She awoke to find herself laying within the naked embrace of her husband, her head tucked within the crook of his neck and a warm arm holding her in a tight embrace. How lucky she felt in this moment, when only one week ago she had nearly lost him forever.
The birth of her son was supposed to bring nothing but utter happiness, the feeling of wholeness. They'd done their duty, now they could live without fear of the future. But the walls of that false sense of security soon came crashing down around her with the entrance of her mother, her pale face and shaking voice told her of the horrible accident in which could possibly take the life of her husband.
She suddenly went cold, she froze, her arms tightening around his naked form. The memories flooding back to her all at once.
Isobel's bellowing wails from down the hall made it all the more real. "Matthew was in a car accident. Dr Clarkson is attempting to stop the bleeding, there's nothing to be worried about my darling" Her mother reached for her hand, holding and kissing it, but her resolve crumbled, she sobbed "I'm so sorry my Darling girl".
The irony of her mothers statement hit her as hard as the words that were spoken 'there's nothing to be worried about? Of course there are things to be worried about! The love of my life, my husband, the father of my new born son is down the hall being attended to by doctors and nurses attempting to keep him alive!'
Although all of these thoughts flooded through her mind she remained speechless, unable to move, feeling as though she'd been winded and her breath has been taken right out from under her.
She took a few deep breathes in attempt to steady her racing hear beat, Mary lifted her head to take in the full features of his face, he looked so content there in their bed, the only noticeable evidence of what had transpired last week was the thick cut on the side of his forehead 'thank god you're ok...'
She leant down and planted a light kiss on the wound, lightly touching his cheek with her hand and feathering a light peck on his lips "I love you Matthew..." She whispered against his lips, Her eyes started to tear from the thoughts of a life without this man 'what would I do without you?'
As she snuggled back into his shoulder she felt the arms around her waist tighten slightly, the movements of his chest and his breathing shifted alerting her to the fact that he was awake. "Good morning my darling" he whispered into her hair "Good morning" she replied into his neck, her voice full of emotion, she moved back slightly to allow Matthew to turn his head, a frown came across his features "Stop it Mary" he said suddenly.
"Stop what?" She replied confusion etching her face.
"Stop thinking about it" he replied.
She smiled sadly "oh my darling.." Her voice cracked and Matthew pulled her back into his chest "I was so scared.." Her body quaked in his embrace as the sobs overtook her body.
Matthew rubbed her back with circular motions "shhh..It's ok Mary, I refuse to go anywhere, I would never leave you and our little Prince behind".
"I don't know what I would have done if..." Her breathe hitched in her throat, she couldn't say the words aloud, the ache in her chest making it painfully obvious that she would have died along with him, be forever in mourning.
Matthew released his embrace and moved onto his side, perching his head on his hand so that he could look her directly in the eye, his hand slithering across her waist. "You don't have to worry about losing me my darling, I love you so very much, and I believe that that will always be enough to bring me back to you, I will forever be by your side... Even when you wish that I weren't, even when we fight, I will always be here".
Mary nodded and blinked away the last of her tears as Matthew leant in to kiss her, the kiss was light, a way of soothing away the pain, warm kisses on familiar lips.