2

2

lily

I jolted upwards, screaming so loudly, that I could feel my heart in my throat.

It felt like my heart had stopped in my chest, as all of the painful memories made their way back to the surface.

“Baby, it's okay!” Zayn said urgently, wrapping his arms around my body, pulling me close, soothing me and pressing his lips to my forehead. “You were having a nightmare.”

He trailed off his sentence, cupping my chin in his hands.

“Come on, look at me.”

I drew out a deep breath that I didn’t know I was holding, as I did my best to regain my composure, and come to the realization that I wasn’t in the dark place I was many years ago.

I was at home, with my beautiful boyfriend taking care of me.

Lazarus wasn’t here.

Vladimir Potter wasn’t here.

I was safe.

I shook my head, clutching my chest as my eyes welled with tears.

“I saw her, Zayn!” I cried out.

“Saw who?” Zayn denied.

“My mom.”

Zayn stared at me with a timid, sorrowful expression on his face.

“I miss her so much,” I whispered, swallowing down a lump in my throat.

He ran his fingers through my hair gently, doing his best to give me the reassurance that I needed, and soothe me.

“I know you do,” he breathed. “Shh baby, I'm here.”

“I love you,” I whispered.

“I thought you were getting better at shutting away your bad dreams,” he commented, shrugging doubtfully.

“I've been trying so hard,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “I don't know what's been triggering them lately.”

I trailed off my sentence, a tear rolling down my cheek.

“Every time I close my eyes...” I gritted through clenched teeth, balling my hands into fists. “I see those monsters again. I remember every bad thing they did to me!”

“It's in the past now babe, they won't be coming back,” Zayn promised me matter-of-factly, folding his arms. “I'll protect you and look after you. You don’t have a single thing to worry about.”

I drew out a sigh, before wiping my eyes.

I was so thankful to have such a caring and loving partner, who stayed here for me through thick and thin.

Through the bad times, as well as the good.

I loved him more than anything.

And I knew that with him by my side…

I had nothing to fear.

“I know you will,” I swallowed.

I broke off my sentence, suddenly feeling dejected.

“God, I'm so sorry you have to put up with me,” I mumbled. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Don't you dare say that!” Zayn gritted. “You mean everything to me, baby girl. I love you.”

I could feel myself burning underneath his gaze, so warm and comforted in this moment.

“What time is it?” I asked, smiling.

Zayn took his phone from the bedside table, holding it out in front of his eyes, letting out an exasperated growl.

“7AM.”

“Fuck,” I muttered exhaustedly.

“We don't have to go in to work today if you don't want to,” Zayn offered, shrugging. “We could go out instead, you need cheering up.”

“Nah, I'm not slacking,” I retorted, folding my arms. “I love my job too much.”

He let out an appreciative chuckle.

“Okay, I'm gonna go get ready,” he shrugged.

I nodded back, and made my way to the mirror to get ready myself.

3

lily

I changed into a fitted white blouse, paired with a black skirt.

I stared at myself in the mirror, smoothing my hands over my ass, swiping my mouth with lipgloss, doing my best to look presentable.

“Ready?” Zayn asked, straightening his collar as he made his way back into the bedroom from the bathroom.

“Yep,” I smiled back, dusting myself off.

“You look beautiful babe,” he rasped, eyeing me up and down with a predatory regard.

I could feel my cheeks burning bright red as my heart hammered against my chest.

Only Zayn could make me feel this way.

It didn’t matter how many times he complimented me…

Each time would still feel like it was the first.

“If I have to walk into work to see Dawson drooling over you again, he's getting a punch in the nose,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

I couldn’t help but to giggle in response.

“Don't worry babe, I'm all yours,” I remarked, with my hands on my hips.

I leant up on my tip-toes to give him a kiss, tangling my fingers into his hair as his hands trailed down my back, tracing small circles on my soft, silky skin, letting out a guttural groan against me as he pulled me even closer.

“If you keep teasing me like that, we'll never get to work,” Zayn growled.

I let out a low chuckle against his mouth, before withdrawing myself from his body, knowing that we needed to set off for work.

4

lily

We made our way inside the headquarters, ready to go to the office to meet with the manager.

As we trudged inside, we noticed Dawson standing at a desk, ruffling through some paperwork.

“How you doing, Dawson?” Zayn asked, shrugging his shoulders.

Dawson ignored Zayn's comment, darting his attention towards me instead, a smirk forming on the corners of his lips.

“Hey Lily,” he rasped. “You look beautiful.”

Me and Zayn both rolled our eyes and walked past him, ignoring his comment. Dawson had always fancied me ever since I'd worked here, and hadn't been much of a fan of Zayn, since Zayn was my boyfriend.

I couldn't help but to find the whole thing amusing.

“What did I do wrong?” Dawson called out after us, sighing disappointedly.

I let out a giggle, as me and Zayn continued to walk and ignore him.