Chapter 210: I just wasn't listening before

Pickle POV

I stand and lifts Ryder with my good hand to help him to the bed. Flame stands and takes Lucky's hand and pulls him to the bed. She kisses his head as she helps him in and climbs behind him wrapping her arms around him.  I see his shoulders shake as he cries again. I move Brain's chair closer to him.

"I need to check on Annie" I say. Lucky nods but he still hasn't talked.

"River's going to want to come hold you. Are you okay with that" Flame asks him. He tenses for a minute and nods.

"Did I hurt her or Annie?" He says voice dry and full of tears.

"No of course not" Flame answers moving his hair from his face.

"I don't know what happened. It was bad huh?" He says crying again. She tightens her arms around him as he turns to face her. She cups his face and kisses his cheek. "Shhhh

fratello, everyone is safe."  She grabs a tissue and wipes the small nick under his chin from the knife. Then she wipes the tears from his face. Ryder rubs his leg before he moves over to his chair.

A light knock makes Lucky jump. I open the door and move to the hall pulling River to my chest.

She squeezes me tightly around my waist, small arms loop around my leg. I look down at Annie and put my hand on her little blonde head.

"How is he?" River asks kissing my chin. I just nod. "I brought him some tea and some toast" she shrugs "It's what Callie used to bring me and Chailor does the same. It comforts me" I smile down at her. I lightly caress her cheek.

I bend down and pick Annie up from under her arm. I pull her tight to me "Is daddy safe now. He was so scared and he was crying" I touch her cheek and wipe away a little tear running down her face "Yes daddy is save now. He just needs to rest" she nods her head and wraps her arms around my neck.

I lean and kiss River's head "Go, he needs you. I'll keep our daughter happy" she smiles up at me.

"Mommy needs to check daddy but daddy Pickle will help you get your pictures done." She nods at River "Mommy?"

"Yes my love?" River says sweetly.

"Will you tell my daddy that I love his face like auntie tells me and kiss his head like you do to me when I'm scared okay?"

River's smile gets big and she pulls Annie from me. She kisses her head "Yes I will bunny. I need you to watch big daddy and make sure he rests his arm okay"

Annie whispers in her ear something that makes River laugh "Yes you can beat up Crash and Kraizen while big daddy watches and laughs at them"

A huge smile sweeps my face. I lean down and whisper in her ear "Ready, set, go!" She takes off running down the hall to the living room. I hear her laughing as Crash yells out "Hey why are you attacking me!"

I kiss River's head as I walk to the living room laughing at her little giggles.

River POV

I push open the door slowly. Flame smiles softly at me as I walk over to the bed. I see his head moving up slowly from her chest and he looks so broken. His eyes are puffy and blood shot and in this moment he seems so small and fragile.

"I'm sorry, if I scared you" he says to me his voice ruff and dry.

I shake my head. "I brought you tea and toast"

I move towards the bed. He just watches me as walk to the other side of him and lift the blanket. I slowly climb in behind him, I slowly slide my arms around his body.

I feel him tense up so I kiss his shoulder. I can feel his tension give a little as he starts to cry.

"Shhhh it's okay" I say softly. I move closer to him as I tighten my arms around him.

"Enchantress?" He says softly.

I caress his cheek "Yes Lucky?"

He turns to me and moves a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this, that you had to see and hear that." he shakes his head as his tears fill his eyes.

I kiss his lips gently "We all have our shit and as tightly as we try to hold it, it tries even harder to get out. Lucky don't ever be sorry for the shit that leaks out. Your a amazing daddy and she's safe because of you" I wipe a tear from his cheek, he closes his eyes tightly "Do you think she's okay? Did I scare her?" I kiss each of his closed eye lids.

"She wasn't scared for her she was scared for you. She was worried for you." He sobs against my hand holding it to his cheek.

Flame stands up and he reaches for her "I'm going to go check on Annie and the other children before they destroy Chailor's house. I'll be back

fratello" she leans down and kisses his cheek. He squeezes her hand for awhile then he let's it go with a nod to her.

He pulls me tightly against him and breath me in deep. I kiss his head "That and this is from your daughter. She said she loves your face"

He looks up and smiles at me "Our daughter" he says.

"What?" I ask as I move his hair from his face.

"You said my daughter but she's our daughter." He says as he leans up and kisses me.

I cup his face as I kiss him back.  His arms tighten around me as he kisses me harder. I sigh and relax into his kiss and his body. He pulls away running his fingers down my face to my chin "You still kissed me the same as you did last night" he says in almost a whisper so low I almost missed what he said.

He closes his eyes and sighs "Lucky" his eyes open and he caresses my shoulder under the loose neck of my shirt. "You'll never lose me, I'm yours for always" he smiles at me just holding my eyes before he crashes his lips to mine. The kiss is deep and hungry, sending fire to my belly and wetness to my center. A moan slips out and I blush. He pulls back and caress my hot cheek.

He sighs a few times as he looks at me.

"I can't give you up anymore, I can't push you away. Will you please be mine?" He says it so soft and unsure like he's afraid I'll turn him away.

I love him and now I understand why me saying that to him scares him so much.

I smile at him. He tells me he loves me without saying the words. He shows me with every touch with every kiss,  I just wasn't listening before.