Disclaimer: Glee is not mine.

-Kitty's POV-

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That steady 'beeping' noise was the only thing I've been listening to for the past half hour; you would think that it would be driving me crazy by now right? Well in reality, it's the only thing keeping me sane. You see, that 'annoying beeping noise' was the only thing that told me that my mom was alright; that her heart was still beating the way it should be.

As soon as Toby had informed me on what happened, I had wasted no time in sprinting all the way to the hospital. How could this happen? Why would this happen?

Heart attack.

How could my mother have a heart attack? I mean, I thought only old people had heart attacks or-or people under a ton of stress or something. Not my mom, not my thirty-seven year old mom!

Part of me keeps thinking that all of this has just been some messed up dream. My mom having a heart attack, Toby being my real father, me being slow…Marley. See that's the problem right there, every time I start to wish that all of this actually was a dream and I would wake up like none of this ever happened, I remember Marley and how if this was all just some wild dream, it would mean losing her as well as everything else. And that is when the thought of this all being a dream becomes unacceptable to me. Because if waking up with my real father still being dead, my mother continuing to drink away her sorrows but sleep in the comfort of her own bed and not a hospital one, and me being smart enough to get by meant having to lose Marley? Then that's not a world that I want to even think about waking up to.

Anyway, I've been sitting here for around forty-seven minutes and thirty-two seconds…not that I was counting or anything. Ever since I got here, I can't remember a moment where my knee wasn't bouncing rapidly or my hand wasn't clutching tightly at my mom's limp one, desperately waiting for the moment where she would squeeze mine back.

"I wish it was you in that car instead of dad."

Those few words had been haunting me since I got here and I deeply feared they would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life, especially if I never get to tell my mother the truth; that I didn't mean a word of it, that I was unbelievably grateful to have her there in the parts of my life where my dad couldn't have been.

I stared blankly at the one loose thread on my sleeve; it's twisted and messed up ways ruining the shirts real features. Oh how easy it would be to just pull that one piece of thread out with a quick tug, then everything would look good as new.

Incredible, right?

Getting rid of one small thing could change the whole picture; make everything look okay again. Swap out a bad part, and everything looks and runs as smooth as silk again.

What if it were that easy for me? What if I could just pull out the one thing in my life that has caused all this destruction to happen in the first place? Just one quick tug and everything would be good as new. But…what do I get rid of? What do I scratch from the picture to make it look alright?

Toby? He did technically ruin everything, just when things were starting to look better. My mom was sober and loving, Marley and I were better than ever, I was getting smarter, and I had real friends who cared for me. But then he came along only to place more obstacles in my path. However, if I thought really hard about it…he hadn't actually done anything yet that could be classed as evil. So, I guess getting rid of him wouldn't really change anything.

Mystery person? If they were gone, then I wouldn't have had all the stress of having to blurt out all my secrets or trying even harder to keep what happened between Marley and I private…But then again, if they had never happened then, I wouldn't have told the glee club my darkest secret and have them still accept me for it…and maybe me and Marley may have never decided that we would come out as soon as we did…so, are they really the loose thread in all of this?

What about…me? I mean what if I was never involved in any of these people's lives, would it…would it all be alright? Thinking about it, my mom would have never had a heart attack, my dad never would have died, Marley…Marley would have never had to deal with the continuous problems that come my way…Was I the messed up thread in all of this?

What would happen if I were to yank this loose thread out of this messed up situation I seem to always pull everyone into. I figured that without me in the picture, maybe everything would be as good as new. Fixed…

"Kitty?" A deep and surprisingly steady voice snapped me out of my trance. My head snapped to the doorway so fast I think I might have got whiplash. Like I care at this point though right?

Toby was standing in the doorway, his soft features radiating off of him and managing to calm me down a little. I couldn't understand how he'd stayed so calm, cool and collected throughout the last hour but if I'm being honest, I'm really glad he did. I don't think I'd be handling this as well as I am right now if he had been acting just as shaken up and scared. And look at me; I'm hardly handling this well right now.

"I just talked to the Doctor." He sighed deeply before slowly walking further into the room and sit down heavily in the chair next to mine. "She said that your mo-"

"I don't wanna know what she said." I interrupt him, surprised when I hear how croaky and weak my own voice sounds. In the corner of my eye, I see him turn his head to me in surprise and a little confusion. I take a shaky breath before speaking up again.

"I just want my mom to wake up."

…

-Marley's POV-

I can't believe it! Kitty and I are finally coming out to everyone!

I can't help the happy squeal that escapes my lips as soon as I wake up and recall the events that occurred in this very room the night before. I couldn't remember a time my smile was this big before…well, apart from every time I'm with Kitty.

Ugh, kill me now

What rattled your cage?

Your happiness

Umm…I don't really know how to respond to that

I mean come on Marley! It's six-thirty in the morning! Could you just…just not be so happy so early? Seriously, it's exhausting!

Hey, I can't help how I feel

Ugh, fine I'll just have to dim your happiness a little bit then…dead puppies

Wha- why did you just say tha-

World hunger

Hey! You're making me sa-

All your hats go missing

STOP! You're ruining my good mood conscience!

Good, looks like my job here is done

I sigh heavily and shake my head a little before my bright smile makes itself known again on my face-

Oh, for Christ sake-

Shut up!...Anyway, as I was saying. Kitty and I are finally coming out together! Isn't that crazy?! But a good crazy though, an extremely awesome, amazing, wonderful crazy…

Girl, you're crazy

Oh my God!

…

-Kitty's POV-

I hadn't slept a wink the whole night, believe me I wanted to; but I felt that if I took my focus of mom for even just a second, then she'd be gone. And I wanted to spend every second by her side, just in case these seconds were the last that I could ever spend with my mother. And don't think for a second that I was going to waste one of those precious seconds on doing what I do every night. Sleep comes later, when my mother wakes up.

I say 'when', because saying 'if' would make this all too real. Saying 'if' would mean that there was a chance that my mom wouldn't make it.

Which meant that right now? 'If' is a word that doesn't even exist in my vocabulary.

…

-Marley's POV-

"Hey Unique," I drawled out playfully, the huge grin that had placed itself graciously on my lips hours before not weakening in the slightest. I watch as my friend turns away from her locker to look at me in surprise, before lifting her eyebrow with a smirk.

"Well, well, someone looks happy." She states and I giggle slightly in reply.

"I know." I smile, leaning on the locker next to hers and sighing happily.

"No, seriously Marley, it looks like you have a hanger in your mouth." She jokes, and I laugh before leaning in close to make sure nobody heard, I mean I guess it wouldn't matter much since we were coming out to everyone anyway, but I wanted to come out with Kitty, it wouldn't be the same if she wasn't here.

"Kitty and I have decided to come out together!" I whisper, not even trying to cover up my excitement, I don't think I could even if I tried, so really there's no point in trying.

Unique's eyes widen so much I fear they may fall out of their sockets. I only had to wait another two seconds before her surprised face morphed into an excited one as she began squealing and jumping up and down on the spot, which caught the attention of a few students who happened to walk by. I smiled sheepishly at them before turning back to Unique, grabbing her arms gently so she stilled.

"Unique! Come on, people are staring!" I tell her, trying my best not to laugh but failing miserably.

"Oh, come on Marley! This is so exciting! And this means that blackmail person will stop bothering Kitty! Oh my bling, we have to celebrate!" She exclaims wildly and I don't bother trying to hold the giggles in any longer. "Marls! What is wrong with you? You're gonna be able to kiss your little hottie in public now! Aren't you excited?"

My lips twitch a little as I struggle to hold in my excitement for just a little bit longer. The truth is, I'd been wanting to jump around squealing ever since Kitty and I had agreed to come out together, but I decided I wasn't going to react like a little school girl who had just been asked out by the cutest, most dreamy person in school. Nope, Marley Rose was much more mature than that.

…Well, I was up until just now...

"Alright, fine…I am sooo excited!" I smile like never before as I join Unique in bouncing up and down whilst squealing and giggling in excitement, paying no mind to the confused and slightly frightened students passing by.

Because I guess I am one of those little school girls who were giddy with excitement from being asked out by the cutest, most dreamy person in the whole school.

And I couldn't care less.

…

A couple hours later, I find myself in glee club feeling an immense amount of worry over my shoulders. Kitty hadn't come to school today.

Now normally I wouldn't worry about this at all but usually Kitty would text me to let me know. I've lost count of how many times I've texted or called her now, all of them without reply. I'm way past worried now, we were supposed to come out together today…maybe she changed her mind…Is that why she's not here? But then…why wouldn't she just tell me that? Sure, I would be a little disappointed, but I wouldn't mind waiting a little longer if that's what she wants.

"Hey, good-lookin'," Jake slurs next to me with a lazy grin, breaking me out of my troubled thoughts. I sigh tiredly before turning my gaze away from the floor and up into the eyes of the boy who is starting to pick on my last nerve.

"What do you want, Jake?" I ask him through gritted teeth, not having the patience to deal with him right now when I have no idea where Kitty is and if she's okay.

"Same thing I always do; a date with you." He drawls out, that stupid smirk still on his face that make my fingers itch to slap it off.

"Well, you're gonna have to keep on wanting." I reply, turning my gaze back to the front and away from his leering gaze. I swear, I could never tell you how he and Kitty became friends; they're two completely different people to me. Kitty's caring, sweet, cute, funny, charming, dreamy…and Jake's a disgusting pig.

"Oh come on, Marley! I've asked you out more times than I can count! When are you gonna admit you like me and say yes?" He asks me, looking a little exasperated but I just internally roll my eyes.

"Around about the time humans become extinct."

"…But then we couldn't cause we'd be dead."

"Exactly," I give him a sarcastic smile as he narrows his eyes at me, as if he was trying to study me somehow, making me give him as strange look as this was kinda weird. After a few more seconds he smiles knowingly and I give him a questioning look in return before he states his somewhat discovery about me that I am oh so interested in hearing.

"Y'know, denial isn't just a river in Paris." He grins as if he just said the smartest thing ever, whereas I just look at him in confusion and slight disbelief at what I just heard.

"What?" I manage to breathe out, still in slight surprise and confusion whether he is joking or not.

"Come on, don't you get it? Denial! As in the river 'The Nile'?" He tries to explain to me but I just give him a blank look before replying slowly.

"And that river is where?"

"Uh, duh! Paris! I thought you were the smart one?" He asks me with disbelief and a small amount of cockiness in his voice. I stare at him with slightly wide eyes for a few more seconds.

"Oh, I am." I insist. He furrows his eyebrows and begins to reply, however fortunately Unique walks in and takes a seat next to me.

"What's happenin' guys?" She greets us and I turn my still surprised gaze away from Jake and towards her.

"Jake's failing geography." I tell her simply, getting strange looks from both people on either side of me.

…

"Unique, I'm worried!" I exclaim for probably the thousandth time today as I wait for Unique to get her books out of her locker. Lunch had just finished and I'd spent the whole hour staring at my phone, waiting for a text, a call, anything to happen that would let me know that Kitty was alright.

"Nu-uh girl, you past worried two hours ago." She exclaims, shutting her locker as I sigh, unconsciously bouncing on my feet anxiously.

"Ugh, you're right…I'm terrified, I need to know she's okay…I mean, why wouldn't she have replied by now?" I ask Unique desperately, even though I know she doesn't have an answer for me.

"I don't know, Marls…" She replies, looking at a loss for words or excuses and I don't blame her, I've been trying to come up with a million excuses as to why Kitty hasn't got in contact with me yet but every single one ends badly.

"I mean d-do you think something's happened?" I ask, again not expecting an answer. I was starting to get more frantic than ever as I pulled out my phone once more, only to find not one text message from my girlfriend.

"Hey, girls," Jake appears next to me with a grin plastered on his face and with my all my worry for Kitty, I can no longer find it within me to deal with him any longer.

"Oh my God, Jake, why don't you just go and-"

"Hey! Have you seen or heard from Kitty?" Unique cuts me off before I could really give Jake a piece of my mind, which frustrated me but I guess it was good she did since I was only like this right now because I was desperate to know if my Kitty was alright…but Jake still annoys me beyond belief.

Jake gives me a strange, questioning look before answering Unique. "Nope, haven't seen her since yesterday actually. Why?"

"Well, Marls over here is freaking out since Kitty isn't replying to any of her texts or calls, just wondering if you had any idea where she is." Unique informs the boy and Jake furrows his eyebrows for a second before turning his head to see Ryder walking down the hall and calling out to him.

"Hey, dude! You know where Kitty is?" Jake asks Ryder, his voice gradually lowering in volume as Ryder got closer and closer before coming to a stop in front of us with a confused look on his face.

"Uh, no…why? Did something happen? Is she alright?" He asks in return, looking concerned. I didn't know what to think of Ryder to be honest, I mean I guess he's a nice guy and everything but I've been having the feeling lately that he might like Kitty. As in, like like Kitty. I've never thought of myself as a jealous person but this unfamiliar, bubbling of anger in the pit of my stomach might be just that.

I mean, I know that Kitty would never even think about cheating on me but I still don't like the idea of anyone other than me having the smallest chance of being with Kitty.

"I don't know, she hasn't answered any of my texts or calls…Guys, I'm really worried." I say once again, exasperated.

"I'm sure she's fine, just…sleeping or something." Jake tells us with maybe a little too much confidence, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself of that statement more than us.

Before we could speak any further, the shrill sound of a bell ringing made us realize that we were now all late to class, but I don't think any of us actually cared. As everyone began to walk to class, I started walking in the direction of the kitchen.

"Wait, girl where are you going? We got class!" Unique exclaims from a few metres away making me stop in my tracks and walk back to her.

"I can't Unique; I can't go to another class not knowing where Kitty is or if she's okay, I'm sorry but I gotta go, make up an excuse for me." I inform her quickly before spinning on my heel and rushing down the hallway back in the direction of the kitchen to get my mom to give me a lift to…I'm not sure where yet.

"But-Marley, wait! I have to tell you something!" I faintly hear Unique shout after me but instead of replying, I walk faster and faster until I was practically sprinting down the halls in desperate need to get to my mom so I could find Kitty.

Who knows, maybe she could be at home just sick or something and all this worrying would have been for nothing. But I just need to know that for sure.

…

"Mom! We have to go, now!" I exclaim as I burst through the kitchen doors, panting slightly from running all the way here. I see my mom jump slightly in surprise as she puts a hand to her heart before looking at me in confusion.

"Marley, sweetie what are you-"

"Kitty didn't show up to school today so I tried texting her and she didn't reply and then I tried calling her and she still didn't reply and that's not like her mom! Usually if she wasn't gonna be in school she would tell me the minute I woke up and whenever I text her she always, always replies and she hasn't this time and I must have text her or called her a million times already and I'm worried, I mean what if something happened to her? I need to find her mom, I need to know she's okay, you have to help me find her, you have to help me…" I pant as I said all of that in one breath and all of a sudden I feel like a can't breathe, everything's just happening all at once and I can't…I can't…

"Honey, sweetie calm down, hey baby look at me." She speaks in her soft, motherly tone as she rushes to get up and gently hold me arms as she looks into my eyes. "Breathe sweetie, just take deep breaths…That's good, just like that, just calm down…Breathe." She encourages me in a soothing voice as I try to keep my breathing under control. After a few more seconds of her consoling and me taking deep breaths, my breathing is finally back to normal but I still have the determination inside me to find my girlfriend.

"Okay…now, you're worried about Kitty and-"I cut her off before she can come up with an excuse to keep me in school.

"I have to find her mom, I need to know she's okay, please, you have to help me find her-"

"Marley honey, don't worry, we're going to find her." She interrupts me softly with a comforting smile and I hesitate for a moment before replying.

"You'll…You're going to help me?"

"Oh sweetheart, of course I am. I'm your mother and I know that you're going to try and find Kitty with or without my help, and I'd much prefer you do it with…and besides, I like that girl and I want to make sure she's okay too." She informs me gently and I jump into her arms in reply.

"Thank you…I love you." I whisper into her shoulder as I tear soundlessly streams down my cheek.

"I love you too, honey." She replies gently before pulling away from me with her kind smile and softly wipes away my tear as I compose myself, taking another deep breath.

"Now, let's go find your girlfriend."

…

We come to a stop in front of Kitty's house and I don't waste any time in rushing out of the car door as, to my horror, I see the front door is open. I hesitantly walk inside and instantly a cold feeling washes over me.

Feeling uneasy, I slowly step further into the household, my eyes flicking over all the different features. A quick glance to my right and I see the living room beside me, I feel that bad feeling inside the pit of my stomach intensify a million times worse as I freeze at the sight before me. Everything looked as if a tornado had passed through it, the table was flipped over on its side, and there were smashed picture frames and lamps and anything else you could smash really and…

Oh my…was that…blood? All of a sudden I felt incredibly sick and brought both my hands up to cover my mouth. Looking at the crimson red liquid on the floor, I couldn't help all the bad scenarios that rushed into my mind.

I shake my head in disbelief and spin around to sprint at full speed up the stairs. "Kitty!" I yell in desperation, looking in all the rooms all the while shouting out her name. Once I find that all the rooms in the house are empty, I don't know whether to be relieved or even more worried.

I couldn't be sure if that blood was Kitty's or not but I was damn sure that I would find out. As I walked, or more like stumbled, out of the house and saw my mom standing there with a questioning and concerned look on her face, I slowly answered her unspoken question in a slightly shaky voice.

"S-She wasn't there, but um…mom there was blood on the floor." I inform her, my voice wavering as a surprised look washes over my mom's features and I didn't give her the time to react before speaking again.

"We have to go to the hospital…I mean, I guess that's our best shot at finding out where she is right now…We'll just have to hope that whoever got hurt is there and either they'll know where Kitty is or Kitty will already be there too." I inform my mom before slipping back into the car with her in tow. I didn't miss the look of sympathy in her eyes behind the amount of worry and concern. I know she heard that I purposely didn't say that it could be Kitty who we would find in the hospital bed…and that's because I refused to believe that possibility until I saw it with my own eyes.

…

Forcefully bursting through the hospital doors, I look around in desperation until I find the reception desk. Quickly sprinting up to it, I ignore all the strange looks I get from the people standing close by and slam my hands onto the desk, not meaning to scare the reception lady sitting behind it in the process but also not caring much at this moment in time.

"Um, d-do you know if Kitty Wilde is here?" I ask shakily, the looks I'm receiving from people turning from strange to sympathetic in a matter of seconds.

The surprised reception lady recovers and gives me a small smile before informing me that she'll have a look on her computer. I try to keep my breathing under control, but not very successfully, as my mom finally catches up to me, rubbing my back in comfort.

"Excuse me? Did you just say Kitty Wilde?" A deep but somehow gentle voice breaks me out of my thoughts and I snap around to see a fairly tall blonde man standing before me with what looks to be a fresh cup of coffee he's just made in his hand. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in a while. His features looked kind and gentle; he looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His deep, hazel eyes had red rims that made it look as if he had been crying…why did I feel like I'd seen those eyes before?

"Y-yes…Do you know her? Is she here?" I ask the familiar stranger desperately. This man seemed to be the only person I'd seen today who had the slightest clue of where my girlfriend was and I'd waited long enough for my answer. However, he just gave me a questioning look before replying in his deep but kind voice.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Marley, Marley Rose, now please; do you know where she is?" I ask him, getting a little frustrated at the fact that he could be withholding the information I'd been searching for all day from me.

A look of realization and a small sense of relief appear in his kind, familiar eyes.

"You're Marley." He breathes out with the smallest hints of a smile on his lips. "I've heard quite a bit about you. I can't tell you how glad I am you're here, she's needs you…Oh forgive me for not introducing myself; I'm Toby, Toby Wilde." He introduces himself kindly and all of a sudden, I know why he looks so familiar.

This is Kitty's father. This is the guy who I've had to listen to my usually strong girlfriend cry over, night after night.

Sucking in a deep breath, I slowly walk up to him, trying my best to keep my anger under control. As I come to a stop directly in front of him, I stare into the eyes that look so much like the girl I love's and yet so different.

After standing there in a tense silence for another few seconds, I don't waste any more time before bringing my hand back and feeling the stinging sensation in my palm along with the loud, sharp 'SMACK' sound as my palm connects with his stubble cheek.

"Marley!" I hear my mom gasp behind me but I just glare hard into the surprised eyes of the man who has caused my Kitty pain. It only takes a second for realization to replace the surprise in his eyes and a deep sigh passes through his nose and mouth before he replies to my somewhat physical statement.

"Alright, I guess I deserved that."

"You are damn right you deserved that, you deserved it and more! You ruined Kitty's…Kitty…Kitty, oh my god, where's Kitty? Please tell me she's okay!" I begged more than asked. With all the anger I felt from meeting this guy I almost forgot that I still didn't know where Kitty was. Almost.

"Relax Marley; your girlfriend is physically fine…emotionally however…" He trails off with another emotionally beaten sigh.

Although relieved that Kitty wasn't hurt, I still had that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that there was something else he wasn't telling me. Suddenly though, I realise what he just said.

"Wait a second, how do you know Kitty is my-"

"Uh, miss? There's no Kitty Wilde but an Ashley Wilde was submitted into here not too long ago. Does that mean anything to you?" The lady at the desk informs me, interrupting my question to Toby in the process.

It takes a few seconds, but realisation suddenly hits me once again like a ton of bricks.

"K-Kitty's mom?" I ask Toby hesitantly, already knowing the answer but not wanting it to be true. With the small but there nod of his head, I suck in another deep breath before turning back to the reception lady.

"Um, could you tell me what room she's in please?"

"I'm sorry miss, but I can't give you the room unless you're family."

"I know the patients daughter, please you have to let me see her." I beg the middle-aged woman and she seemed to be contemplating it before Toby stepped in.

"Uh, excuse me? It's okay, they're with me." He smiles politely and I stare at him for a moment before turning back to the woman expectantly. She sighs but nods her head in defeat.

"Room 25, straight down the hall."

"Thank you." I say quickly before rushing down in the direction given to me, not wasting any more time.

It only takes a minute until I find the room I had been searching for. I try and ready myself for whatever scene hides behind this door. As I begin think about it, I'm not sure if I'll be able to see Kitty so broken without breaking down myself.

No, Kitty's been there for me whenever or wherever I've needed her. Now it's her who needs me and it's my turn to be there for her.

With that determined thought running on a loop in my head, I slowly turn the handle and push open the door to the room that held my loves pain inside.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw and I think that the small piece of my heart breaking along with the heart monitor were the only sounds in this room.

My Kitty, my poor Kitty looked more broken than I could have ever imagined. Her body slumped over without a care as her head rested face down on her mother's hospital bed as she sat in the uncomfortable looking seat next to it.

I couldn't tell whether she was sleeping or not, but that wonder was soon discovered when a choked gasp sounded through my parted lips causing Kitty's head to snap up and look over to me. I feel my heart break just a little bit more when I see her red rimmed eyes look straight at me.

"Marley," she whimpers slightly, almost like she was pleading something but neither of us really knowing what. Her voice sounded soar and a little worse for wear.

Not a second later, she is up and slamming full force into me, almost making me fall but I manage to hold my balance. I shush her softly and stroke her hair as she sobs into my shoulder, clutching onto me as if she never planned to let go. Not that I wanted her to. My vision begins to get a little blurry as tears well up in my eyes at hearing my girlfriend breaking and not being able to make it better.

"Hey baby, it's okay, shhh it's alright. I'm here now, I'm right here with you."

"I can't lose another parent Marley, I can't, I can't do it, not again." She sobs and I just try my best not to sob along with her. But I had to be strong now; Kitty was always strong for me, now it was my turn.

"I know sweetie, I know. But everything's going to be okay, alright? Everything's gonna be fine, I love you. I love you so much, baby. It's okay, you're okay Kitty, you're alright. Everything's going to be alright. I'm here now, I'm right here."

…

I don't know how long we had stayed standing there, just clutching onto each other for dear life. All the while she was sobbing violently into my shoulder whilst I was whispering soothing woods into her ear and gently stroking her hair in comfort. What felt like hours to us very well could have only been minutes.

That was around a couple hours ago. My mom was currently sitting in the waiting room with Toby, both of them having decided to give us our space which I was grateful for. I think all the overwhelming emotions finally took its effect on Kitty, as she had been flat out with her head in my lap for at least a half hour now.

I gently ran my fingers through my girlfriends' hair and sighed softly as I watched her sleep soundly, glad to see that for the moment her features were calm instead of heartbroken.

The sound of the door sliding open causes me to look up in curiosity, only to see Toby standing there with a small but almost sympathetic smile on his face as he nods to the space next to me.

"Mind if I sit?"

I just shrug my shoulders slightly in reply before turning my head back down to look at the peaceful blonde in my lap, my fingers returning in their movement. He sits down next to me with a deep sigh and for a minute, we sat in silence. It wasn't awkward or tense or uncomfortable…but then again, it wasn't exactly comfortable, it was just…silence.

"I know I've already said this but I am glad that you're here, Marley." He breaks the silence with his soft but fairly deep voice. I begin to reply but don't move my gaze away from my girlfriend.

"Why?"

"Because Kitty needed someone who could give her comfort right now and from what I've seen and heard, you can provide that for her more than anyone." He answers and I sit there in slight surprise from his words. A few more seconds of silence pass by before I speak up again, going to ask the question that I meant to earlier.

"How did you know that me and Kitty are-"

"Together? Well it wasn't exactly hard to figure out; when Ashley told me about how close you two were I sort of guessed it. Then when she spoke about how Kitty gets this love stricken look on her face whenever she mentions your name…yeah, not hard to tell when a Wilde's in love." He says playfully with a wink directed at me and I can't help but breathe out a small laugh and feel my skin heat up as I blush slightly at the mention of Kitty being 'love struck' when she talks about me.

However my eyes widen slightly as I put together all the things Toby just said. "Wait…Kitty's mom knows about us?"

He looks at me with a mixture of confusion and surprise. "You didn't know? Wow um, yeah Ashley has known about you two for a while now I think and had been pretty frustrated and hurt that you hid it from her." He informs me and I sit there with a slightly open mouth, at a complete loss for words.

"Oh my god, that's insane…so um, does that mean she accepts us?" I ask him hopefully and get an apologetic smile in return.

"I think that's something you'll have to ask her yourself."

I nod my head in understanding but also a little bit of disappointment. Silence catches up to us once more but it doesn't take too long before I break it again.

"Sorry about um slapping you earlier." I mumble half-heartedly, getting a deep chuckle in return.

"No harm done and like I said, I guess I deserved it. I'm just glad that we were able to patch things up and maybe now we can-"

"I said I was sorry, that doesn't mean that I like you or forgive you for what you've done to Kitty." I cut him off sharply, finally brining my gaze up to look him in the eye, trying to make my point loud and clear to him. "I love her…so damn much and you hurt her. I want to make one thing very clear, outside my mom, Kitty is the most important person in the world to me and right now she's hurting beyond belief so you need to suck it up and just be there for her, alright?"

He looks at me in shock before smiling with respect and nodding his head in confirmation. "Okay, I understand…Y'know Marley you've now proved that you're more than good enough for my daughter-"

"Don't call her that, 'daughter' is a title that has to be earned." I interrupt him sternly but his smile doesn't waver from his face.

"Alright, you're right I'm sorry. But as I was saying, you've proved to me that you are more than good enough for Kitty…Now it's my turn to prove to you the same." He speaks gently with his kind smile and my gaze softens as I take in his words. As he gets up and grabs the handle of the door to leave me to my thoughts, I quickly call out to stop him, making him turn and give me a questioning look.

"How have I already proved I'm good enough? I mean, this is practically the first time we've really talked." I ask curiously and he directs another familiar, warm smile my way before answering.

"A blind man could see how much you care for her and the way you talked to me just now was just the cherry on top of the cake. Not many people talk to us Wilde's like that and those who do are very special people indeed." He smiles and turns to leave but I stop him once more, still a little unsure of myself.

"But, wait-"

"Marley, look at me." He says softly and I comply, looking into those deep eyes that my girlfriend takes after, automatically feeling calm as I do so. "Do you love her?"

"More than anything." I answer instantly, without a second thought.

"Then you're good enough." He smiles again before walking out, letting the door shut gently behind him and leaving me to my thoughts.

I move my gaze back down to Kitty with a smile of my own as I run my fingers through her soft, blonde hair. I bend down and plant a soft kiss on her temple, lingering a little before pulling back with a wide smile as I hear her breathe out a simple sentence.

"You're more than good enough, Marley Rose."

…

A/N: Sorry this is so late, I've been super busy with school and to be completely honest with you the next chapter may take a small while too, but definitely not as long as this one took. I appreciate all of you that are still sticking with this story and would very much like to hear all your thoughts on the events so far, so please just take a second of your time to leave a review, it would be much appreciated. Until next time, thanks for reading.