Chapter 28- Everything To Me

Tristan

Oh how I wanted to hold him and kiss him till the moon falls to earth. It got me wondering how he had been taking these past four days.

Knowing Tristan, he would've definitely been blaming it all on himself. I needed to see him. And quite frankly, I couldn't wait either. It also got me thinking about what had been happening for the past four days. Were the days long, boring and inactive? Or have I been missing out?

The door opening broke me from my train of thought, and I sighed in delight when I saw my mom approaching me with a tray full of food. I frowned when I saw that she hadn't had one for herself too, but she assured me that she would grab something later on. I gulped it down in what seemed like it was one bite, already wanting more.

But as if right on time, the door swung open again as I took my last bite, and I was met with the man of my dreams himself. Literally. All I could remember from my dreams were him, Sheldon, mom and Mia. It was like a never ending loop of the same dreams. I'm actually quite relieved that it was over.

His eyes met mine across the room, and I found my heart beating twice as fast as my arms itched to wrap around his neck.

With what seemed like two long strides, he was at my bed and pulling me gently to his chest in a hug, as I buried my head in his shoulders. I felt a single wet drop on my bare neck as he held me closer, and my heart broke at how hard this must've been for him.

"I missed you so much" He whispered in the crook of my neck as he hugged me tighter, and I didn't even mind the soreness in my back.

He sat beside me on the bed as he gazed at me in relief, admiration and happiness all in one. I offered him a smile as I ran my hand over his stubble. His eyes too held dark circles, which only confirmed my suspicions that he was taking it hard.

"You should've known better" I mumbled as I smiled at him.

"Should've known what?"

"That I wouldn't leave you like that," I admitted. "You can't get rid of me just yet, Detective." I managed to smirk at him as I leaned in for a quick kiss.

I hated that my chapped lips were on his soft sweet ones, but I didn't want to go a second longer without tasting him. Even if I was asleep, his absence affected me.

He drew my bottom lip between his teeth when I tried to pull away with a low growl, as if daring me to leave him. It was undeniably sexy, sending my mind places where it shouldn't have been going.

I ran my thumb over the side of his neck as he kissed me like I would've disappeared any second, cupping my cheek to hold me in place. He rested his forehead on mine with his eyes closed as we pulled apart. I gently kissed the tip of his nose, then his cheeks and his forehead.

"For real Tristan, I'm right here" I could tell he needed assurance. The way he held me said it enough.

"I was so scared, Cianna. I thought...I thought I lost you" His voice broke at the end as he opened his eyes to meet mine. I blinked away tears as I grabbed both his cheeks between my hands.

"I promise I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I put you through that "

He knitted his brows together as he shook his head twice. "You didn't do anything Cianna. This is not your fault okay? But let's not focus on that now." He rested me against my pillow as he tucked away my hair. "The good thing is that you're awake, so just rest now okay baby?"

I knew it wasn't the time to disagree with him, since I wanted to tell him that I just came out of four days of resting. But I simply smiled at him and decided to grant him this much peace.

No doubt that I won't be discharged today, so at least I know he will be able to sleep better. And with Mia now behind bars, I can go home and be free of her. In her mind, I was dead, so she had no motive to send anyone after me again.

"Do you need anything?" Tristan's voice broke me from my thoughts, and I simply shook my head as I grabbed onto his hand again.

"Only you"

It was true. I needed to just be alone with him. After all we've been through, I think we deserved it. Besides, from the moment we became official, we've never had a moment to just be in each other's presence as lovers.

"Stay with me" I mumbled, scooting over to give him room on my tiny bed. He smiled a little as he fit himself beside me, ensuring I was okay before relaxing. "I missed you too. I hope you hadn't been taking all this too hard"

"Don't worry your head about all that right now sweetheart. Just take all the time you need to recover before you worry about the real world again" I could pick up something in his voice, which only intrigued me more.

I shrugged. "A break from the real world is exactly what I need. Once I'm out of here, I'll probably have to testify at Mia's trial right?" I inclined my head so that I was staring at his face, and he was only looking straight ahead as he stroked my hair.

"Don't worry about it Cianna." He coaxed, kissing my forehead gently."Don't worry about it."

But that did the complete opposite. Just the way he was speaking made me definitely worry about it. I got alert again, turning so that I was facing him after wincing at the pain in my back.

"Tristan?" I called in a low warning tone. "What are you not telling me?" He met my eyes again with a small smile like what parents give their child when asked an innocent question.

"Don't worry about it Cianna. You don't need the stress right now" He kissed my forehead again, trying to soothe me, but it didn't work.

I shot him a pointed look. "Did she escape again?" That could be the only reason why he was acting so weird. I wouldn't put it past her either. She obviously had people in high places everywhere.

"No, heavens no" He chuckled softly, though there was no humour behind it. "Don't-"

"I swear Tristan if you tell me not to worry about it one more time..." I tried to threaten, but his protectiveness was quite evident in his features as he watched me sternly yet with so much adoration.

"Don't worry about it. Just recover, love" He mumbled nonetheless, dropping a quick peck to my pouty lips. I turned to ask my mom what was happening, but I realised she was gone. Even Dr. Monroe had left.

I huffed as I spun around away from him, avoiding the pain in my back since I decided to be stubborn. I heard him sigh but I didn't pay attention to him as I eyed all the cards and flowers on my table.

"Cianna?" He called, already sounding defeated as I grabbed the five cards. Two were from Jessica, one from Emily, one from my co-worker and oddly, the last one from Detective Edwards. I then proceeded to look at the flowers, and they seemed to have the same order.

"Cianna? Baby come on"

I couldn't help but smile at the thought that my friends cared for me this much. The largest bouquet, however, was from Tristan, and it read, 'Get well soon baby. I need you here with me'.

I didn't want him to see my smile, so I quickly shoved the card back into the petals as I grabbed another. I felt as he gently gripped my hand, attempting to turn me back around to him, but I stayed put.

What I did notice, however, was that I didn't see a single card or flower from my dad, which was highly unlike him. Even the large bundle of balloons that I was sure were from him, were actually from my boss.

I got a bit worried about this. Did he have a heart attack after what happened to me? 'Don't be extra now Cianna', my subconscious reasoned, and I couldn't help but agree. Maybe he just didn't think it was necessary, and I get that.

"Cianna I just don't want to pressure you okay? Can't we just have this moment for us? Just you and me?"

I sighed in defeat as I finally turned to look at him. He had his puppy dog eyes that melted me at first peak, and I felt myself giving in.

"Tell me that she hadn't escaped and I will"

"She hadn't escaped" He answered immediately. "Trust me" Feeling satisfied with that much, I simply snuggled into him again after mumbling an 'okay'.

I decided that he was right about that much. After the week we both had, this was definitely what we needed.

"Cianna?"

"Hhmm?"

"No matter what, just know that I'm here for you always. And everything I do nowadays is for you and only you. I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you four days ago but-"

"Tristan" I cut him off in disbelief. "You couldn't have seen it coming. None of us did okay? Don't think like that. I'm okay now and we'll beat this okay? No matter the battle"

I could see unsurity in his eyes, but I chose not to acknowledge it. He nodded once before pulling my lips between his, initiating a kiss all over again.

"You are everything to me now Cianna. Just always remember that " He mumbled against my lips before resuming our well needed, sweet, mesmerising kiss.

I didn't understand the desperation in his voice for me to believe him, but I did. And I ensured that I showed him that in just a single kiss.

You're everything to me too Tristan. You wouldn't even know.