Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Thirty Three. Scarlett

It's weird when you're in a terrible situation, how time seems to slow down. It's been seconds as I hit my face on a rock on the bottom of the ocean floor. I spin violently with the wave and panic courses though me thinking about Lexie, Ariel, and Cooper. Another wave must hit again because I spin some more.
When I realize which way is up, I use all my strength to push off the ocean floor. I take a deep breath and hear someone scream for Ariel just as another wave crashes and I'm back under water. As I roll with the wave, my hand brushes something and I don't even think, I  grab onto it, and pull it to me. I cradle her face under my neck as I hit another rock. My body drags on the ground as pain sears through my side.
It's fight or flight and I once again kick as hard as I can the second my feet touch sand. I come up for air, and Ariel and I both start coughing up water as we try to breathe.
Luke is the first one to us. I hand him, Ariel. "Lexie? Cooper?" I yell and try to look around. My eyes are burning as strong arms wrap around me.
"I'm fine. Lexie is fine." Cooper says in my ear. "You're bleeding." He says as he carries me from the water.
I rub my eyes and try and focus. Lexie is holding Ariel and sobbing. Damon and DJ are at their side. I slowly lie down on the warm sand to catch my breath. "We need a first aid kit." Cooper says to Luke. "We might need to go to a hospital."
"It's a bump on the head, Coop. I will be okay." I smile up at him, but worry covers his face.
"How deep is it?" Luke asks as he returns.
"I can't tell." He says.
I touch my head, but it's my side that hurts when I lift my arm.
"Get it out." I say as calmly as possible. Panic is bubbling up inside me as I feel my blood pressure spike.
"I don't know how deep it is." Cooper says. "It's glass, it could be deep."
"Pull it out or I'm going to pass out. Please. One of you." I beg as I look between them. I see the first aid kit in Luke's hands. He pulls out gauze from it right before he pulls the glass from my side.
"Fuck!" I cover my mouth as tears pour down the sides of my face. I feel Cooper holding pressure on the wound and Luke kisses my face.
"It'll be okay." He whispers and I nod.
"It's not as bad as I thought." Cooper says. "She should still get looked at, though." I look at him and notice he has some cuts on his beautiful face and he is crying.
"I'm okay." I smile and grab for his hand.
"You scared the fuck out of me. I watched to get taken down twice and I couldn't get to you."
"I'm okay. I promise. Is Ariel okay?" I ask just as Lexie comes to my side.
"What is it with this amazing woman and saving kids?" She laughs though her tears. "Thank you, Scarlett. Thank you." She leans down and kisses my cheek. I see a cut on her chin, but other than that she looks okay. "Ariel said you held her tight as you rolled around and took the brunt of the impact."
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She might have a couple bruises, but she's okay thanks to you."
"It was luck. I felt her hair brush across my knuckles and I just prayed it was her."
"It doesn't change the fact that you saved my kid." She laughs.
"You're right. I expect your next kid to be named after me for this." I smile and they laugh.
"Deal!" She laughs and hugs me again.

Luke picks me up and carries me back to the hotel. Cooper called a doctor to meet us there and check everyone out.
I tell the doctor to check everyone else first. They all look good; a couple cuts and bruises here and there. He has to clean the cut on my side and I almost pass out. I squeeze Luke and Cooper's hands as he stitches me up. Fourteen in the side and three in the head. He gives me some pain pills and is on his way. I imagine Cooper paid him a small fortune to get here. Especially so quickly.

We all sit in our suite and order room service for dinner. Ariel keeps hugging me, as does Lexie. Damon thanks me repeatedly and DJ draws me a picture of a dinosaur.
"I love it." I tell him and give him a hug.
Cooper only leaves my side one time to use the bathroom. He keeps grabbing my hand and kissing it softly.

After everyone leaves, he pulls me into a hug.
"You're brave." He whispers.
"You would have done the same thing. I rolled into her. It was luck."
"You tucked her into you so she wouldn't play ping pong with the bottom of the ocean floor." Luke says and I smile.
"So?"
"You are going to be such a great mom." Cooper smiles. "Our kids are going to have the coolest mom in the world."
"Scarlett the badass." Luke laughs.
"Scarlett the girl covered in a million scars." I sigh and touch my side.
"We can get them taken care of." Cooper suggests.
"Maybe." I nod.
"Thanks for saving my niece." Luke says and kisses me.
"What happened exactly?" I ask.
"Just some huge waves." He shakes his head. "Damon looked over, saw the first wave, and tried to warn you but it was too late. They came out of nowhere. You all went down. Cooper and Lexie popped up, farther left. Cooper grabbed Lexie and dove under the next wave. He came up in time to see you get taken back down by the third. We had no idea where Ariel was and I'm pretty sure Lexie stopped breathing for a minute when she hit the shore with Cooper and we couldn't see you or Ariel. Cooper and I went out towards the last place he saw you and you surfaced."
"It felt like an eternity." I say.
"For us, too." Cooper says.
"God your poor face." I say reaching out and touching the small cut above his eyebrow.
"Mine?" He smiles.
"I'm not looking in a mirror for a while." I smile.
"You're still beautiful." Cooper says.
"Yeah babe, if you want we could make you feel better." Luke smiles seductively and I feel my cheeks heat up as I remember yesterday.
"Ha. You would suggest that." I tease.
"Only because I'm pretty sure Cooper and I are dying to touch you." Luke smiles.
"That's true." Cooper agrees.
"You guys." I laugh and shake my head. "I don't even know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything..." Luke says as he kisses my shoulder. I close my eyes and take a deep breath... and then Cooper's phone rings.
I open my eyes and feel my face heat up.
"Sorry." Cooper mumbles before grabbing his phone. "Shay." He answers and leaves the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
"You guys are too much." I chuckle nervously.
"We are both obsessed with you." He laughs.
"Can you just hold me for a while?" I ask.
"Of course, babe." He says and pulls me down to his chest. I settle against him as he lightly kisses my head.
"Well today could have gone better." I smile against his chest.
"It could have been worse. Thanks for saving Ariel."
"It was all luck." I tell him.
"I'm not sure I believe in luck anymore. Fate, yes, but luck?"
"I don't know." I say honestly. "I'm just scared to imagine what would have happened if I wasn't there for Ariel. Or for Hope." I cringe thinking about losing either of them.
"You're amazing." He smiles.
"Not as amazing as you." I giggle.
"Whatever. You know you are."
"Pshhh. " I roll my eyes. "You're just trying to get in my pants."
"What!" He acts offended. "I can't believe you think I'm only in this for sex! Mind blowing, amazing sex with you." He smiles.
"I'm going to start thinking that's all you're in it for." I tease.
"While the sex is the best I've ever had, I feel home with you." He kisses me softly.
"Me, too." I say and curl more into his chest.