Chapter 3

I wake up to someone stroking my cheek. I scrunge up my nose and hear Graham laugh next to me.

'Goodmorning', I say with sleep in my voice.

'Morning, beautiful', he whispers and kisses me. That's a new way to wake up. As soon as his lips touch mine I'm lost. After a while he pulls back. I sigh.

'Goodmorning indeed', he whispers. I simply smile before I tuck my head back under his chin and let his warmth comfort me.

'You okay?' He asks.

'Yeah. You?'

'I'm good', he answers. 'I'm going to look for the wolf again.'

'Want me to come with you?' I ask. I may not completely believe him but I hate for him to be alone.

'Sure', he kisses my forehead and lingers just a little longer. 'Breakfast?' I nod against his chest, press a kiss against it and start to get up. Only to have myself being pulled back into bed for another make out session.

It took a while but finally we made it downstairs for breakfast. Breakfast was nice. Mary Margeret was already making tons of food. Conversation flows easily and there's a relaxed and warm ambiance in the room. It's a nice moment.

'I should get going', Mary Margaret says. 'Have a good day you two.'

'You too!' I say back. Just before she closes the door she winks at me. I just role my eyes a little but smile anyway.

'Finally', Graham whisper before he, again captures my lips with his. Just the way he kisses and the way he holds me close makes me moan softly. I happily give in to his kisses and his touch. Until he starts to lift my shirt.

'Wait', I say as I break the kiss. He looks stunned for a moment. 'I can't. Not yet.'

'What's wrong?' He asks worried.

'I'm not ready. It's too fast, I can't. Not yet', I whisper quickly. He brings his hand to my cheek.

'That's okay. We don't have to do anything you don't feel comfortable with.'

'You won't leave?' The fears I grew up with will never leave me.

'Do you trust me?' He asks as he leans his forehead against mine. I nod a little. 'Trust me when I say I won't leave you. I'm happy to just kiss you and hold you until you're ready for more', he gathers me in his arms and immediatly I feel safe. I sigh and hide my face against his neck.

'Thank you', I whisper against him. Maybe just being me is finally enough for someone.

'Will you tell me? When you're ready, I mean. Will you tell me what's gotten you so scared to trust people?'

'I will. Soon.' I hold onto him for a few minutes more. I give myself enough time to get myself together again. When I pull back I give Graham a kiss on his lips.

'So now that we've talked about that, what do you want to do?' I asks smiling.

'We've got to get to the station', he teases.

'Of course, Sheriff. Don't want to lose my job', I tease back. We laugh together.

'I have to get home and change. If Regina sees me in the same outfit as yesterday, she'll hurt you again', Graham says in all seriousness.

'I can take care of myself, Graham.'

'You don't have to. Not anymore', he says. I look into his warm eyes and know. Know that he might just be the exception to everybody else. Maybe he won't be like them and leave me alone.

After Graham leaves I start to get ready for my day. Which means I need a shower. As I take my pyjama's off I glance in the mirror. The cut above my eye now has a nasty purple bruise around it. I touch it and wince. Regina really did hit me hard. I can only imagine what her face looks like.

After taking my clothes off I get in the shower. Under the warm spray of the water I start to think. Like I always do. I can't believe Graham and I got from fighting over him sleeping with Regina to being together within a few days. His nightmares scare me. He gets so caught up in them. Just like Henry is with his book. I don't like that there isn't anything I can do for them. They believe something I don't. They share a bond I can't understand. At least Henry has someone to talk to. Little Henry... he's had such a hard life. He's just like me when I was a kid. Always running away, not trusting anyone with his secrets, always looking for that one person that could love him. Only I never found that one person. I can only hope I can be his. I know one thing. I'll do anything to keep him safe and happy. To be the person who listents to him, to dry his tears and hold him like a little boy is supposed to be held. And Graham... I'll support him. No matter what he believes.