A/N: I apologise for the stupidly long gap between updates, I've had this one written for a while but kept forgetting to upload it. Anyways enjoy! and please leave feedback :)

Chapter 14

Uhhhh… what now? Belle turned over in bed to see Aden's shivering form as he battled his demons in sleep, another nightmare… I feel so sorry for having to go through all this, but I just don't know if I can take much more of this, I'm worn out every single day – the lack of sleep is getting to me. And the hours… the endless hours of supporting Aden, reassuring him, comforting him – its draining, I mean really draining, it's sucking the life out of me and I know he needs me right now but I really don't think I can handle this much longer, he needs help – proper help nit just me and Roman but I know he won't take it so what else can I do?

"Shhh… babe come on, you're safe here, let go babe, shh…" Belle whispered into his ear.

Belle and Aden were sitting on the couch watching television when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it" Called Roman from the other room. Belle heard him and stayed seated =, her eyes focused on Aden who had stiffened almost immediately when the doorbell rang. He's so paranoid, thinking that every little knock, every little creak is his grandfather coming to get him, he needs help – he really needs help… but he won't listen…

"Hey Irene, nice of you to pop by, how are you doing?" Roman asked as he opened the door.

"Fine love, good to see ya, just thought I'd come round and see how all yous lot are doing"

That's it, I can't handle this anymore, all these flinches every time somebody touches him, the freezes when the door goes, the nightmares night after night after night…

I've gotta go for my own good, as much as I love Aden for once I have to put me first, I can't deal with this, he needs a counsellor and I know I've said this thousands of times before but that's because it's true, he does he just won't accept it.

Anyway I've decided, I 'm leaving tonight – I'm going to stop at Irene's, give me some space to clear my head and catch up on sleep, I'm knackered – and I know Aden has it worse, believe me I know that but I just… I just can't handle this anymore…

Belle had hoped to leave without a fuss, she had packed her things earlier in the day when everyone was out and was going to sneak out the house quietly while Roman was busy making dinner and Aden was in the shower. She had her hand out the handle of the front door when a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Belle, what are you doing?" Came a tired voice from the top of the stairs. She turned to see Aden standing there, wrapped in only a towel having freshly exited the shower. She stood for a moment to admire him, his perfectly toned stomach and bulging muscles in his arms, knowing that it may well be the last time she could do such a thing, before looking up into his eyes and replying.

"I'm leaving Aden."

There. That's it. That one simple sentence. And it brought Aden's world crashing down around him. He stood there frozen to the spot as his brain tried to process what she had just told him. What? No… no… she wa- no… but- how… I don't underst- no…

His words came out pretty much the same,

"You… how- , what… tell me you're jo- no… rea- pleas… god…" He ran a hand through his wet hair before finally choking out,

"You're-e l-leaving…?"

Belle kept eye contact with him and nodded slowly. Once. And then she saw it. All of the anguish and heartbreak and betrayal that shined in his troubled eyes. She mentally cringed, feeling terrible for adding to his list of problems; but, to her, there was no other way.

One nod. That was all it took. What was left of Aden's world, that last thread of hope he had been so desperately clinging onto, snapped. And then he was truly alone, swimming in a field of blackness. Haunted dreams and memories dragging him deeper, and this time there was no light at the end. Nobody to pull him free. No Belle to save him.

Belle took one last look at his tortured expression before turning and walking out the door, walking out of the house, walking out of his life…

…Forever?