Chapter 3: Going back

Waking up to the feel of his enlarged morning wood brings a smile to my face and a tingle to my belly. We may have only just tied the knot two months ago in Hawaii, but even after being together for a year the spark is still very much alive.

Liam: Good morning.

He places a gentle kiss to the back of my neck while slipping his hand around my front teasing my clit.

Willow: Good morning

I turn my head just enough for his lips to meet mine. His hand roams up my stomach to pinch a perky nipple before sliding back down behind my thigh lifting it till, he could ease his eager hardened cock through my wetness. After our long morning love making, I decide to cook Liam a big homemade breakfast of his favorite foods. Bacon, eggs, and waffles.

Liam: God you're the best. Can't believe it's been a whole week since I've had one of your home cooked meal.

He pulls me onto his lap as I set his plate down on the kitchen table and feed him a bite of bacon. I giggle as he tickles my side and kisses my neck. Grabbing a plate for myself we sit and enjoy the food in a comfortable silence. Something we've always been able to do. Just being in each other's presence can speak volumes without a single word being spoken. With not much time before he has to go back, we spend the next couple of hours in bed, making love, and talking.

After long hot shower sex, he packs his bag with clean clothes and drives us to the hospital to pick up Noah. When we got to the room Dr. Lee was just finishing an exam on Liv and going over what she can and can't do for the next two weeks. She'll stay in the hospital two more nights so she can continue IV antibiotics and baby Ash can continue UV treatment. Though he was born prematurely he is a healthy weight at 8lb but for safety measures the doctor wants to be sure he is 100%.

Liam takes the opportunity to finally hold Ash for the first time while Noah says his goodbyes to Liv. It is hard not to get choked up at the sight before me. Liam smiling down at Ash like he would his own and I know he would have been such a good father. Liv is holding it together unbelievably well as Noah peels himself away with tears swelling in his eyes. He takes Ash from Liam and hands him back to Liv. I take a few pictures and send them to Noah's phone.

Willow: I'll come back after I drop the boys off.

Liv: Are you sure. I don't want to put you out. I mean they do have nurses here.

Willow: I'll always be here for you Liv.

Liv: But what about your writing?

Willow: I'm in between stories right now so we're good.

Liv: Thank you Willow.

Liam puts his arm around my waist and leads us to the car. On the way he catches a glimpse of Dr. Benson getting out of his car. It's a new black Tesla. Liam grunts and pulls me in tighter. Dr. Benson looks our way and simply nods as he heads in to the hospital.

Liam: What did he mean last night about being star struck.

I shrug my shoulders.

Willow: Something about his wife being a fan of my writing.

Liam: He's married.

Willow: Was, she passed away a short time ago.

Liam deflates slightly but still has his reservations about the Dr and my coming back to the hospital alone. Back at the station all the guys are loading up the rig getting ready to head back out to Silver wood. I hand Noah a bag of my oatmeal raisin cookies for everyone on the crew and say goodbye the guys. Liam walks me back out to the car and takes me in his arms, sealing our lips in a long passionate kiss as if it would be our last.

Liam: I love you baby.

Willow: I love you Liam.

Liam: Do me a favor and try to stay clear of the scrubs.

Willow: Liam, he works at the hospital, he was Livs surgeon. I'm bound to run into him again but you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about.

Liam: I just don't trust him.

Willow: You don't trust anyone.

He pulls me into him tightly with a grunt before claiming my lips again. A blast of sirens startled us apart. All the guys start laughing as they roll down the drive way in the big red fire engine, stopping to let Liam on. They all wave and thank me for the cookies. Liam gets settled in the back seat facing me and gives a last loving look before he smacks the side of the truck. A single tear escapes as I watch them disappear down the street and yet I smile knowing he has a good crew and they'll all make it back safe.

After running home to make a few more batches of cookies, I stop at Liv and Noah's place to grab a few things Liv had asked for, and make my way back to the hospital.

I drop the tin tray of cookies at the nurses' station and head into Livs room. She's asleep but baby Ash is concentrating on a poop. I can't help but giggle at his little squinty eyes and curled lip. I quickly get him changed before he has a chance to wake Liv with his raptor cry. With him changed and cradled in my arms, I stand looking out at the stars in the darkening sky while rocking and singing softly to him.

Willow: When the days are cold

And the cards all fold

And the saints we see

Are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail

And the ones we hail

Are the worst of all

And the blood's run stale

I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you...

Memories of singing this song to Page sends a chill mixed with emotions. Followed by a warmth as I look down at his sweet smiling face.

Liv: I should have known the first song he learns from you would be an imagine dragons song.

I turn facing Liv with a smile before setting Ash back in the hospital bassinet.

Willow: How are you feeling.

Liv: Good actually. That was the longest rest I've had since yesterday.

She gasps looking over on the little role table next to her water eyeing the baggie of cookies.

Liv: Is that what I think it is.

She snatched the baggie and inhales a cookie as I laugh.

Liv: I hate you and love you at the same time.

I take a seat in the round cushioned chair next to the bed.

Liv: We're best friends right.

Willow: Of course, why?

Liv: It's just. You're so natural with him and. I know how you and Liam met but you've never told me your story. You had a baby didn't you.

I take a deep breath looking back out the window. Her hand touches the back of mine.

Willow: Her name was Page... she used to love when I sang her that song. It was the only way I could get her to sleep when she was having trouble.

I take another deep breath.

Willow: She was killed in a car accident two years this September by a drunk driver.

Liv: Oh Willow.

She gave my hand a squeeze as she wiped her own tears away on the back of her other hand.

Liv: And Pages father?

Willow: He was the drunk driver.

She gasped a little loud waking up the raptor. I welcomed the distraction. Though as I jumped up to get him, I felt it. That neck hair raising feeling. Then a voice from the hall way.

Voice: Dr. Benson, there you are, you're needed up in OR.

There was movement just outside the door which was cracked open. I turned my attention to the sound of footsteps leading away, but as I reached for the door Ashes cry drew my focus back to him. After a quick change I handed him to Liv for a feeding.

Willow: I'll be right back.

I darted out into the hall but he wasn't there. Why was Dr. Benson outside the room? Was he coming to do another follow up? Why do I keep getting that creepy feeling like he's watching me? Is he? Was he listening? I shake my head. I must be more tired than I thought. I walked back in the room to grab my purse.

Willow: I'm going to go grab a coffee want anything?

Liv: No, I'm good thanks.

I ran down to the cafeteria being more careful as I turned to leave with my coffee this time. When I went back in the room and took my seat sipping my coffee, I notice Liv staring at me like a kid waiting anxiously for the parent to finish the story. I closed my eyes and took a breath.

Willow: Brett my husband. I caught him cheating on me. I knew we had been drifting apart since Page was born but I kept pretending things were fine. One day I showed up at his office to surprise him for lunch and found him fucking some woman on his desk. When I got home, I packed as much of his stuff that I could in his suit case and left it on the porch while I went to a neighbor with my daughter. He blamed everything on our 4 year old. He blamed my looks, our lack of sex, everything. He was Jealous that I loved her more than him and he was right. He had turned into a verbally abusive, controlling asshole and over time I had stopped loving him.

That night he came barging into the neighbors house demanding I come home.

When I refused, he took Page from me and stormed out. He knew she was the only way to get to me, to hurt me. I remember the sound of her cries as I tried to take her back away from him. When he slapped me the first time it only made me angry. He put her in the back seat of his car and turned toward me as I tried to get past him. I didn't even feel the second hit, I just found my self thrown back hitting the sidewalk. Before I could get back up, he was gone.

Tom a security guard and friend tried to chase him down, while the neighbor called the cops. Tom sat with me on the neighbors porch for what seemed like hours. When the cops finally come, I kept imagined Page running across the lawn and into my arms but it was only two officers. I knew immediately by the looks on their faces. Their voices became muffled like I was under water. Brett had lost control of the car and ended up in a trench. Neither of them had been wearing a seatbelt.... both were D.O.D.....

Liv yanked on my hand pulling me into a hug as she wept.

Liv: Do you have a picture of her.

She asked as she released her hold on me. I pulled out a picture from my wallet of Page with her dark golden hair and bright blue eyes.

Willow: She loved horses. For her 4th birthday we took her to Irvine park to ride a pony.

Memories of that day flashed through my mind. Page was so happy up on that little white and grey pony. Brett was actually acting like a loving father and husband. That is till that night after he had a few too many.

Liv: Willow!

I snapped out of the memory to see my friend looking at me with great concern.

Liv: You ok?

Willow: Yeah, I'm fine.

Liv: Does it ever scare you how possessive Liam is of you.

Willow: Oh god no. Liam is the exact opposite of Brett. He may be a bit overprotective of me and it may have a little bit to do with my past but it's also just his nature.

Liv: Does it ever get tiring. He and Noah are best friends and yet anytime Noah gives you an innocent hug Liam acts like an Alpha wolf ready to kill his own kin?

Willow: You know Liam would give his life for Noah or any one of his men out there.

Liv: I know. Maybe I'm just a little jealous Noah doesn't get like that over me.

Willow: Liv that man loves you more than anything in this world. His possessiveness over you maybe more subtle but you remember that fight they got into at the firemen's ball. That was over you.

She blushed and started giggling. We talked long into the night about our husbands until we both drifted off to sleep.