A Different Beginning

A Different Beginning ~ Part 102 ~ Gaining Trust

Point of view: Sang 

Waking up, my eyes slowly focused upon a mixture of blond and brunette hair. Slowly, I sit up my body sore as I slowly run my fingers through Gabriel's hair watching him sleep. I had been wrapped around him but when I felt the cold touch of the air on my back I knew that Luke was missing. Placing a soft kiss on Gabriel's cheek and pulling the blankets tighter around him, I slowly slipped out of bed and made my way out of the bedroom and to the overhang. 

The rest of the day had gone well but I had been worried about Luke the entire time. Although he tried to be happy and bouncy like he usually was something was off. He would hesitate to smile when someone cracked a joke and he was much more clingy, not that I complained but I could sense the change. 

Leaning over the railing slowly, I spot Luke curled up on the couch. Slowly climbing down the stairs I move to the couch and gently run my hands through his hair waking him gently. His sleepy eyes take a moment to focus and then they widen. "Little bird?" He whispers and I carefully move and take a seat at his side and caress his cheek. 

"Hey..." I whisper softly and smile. "Why aren't you in bed?" 

Luke shifts slightly and runs a hand through his hair as he slowly sits up and rests against the couch. "I keep having nightmares." He whispers and I quickly slip my hand into his and squeeze. 

"About?" I whisper, but I already know what he was dreaming of. 

"When you were captured..." He whispers and slowly cups my cheek making me shiver at his warmth. 

I let out a slow sigh and meet his eyes pushing away bad memories as well. "What can I do to help?" I whisper. "I want to help. You did nothing wrong. You didn't know what my father would do nor my mother nor that Hendricks was in on it." I cross my legs and I meet his eyes. 

"But I don't know what happened to you Little Bird." He whispers and suddenly I am wrapped up in his arms. "You don't like to talk about it and your sleep is also filled with nightmares that are probably worse than mine." Luke's arms slowly slip over my bandaged sides and I turn to him. 

"Do you want to see?" I whisper and I feel Luke tense for a moment before he nods. 

"Only if you are comfort-" I quickly cut him off with a kiss. 

"I will always be comfortable around you." I whisper and shift to sit carefully in his lap. Taking a calming breath, I slowly remove my shirt, pulling it over my head. The cold air instantly tingles against my skin causing me to shiver. Luke's warm hands rush to cover my body and he gently pulls me closer so I can soak up his warmth. 

"I will keep you warm." Luke whispers and I feel his fingers slowly trace over the large bandage that covers both my chest and my abdomen. Taking a slow breath, I shift the bandages so that Luke can see the lash marks from the whip. I can hear his intake of breath. "Do they hurt?" He whispers as he slowly puts the bandages into place and pulls me closer. 

I shiver and nod slowly. "They ache." I admit and glance to Luke whose eyes shine with worry. "But you know it was worth every moment." Luke's eyes widen as I state this and I smile slowly running my fingers over the bandages. "If my step-mother had never done that to me I would still be with her. I would still be at her home and under her control." I slowly caress Luke's cheek before shivering once more. "I wouldn't be here in your arms." I admit and Luke's arms tighten around me. 

"You are my everything Sang." He whispers in my ear and I nod slowly allow myself to relax into Luke's chest shivering. Quickly he helps me put back on my shift and I fold into his chest shivering harder. "Come on little bird time for bed."