Hello my dears, I am back! Ok so I sadly got struck with writer's block, however I'm slowly starting to overcome it. So enjoy this chap, it's a bit of a downer but everything will turn around soon. So just a tiny warning, this chap. mentions Grace's past with Henry, so abuse is mentioned. Thanks again to everyone who is sticking with me and reading. Bones does not belong to me, but Grace does.
It's not just kids who have nightmares.
"What's the plan for tonight cutie?" Grace's voice chirped from the other end of the line. In the weeks following Vincent's kiss with Grace the pair had begun spending all their time together, and the more time they spent together the more Grace felt safe. They would catch a bite to eat, take a trip to the movies, stay up talking all night at Vincent's, and when they were at work they would secretly steal glances from across the platform. Despite all this, Grace still hadn't opened up to Vincent. To many they would be perceived as a couple due to their body language; they held hands, Vincent would tentatively stroke a strand of hair away from Grace's face, she would watch him when he wasn't looking smiling as she did so, as they watched a movie he would always hold her, and when their chats eventually came to an end they would curl up together in Vincent's bed. But that was as far as it ever went, occasionally a kiss would place itself on Grace's forehead or cheek, but beyond this it never went. When it came to the emotionally side of their friendship, she barely opened up, never daring to let her past with Henry spill from her lips. "Well how about you come to mine, and I cook you some dinner?"
Vincent was smitten, he knew that if he gave it time, eventually Grace would allow him into her life, and as she woke him up screaming that night it appeared that the time had come. After spending a wonderful night together, they had dragged themselves away from their conversation and headed for bed. Vincent had just drifted off to sleep, only to be awoken by a scream from Grace next to him, as his eyes darted open he rolled other to see Grace thrashing around as she fought with the air.
"NOO...GET OFF ME." Her screams had turned to sobs; Vincent gently shook Grace and in turn woke her from her dream. "Oh god, Vincent, it was so real." Grace clung to Vincent, as tears streamed down her face, her breathing was heavy and she felt sick.
"Did you know that within 5 minutes of waking up, you forget half of your dreams?" Vincent soothed, attempting to be helpful, stroking Grace's hair as he rocked her back and forth.
"Yeah, well how about nightmares? Or how about reality? I wish I could forget, i-m so tired, tired of him controlling me, still."
"Tell me about it, isn't that what you'd say to a patient? It might help." Grace just carried on clinging to Vincent's arm, could she really open up to him? She was scared, not only of recalling the harm Henry caused, but scared that if Vincent found out just how damaged she was that he'd run away, everyone leaves and eventually he would. That was why she tried not to blur the boundaries between friendship and a relationship, but she hadn't expected to fall for him and these apparent boundaries were becoming less and less visible, if she filled him in on her past, then the boundary would be non-existent. Maybe that's exactly why she told him.
"It's always the same; I'm back there, in London, in our flat. He's shout- -ing at me, calling me all those names 'whore, bitch, ugly'. He unbuckles his belt, as he's shouting he's unlooping it, he's telling me how much he doesn't want to do it 'I'm not a bad guy, but you make me do this, you need to learn, it's the only way.'" Vincent was horrified already, and he knew it was only going to get worst. He watched Grace cry, it was written all over face she was reliving every word he had spat, the fear of what was going to happen once the belt was off.
"But I didn't do anything wrong Vincent, I never did anything wrong, he just said that stuff to make it easier for him, for his conscience. He finally gets his belt off, I'm sat below him on the floor, crying, begging, promising 'I'll be good next time', that I'd never do it again. I'd try everything, absolutely everything to stop him. It's funny, I even tried telling him I loved him, his reply was always the same 'I love you too, that's why i must do this'. He lifts his hand up, 'NO Henry, please', he lashes into me, repeatedly whipping the belt into my back. Then when he was tired, which obviously was my fault too, he'd leave me on the floor, bruised and bloody. Normally he would kick me, or he's use his fists, he would never take it too far; if he did the hospital would ask too many questions. But that night he lost it, I honestly don't know why, I don't even think he knows, all I know is that he enjoyed i. That night was the turning point, so the next day I left."
"I don't know what to say, except that you are so brave for having the courage to leave him and I am so proud to know someone who has so much strength." Vincent cupped her face in his hands, he felt numb listening to the pain she had been put through, but a part of him felt as if they had made a break through, especially as she leant forward to kiss him.
"Thank you Vincent."
There we have it, erm I was worried about writing the abuse chap. it's such a delicate topic, and I didn't want to go into to much detail but I also wanted to convey the sadness, so hopefully it worked out.
Also reviews would be lovely, and I would love to know what you guys are thinking, are you enjoying it, is there anything you'd like to see happen, suggestions are always welcomed.