What A Beautiful Thing Hope Is

Chapter 9 - Rachel's P.O.V.

Octavian was awake!

I couldn't help but to react like a love-sick-puppy and kissed him all over. Was if I needed to make sure that he was there, with me.

What I regret is that he had to woke up with his parents in the same room. It was obvious that he didn't get along with them. And they acted as if he was a waste of air.

Now I understand why he was the way he was.

Compared to my parents, his are saints. Sure, they're rude and heartless, but at least they never forced Octavian into becoming into something like them. They simply never educated him.

Me, on the other hand, was over educated. To behave like a puppet. To look like a porcelain doll. To be quiet as a mime. Basically, all my life, I was trained to be an object and not a person.

"How do you feel?" I asked Octavian, after he had a little dinner. He still couldn't eat much, so I ended to finish his dinner.

"You asked me that less than 15 minutes ago!" he rolled his eyes at me, with a smile on him. OK, maybe I was overreacting a little, but who can blame me?! "But, I'll answer anyway: I'm fine..."

"Sorry, I realise that I'm kind of a pest, but you got me worried..." I apologised, looking down to my lap. I heard Umbreon whine in Octavian's lap. He hasn't left that place since he woke up.

"Hey... Look at me..." he placed his hand under my chin. I looked at him, trying not to break down "I'm OK... You don't have to worry anymore..." I nodded, trying to show him a smile.

"I'll try to tune it down a little" I promised, kissing his cheek.

"Good. Now, when can we go home?" Home... It's not the first time he says that word, but everytime he says it, it makes me giddy and super happy. Because, he never says 'my' home, he always says 'our' home.

"I- I should ask the doctor..." I replied, fluttering a little.

"But, not now..." he smirked at me, leaning over and kissing me. I smiled and kiss him back. Though, our kiss was cut short because someone started to lick around our chins, trying to get attention "Greedy puppy..." Octavian grumbled, not that upset. I chuckled and began to pat Umbreon's fur.

This is my little family and I wouldn't change it for the world.

~oOo~

I woke up in the middle of the night. No idea why, maybe because the couch was really uncomfortable, though I've been sleeping on it for the past two weeks. Though, that was quickly forgotten when I felt eyes on me.

Someone was staring at me.

I looked around and saw Umbreon looking at me, his head tilted to the side, as if asking 'why are you awake?'

"You try to sleep in the couch, Umbreon..." I complained a little, stretching my back. Apparently, he took that to heart, because he jumped down from Octavian's bed and with me on the couch. He curled up and began to sleep again "You're a great company, you know that?" I told him, sarcastically.

"Rachel?" I heard Octavian's groggy voice. I scolded myself for making too much noise and I went to his side "What's wrong? Why are you awake?" he sat up, looking around for the night stand light.

"I couldn't sleep, the couch is uncomfortable..." I half lied to him. I couldn't shake the thought that someone was watching us.

"Oh. Then, sleep here" he offered, scooting to one side of the bed, leaving enough room for me to lay down with him.

"No, you need to rest-"

"I had enough rest these past two weeks..." he cut me, trying to sound chill about it "I'm not gonna have normal sleep for a few days..."

"Then, I'm not going to sleep either" I replied, looking at him. He raised an eyebrow, as if he wanted an explanation. And telling him that I felt someone watching us wasn't on top of that list "I missed your voice..." I ended up mumbling, completely embarrassed. But, for my own sanity, that was true too.

"And I missed yours" he whispered back, kissing my forehead. I couldn't resist it and cuddle with him. And it felt nice "I thought I was gonna die without seeing you one more time..." I instinctively wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer, trying to calm him down.

"It's OK..." I promised him "You're OK, I'm OK... We're OK..." I repeated over and over, moving my hands on circle patterns over his back.

"I know that now... Though, I still owe you an Anniversary present" Back to cheesy in no time, uh? I shook my head at him "Rach, I love you, but you're not winning this argument" he smirked at me. I pouted at him.

"How about a deal?" I proposed him. He raised an eyebrow, listening "If you don't buy me a present, I'll consider calling my parents and try to talk to them" I saw him moving the gears inside his brain, trying to win this deal from me. But, he didn't have a way out "Deal, baby?" I added the 'baby' at the end, trying not to sound bossy.

"You make hard deals, Ms. Dare..." he recognized, smirking down at me. I smirked back at him, leaning my forehead against his "Alright, you win, if and only if... if you go to sleep when you're feeling to tired" I wanted to grumble, but I kept it to myself.

That night, we talked all that we didn't during the past two weeks, as if we were making up for the lost time.

That night, I didn't care if someone was watching me. I fell asleep with a smile in my face, because I was sleeping in the arms of the man I love.

And I will always love.