CHAPTER SIX: TENDERNESS

Damien's POV

I stifled a yawn and glanced at the time by the corner of my office.

9:30

Eden should have been put to bed. Unable to calm the sudden urge to see him, I immediately left my office and headed to his room.

“Eden? Are you asleep?” I called out as I pushed open his bedroom door. I turned on his light and was stunned by the sight in front of me.

The bed was empty.

Eden, being the child he was, had strategically arranged his pillows and covered them to mimic him in case anyone decided to randomly check on him.

Unluckily for him, I'm not that foolish.

I sighed, raking my hands through my hair in dismay. It wasn't hard to guess where Eden had snuck to.

Switching off his light, I turned and quickly made my way to Heaven's room, just by mine. And sure enough, a little figure sat by the chair at her bedside.

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Heaven's POV

My mind raced at the click of the door. Was that Damien? I couldn't deny my nervousness at being with him alone, especially at night. My fears, however, were alleviated by the soft little voice I heard.

“Mama? Are you asleep?” Eden softly called out. My heart warmed at the sweet boy. I was unable to speak so I could only gently move my head to look at him.

He grinned when he saw my face.

“Yay, you're awake,” he cheered, raising his hands in joy, as he made his way to my bedside, avoiding the wires by my bedside.

He struggled but managed to take his seat by the chair next to my bedside.

“Mama, how do you feel? Are you tired?” he all but whispered. He was probably supposed to be asleep. I laughed internally at the thought that he snuck to see me.

I couldn't respond so I could only just look at the beautiful boy that I had birthed.

When I was bathing, with Mariam's assistance, I noticed a small, nearly invisible scar on my lower abdomen which proved my earlier suspicion that I'd been in a coma during Eden's birth. I had gotten a C-section.

I'd never known my son. Never held him or fed him. He just grew while I slept unaware. I quickly blinked away the fresh tears that slowly filled my eyes.

Eden was unaware of my thoughts. He looked so happy. He talked about everything, not caring that I couldn't respond. Just me listening was enough for him.

“I love school because of my friends, but I don't really like my teacher because of the way she looks at daddy,” he muttered.

That got my attention. Well, everything he said got me attention but this caught it for a particularly different reason. I’d been wondering about Damien's life before.

From the way Eden sounded, he didn't like other women getting his father's attention and it touched me that he respected me like that. But, was Damien with someone? Did he have a girlfriend?

I don't know why an ache suddenly began to form in my chest. I wasn't like I knew Damien. He was my husband, but I couldn't remember him.

If he had been with other women while I was in a coma, why did it bother me?

“Daddy takes lots of pictures for you. He clicks a lot.” Eden gestured to a camera. “He says he wants you to see me grow. I'm happy you can see me now, Mama. I…missed…you…mommy.”

His words were getting slower as his eyelids drooped slowly.

He was tired.

He laid his head on the chair, too tired to fight against sleep. I wished I could hold him, carry him to his bed, and tuck him in.

I sniffed at the tears that filled my eyes again and could only laugh at myself, I had far too many tears for someone just waking from a coma.

The door slowly creaked open and from the corner of my eye I watched Damien enter, sigh at the sigh of Eden's sleeping frame then gently pick him up.

Damien left with Eden immediately, probably to put him back to bed. I could only wonder if he'd come back. He didn't check if I was awake so he had probably just come for Eden.

I sighed as the time ticked by. He wasn't coming back. I don't know why it saddened me that he didn't check on me. I didn't know what to expect, or how to act around him. Everything just seemed strange.

I was so lost in thought that when the door opened again, I didn't hear it. At the feel of a presence, I turned to see Damien standing by my bedside in pyjamas, little water droplets clung to the tips of his hair.

We simply stared at each other. Like before. He didn't say a word.

He held a glass of water I assumed was for me but he just stood and stared.

My heart pounded in my chest at the look in his eyes. His eyes carried an intensity I couldn't name.

“You're so beautiful,” his voice was so low that I might have missed it, but I didn't. Heat crept up my neck and I averted my gaze, feeling suddenly shy.

He chuckled, a deep, low rumble that sent a strange flutter through my tummy. He slowly lowered himself to the chair, his eyes never leaving mine. He leaned forward and dropped the glass of water on the table.

“I understand you must be very confused, Heaven. But I'll be here every step of the way, I promise.” He laced his warm hand through mine. “We’ll take it one day at a time. Trust me,” he murmured softly.

My throat clogged with emotions but I managed a small nod. His lips curved in a shy smile.

I felt less alone with him. In a way, Damien reassured the scared parts of me even though I couldn't remember him.

I slowly fell asleep to thoughts of my husband.