Ch 7

Bella woke up feeling her head pounding. She opened her eyes feeling very confused. Panic ran through her as she realized she wasn't alone. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room, she realized right away who she was with. She carefully lifted her head off Taker's chest seeing he was still sound asleep holding her tightly.

"How did this happen?" she thought, closing her eyes again trying to remember what had happened. She remembered leaving the bar with him and going back to his room. She recalled bits and pieces of their conversation about her wanting to go to her room. She cringed remembering getting sick. "I'm such a mess." She tried to remember what happened after she got sick but it was all foggy. She rested her head back against his chest listening to his soothing heartbeat. "This is a very nice early Christmas present," she smiled, happy to be with him. She wished more than anything they could take their friendship further. She knew if she mentioned it to him it would be the same conversation about him not wanting to complicate her life and he couldn't give her the relationship she deserved. "All I need is you," she thought, closing her eyes thinking of how much he had changed her life since they met. She never felt alone anymore. She knew he was always there for her. She nestled closer to him wanting to enjoy every moment she could. She slowly drifted back off to sleep. They slept peacefully for the next few hours till Bella's cell phone made them both jump. Bella stumbled out of the bed grabbing it.

"Bella, I'm sorry for last night. I need you to meet me at Providence hospital. Sami isn't feeling good. She woke up with a fever of 104. I rushed her over to the ER," Hunter's voice was filled with panic.

"Ok I'll be there as soon as I can. Tell her I'm on my way. I'll see you soon," Bella hung up trying to control her worries.

"She is going to be ok. I'll take you to her," Taker said, wrapping her tightly in his arms for a moment. "I left your jeans in the bathroom and I just put another shirt there for you to change into."

"Thank you Mark for last night and now," she kissed his cheek before going to get changed. He went to get his things together wondering if she remembered that she told him she loved him last night. He was pretty sure she didn't by the way she was acting. She came back out trying to ignore her pounding headache as she gathered her shoes.

"Here this will help," Taker said, handing her a bottle of water and advil.

"Thank you again," she still felt embarrassed that she had drank way too much and he had to take care of her.

"Bella, I'll always take care of you, stop thanking me."

"I should have behaved and not drunk so much," she said, making him laugh taking her by surprise.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You made a comment about behaving sucking last night," he said, seeing dread fill her face as she tried to remember why she would say that. "Bella, relax, we will talk about last night later. Come on, let's get you to the hospital." He took her hand leading out of the room into the elevator. She kept glancing at him as they waited for the elevator to arrive. She kept hoping she didn't say anything wrong. "Just ask what is troubling you," he gently squeezed her hand.

"Did I say anything terrible or anything that upset you last night?" she asked as they entered the elevator.

"Only thing that upset me is you kept trying to go to your room and you didn't want me to take care of you. You were being very stubborn," he looked down into her eyes seeing them filled with worries. "We are good Bella, don't worry about us, just concentrate on Sami right now."

"Ok Mark, I still want to talk about last night later," she said as the elevator opened to the lobby.

"We will darling," he kept a tight hold on her hand wondering as the day went on and her head cleared if she would remember telling him she loved him.

Bella and Mark were relieved to find out when they arrived at the hospital that Samantha was going to be fine. Her fever was caused by a strep throat. They waited with Hunter till Samantha was discharged from the hospital. Once they arrived back at the hotel, Hunter changed their travel plans to the next afternoon instead of that night to head back to Connecticut for the holidays. He wanted to give Samantha time to rest before they traveled. When he rejoined Bella and Taker in Samantha's room of the hotel suite, he noticed for the first time Bella was wearing a t-shirt that was way too big for her. He wondered if it was Taker's but didn't say a word.

"You get plenty of rest. If you need me, call me. I'm only a few floors away," Bella kissed Samantha's forehead.

"I will Aunt Bella. I'm so tired I just want to sleep," Samantha sleepily said.

"Ok princess, I'll see you tomorrow," Bella tucked her in.

"I hope you feel better Sami. I hope you have a Merry Christmas," Taker leaned down kissing her cheek.

"You too Taker, make sure my Aunt gives you my christmas presents for Jessica, Kane and you," Samantha smiled drifting off to sleep.

"I will make sure he gets them," Bella reassured her niece as they left the room.

"Bella, I'm sorry about yesterday. It was wrong what I said to you and over the holidays I will tell you what Sable was talking about," Hunter hugged Bella tight, wishing he could take back what he had said to her.

"It's ok we will talk about it once we are back home," Bella said, not in the mood to rehash their argument from the night before. "I'm going to go get a shower and just chill for the rest of the day if you need me just call. I'll meet you here tomorrow to head to the airport."

"Sounds good," Hunter gave her another hug. "Taker, thank you for bringing Bella. I hope you have a good Christmas," Hunter patted Taker's shoulder.

"No problem, hope your christmas is good too. See you later," Taker said following Bella out into the hallway. He wondered if she was going to say goodbye; he hoped she didn't.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" she asked looking up into his eyes.

"I have no plans till my flight tomorrow. How about you?"

"I was planning on ordering dinner and watching christmas movies," she said, making his heart sink that she was going to say goodbye. "Do you want to join me?" she asked, sending his heart racing back to life.

"Of course darling," he smiled. "I just need to run back to my room, take a quick shower and grab a few things."

"No problem, if you don't mind coming to my room for a moment I'll let myself in then you can take the key with you and come back when you're ready."

"Sounds good darling," he said, following her to the elevator. When they arrived at her room, she unlocked the door and handed him the key.

"We can figure out dinner when you come back," she said, opening the door.

"Ok baby girl, I'll be back soon," he leaned down kissing her cheek before heading on his way. Bella watched him go before shutting the door and going into the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror trying to remember the night before clearly.

"Why do I feel drunk me said things sober me doesn't have guts to say," she said to her reflection. "Well at least Mark isn't upset so whatever I said could have not been that bad," she sighed hoping she would remember as the day went on.

Bella had decided to change into pajama pants and put Mark's t-shirt on after her shower. His shirt gave her a comfort feeling. She was channel surfing when she heard the hotel door open.

"Bella, I'm back," Taker called out.

"I'm in here."

"Are you feeling better after your shower?" he asked happily, surprised to see she was still wearing his shirt.

"Yes but I still have a foggy brain about our conversations last night."

"You need to stop worrying. You didn't say anything wrong. You were right, behaving does suck," he smiled sitting down next to her on the couch.

"Can you tell me what else I said? Maybe it will trigger my memory."

"How about we go with the original plan of chilling out tonight and we drop the talk about last night?" he suggested.

"Mark, it's bugging me. I can't help it," she deeply sighed.

"Darling, you obviously didn't say anything bad, you woke up in my arms in my bed. If you pissed me off that wouldn't have happened."

"That was a nice surprise to wake up with you. I feel like I got an early Christmas present," she blushed, making him smile. "I never want to do anything to upset you."

"Bella, it's life we are going to do things to upset one another but we are lucky enough that we know how to talk to one another and work things out. Fine, I'll tell you what we talked about so we can move on and enjoy our night," he reached out, taking her hand in his. "You said nothing wrong last night, you expressed how you want more and wish there was an us. You admitted I was driving you wild but nothing could happen anyway because you weren't on birth control. Also you admitted you dream about me alot," he filled her in on their conversation leaving out the part of her saying she loved him and him telling her he loved her too. He saw her cheeks turn a very rosy red as she sat there quiet for a few moments just staring at him.

"Wow I had no filter, I'm sorry," she finally spoke feeling embarrassed.

"There is nothing to be sorry for. I know our relationship is difficult to handle sometimes. I have my own issues with wanting more and wanting you. You are always in my dreams," he caressed her hand. "If things were different I wouldn't be scared of letting our relationship turn into more. I don't want to let you down when I'm on the road for days on end and you need me. I don't want to take you away from Samantha. I know Hunter helps but you are pretty much the constant in Sami's life. I've seen you put your own stuff on hold to make sure you are there for all school functions and dance recitals. I wish it wasn't so complicated for us to be together."

"Mark, I wish the same," she whispered looking into his eyes. "Let's not stress about us right now. I'm happy for any time I get with you and who knows maybe in time things will change and it won't be so complicated. I just want to enjoy tonight with you. I'm not looking forward to Christmas at home. This will be a nice escape to forget everything and watch Christmas movies with you."

"We can do that baby girl," he smiled. "Let's order dinner then we can relax for the rest of the night."

"You can pick dinner. I already know what I'm getting for dessert, so I'm going to order hot cocoa and cookies."

"Good choice for dessert. How does burger and fries sound for dinner?" he asked looking over the room service menu.

"That works," she said, flipping through the channels till she found White Christmas. "Are you ok with this movie?"

"Yes, I haven't seen it in years."

Taker ordered their dinner then leaned back on the couch putting his feet up on the table. Bella kept her distance, staying on her side of the couch. They watched the movie in silence for a bit till Taker took her hand again gently pulling her towards him. She smiled cuddling up against him resting her head on his chest as they watched till their food arrived. They talked about their Christmas plans over dinner then went back to watching tv. They watched Miracle on 34th Street cuddled up just enjoying their night together. Mark was starting to get tired but he didn't want to leave her yet. He gently moved her so he could lay down on the sofa. He motioned for her to lay down on top of him. She nervously laid down feeling the instant comforting warmth of his strong body. He pulled a blanket over them kissing her forehead. Bella was getting tired and fighting sleep as It's a Wonderful Life came on. She didn't want Mark to go so kept trying to stay awake. She finally lost the battle falling sound asleep on his chest. Mark smiled hearing her lightly snore. He held her tightly drifting off into sleep thankfully he was getting another night with her in his arms.