Sleep was one of my most peaceful escapes for the longest amount of time. There is no pain, no sadness, just the internals of your thoughts coming together.

Until I met him. His touch is the only escape that I want and need now.

I should've already woken up by now, but with the feeling of his fingertips running over my body, I didn't want it to stop.

But the smell of coffee eloped through my nose, which quickly, unforgivably woke me up. And with that, I let my eyes open, taking in the sunlight that was spread throughout the room.

"Happy birthday beautiful," I heard his voice whisper as he pulled me closer to him.

His touch was warm against my skin, his arms wrapped around my waist pulling me onto his chest. Best way to wake up in the morning.

"Thank you," I mumbled, kissing his cheek.

"What do you wanna do today?" He questioned, sitting up against the headboard, picking up the coffee from his side table.

I looked around the room for Lily, "Where's Lily?"

"Axel took her for the day, I just wanted it to be us," He whispered while watching me.

I could care less about the coffee, being with him and taking in the warmth of his skin was all I was worried about, yet I still sat up and accepted the coffee.

I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I wanted it all to be with him.

Birthdays weren't something I ever celebrated, when my mom died, birthdays seemed so unpractical, she was always the one to throw the biggest parties. Yet, my aunt, she tried, and trying was what matter. And when she died, the birthdays stopped altogether, except for the little things that Megan did for me.

Trevor's hell house was just an ugly dream in which every day was spent, including those of 3 birthdays.

"Anything special you want to do?" He questioned again.

"Spend the whole day with you, is perfect. But I have something I need to do before." I confessed.

"Alright love, I'll come with you," he suggested.

"No, East. Just stay here, I won't be long, less than an hour or two." I smiled, pecking his lips before sliding off his lap. He made no fuss, just watched as I got ready.

"Are you sure Lyla?" He questioned, as I threw a shirt over my head.

"East, I do it every year on my birthday, I can't just not. And when I come back, the rest of my day will be spent with you." I spoke softly walking over to him, as he sat in the bed.

I brought my hands up cupping his face, "I love you, but I need to do this alone."

He took one of my hands kissing it gently, "I love you."

With that, I turned and walked out of the bedroom. I made my way down the stairs, sliding my shoes on at the door before opening it. I grabbed my coat off the hanger, the air was crisp and held so much tension, threatening to rain.

I spotted the new driver that Easton hired, while Brian was on vacation. I gave him a small wave before getting into the back of the SUV.

"Where to Miss?" He questioned.

"I'll just direct you," I smiled as he pulled out of the driveway. The ride was quite smooth until we got onto the bumpy backroad. He continued driving, not a single question arose at where we were going.

"Alright, just stop here," I spoke.

When the vehicle came to a stop, I jumped out, the cemetery seemed rather dull. The grey clouds not helping with the crisp breath of fall.

I made my way through the gates and up the path, near the tree at the far back of the property. A headstone stood next to it;

Iris O'Brien, a mother, daughter and sister.

The greatest gift in life is love.

October 7, 1979 - April 23, 2013

"Happy birthday Mom," I whispered.

I felt the tears threatening to fall from my eyes, but I dared not to let them, she never liked it when I cried.

"I miss you so much," I couldn't bear it. She had been done for so long, yet it was still hard to come to terms that this was her resting place and that she couldn't be right beside me.

I sat down on the ground, it didn't matter to me if I got dirty or if the grass was wet, this was the time I got to spend with her.

"You remember Easton, right? I believe that you do, Maria said that she was a good friend of yours. I feel bad, but I kind of forgot about him, it had been so long since I saw him. But I love him, more than anything." I whispered.

Every time I did this, it always felt as though I was talking to myself, but I believe that she had always been listening to my prayers and whispers.

I rested against the tree, looking up into the clouds.

"He might be rough on the outside, but he's the biggest softy. He loves me, and I don't think I've been happier, he brings happiness into my life every day. He makes everything that I had to go through worth it, we even got a dog. You'd love her, she's a sweetie. But you'd also love him." I smiled looking up, attempting to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

"I met dad, and I never want to meet him again. He isn't the man that you ever described to me, he is so much worse than the kind-hearted man." I sighed.

I watched as a dark figure walked up the path through the cemetery. I guess someone else wanted to talk to a loved one. But the figure didn't veer from the path, they continued walking towards me, I felt my pace quicken, as they continued to get closer.

Until they got closer, I was scared. But when I saw their face, it was kind and sweet, of course, she would be here.

She gave me a sad smile, "wishing your mother a happy birthday?"

"Always," I nodded.

"You look just like her Lyla, and you have her heart," Maria smiled, setting some flowers down by the gravestone.

I stood up as she made her way over to me, hugging me tightly, "happy birthday darling."

"Thank you," I whispered.

She held my face in her hands, "you are a daughter to me, Iris was my best friend and I will do anything to protect you. But I doubt I have anything to worry about, Easton seems to have that covered, now doesn't he?"

All I could do was smile because she already knew the answer to that.

"He loves you so much, I can see it in his eyes. And that is all I could ask for, you to love him unconditionally, he was headed down a dark path, and I don't think that would have halted without you making your way back into his life." She smiled, her eyes glossing over with tears threatening to drop.

"But you should get back to him, he was waiting for you to come back when I dropped by," she stated.

"Thank you," I whispered once again making my way down the trail, leaving her with my mother.

I turned around to face her as I made my way down the path, "how did you know I was here?"

"I watched you come here every year on your birthday because I come here to wish her a happy birthday as well. She would be extremely proud of the woman you grew up to be." she smiled.

I continued making my way down the hill, towards the vehicle, as soon as I got in it, he pulled out of the spot and made his way back towards the house, I guess he just knew.

As the vehicle pulled up to the steps the front door swung open, and there he was, the man I loved, standing there, waiting for me.

All I could do was smile and run up the stairs into his arms. He held me close to his, his arms holding me up against him.

I couldn't be sad anymore, not around him. There was too much love and happiness that surrounded me when I was with him, to even think about everything that brought me pain.

I connected my lips to his with so much force I surprised myself. I heard the door closed as his lips worked against mine, pushing his tongue into my mouth.

I knew this is where I belonged, with him.

I felt my back hit the wall, which hurt like a fucking bitch, causing me to choke out a whimper. He surprisingly pulled away from me fast, I opened my eyes which were met with his that was filled with concern.

He pressed his forehead against mine, "Are you okay, Ly?"

I couldn't even process how much my back hurt, but I knew how I wanted to spend the rest of my day, and it wasn't with him asking me questions.

I wrapped my hands around the back of his neck pulling his lips back to mine, kissing him. He quickly understood and reassociated his tongue back into my mouth.

He slowly started to trail his lips down my neck, sucking and biting at my skin. He found my sweet spot and sucks hard on it, causing a moan to escape my lips.

I can feel the bulge in his pants growing, pressing up against me.

His lips skim across my ear before whispering seductively into it, "tell me what you want Lyla."

"Fuck me against this wall." I breathe out.

A groan leaves his throat and elopes in my ears, "you're a fucking turn on."

His hands make their way under my shirt, lifting it over my head. His rough hands clasped onto the side of my body, holding me up, while his lips trail down my collarbone.

I move my hands pulling his shirt upwards, his lips leave my skin before they relocated down the valley of my breasts.

He starts to unbutton my pants, pulling them off before he sets me down, taking a step back, staring at me. He made me feel so vulnerable, his eyes scanning over my body.

"Fuck," he grunted before he pressed his forehead against mine, "remind me we have somewhere to be at 6."

I gave him a small nod, his hands holding onto my waist, as we just stood there. He kept eye contact as the sound of a wrapper ripping open, within seconds I was back in his arms, pressed against the wall.

"Are you sure?" He questioned.

"Positive," was the only word I could get out before I felt him enter me.

His pace started slowly as if he was savouring the moment. His hands moved up and down my back, his fingertips sending electric volts through my body. His touch always burned as if he dipped his hands into fire.

I couldn't help but moan at every moment he made, the feeling was too good.

My thoughts fogged with the movements from him until the sound of knocking on the door echoed from the left of us.

He held me with one hand the other placed on the wall, I felt my eyes widen looking at him. He wasn't going to stop. He did the exact opposite, his thrusts became faster causing me to moan out, which he captured with his lips.

"If you don't want them to know, I suggest you be quiet." He grumbled into my ear, before recapturing my lips with his.

He inhaled the moans that were leaving my lips as he continued to move in and out of me.

His hand made its way down to my clit, rubbing it painfully slow in circles. It continuously built up the pleasure throughout my body. I felt myself clench around him causing a throaty groan to vibrate from his mouth into mine.

He pushed me more into the wall thrusting hard into me, sending me over the edge. His thumb continuing to circle my clit. His lips leave mine as I push the back of my head against the wall, arching my back.

His pace began to slow, as he pushed deep inside me, groaning.

He continuously gave me orgasms throughout the day, on the couch, in the kitchen, in the shower, and then back in the bed.

Leads me back to our current position, in bed. His hand rubbing down my back, while my body was covering his.

"How is your birthday so far?" he questioned while planting kisses along my shoulder.

"The best."

"I got you something," he spoke softly, causing me to lift my head off his chest.

I wrapped the blanket around me watching him reveal a velvet box.

"East, you didn't have to get me anything," I whispered as he held it up to me.

I gently took the box from his hand as he shook his head. I slowly opened it and stared at what was sitting perfectly in the center of the box.

"The North Star," I whispered as I moved my fingers over it.

"So you'll always find your way home," he spoke.

"I love it, it's perfect," I confessed looking up at him.

I love him so much.

I brought my lips to his kissing him slowly, his lips matched my pace. There was no ache of lust, just pure passion and sparks seeping from his lips to mine.

I picked the necklace up from the box, holding it up, opening the clasp before putting it around my neck. Several tries later, I was able to reclasp it, letting it hang down my neck.

The best birthday by far.

I slowly got off of Easton which earned a groan from him, I didn't even get a step away from the bed before I felt his hand squeeze my ass. Earning himself my middle finger, which only eloped my ears with his laughter.

A delightful sound.

I threw one of his shirts over my head, it falling over my thighs.

His hands clasped the side of my waist, as I stood in front of the mirror, "you're so beautiful, Ly."

I gave him a smile before wiggling out of his grasp, "I'm just going to grab a water, want one?"

"Please," he whispered, kissing the side of my head.

I was left without his touch as I made my way out of the room, and downstairs to the kitchen. The article of clothing thrown all over the living room caused a chuckle to leave my lips, knowing him, he would leave it there to let people know that we had sex.

I took a double-take as I spotted two plots of flowers sitting on the table. I quickly made my way over, both of them had a little letter with my name.

I picked the first one up;

Live as if it is your last day.

Okay, I wouldn't say I was that old yet. Most likely Megan being an asshole, her and Dante finding it funny, yet they both are older than me.

Or maybe even from Axel, he was at the house earlier, what a dick.

The second;

Lyla,

The happiest birthday wishes, we are sending you my dear. You have made a big impact on lives that you walked back into over these past months, and I am so proud of the woman you grew up to be. I can see the love that has developed in my son's eyes, something that I had not very much witnessed from him.

You deserve all the happiness in the world.

We shall have you both over for dinner soon, to catch up.

Your mother would be extremely proud of who you have blossomed into. I can tell she would have the biggest smile on her face looking down on you.

Much love,

Maria and Roman

I finally had a family again, even if it wasn't what I expected. It was definitely what I needed more than anything.

I felt the familiar warmth of hands wrapping around my waist, "your mother is the sweetest person in the world."

"I know, she likes you, Ly," he whispered, resting his head on my shoulder.

I rested against him, the most relaxed position.

An overwhelming feeling overcame me as if everything in the universe stood still.

I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, every breathable second devoted to him. All the pain, all the heartache, everything was worth it. To be here, in this moment.

To love a man, and watch him completely turn into someone I couldn't spend my life without.