Rebel Heart
Chapter 21: Recovery - Leon & Reighn
Neither of them knew how long they sat there, her crying the tears she'd been holding back for most of her life as he rocked her back and foth, stroking her hair. Soon though, Reighn's sobs subsided and Leon had decided to get out of the doorway and go upstairs to bed. He stood, taking her with him and holding her in his arms as he kicked the front door closed and walked up the stairs, pausing only to kick thier bedroom door closed behind them. He laid her down in the bed and removed her shoes, then her pants and crawled into bed beside her, pulling the slient woman into his arms. She held onto him until her breathing finally evened and slowed, but even in sleep Reighn held onto him for dear life.
~ * ~
"Reighn?!"
Reighn looked up to see nearly everyone in the kitchen staring at her. She raised an eyebrow and shrugged, not saying a word as Allana stood and walked over to her, pulling her into a hug. Kittie joined them, making it a complete family group hug. They stood there for a moment before Reighn poured herself a glass of juice and sat down in Leon's lap. He smiled at her, love in his eyes and wrapped his arms around her as she leaned his head on her shoulder.
Dom cleared his throat. "So... What's everyone doing today?"
"Working." Letty and Mia replied at the same time.
"Finishing the new car we got in," Brian replied.
Jesse shrugged and warpped an arm around Kittie, "I'm gonna spend today with Kittie."
"Same with me." Vince replied, half-hugging Allana, who was leaning on his shoulder.
Leon remained silent before pursing his lips in thought, "I think that Reighn and I will spend some alone time and then go up and see my parents..."
"Dom?"
Everyone looked over at Reighn, seeing as it was the first time she'd spoken all morning, and that her voice was extreemly soft and timid. "Yeah?"
"My - my Skyline needs a little bit of body work... Could you?"
Dom smiled softly as she trailed off, "Sure."
"I'll help him chica." Letty said, "You go spend the day with your man and try and forget all of this - even if it's just for a little while."
Reighn nodded and stood, wandering up the stairs to get dressed. Leon followed behind and they were soon out the door, climbing into Leon's Skyline, Sadie in Reighn's arms.
~ * ~
Reighn leaned her head on Leon's shoulder as she gazed out over ther crystal blue waters of the ocean. They were sitting on the hood of his car, staring out over white sands and blue water. The beach was deserted, making the calm sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the call of far away seagulls seem like a lullaby as they sat there in silence. Leon's arms were wrapped around her as he held her, and the look of concentration on his face made it apparent that he was thinking of something.
He wanted to help Reighn get through this - but he didn't know how. He'd never seen her so weakened before, like she was a china cup sitting on the edge of the table, waiting to fall off the edge and shatter on the floor. He didn't want to just sit here and do nothing, but he knew that right now, what she really needed was for him to be there for her. And he wad doing just that, and it was what she needed.
"Leon?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you love me?"
He looked down at her, surprise eveident on his face. "You know I do. I love you more than life itself."
She looked up at him. "I don't feel very loved right now..."
"Oh, Ray..." He pulled her into his arms and held her closer. "I will always love you, no matter what happens. I'm always here for you."
"Are you?"
Leon sighed and lifted her chin slightly so that she would look him in the eyes. "Yes Reighn. I love you. I don't love what you were, what has happened in your life, I love you." he shook his head. "The world could end and I wouldn't notice if you were with me."
"Really?"
"Yeah really." Leon said softly. He paused before continuing. "I wish there was something i could do to make you feel better about this - about all of this. I know you're hurting right now, I can see that, but please don't hide from me."
"I'm right here..."
"No. No, you're not 'right here'. You've hidden from me. You've gone somewhere in your mind that I could never hope to go, and I can't help you if you don't come back to me." Leon said, tears pricking the corners of his eyes as she let the first of hers fall.
"I can't..."
"You can."
She shook her head. "No... It hurts to much. If I hide I don't feel it as much."
"But I can help you deal with the pain." he replied, whiping her tears off her face. "I can be here. I'm nothing here without you Reighn. I love you too much to sit by and watch you suffer."
"I don't know how."
"You do. You've done it before. Open the door for me... Let me in." he said, searching her eyes for something. "Please?"
She blinked rapidly, "What if I can't."
"You can do anything if you try."
"I - "
Leon placed a finger over her lips. "All I'm asking is that you try. Nothing more, nothing less. Just try."
She nodded slightly. "All right."
"Do you want to stay here? We don't have to go to my parents house. We can just be here together."
"Please?"
Leon nodded and pulled her closer, unable to say anything. Reighn looked up at him again. "I love you Leon."
And she did, it was the first step she took to opening the door to her soul to Leon, and he was grateful.