Always

1.24

Twenty two hours later

Dakota's head leaned against the uncomfortable chair that was seated next to Ares's hospital bed. Knox sighed and walked further into the room closing the door behind himself.

"Uncle" Ares's weak voice said as he turned his head toward Knox slowly. Knox looked up and walked to Ares's bed side.

"Hey my little fire" Knox said giving Ares a smile as he held his nephew's hand.

"Am I g-going t-to die?" Ares stuttered out as he looked up at his uncle. Knox frowned and thought of what to say. Ares looked away from his uncle looking at his mother who was sleeping peacefully.

"Whe g-goiwg to h-hate mi for d-dyiwg?" Ares couldn't help but ask. Knox quickly shook his head and sat down in one of the chairs.

"Your mother loves you Ares and she could never hate you. I promise you" He said and Ares nodded before sniffling.

"I-I don't want to d-die" Ares cried and Knox reached over laying down next to Ares in the bed before holding him close to him in his arms.

"You aren't going to die fire. You are just going to take a nap okay?" Knox mumbled and Ares nodded closing his eyes. There was a knock at the door and the Doctor walked in slowly closing the door behind him.

"I have some really good news" He said and Knox nodded sitting up some as he still held Ares.

~~~

Zyria walked down her stairs and into the kitchen where her mother was sitting at the small table with her brother Zaire.

"Good morning baby" Zyria's mother said as she smiled at Zyria. Zyria smiled and kissed her mother's cheek before sitting on her brother who groaned.

"Get off" he mumbled and Zyria shook her head before eating some of his breakfast.

"No" she mumbled with her mouth full of food. Zyria's mother smiled before exiting the kitchen claiming to look for her car keys.

"So why did I have to pick you up from a hospital last night" Zaire said and Zyria froze moving off his lap and into the chair her mother was just in.

"None of your business mister" She said and gave him back his plate with just one pancake remaining.

"Did something happen?" Zaire asked but Zyria shook her head softly.

"Stop being so damn nosey" Zyria said laughing. She got up and walked toward the stairs.

"I just want to know if my baby sister is in some trouble" Zaire called out and Zyria smiled rolling her eyes.

"You are only older by a couple minutes you assclown" Zyria said before walking upstairs and into her room to get dressed.

~~~

A hour later

"So he is getting better?" Dakota asked the doctor for the third time which he nodded yes to.

"He is not completely better and healed but he is getting some strength back and his charts are improving." The doctor said and Dakota smiled looking down at a sleeping Ares who was laying on Knox's chest.

"I would advise you to not get your hopes up completely. We don't know how long or if this is a permanent better" he added and Dakota nodded before hugging him.

"It doesn't matter because it gives me more time with my son" she said before sitting back down next to Ares' bed. She kissed his cheek softly and watched  him scared to look away.

"Thank you Doc" Knox said and the doctor nodded before excusing himself as he exits out the room.

"You okay sis?" Knox asked his sister who nodded smiling.

"I don't have to say goodbye to him today" she mumbled and kissed Ares hand softly. Knox smiled and looked down at Ares who was snoring softly through his oxygen mask.

"Dakota" Knox said making her look up at her brother.

"Please do not get your hopes up that you won't have to ever say goodbye" Knox said slowly. Dakota smiled sadly and nodded.

"I know Knox but I just want appreciate the time I do have with him right now" she said softly and Knox nodded before slowly getting out the bed trying not to wake the sleeping boy. He stood up and stretched his limbs as he yawned.

A knock sounded on the door and Dakota looked up as it opened revealing Zyria. Knox frowned and Dakota looked at Knox biting her lip.

"Hi" Zyria said softly and Dakota smiled at her before looking back at her baby boy.

"What are you doing here" Knox said harshly and Zyria frowned tearing her eyes away from the sleeping child in the hospital bed to the glaring boy.

"I came to see if Ares and Dakota were okay Knox" Zyria said closing the door behind her softly.

Knox rolled his eyes and rubbing a hand down his face shaking his head "get out" he mumbled out and Zyria frowned deepened.

"Stop being rude Knox." Dakota said looking at her older brother.

"She doesn't need to be here" Knox argued at her and Dakota scoffed rolling her eyes.

"Zyria come sit I know you have some questions" She said softly looking at the conflicted girl who nodded slowly and sat down in one of the pink hospital chairs.

"Um yes" she said and Dakota sighed rubbing her hands together softly.

"Okay so when I was fifteen, I had a boyfriend that was seventeen and who Knox knew nothing about. My boyfriend's name was Leandro and he was very dangerous. He was really involved with gangs and drugs so he was definitely bad news." Dakota paused and bit her lip before clearing her throat. Zyria took a glance at Knox to see him clutching his fists looking out the window.

"He got me to sneak out one night and we went to this little hang out spot for this local gang. I was very uncomfortable and spammed Knox's phone to come get me without my boyfriend knowing. Leandro made me try weed and then started to basically show me off to his little friends. They drunkenly kept touching me until finally Leandro said he would be back and took me into one of the rooms." Dakota stopped as tears sprung into her eyes and she sighed shaking her head.

"He was drunk and began ripping my clothes off even though I kept asking for him to stop. He eventually got angry with me and slapped me across my cheek before forcing my legs open. He raped that night and before he could do it a second time, Knox bursted through the door and beat the man half to death." Dakota looked down at Ares running her hand through his hair.

"Three weeks later I found out I was pregnant and Knox found out immediately after I did. He promised to always be by my side and we ended up moving here. Hunter only knows that I was raped but Jada knows about Ares. Hunter and Jada were our childhood friends but when we moved away from here when we were five, we lost contact with them until a few months ago."

Zyria frowned and thought back to the time when she was almost raped making her look at Knox who held a hard look as he glared at the window.

"I'm so sorry" Zyria mumbled out to Dakota who was wiping her eyes. Dakota smiled and shook her head.

"You have nothing to be sorry about Zyria but Um did you tell anyone" Dakota asked and Zyria quickly shook her head no.

"No it wasn't my business to tell" she said and Dakota's smile grew before she hugged Zyria.

"Thank you"

.