Zoe woke to an unfamiliar noise, the coolness of the sheets encasing her confirmed she was alone in her bed. It was strange she'd been having the same dream, or nightmare, again;
"I don't know if it's yours" she told him, her head looking at the ground. The stony silence filled the hall where she stood and she didn't anticipate his next action. The reverberating 'crack' of skin hitting skin filled the hall as he slapped her, hard across the face.
"You little bitch" he hissed at her, gripping her chin between his fingers and forcing her to look at him "I've given you everything, we're getting married and you sleep around like a little whore?"
Zoe could only squeal I'm response, unable to move her mouth. She hoped Nick had heard. The sound of feet thundering down the stairs confirmed he had.
"Take your bloody hands off her" he growled at Matt, grabbing his wrist and wrenching it from her "now, leave her alone" he turned back around to face her and she was crying, silent floods of tears. "It's ok, he's gone" he whispered, in an attempt to soothe her. He kissed her forehead and looked at her "Zoe. I love you" he told her, totally serious "will you marry me?" He asked, smiling as she nodded at him happy tears replacing the frightened ones.
The noise that woke Zoe started again as she came to her sense, getting out of bed and padding through to the nursery. The shirt she wore offered no heat in the chilly night air, it was the comforting smell that protected her. She picked up the squalling baby from her crib and rocked her gently, smiling as two arms wrapped around her and passed her a bottle.
"You're supposed to be asleep, it's my turn" he murmured, kissing the back of her neck.
"It's ok, we'll do it together. Family time" she replied, relaxing back into his chest as she fed her daughter.
She knew Nicks proposal wasn't a dream, he had bought he a ring, sent Matt a cheque for the expense of the wedding and they sent their invites out together without explanation. Nick and Zoe. Mr and Mrs Jordan, now. They had gotten married, the same wedding she had planned just with the groom she wanted by her side, the confirmed father of Isabella.
"I love you, you know" he told her in a whisper as he watched their daughter feed.
"I know, I love you too" she whispered back "I'm so glad it was you"
He knew exactly what she meant, she was glad they had gotten married "the heart never lies Zoe, and Nick Jordan never, ever gets it wrong"