Forever

twenty-three.

Orlando, Florida
Orlando Regional Medical Center

"Darius, babe." a wide awake Erica called out.

Darius snapped his head towards her and immediately went to her side. Seeing his future wife confined to a hospital bed because one of her ankles were fractured fueled a fire inside him that would never be put out.

"What's wrong, baby? Are you hurting? Is the headache back?" he asked, worriedly.

"No, no. I feel much better today than I have since I've been here." she gave a short smile. Darius bit his lip in frustration as he once again thought about how she got here.

"Erica, I'm so fucking sorry. You don't deserve this shit. I promise I'm gonna take care of it, I swear to you." Darius said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

"Darius, you know I don't like when you say that. Whoever Tedric is, he will get what's coming to him. You don't need to be apart of that." Erica tried to reason with him like she has been for the last week.

"Baby, you think he's gonna stop? I know this dude. He's got it out for me and he's not gonna stop with you. What happens when it's Aurora, my dad, Kamari? I'm not letting him get away with this." Darius repeated for the hundredth time this week.

Darius just couldn't hear that right now. Tedric had already crossed a line by sending Aurora the picture of him and his son and now he had put the woman Darius loved in the hospital. He didn't care how dangerous it would be or how much loss that came with it, Darius knew he wasn't letting this go.

"Babe, just think about our family. I can't lose you and neither can our son. We are a unit. Please, for me." she exclaimed, squeezing his hand which Darius didn't return.

"Erica, I can't. That's just not who I am." he sighed, sitting in the chair next to her bed.

Erica looked over Darius with a frown. She had watched her boyfriend come apart since she had been in the hospital and it was hurting far more worse than the physical pain she was in. She hadn't seen her son since she'd been here and she knew Darius hadn't either since he'd been here every single day. She was thankful her Dad was now retired and could look after their child.

"You know I love you, Erica. You know that. I wouldn't be the man I am today if I didn't have you. You are my world. Do you understand how hard it is to hear you ask me to not do anything? I'm supposed to protect you." he said, voice shaky.

"Baby, I know that. I love you with everything in me which is why I'm asking you this. I don't want to see you hurt or in jail because of me."

"Erica, I can only promise to not do anything for now. If anything else happens, I can't be the good guy anymore." he looked over at her, eyes full of tears.

Erica pouted before looking away from him to prevent her own tears from falling. From reliving the accident everyday since she's been here and to not seeing her son, it was all taking a mental toll on her and she didn't know how much more she could take.

In the middle of both of them processing their emotions, the hospital room door opened without a knock. They both lifted their heads to see Aurora walking into the room which only made them widen their eyes. Darius knew his sister and knew she'd most likely come but he was still shocked and angry nonetheless.