Saving Grace

Father

A-hoy there shippers!!!

Christmas came late and New Years came early. Consider this my season's greetings.

It's a whiplash chapter. A lot going on in 4.5k words so brace yourselves.

Please remember that you love me (at least I hope you do.)

Happy early New Year shippers 💜

XOXO

(Hahahaha did you think I'd forget? Cliffhanger warnings apply 😈)

........

[Max]

He comes to his sense's too late.

By the time he processes what has just happened, the words have already left his lips.

Max's heart stops for a brief second but he soon realises that he needs to keep up his act as Lamiah stares at him with a dumbfounded look.

"You're...the father?" She asks in disbelief and he nods then takes a silent Helen's hand in his to plant a kiss on its back.

"I am. I'm the lucky man she chose to create a little life with." He reveals, playing with the boundaries of truth.

"But. But her mother said-"

"Helen wasn't ready to introduce me yet. The news is fairly new so we were going to keep it hush hush for a little while longer. Atleast until the 6th month." He interrupts, hoping his excuse will satisfy her nosy cousin and send Lamiah on her nasty way.

"Well..." she seems to be convinced, but as she looks down at their joint hands, a knowing look crosses her face and she smirks. Max swallows, fearing the card she's about to play.

"Max was it?" He nods stiffly but with a polite smile.

"Are you planning on making a decent woman out of my older cousin?"

Max feels the blood drain from his cheeks and as hard as he may try he can't help letting his mask slip. A victory smirk plays on Lamiah's lips as she quirks up an eyebrow, almost daring him to prove her wrong.

Max's heart feels like it's trying to catapult out of his chest. Still, he puts on a brave face.

He can't back out now.

"Well...guess that cat's out of the bag." He says shakily, hoping his nervousness comes off as excitement rather than panic.

"I'm sorry honey." He says, the endearment rolling off his tongue like ice melting on hot skin. Max turns towards a very confused Helen and squeezes her hand, asking her to trust him.

"This wasn't how I planned it but, I guess it's as good a time as any." Max stands up and let's go of her hand so as to take the gold chain from around his neck. Before Helen can see the shiny band that hangs from it, Max goes down on one knee and feels his heart somersault as her eyes grow wide with realisation.

"I know that I have a bit of a heavy past and this ring symbolizes that. If you want a new one just say the word and consider it done but I wanted you to have this. I wanted you to know that if you accept to spend the rest of your life with me I'm laying everything in your hands. My past, my present and my future. I'm in this with you. All of me."

He has no idea where these words are coming from, but a small part of him knows their true. And judging by the teary twinkle in Helen's eyes, she feels that sincerity too.

"So. Will you take this very broken man and make him whole again? Will you stay by my side and be the glue that keeps me together till the very end? Will you, Helen Sharpe, make me the happiest man on earth...well for a second time," he places his hand over her stomach and she chuckles, letting the tears stream down her face.