𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂

Its been now two hours since everyone found out about me and Vaughn.

He's next to me on the little sofa, my head leaning against his chest and his arm wrapped around me. We're still waiting to get to Creighton, Vaughn is being the only one that is soothing my nerves in the meantime. I lean more against him and feel his grip around me tightening.

He leans closer to me, asking low
"You okay, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹?"

I nod, looking up to him.
"Yeah, just tired."

He strokes over my cheek and kisses my head. "Then sleep, baby."

I shake my head. "I can't, I will wait for the doctors updates."

He was about to protest, I saw it. He was opening his mouth but closes it again. He just pulls me into his arms. It's the best thing ever, his whole body around me like in a cocoon. His big arms around me, one encircling my waist and the other my head. He leans his face down, breathing in the scent of my hair.
And I melt into his embrace. I love nothing more then to be in his arms. I snuggle more against him, feeling at ease. He manages to let all my worry's and emotions disappear, just by holding me. I close my eyes, letting myself fall into my safe heaven.

Dad clears his throat, I feel Vaughn's arms tightening around me. I turn my head to see a pissed dad. Mom looks a him, her gaze holding a warning. When she looks at me, she smiles. I have to smile back. Mom told me earlier when Vaughn got me a snack, that she never saw me this happy and that she thinks that Vaughn is really good for me.
Dad doesn't say anything, because of moms warning gaze but I see the anger, frustration and... betrayal in his eyes. My heart grows heavy. I get up. Vaughn reluctantly lets go, not saying anything. He knows me good enough to know what I will do next. I walk to dad. He looks surprised at me but quickly composes hymself. His voice is a bit strained.

I nod. "Can we talk?"

He sighs and gets up. "Lead the way."

So I do, I lead the way outside the hospital entrance. I turn around to him. "Are you mad at me?" I feel a bit scared to ask that.

Dad sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
"What do you expect me to say, Elena? You're having a secret relationship with that Morozov boy for god knows how long. You didn't tell me, you're together with a bratva bastard. Creighton got shot by Annika, guess what? She's also a part of the bratva!

I shake my head. "Vaughn would never-"

He cuts me off. "You don't know that! He could betray you in a heartbeat." His voice grew angrier.

"You're not even giving him a chance! Please, dad." My voice pleading. I just want him to accept my relationship with Vaughn.

He firmly shakes his head. "No."

I look to the ground, my eyes become slightly glassy. I hate how sensitive I am. I just want dad to get along with Vaughn.

"Elena, look at me." Dads voice is firm but softer now.

I shake my head, blinking the tears away.

He takes a step closer to me, lifts my head with his hands. Both hands cupping my cheeks. His gaze softens, so does his voice. "Why are you crying, princess?"

"I'm not crying."

"Don't lie to your old dad. What's wrong, princess?" He strokes over my cheeks with his thumbs.

"I just want you to get along with Vaughn..."

Dad's body tenses a bit at Vaughn's name but he continues stroking my cheeks and looking softly down at me. "You know how I feel about the Morozov boy."

"Please, dad. I want you two to get along, I can't have you both being so rude to each other. I love you, and your approval would mean a lot to me..." I don't care how desperate I sound right now, I just want him to understand.

He sighs, I can see the conflict in his eyes.
"What if he hurts you?"

"He won't." I say, a 100% sure. I know how Vaughn is, he would rather die then seeing me hurt.

"You don't know that, sweetie." He continues stroking my cheeks with his thumbs, his voice and gaze holding a softness he openly only shows me and mom- sometimes Eli and Creighton too, but that's actually not happening too often.

"But dad... I love him..."

I can clearly see now the conflict in his eyes, his body tensing. He doesn't say anything at first, but then he opens his mouth to response but I'm faster. "If he would hurt me, what I really don't believe, then that would be my thing to figure out alone. Please, dad. I just want your approval. Give him a chance, please. I don't want my dad and boyfriend fighting most of the time."

He sighs. After a moment. He reluctantly response. "Okay, princess. I will give him a chance, but for you. Only for you."

I smile, feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders. I hug him. "Thanks, dad."

I feel his arms wrapping immediately around me. He leans down and kisses my head. He grumbles against my hair. "You know I can't deny you anything when you are asking like this."
He tightens his arms around me.

I chuckle, holding him just as tight.
"I love you, dad."

I feel him smiling against my forehead.
"I love you too, princess."

We stay like this for a while, until I pull a bit back to look up at him. "Can we go inside? It's getting cold."

"No." He grumbles, puts his jacket around me and pulls me back into his arms. I have to chuckle but wrap my arms again around him.

"I know what you're doing." My voice a bit of a playful teasing.

"And what?" He grumbles again against my hair.

"You don't want me to be back in Vaughn's arms." I tease him. I'm finding it so cute how protective and possessive he is right now.

He just presses my face Into his chest in response. I can't help but laugh, finding it hilarious how serious he remains.

He doesn't say anything, just holding me protective and warm in his arms. I love moments like this. Father and daughter just holding each other. It would break my heart to let go now.

I whisper. "Okay, five minutes." and then I snuggle myself closer against dad's chest.

He holds me tighter. "Ten."

I smile and nod. "Ten."