Today was the day of Erick & Katie's BBQ and I was exhausted. Maverick been up all night either crying or only wanting to be held. Being a single mom was one of the hardest things I ever did. I would often wonder what life would be like if Bray was here to help me with Maverick. Every time I looked at my little boy, I saw Bray; they even slept with the same little pout. I rolled over in bed and looked at the crib seeing Maverick already awake and moving around.

"There's my angel" I said with the biggest smile I could force. I never let him see me cry or be angry. I wanted him only to know happiness & joy. I was constantly afraid that he would somehow have that influence just genetically from Bray. His eyes instantly lighting up with a big toothless grin as I held him close.
"Are you ready to see Uncle Erick and Auntie Katie?" I asked as I yawned and he cooed at me. We walked in the bathroom and I put him in the bouncer while I took a shower. I knew that my showers were always short unless he fell asleep in the bouncer. I quickly took my shower before curling my hair as quick as I could and putting on makeup to cover the dark circles and bags under my eyes.

Once we were both dressed, I made sure I had my baked beans & chicken dip ready to go. I put on my baby carrier with Maverick carefully strapped to my chest. I looked at the two pans plus the diaper bag. I didn't want to drive 2 house down the street but even with Maverick comfortable on my chest this would be difficult.

"Crap" I whispered as I heard a knock at the door. I walked over and smiled seeing Luke standing there.
"I thought you would need help" he said as I laughed nodding. Luke and Braun were there to help me the most and always loved to play with Maverick. Braun was a big brother to Maverick with Luke stepping in as a surrogate dad. They always wanted to help me by giving me a break but I didn't want to rely on anyone else. Maverick was my responsibility, my son.
"There's Mavi" he said as Maverick smiled and kicked his chubby little legs.
"God he looks so much like Bray" he whispered as I looked down at Maverick nodding. I brushed back his dark curls and saw his blue-gray eyes looking back at me.
"I feel like every day he looks more like him" I said with a smile as I leaned down kissing his head. I grabbed my diaper bag along with the chicken dip as Luke and I walked down the street.
"So it's a year yesterday" Luke said as I nodded not really wanting to talk about it. It had been one year since Bray left but it still felt like yesterday that I was out in the woods watching him walk away.
"Yesterday was hard, I cried while he was napping. I know you hate when I say it but… I miss him so much. I still love him after everything" I said quietly as Luke just nodded. Everyone hated when I said I missed or loved him, they thought after Abigail & what happened that day that I would never want to see him again.
"I know you miss him. We could all tell the last time we were together. I miss him too, he was my brother... " he said as I looked up and saw Luke's girlfriend Ashley standing there with a grin.
"I figured you would need some help" she called out as she rushed over and took the chicken dip from me so that I wasn't carrying anything. Luke had been dating Ashley for about 8 months and I liked her. She was very sweet and even baked the cake for my baby shower.
"Well thank you both!" I said trying to shake the feeling of sadness that I had. We walked into the backyard where everyone was already, Erick at the grill, Katie setting stuff up with her & Erick's son Remington on her chest, Braun & his girlfriend Mandy drinking beers.
"There's Mavi" Katie squealed as she left Erick's side and moved over to see us. She hugged me careful not to squish me as I did the same. I don't think I would've been able to make it through everything without her.

I sat under my umbrella with Maverick having tummy time next to me on the blanket. Everyone was having a good time behind us but really I just wanted to be alone. It wasn't that I didn't love them, it was just how much I felt like I was the third wheel, even Braun had a girlfriend and I was alone. I knew I probably needed to move out and move on with my life but just the thought of leaving hurt. I loved living on the swamp and I loved having my little friend-family so close by. I looked down at my ring that I still wore every day then at Maverick who just smiled up at me.

"You're a natural, just like I thought" I heard from behind me. It was the voice I heard in my dreams and shook me to my core.
"Bray?" I said quietly as I looked back seeing him standing there. Our eyes met and instantly I had tears in mine. He looked just like he did the day before everything happened. He had the sweetest smile and his eyes were full of love.
"Angel, I…." he started to say before I saw his eyes fall over to Maverick who was staring at him.
"Bray, I want you to officially meet your son Maverick Bray Wyatt" I said taking Maverick in my arms and having him face Bray.
"My son, my perfect son" he whispered as I nodded. Bray sat down next to me as Maverick studied him for a minute before grinning up at him and he grabbed at my arm.
"He's perfect Bray, so perfect in every way. He's my little 14-pound angel" I said smiling down at Maverick. I was scared having Bray this close to us but I knew I needed it. I needed to see him and I couldn't run away. After what had happened the day I gave birth, I knew Abigail was gone but I was still scared.
"He looks just like me" Bray said as I nodded down at the baby on my lap.
"He does, more and more each day too. Everyone always says that I just delivered your clone" I said proudly as Bray looked up at me, his eyes softening.
"I…. I'm so sorry. I know I said it in the voice memo but what I did to you, it…." He started to say as I shook my head.
"Later… not here. Not in front of him, you are his father and he doesn't need to know what happened between us" I said as I looked out at the swamp. I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye.
"I missed you Bray" I whispered as he nodded looking down at his hands.
"You have no idea, the whole time I thought about you. I asked Erick constantly how you were, when I found you that you were pregnant and… that he was okay. I worried about him too. I almost came home so many times but I knew I needed to keep you safe… it's my job" he said looking the same direction as I was knowing that for both of us it was hard to look at each other.

That night we got back to the house and I put Maverick in his swing. Bray looked around the house as I picked up some of the baby things that were around the living room. I needed to busy myself because I didn't want to look at him. All I wanted to do was go to sleep and wake up in a world where this awkward situation wasn't happening.
"I'll get my own place if you can give me a few days" I said as Bray shook his head.
"No… Stay here. I promised you I would take care of you and I… I will. That's why I kept our joint account is still open" He said as I nodded biting my lip and looking down at the diapers in my hand.
"Thank you" I whispered as I put them in the basket with the stuff for changing Maverick.
"You know I wanted to come back so many times. I couldn't..." He said as I sighed and put the basket down.
"Why didn't you come back then?" I asked feeling tears in my eyes as I tried not to look at him. He knew the entire time what was going on, how bad I was hurting, and stayed away.
"I was getting rid of her, I wanted to make sure before I came back that you & Maverick would be safe. I wasn't going to risk having that happen again" He said as the tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn't argue with that, especially if Maverick could have a father who wasn't possessed by a psycho demon.
"Do you remember… any of it?" I said just loud enough for him to hear as I walked past him. I needed to keep myself busy and not have to deal with what was happening.
"I remember…. My hands around your throat, when I stopped. It haunts me every day seeing what I did to you, that I… hurt you and almost ended your life" He said as I wiped my eyes and walked back towards him.
"Did you mean anything you said that day?" I said bluntly, I thought I knew the answer but I needed to know for sure.
"No, I didn't. I said those things so you could be free. I couldn't stay around if Abigail was going to hurt you. You are my world and I….I almost…. Killed you" he said as I shook my head.
"It wasn't you Bray none of it was, I know it wasn't. It was that Demon bitch" I said with a sigh.
"I forced you to do things… I…" He started to say before our eyes met again.
"I'm so sorry for ever forcing you to ever do anything against your will. I know you didn't like what… what I forced you to do then she happened" He said his voice actually shaking.
"I did it because I…. I loved…. Love you Bray" I said as I sat down next to him.
"I don't deserve it darling" he said quietly as I cupped his cheek in my hand lovingly.
"You do. Bray… I know you when she isn't around. You are the guy who holds me during a thunderstorm because you know I'm scared of thunder. The guy who would talk to me for hours on end and even recorded his voice so I could go to sleep at night. The guy lets me have all of the baked carrots from the roast…" I started to say some of the reasons I loved him, not the possessed Bray but him.
"Because they are your favorite part and I like to watch the way you smile while you eat them" he finished my sentence with a smile.
"I love the way… we made love the night before everything happened. You told me after that you would do anything for us… for me" I said as Bray
"You shouldn't want me" he said as I looked down at my hands. I shouldn't want him at all but I couldn't stop my love for him.
"But I do" I said quickly as Bray looked into my eyes.
"I forgive you Bray… I forgave you the day it happened" I said taking a deep breath as he
"Where does that leave us?" He asked after a short pause. I thought about it for a minute before sighing.
"We need to work on us before we do anything. I need you to prove to me… that she's gone. I… I want you to " I said as Bray nodded
"I'll go" He said as I shook my head and shakily touched his hand.
"No, you can sleep in… your room. I've been in the other room" I said as he just nodded. I wanted more than anything to rush into his arms and have him hold me but the thought of what happened that day still scared me.

2 AM rolled around and I was sitting awake with Maverick crying in my arms. He was still crying after an hour and I was getting overwhelmed again. I looked down at the crying infant in my arms and kissed his head.
"Come on, please stop crying" I said not knowing what else I could do for him. He was already fed, he didn't have a dirty diaper, he wasn't warm or cold; he just wanted to be held. I heard a knock and the door pushed open.
"Are you okay?" Bray asked pushing the door open a little more as I looked up at him.
"I… He… He won't stop crying" I said bouncing him in my arms as Maverick let out a loud cry.
"Do you need help?" Bray asked quietly trying not to make the situation any worse.
"No… He always does this" I said looking down at Maverick who screamed even louder.
"Please… let me help" Bray said before I nodded handing the screaming baby over to him for the first time.
"Oh what is this all about?" Bray cooed at Maverick as he started to bounce him.
"Da… I" Bray whispered as I stood up touching Bray's arm.
"Daddy, Maverick daddy has you" I said with a smile as Bray just smiled over at me.
"Get some rest, I got him" he said before I searched his eyes before nodding. I was scared but I needed sleep before making myself sick.
"Okay… wake me up if he… needs me" I said laying on the bed and watching Bray walk out with Maverick in his arms. I laid awake for half an hour when I heard Maverick quiet down. I quietly walked into the hall when I heard Bray.
"In the great green room. There was a telephone And a red balloon And a picture of The cow jumping over the moon…" Bray was reading Goodnight Moon as I stood in the doorway. Bray was sitting in bed with Maverick laying on his bare chest. He has the gentlest smile and his eyes were so full of love looking down at Maverick. I knew instantly that Bray and I would be okay.