Forbidden Fruit

Apologies and Talks

"Hey, guys!" I greet the two of them and Cody immediately throws himself into my arms, though I can tell he's trying to be careful of the twins poking out of my body.

"I'm so so so glad you're back." He tells me and I hug him back and thank him, deciding not to get into deeper topics until later. Once he lets go, James is next to engulf me in a hug, though his is a lot softly before he pulls back and ruffles my hair.

"I'm just glad to have someone to distract Cody and Jonah again." He says laughing and I frown once I realize I won't be able to see the kid since he's at school. I close the door and lead them to the living room instead of the kitchen, knowing the two of them haven't spoken to Alex since before I came back.

Which is exactly the purpose of today's gathering. As much as I appreciate my friends worrying about me, it upsets me that they sovreadily blamed and attacked Alex for not coming after me and forcing me to come home. He and Thomas are the only ones who know my story and both of them understood the importance of what I needed at the time and I need them to understand that.

We are all family. We'll have great memories and jokes and banter but I also know we're going to have fights and arguments as well. What I don't want is for there to be any falling out because of pride.

No one knows this is what I plan to talk about, not even Alex, knowing he would tell me not to bring it up, always ready to take the weight off of everyone's shoulders but I won't let him do that today.

I make small talk with Cody and James, catching up on the latest with their little family before I hear the door being opened up front. "In the living room!" I call to them and it's the rest of the group, probably coming from the South side of town together.

Everyone begin to greet each other and while they do, I stand up from my seat where I was curled up and make my way to the kitchen where I find Alex hesitating over the platter of fruit that he arranged for our friends. He's biting his lip as I come around the island to rub his back making him turn his head towards me with a small smile.

"Come join us." I tell him and though I can tell the idea makes him nervous, he doesn't object as he picks up the plate and follows me out of the kitchen and into the living room. I notice how the conversation instantly dies down but I ignore it even as Alex stiffens under my hand.

I take the plate and set it on the table before pulling Alex to the couch, making him sit so I can throw my legs in his lap as I lean against the arm of the couch.

    I turn to the rest of the people in the room and give them a friendly enough smile before I begin.

    "Thank you guys for coming. I've been trying to get my head together these past few days, so I apologize for the wait." I say and they all shake their heads as if the words and unnecessary but I need them to hear me out so that there's no confusion.

     "There's something else I wanted to say sorry for, however and that's for leaving you behind. I don't regret what I did because I really needed that time away. But I am sorry for the way it happened. There's been times in my life when similar words have been said to me when something very precious was taken from me so whenever I hear word similar, I slip into a downward spiral especially if they match with insecurities I already have." I tell them making sure to make eyes contact with every single person in this room except for Alex whose hand I hold tightly in mine.

     "I'm sorry for any pain and worry that I put you through." I tell them and they all give me soft sad smiles.

    "You don't have to apologize, Chloe." Graves says with a warm smile and I give him a ghost of one back.

"Yeah, we're just glad you're home safe." Cody co-signs and the rest of our friends agree.

"I'm glad you feel that way but that's not the main focus that I wanted to talk to you about today." I inform them and they all frown even Alex and I pat his hand lovingly before I go for the kill. "As much as I love you all, I only have one Link and that is Alex. Being my Link he should be the one to know what's best for me, don't you think?" I ask politely and everyone nods confusingly at me but I'm not done.

"Chloe, you don't have to do this." Alex tells me but I pat his hand comfortingly in dismissal.

"Hush, baby." I fell him before I continue my rant to the group of people in front of me. "As Alex told most of you, I needed the time to myself to be able to be a good parent for my kids. I needed to heal myself so that I won't be so easily broken the next time someone says something against me. And there will be a next time. And I am extremely disappointed in those of you who got angry at Alex for not abiding by your wishes instead of mine. I was not ready to come back so the whole idea of him forcing me to before I'm ready would have only made this worse."

I pause to take a breath and I'm sure to look Cody, Graves and Ares in the eyes though they all look down from the fire that's burning in them.

"I love you, but my Link comes first. If you can't accept the fact that he did what was best for me then I can't accept the fact that we're friends. I understand that I hurt you but that does not mean you take your anger out on the one person that felt everything you did times ten." I end my speech with a glare and those of whom I'm talking about are quick to say something.

"I'm sorry for getting angry at you Alex and for hitting you when you called me out on being selfish. And I'm sorry Chloe for disrespecting Alex." Cody tells me with tears in his eyes and as much as I want to soften my tone and apologize I don't, needing them to see that this wasn't okay.

Ares is next to speak up his voice and face as blank and empty as ever but it's the regret in his eyes that let me know his words are true. "I didn't mean to beat you down, Alex. Chloe being gone shoved me back to when Thomas was taken and I remember how much I searched for him but I know every situation is different. I hope we can put this behind us." He says and I nod at him in thanks.

Graves is the last to speak and I can tell he's struggling with his elephant sized ego but a slap to the leg from Cora has him speaking up. "Sorry for saying bad words at you." He says and even though it's the shittiest sorry I've ever heard, it's the best thing I'm going to get from him.

"Thank you." Alex says and I turn my head to see him staring at me instead of our friends and I give him a comforting smile.

I turn back towards our family and decide to get them out a little ahead schedule. "Alright guys, thank you for apologizing but I need some time with my daddy. He's going to show me the twins room today." I tell them and they all take the not so subtle hint to get out.

They all get off the couch and come over to tell Alex and I goodbye filled with hugs and kisses, though they mostly linger on Alex much to my satisfaction. Within five minutes the house is quiet once more and the last car is pulling out the driveway.

Alex turns to me and pulls my face into his hands before leaning in for a kiss. "Thank you, princess." He whispers against my lips and I answer with my own.

"Come on, you have a room to show me." I tell him and I giggle as he gets up with excitement and drags me up with him, taking me up the stairs to show me what he made for me to come home to.

~~~~~~
MAMA BEAR DONT CARE!!! I love overprotective Chloe. He's amazing. He's sexy. He's great. I love him. WE HAVE LIKE FOUR-FIVE CHAPTERS LEFT OMG OMG.

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