Cold, icy drops of rain fell relentlessly against Natalie's skin as she stood motionless outside his house. Her clothes were soaked and stuck to her body, the cold was numbing but at that moment Natalie thought it more comfortable standing in the pouring rain than ringing his door bell.

She couldn't even remember the ride here or why she chose this place at all. Her brain must have gone on autopilot sithen she couldn't think straight or see past her torrents of tears.

It was all stupid, everything. Including her.

Here she was standing in front of the house she'd promised never to return to. Crawling back to the man who had warned her that this was going to happen, that marrying his brother was the worst mistake she could ever make. Here she was, proving him right. They'd been so close she was sure nothing could put them apart until she used her very own hands to do so.

Her tears threatened to surface again but she held them down. She didn't cry while James hit her, she wouldn't cry now and especially not in front Aaron. The last thing she wanted was his pity.

She didn't even know what she wanted anymore. His help or him. She shook her head. All she wanted was to see him and for him to see her. She was hoping the gaping emptiness she felt would go away after that.

She took a deep breath in as she hugged herself. She'd have to ring that doorbell else hypothermia would kill her faster than the ache in her heart.

His door swung open before she could move.

Natalie's chest tightened with emotions when she saw him standing there. Aaron froze mid stride utterly surprised to see her standing out there in the rain. He could feel his heart running laps. Was it really her?

"Nat?" He called out just to be sure.

Natalie chuckled, trying very hard not to choke on tears now. His voice was oh, so familiar plus, the effect it had on her was still there. She could feel years worth of tension in her shoulders melting away just by the sight of him.

Aaron knew the only reason Natalie was here would be because James had done something horrible – and from the visible marks and bruises on her body he was right, the bastard had laid his hands on her – but nothing mattered to him as he ran to her and pulled her from under the rain and into his home. Her home.

He wrapped his arms around her as soon as they were inside and wondered how long she'd been outside there in the cold. Natalie held unto his shirt as he engulfed her in his warmth, he smelt different than she remembered. Better than she remembered. He must have changed in so many ways but she liked this change. She wanted to stay like this forever.

He pulled them apart and cradled her face in his hands. His eyes scanned her face like he was looking for something. "Are you okay, Nat?" Worry was etched on his resplendent face.

They hadn't seen each other in years, he didn't even attend her wedding but he was standing right before her now. His light brown eyes distinct under the fluorescence and she could see by the way he looked at her that he still cared very much for her. She was right, seeing him was enough.

Seeing him was just what she needed to breakdown in blubbering tears. She couldn't help it, Aaron saw right through her walls and defenses. He knew her in and out. He was the only one who felt her and so, the only person she could be defenseless with.

He hugged her silently as she wept understanding that Natalie was one to bottle up her feelings and this was her letting it all out. This was her falling apart because she'd been strong for too long.

So, even when her knees gave in and she could no longer stand he held her, still. Till they were a crumpled mess on the floor.

©️Blaque