The ache in my back is a dull reminder of my position but I keep my eyes shut regardless. The faint voices of nurses and doctors can be heard outside as they go about saving lives for over twelve hours without any signs of stopping. Alex's faint breathing is obvious and I let a smile tug at my lips as I embrace our serenity.

My eyes stay firmly shut as I slowly wash in and out of sleep, unable to properly fall into a deep, blissful sleep with the different surroundings I'm in. A sudden burst of white light shines through my eye-lids and I pray that whoever has walked in will leave. But the light stays persistent and I open my eyes to see two figures in the door frame.

Squinting, my half-conscious brain suddenly becomes alert as my eyes focus and I come to realise that the two figures are actually Alex's parents. Realizing they've just caught me sleeping beside their daughter's hospital bed with her hand clasped in mine, a panic wave shoots through me.

I quickly glance to my side to see Alex still in a deep sleep, as usual, and I breathe out a breath of relief that at least she hasn't been interrupted - she needs her rest. Looking back to her parents, Alex's Mom tilts her head to motion me outside.

Standing up on shaky legs, I slowly extract my hand from Alex's and force myself to not kiss her forehead before I leave because doing that in front of her parents right now would probably not be a good move.

My heart thumps against my chest as I walk out into the blinding light of the waiting room once again. The chairs are arranged into a square, facing outwards, with some ugly purple pillows on them but I take a seat regardless, not trusting myself to stay upright due to nerves making their way through me right now.

Owing to the fact that they've just caught me sleeping beside her and that I'm pretty sure they've been suspicious for a while, I know it's time to tell Alex's parents about us.

But the thought is still so terrifying. I mean, what are they going to say? Despite our not-so-ordinary relationship, meeting and telling the parents is a big deal. Plus, having to do it alone makes me scared for my life - but I know I have to do this. Both of them may kill me, but it'll be worth it.

Right?

Sitting down on a spare bench across from me, I feel as though I'm about to go into a audition with Alex's parents. Time to impress them. The only problem is, I can't memories the lines, or get a feel for the character or look up facts about the setting. I've got nothing but the truth to rely on here.

"I'm guessing you guys are a bit confused." I start off, my voice rough as my knee bobs up and down below me.

"That's a bit of an understatement." Alex's Mom, Grace, says.

"Are you in a relationship with Alex?" Alex's dad, Mike, asks straight away.

Throwing all caution to the wind, I nod as I say, "Yes we are, Sir. We have been for six and a half months."

Their mouths drop open and I lean back in my chair, taking a deep breath as I mentally prepare for the onslaught of questions. When they don't arrive, I attempt to tackle the situation myself.

"I know this is a shock, but I just want you to know that I love your daughter. I understand that our situation isn't exactly the safest, but I will do anything in my power to keep her safe. Today hasn't really proved that, but I am trying." I say, my voice sounding loud in the empty room.

Grace is the first to move as her head nods up and down. I let out a sigh of relief, glad that some of my words are getting through. Looking over at Mike, I almost recoil at the look he's got on his face as he glares at the floor.

"Okay, um," Grace stammers at a loss for words. "So, you guys have been keeping this a secret?"

"Yes. Clara and my best friend, Noah Defray, are the only others who know." I say.

"And why haven't gone public yet?"

"Our contracts to Queries restrict us. It's against the rules to date a cast member. But we can change our contracts in four months, which is when we're planning on going public." I say, swallowing to get rid of the lump in my throat.

"I can't believe it." Mike, finally, says. Shaking his head, he looks me in the eye and I return the look with a slight smile - unaware of where this conversion is heading.

Grace leans over and murmurs something in Mike's ear that I can't quite grasp. He nods at her before turning back to me.

"She's so vulnerable. If you, Grace and I are all looking out for her -why is she still getting hurt?" He asks and I swear I physically deflate in relief that he isn't thinking about murdering me. At least, not yet.

"To be honest, Sir, I don't know. But I do know that I will protect her now more than ever and I won't let this happen again." I nod, deadly serious.

Grace nods in approval as Mike looks up and stares at me. Feeling like he's staring into every secret I've ever kept, I long for Alex's presence now more than ever.

"I like you, Theodore." Mike finally decides, a minuscule smile pulling at his lips.

"I'm glad, Sir. Sorry again for keeping the relationship a secret, our circumstances weren't exactly regular."

"Of course, I'm just glad that we know now." Grace smiles at me and I beam back.

"Know what?"

Alex stands in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe in what looks like an attempt to keep her weight off of her ankle. Her black eye looks even more blinding in the harsh lighting and I immediately stand up to go help her.

Wrapping an arm round my shoulders, Alex hobbles forward as I support her to my chair. One both seated in front of her parents, Mike takes the lead.

"Know about your secret relationship, honey." Mike smiles fondly.

Alex looks at me with panicked eyes, shielding her face from her parents by using her hair. Blocked from view, she mouths what the fuck to me as I laugh before explaining.

"I thought it was about time they knew." I say, smiling at her.

Intertwining our hands together, Alex turns and looks at her parents with slight hesitation in her eyes. Hesitation that I don't understand. "Are you guys okay with this?"

"We kind of had a suspicion after you went red when we asked about a Hollywood boyfriend." Grace smiles at Alex, reaching over the small gap to grab Alex's hand in her own.

"I did not!" Alex exclaims, now hiding hr face from me.

My grin seems to take over my whole face as I lean in and kiss Alex's shoulder. Loving the way she melts into me, I let my lips linger before drawing away - acutely aware of her parents seated less than a meter away.

"You did honey, but that's okay. We kind of hoped you had one, anyway." Grace says.

"You've hoped I had a boyfriend since I was sixteen, Mom." Alex groans.

"Well, I want grandkids! What else did you expect?" Grace asks, raising her eyebrow in warning at Alex.

Air seems to escape my lungs as I take in her words. Slightly terrified at the thought of kids, the idea is dulled down by Alex's scoff as she reacts to her Mom's absurd idea. Giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, Alex flashes me a smiles before turning to her parents.

"Grand kids are way in the future Mom, calm down." Alex says.

Grand kids? In the future?

I'm not very sure when this idea began to take place, but I'm pretty sure I should've been briefed about it before this took place in front of her parents. Taking a deep breath, I imagine the thought of little Alex's and calm myself down a bit.

Not in time for Alex's Dad not to notice, however.

"Theodore looks petrified, maybe we should call this a night and we'll see you in the morning?" Mike suggests and I almost audibly beg Alex to say yes.

"I suppose you're right." Grace nods. "Okay, we'll see you in the morning before we head out into the sea out there. We can help with bags or protection or whatever."

"Sounds great, Mom. I'll text you once I know the time I'm getting let out." Alex smiles.

Grace bends downs and hugs Alex whilst I promise Mike that I'll take care of her daughter. Once Grace and Mike round the corner and disappear, I turn to Alex with a stern look on my face.

"You shouldn't of gotten up." I say, clenching my jaw as I think about the pain that Alex was probably in.

"I know. Help me get back and then we can pretend it never happened." Alex smiles up at me and I take a moment to appreciate her good mood that's surfaced despite her nightmare of an afternoon.

"I'm not going to pretend you didn't go directly against doctor's orders of letting your ankle have at least twenty-four hours of rest, but I am going to help you back. Of course I will." I say, my tone starting accusing but ending in one that Noah would laugh about for days on end.

Alex smiles before stretching her arms up and looking like a child waiting to be carried. Hooking an arm around the back of her knees and behind her back,I carry her bridal style into our hospital room for the night.

"Thank you." Alex says, as I place her gently on the bad, mindful of any bruises.

"No nightmares?" I ask, leaning over her to brush a strand of hair away from her face.

"I got some weird flashes, but I woke up and came and found you. There's nothing to be worried about." She smiles, but her reassuring words don't seize the panic swirling round in my brain.

"I think you should look into the therapy that the Doctor recommended, it would probably be really good for you." I say.

Reaching up, Alex places a hand on my cheek and whispers, "I'm fine, T. It only happened this afternoon, it'll take time. I know we're both worried, but it's gonna be okay."

Leaning into her hand, I bend down and kiss Alex, my emotions pouring through as I struggle to keep myself upright. The feelings she always brings sweep through me as my heart thumps inside of my chest.

Braking apart, I kiss her forehead before leaning back into the awful chair that I'm almost certain Alex will have to sit on once I come in for back issues. But I keep my thoughts silenced as Alex relaxes back into her bed.

Taking her hand in mine once more, a darkness washes over me as sleep finally pulls me into its silence.

~~~~~

The Doctor arrives early in the morning, startling us awake. The new doctor isn't as professional and asks for both of our autographs. We of course give them. Once the doctor's checked up on Alex and given her some pain relief, we ask for silence on our situation which he thankfully agrees on.

"Of course. Now, let me know how you feel after you've finished breakfast and we'll hopefully get you out of here in the next two hours." He smiles before shutting the door behind her and encasing Alex and I in our own privacy.

"Thank god. This bed is awful, my back is used to memory foam." Alex teases, raising her eyebrows in a teasing way.

"You poor thing." I say teasing, but the meaning behind my words is true.

Alex woke up with another nightmare during the night and I consoled her through it. Regardless of her miraculous mood right now, that's still two nightmares she had to go through in one night. My heart aches and I make sure to remind myself to start looking into therapists to help her.

I let myself wander into my thoughts but I bring myself out of them to reassure Alex as I realise what leaving is going to get her to face.

The paparazzi. Who have't left. They stayed all night hoping to get a glimpse into what has happened. Their determination sets my anger alight and I don't usually class myself as someone with a short-temper but their reluctance to give Alex space when she really needs it is getting on my nerves.

"I'm fine, okay, T. I'm already looking into therapists and I've got you by my side. We'll get through this." She smiles, shyly looking at me though her lashes.

I stand up from my chair and wrap my arms around her small frame, embracing her in a way that allows me to feel how she fits against me. Burying my face in her neck, I inhale and the smell of her fruity shampoo gets me pulling her closer. Pulling away, I kiss her before sitting back down.

"Jesus, sorry. I should be consoling you." I mutter, running a hand through my hair that is probably looking wild due to my restless night.

"We're a team." Alex reminds me, looking at me through pointed eyes.

"Yeah, we are." I say, taking her hand in my own and giving it a squeeze.

The door to our room bursts open as Clara and Noah pour in, Emma's arms full of nonsense. But when Alex let out a squeal, I guess it can't be that pointless after all. Dumping it all on the bed, I let go of Alex's hand as Clara begins explaining.

"So, I've got your favorite black jeans and a mint top for you, because I was guessing you wanted something comfortable instead of fashionable. I brought you hair stuff so you can tie it up and there's make-up in there if you want to put it on." She says, her voice breathless.

"Oh my god, you are amazing." Alex states, picking up my favorite pair of her jeans and folding them under her arm.

She looks so good in the black jeans it's almost criminal, I downed a boiling hot coffee last time she wore them to distract myself. We were in an interview and Alex turned up late, as usual, and I almost drooled at her legs. I kept it together, though. Kind of.

"Okay, I'll go get changed. Um, do you know what time we're leaving?" Alex asks, turning her eyes to look at me.

Noah takes over, "We bumped into the nurse on the way here. Says that as soon as you feel ready you just have to go to the office and sign the paperwork. After that you're free to leave."

Relief pours over Alex's bruised and battered face. "Okay, great. I'll be quick then."

"No rush, don't hurt yourself." I say, following her movements with stern eyes.

She's been cleared to walk on her ankle. But with strict instructions not to overdue it. Knowing Alex, she will and I already know this situation is going to stress me out.

She gets up slowly from the bed and her hiss of pain makes me want to rush over. But before I have the chance, she straightens up and carries on walking as if nothing happened and she didn't just break my heart all over again.

Once she's out of the room, I turn back to Clara and Noah with the intent of getting answers. "What's the situation outside like?"

"Not great, man." Noah says honestly, squeezing the back of his neck. "There's a shit load of them outside. But I'm praying they'll give her space."

They'll have to because Alex's health is at risk.

And I refuse for anything to happen to her again.

~~~~~
Author's Note:

Our poor Alex, what hasn't she been through!?

But now the parents know! What did we think of their discussions? What do you think is going to happen next with the paparazzi?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll see you next Friday for another one!

Much love,

Jade x