House outside the city

After Emily's parents said goodbye to her, she left the hospital with Theodore. They were both in the backseat as the car started to leave the city. the hospital that she was in happened to be fifteen minutes away from the edge of the city. It didn't take long for Emily to have some questions.

"Theodore, how far away is this house of yours again?"

"It will be about 50 minutes away as the traffic is a little heavier than I thought it would be." he looked outside and then at his lap. "Actually, Emmie I was wondering if you want to get to know each other better. Maybe a game of 20 questions?" he looked at her with hope in his eyes.

"Ok, but that was your first question," she smirked. "Can I give you a nickname?"

"of course. What did you have in mind?"

"Theo. Why did you only come to see me a day before I could leave? I was awake for almost a whole week." she smiled.

"I like it. I was on a business trip in Seattle and couldn't get away when I got the call you woke up. I'm so glad you did by the way. What is your favorite hot beverage?"

"hot cocoa. How often do you have to go on business trips?"

"used to be once or twice a month, but if you want me around more, I can send my PA instead. Do you think you can get used to being outside the city?"

"Definitely. Why do you want to marry me?"

"Because you are a smart and beautiful young woman. Are you nervous about meeting the boys?" he hesitated.

she nodded and they continued to ask each other questions. When they were about five minutes away from the house he tapped her shoulder. "look over there. that is the house." he said like a little kid. as she looked over at the house her jaw dropped. "Theo, that's not a house that's a mansion!" he only chuckled in response.

The car came to a stop by the front door and two big dogs came running out. Emily froze in her spot at the sight of them. Theo notice and called the dogs to sit by the door before opening her door. just as she stood up the dogs disobeyed Theo and ran to her. they licked her shoes and sniffed her knees before whimpering to be pet by her. When she realized what they wanted she laughed, and went down to pet them. they loved her and lick her hands as Theo tried to help her up the boys stopped being playful and watched him with intense looks.

"Oh come on, you know me better than her. How come she gets all the love?" Major looed down in shame and Cerberus gave him puppy eyes.

"come on boys he is just jealous, I'm giving you all the love."

they walked into the house with the boys following Emily every step of the way. They started a tour of the house so that she could get used to it, if not she could always ask the staff or the boys if Theo was out for work. Theo on her right, Cerberus on the opposite side, and major pulling up the rear. Anytime Theo walked a little too fast for her the boys protested by a low grunt or short bark. by the time they reached the sliding glass doors that lead to the garden, they had only seen part of the downstairs. It was a three-story mansion.

"Theo, I'm getting a little hungry can we go see the kitchen? you can always show me everything later."

"of course! sorry, Emmie, I got excited and wanted to show you everything. We should go get some lunch." he looked at her and then the boys. "Go get the cook to bring food out to the poolside. I'll watch her don't worry." they ran into the house to get the cook.

Theo leads Emily to the deck chairs by the pool. Once there he put a towel down on the metal deck chair and gestured for her to sit down. When she started to sit he put a pillow on the backrest to make her extra comfortable. She was still weak from not moving too much and she was thankful he gave her a pillow. Just as he sat down and got comfortable she gasped.

"This backyard is breathtaking. I thought when you said 'house' you meant an actual house. Not this." she gestured to the surroundings. "this is an estate."

"well, you deserve to be treated right after everything."

"can we talk about that? I don't want you to think that I'm going to break at any moment, or that I can't take care of myself. I know what happened was bad but I don't want it to be brought up all the time. It makes me feel like I missed a lot."

"It was three years, that doesn't sound like a lot but at that time I went from an assistant in college to a successful Billionaire will more money than I know what to do with. Yet I want to keep working, to grow the companies I have. I understand that you don't want to be reminded, but just know that when we go out and see people they might bring it up." he stared at the pool in front of them. " I have enemies that could do some damage to you if they ever got their hands on you. I don't think you are going to shatter at any moment, but I don't want to see you get hurt." he looked at her. "that is why I got you Cerberus and major. Even though you will have bodyguards when you go out, they won't be by your side 24/7. back at the hospital when the boys were still training I put them on your bed and let them be near you. Some nights they refused to go back home, opting to stay on the floor of your room."

the food came along with the boys sitting by Emily as soon as she was given her tray of food. The boys took turns going on patrol around the pool deck. when one was out searching the other was curled up by her feet. After lunch, a maid came and took the trays away. Theo lead her upstairs to her room where the boys ran and jumped around like they were showing her, her things as if it was something they were proud of.

"Burst, what are you doing with my slippers?" Cerberus ran over to her with slippers in his mouth and dropped them by her feet before sitting and looking at her. She put them on and gave him a head pat.

"Burst? you just met them and you are already giving them nicknames?"

"well, I can't say Cerberus all the time that would take too long. Just like how Theodor can be too much. No offense. Besides, they look worried if I can't keep up with you." she looked around the room and saw somethings that looked familiar. her family definitely gave Theo some of her favorite things, or it was a weird coincidence.

This ends chapter 5.