first question he would ask me.

Instead of answering his question, I asked him instead. "How did I get in here?" I didn't realize how obvious the answer to my question was until I heard him chuckling, making me look up at him.

"I carry you, love."

"Where are the kids?" I asked, ignoring the sensual way he was looking at me.

"I already sent them home," He replied, rubbing circles on my arm.

"You didn't wake me up," I said, trying to ignore the sensation that his fingers were sending throughout my body.

"They told me not to. They said you need to rest." He said and I am not sure if he is aware of the effect of what he is doing on me.

"They are good kids," I said feeling a little breathless and I am sure Nate noticed that.

"That they are. And they love you," He said this time leaning closer to kiss me on my forehead as he continued doing whatever he was doing to my arm. I cannot believe that by simply rubbing circles in my arm, Nate could pull some kind of reaction from my body.

"Stop that," I said in a strained voice that I tried to hide by burying my face in his chest. Damn! He smells so good.

"What?" He asked, feigning innocence. Believe me, he is getting good at acting and sounding innocent.

"That thing you are doing with your finger," I snapped at him though avoiding looking at him because he would surely see the embarrassment in my face.

He laughed and I felt his chest shake. The nerve of him!

"Love, you'll be surprised at what else my fingers could do to your body,"

Surely my face is beet red right now and I will refuse to look at him for the next couple of days!

Fortunately, he stopped and placed his hand on my back instead. "What are we now, love?" He asked after a while. Suddenly, I got tongue-tied.

"Seriously, you are asking me that after that stunt you pulled in front of your daughters?" I snapped at him but it only made him chuckle.

"Love, I want to hear it from you. I want to hear that you will let me claim you as mine. That you will let me love you, take care of you, and make you happy. Because I am damn sure that you will hear it from me every day of your life that I am yours and all with extra baggage."

As if his confession this morning was not enough, he continued to make my heart swell until the end of the day.

Gathering all the courage that I did not know I have, I raise my head to look up at him and take a deep breath. "I will gladly let you call me yours and I would love to call you mine. I would like to try this out with you but there is something that you have to keep in mind. You may have extra baggage, but I have an extra burden. I have a chronic pain disorder that is debilitating to most. I may get easily stressed and angry and at some point, I might have mental health challenges. Are you sure you are ready to put up with that?"

Nate reached out to cup my cheeks and looked intently at my eyes. "Love, I fell in love with you even before I met you. I fell more in love with you the moment I met you. And I fell deeper in love with you even after I found out about your illness and how strong of a woman you are to fight it. I started to learn about your condition and I will continue to learn and find what can make you feel better. I will be there when you are in pain, tired, angry, or grumpy. I will be there with your checkups and therapy. I will give you a massage, exercise with you, and keep you warm and always comfortable. I will always remind you how important you are and how much the kids and I need you. I will support you in any way possible and keep balance with everything you do at the same time. Love, I will be your rock and I will never, ever leave your side. I love you too much to do that."

I didn't notice that I was already crying when he finished that heart-melting speech. I was sure that I did not deserve this kind of love from anyone else. I was already prepared to grow old and die alone. But God had another plan for me. How could this man be so perfect for me?

He is too good to be true.

I still have fears and worries but for now, I choose to believe his words.

I nodded my head and mumbled a small thank you. Before I knew it, his lips were already drying my tears until they touched my own lips. It was a soft, subtle kiss yet full of emotions. That was my first kiss.