The one that got away

Chapter 4

Somehow I managed to hide most of the bruises. The angry one around my eye was still visible, but my face looked better than it had the night I got here. I finished putting on the makeup I never used. It was moments like this when I realized why I even bought it in the first place. I took one last look at myself in the mirror and then ran my fingers through my dry hair. Dylan picked up a lipstick and opened it.

"Momma I pretty," I laughed as she put it on her lips and I shook my head.

"Very pretty," I said pulling her onto my lap. I had dressed her up to see my parents. She was wearing one of the nicer dresses I packed away a few weeks ago. It was blue with little white flowers lining the bottom. Her hair was a mess, I had to figure out something to do with it. I sighed, running a brush over the curls lightly.

Dylan looked into the mirror, "daddy?"

I shook my head, "we're going to see grandma," I smiled as Dylan's eyes went wide. I took in a deep breath, wondering if she would grow up to hate me. I had taken her father away from her, but he had hurt me way more than I thought was possible. One day she would have to understand how I had to get away. I had to protect her too.

I gathered her blonde hair up in my hands, wondering how in the world she had gotten so much so fast. She giggled as I scratched her neck lightly and then put it up in a little pony tail. I smoothed down the front, and clipped one of the butterfly clips in front of the band. Her blue eyes were bright in the mirror, "pretty."

"Beautiful," Bellamy's voice made me jump as I turned to see him leaning against the bedroom door. He had on an army green shirt that hugged his arms tightly, paired with dark jeans. I was surprised to see him dressed and ready to go. I had been hogging his room for the past hour now, "both of you."

I winced, "the bruises aren't that bad? I really don't want to explain them all to my mom."

He smiled, walking into the room. Dylan jumped up and hugged him, "you look perfect."

I flashed him a small smile and ran my hands down my dress. I hadn't wore a dress in a long time. I had no reason to get dressed up, between John and his constant nagging for me to clean the house and having a baby messing it back up. It was amazing that I had gotten back down to my pre baby size.

"I'm nervous," I let out a little laugh as Bellamy picked Dylan up and kissed her cheek. I would never get tired of seeing him do that, "I shouldn't be nervous to see my parents."

Bellamy watched as I checked my hair once more, running my fingers lightly over my face, "were you this nervous to see me?"

I shook my head, meeting his eyes in the mirror, "no. I knew you wouldn't ask questions. I knew you wouldn't judge me. I knew you would just wrap your arms around me and promise to keep me safe," I turned to look at him, feeling a small smile as Dylan laid her head on his shoulder, "I wasn't wrong."

He stepped in closer and wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me into his chest. Dylan was playing with his shirt and I smiled up at her. Bellamy kissed the top of my head, as I picked up her little hand and squeezed it gently. I felt my heart fill up the same way it had the first time I held her. There wasn't enough words in the world to describe the way I felt about these two people.

"We should probably get going," Bellamy cleared his throat and I nodded, stepping away from the two of them.

"Two minutes, I'll meet you downstairs," I held up my fingers and watched as he rolled his eyes. I had always been a little late to things. He had gotten used to that early on in our friendship. I did one more sweep over my face, sprayed myself with perfume and then pushed my feet into a pair of shoes.