A/N: I feel like the story is moving a little slow but everything comes together near the end but of course it crosses over into the next story. Just stay with me please I promise it will get better please review and favorite:)

Point of View: Ian Somerhalder

I look out onto Covington with my hands in my pockets. Every second my mind is torn into smaller pieces trying to think of possible solutions.

"Mr. Somerhalder Ms. Young is here."

"Thank you Janice, send her in."

"It sounded urgent on the phone what's wrong?" Cheynne said as she sat down.

"It's Tiara she's I don't know she's so unhappy and disconnected as if she's depressed."

"Oh um well..."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Tiara hasn't talked to me about anything wrong but her mind is always in overdrive so there could be millions of things in her head."

"Like what?"

"It's not my place to tell you exactly what she's been through. It's her past I was just there watching it."

"Haven't you known her for roughly ten years? Just run me through what has majorly affected her without really telling me."

"Um I didn't know her then but she told me that she has had guy troubles since 8th grade maybe troubles are not even scratching the surface. She doesn't have a good relationship with her parents and it got worse when she left for college. Tiara has the worst self-image she thinks that she's the ugliest person ever to exist and thinks she's as big as a house. Her self-esteem is nonexistent which harmed her dreams."

"But she's so talented and smart and obviously beautiful."

"The world sees it but it doesn't matter unless she believes it. I know what you're talking about with the depression. Some days she is on top of the world and for maybe a week, she will go back down to all the negative thoughts. Tiara always has those feelings but pushes them to the back of her mind. I thought she had good control over it."

"She's slowly slipping away from me and everyone. It scares the shit out of me to think about what she would do to herself."

"...She has already done some stuff."

"Tell me."

"I really shouldn't I've said too much already. She hates it when people talk behind her back."

"Cheynne I refuse to lose my wife now tell me already."

Her eyes widen but she continued, "Tiara has cut her wrist before you can still see the scar, she has tried multiple suicide attempts but obviously she has failed. One day she admitted to me that almost every day she thinks about committing suicide. She said that she wonders how it would feel to be at peace and have those few seconds to yourself where you didn't have to care anymore. I honestly think that she feels like if she died today no one would care."

"I can't be without her and I know that you can't either I just don't understand what would make her think that. Has anyone ever thought to send her to therapy?"

"Oh no never ever say that to her. Tiara does not want to go to a therapist her going there is telling her that she's a burden and unfixable. Ian she can be put back together with just some simple love the one thing she didn't feel like she got growing up. You're the man to do it I know you can."

I ran my fingers through my hair, "How do you expect me to do that if Tiara won't look at me or talk she even tenses up under my touch. What the fuck am I supposed to do? I want to shake her and yell that I love her more than she can understand."

"Then tell her that! It's only complicated if you make it that way that's exactly what I told her before she poured her soul out to you."

"If I could just be in her mind for a day..."

Cheynne pulled out a paper, "Tiara loves music so this is every song on her phone, every video game she loves, favorite movies, food, books, here is her mind on a piece of paper use it."

I skimmed over the paper and smiled when I got to the books.

"I know what that smile is for I can see your freaky gears turning." Cheynne got up and began to walk out, "Oh and Ian you called her your wife."

"Huh?"

"When you were talking you called her your wife not girlfriend. It's sweet that you love her that much already." Cheynne walked out closing the door behind her.

I stood there frozen as her words penetrated my brain. Would Tiara ever marry me? I pick up the phone and call the front desk,

"Janice can you go shopping for me?"

I walk into the living room loosening my tie. Tiara is sitting on the couch listening to music. I tap her shoulder and her eyelashes introduce beautiful chocolate drops.

She leans up and takes off her headphones, "Hi."

"Hi. Can I show you something?"

"Mhm."

I put out my hand and she looks at it then holds it tight. I walked her up to the third floor, "Ready?"

"Yup."

I opened the door to reveal a white room illuminated by the sunset through the lone floor to ceiling window. Tan rug and tan chairs sit in the middle of the room across from the flat screen TV.

"I call this the game room."

Tiara raises an eyebrow at me, "An actual game room or your version of the red room?"

She smiles causing me to chuckle, "Game room and I bought you something."

"Seriously Ian? Is it going to be a holographic Xbox and controller to match with a TV that expands across the whole wall?"

"Of course not but I will have to look into it."

I hand her the GameStop bag then turn on the TV and Xbox. When I look back at Tiara, her eyes are wide like a child on Christmas morning.

"Oh my gosh I haven't seen this game in years!"

"Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? I fucking love it! Oh my goodness give me the controller!"

"I don't even get a kiss for buying you the whole series of Saints Row? It was very difficult to find it all."

She jumps up and wraps herself around me planting a gentle kiss on my lips.

"Now can I play?" Tiara asked in the sweetest tone ever.

I couldn't reject her even if I wanted to. I sat her down on the couch, handed her the controller, and began to walk out.

"Wait Ian don't go."

"It's fine I have work to do."

"Well bring it in here please? I don't want to be alone."

"Of course babe I'll be right back."

When I sat down she moved over closer to me laying her head on my shoulder. With her occasional giggles as she shot people in the game I couldn't help but think, this girl has me under a deep spell. Step one complete.

I lay in bed looking at a gorgeous woman change. I was lucky enough to call Tiara mine and it took all my power not to pull her into my arms kissing every inch of her body. I wanted to tell her and show her that I cherished her body not just because I loved it but because she deserved to be cherished. I smiled at her and she returned it as she climbed into bed.

"What are you listening to?"

"Oh uh Miguel."

"I didn't take you as a Miguel guy."

"He has some maybe inspirational songs."

Color rose to Tiara's cheeks then I pulled her closer to me. For the first time in a while, her body actually relaxed under my touch. I kissed her forehead, "Get some rest gorgeous."

As I plate the food, I hear footsteps coming downstairs. I decided to let Tiara sleep in since she looked so peaceful.

"Mmm something smells good."

"Thank you it is chocolate pancakes, turkey sausage, and scrambled eggs with cheese." I said as she wraps her arms around me from behind. "Someone is in a good mood this morning."

"Yeah how could I not when I wake up to all of this. The only thing that could've made it better was waking up next you."

"I promise from this day forward I'll be by your side now eat."

After seeing Tiara actually eat and finish a meal for the first time in a week, I knew she was finally getting better. I went into the kitchen to clean up and after a minute, she came in with me.

"Didn't I tell you to relax in the living room?"

"Yeah but I didn't want to be alone." Tiara came around the island and gently slid her hands under my shirt. I turn around, pick her up and put her on the counter.

"You are such a distraction."

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

"Depends on how I handle my distraction."

"Well you never did finish the job in your office."

"That's because I wanted you to need me."

"I need you now."

I looked her body up and down, "I can tell."

"Hmm and how is that?"

"Your body is just begging for me."

"It always is."

Tiara's bottom lip slipped between her teeth, being bitten unmercifully. I ran my hands over her thighs stopping at her pum. She must be so wet so excited from anticipation of my touch. She put both of her hands on each side of my face running her finger over my bottom lip.

"I really like how these feel on my body... every single inch of my body. I've kind of forgotten how it feels why not remind me Ian?"

She batted her long dark brown eyelashes. I felt myself slowly cracking under her provocative look.

"If I don't finish cleaning up it will never get done." I kissed her forehead then removed all contact before giving in. I could feel her analyzing every part of my body. I turned back around and our eyes connected. I pushed Tiara down on the counter and pulled her shorts off. I run my hands up her body intertwining my fingers between hers; holding her hands above her head. She wraps her legs around my waist as I slowly enter….

Pulling me out of my thought, "I can tell you want me and when you finally give in I'll be waiting." Tiara says as she brushes her fingers across my stomach and begins walking upstairs.

This woman is going to be the death of me.

I began to get caught up in my thoughts somehow turning more efficient energy into Tiara Alexandria Green. Maybe I should give in and make slow tender love to her. No I can't I'm the reason she went back into this depression. How in the hell would I know that? I haven't even talked to her about it. I should talk to her today and put an end to this bullshit. I can't do that Tiara could get even more upset. How do I even know she trusts me? Well we are living together… I forced her hand though. Damn, I've fucked up this relationship pretty good no wonder why she shut down for a week.

I get too frustrated with myself so I went to look for Tiara. After I searched the whole house, I went out to the pool. It was a relatively warm day perfect for outdoor activities. As I approach the pool, she steps out the water in her blue and white striped bikini showing off her curves perfectly. The water drips and glistens on her body as she makes her way to me.

"Did you need me for something?"

Gosh, she is so sexy. "Uh no not really I just wanted to talk to you."

"Well talk babe."

I couldn't stop looking at her body Tiara had no idea how good she looked. "I can tell you want me and when you finally give in I'll be waiting." Her words were on repeat in my head unable to concentrate on the task at hand. I walked under the deck and sat down. My heartbeat sped up when she put her hand on my thigh gently when she sat down beside me.

"What is it, it seems important?'

"I just wanted to ask about your um latest behavior."

Tiara's face fell from concerned to desolate in a matter of seconds, "You mean the depression…."

"I didn't want to phrase it that way but yes."

She looked down at her hands searching her mind, "Uh can we talk about this another time," Tiara asked as she got up.

When she turned back around, I was glaring at her. She stopped as if she had turned into stone, "You may not have had to explain yourself to anyone before but you do now." I pointed back to where she had sat, keeping eye contact, and she sat back down.

"It's just a lot of stuff I've kept to myself over the years."

"Elaborate Tiara you have a wide vocabulary use it."

"Childhood issues turned into self-esteem issues which turned into relationship issues causing me to block out the world."

"What kind of issues? You can tell me on your own or we can sit here all day and I'll pull the truth out."

"Well I guess I'll go in order. The reason why I liked you not taking me to the hospital is because I can't stand them."

"Most people can't."

"Yeah but not for the same reasons. I pretty much spent my childhood in the hospital because of my asthma and other various reasons. I came too close to death too many times. There were experiences where I felt like I was drowning and breathing through a straw. They had to put a needle in my spine and if I moved at all I would be paralyzed."

"Oh…."

"Yeah so thank you for not taking me there but babe we haven't even gotten to the real issues."

I grabbed her legs and rested them on my lap. "Then we better get comfortable."

Tiara gave me a hint of a smile then continued. "Next problem I encountered was maturing way faster than my age. My parents didn't understand that I was way ahead of my years and that I was capable of handling more than your average pre-teen. They continued to shelter me and treat me as if I were five when I was actually fifteen and it didn't help that I was the only girl and youngest."

"I can tell you're more mature you are a forty year old trapped in a twenty-four year olds body. I'm not complaining that has its advantages."

"Does that make me a cougar then?"

"Not at all baby doll."

She blushed and looked down, "You've never called me that before."

"I'm going to have to do it more often then." I grab her chin and tilt her head up, "I like that blush don't hide it from me." Her eyes got lost in mine and I could feel the spark running through both of us. I pulled away and said, "Uh continue."

"I moved around a lot so pretty much every year I was at a different school causing me to become shyer. I got more and more self-conscious and that depleted my self-esteem I don't have any. When you tell me that you love me it hurts a lot."

"I really don't understand."

"I don't understand how you can love me there's nothing to love. It hurts when you say it because I'm unlovable I don't deserve love. I can't take care of you the way that you need me to and that is so unfair. I want to be worthy of your love and your presence and even your time but I'm not."

"Tiara stop just stop. You're beautiful inside and out, smart, funny, persistent, hardheaded, fun, talented, and just a breath of fresh air all reasons why I love you. I will stay with you until I get it through your brain that you're gorgeous in every way. Let me love you the way that you deserve to be loved the way that you have earned."

She looked back down at her hands twiddling her thumbs, "I'm scared."

"Of what baby?"

"I just don't want to get hurt again and if you do hurt me it will crush my world. I can't go through it again you're the first person in years that I have trusted completely."

For the first time ever I saw Tiara cry and I could tell that she was slowly taking down her protective walls. She is so gorgeous that even when she cries she looks like an angel. I pulled her closer to me and laid her head on my shoulder, "Shh it's okay hon I understand."

I brushed my hand over her dark brown hair, "Do you really love me?" she asked.

"Yes… how could I not?"

Her puffy, watery, brown eyes looked up at me, "I can tell I just wanted to make sure."

We walked back into the house hand in hand and I lay back on the couch. Tiara laid back on me placing her body between my legs. We sat in silence enjoying each other's company.

"Ian?"

"Yes?"

"I love you too."

I kissed her forehead and held her tighter. This woman has my heart and I have hers.

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