The beeping sound of monitor resonated inside the hospital room. The weather was dull and dark as clouds poured heavily couple of minutes ago but now the heavens was clearing as sapphire blue was finally appearing with it's beauty.

It's been twelve hours since Aria been brought to the hospital but she never once stirred or made a move, still deeply under the influence of the dose. It was almost one pm next day and Blake was sitting by her side, holding her hand which had a needle stuck on it.

"You know wee-one, granny misses you so much. She sent you wishes regarding your match and a message that said she misses her sunshine. That she misses you by her side. Mom said that she can't wait for your graduation so you could come and stay with us and we'll all bake cookies....but we can't do these all until you wake up, you know that right? then wake up please," Bake said pressing his lips to her palms.

The room was bright with sunlight cascading the walls of the room.

"There's something I've been wanting to tell you. I met someone wee-one, someone who would love to meet you. Remember when you said I need to work on my love life or I'd die alone," He chuckled wholeheartedly.

"Her name is Sasha, we work together. Well we've been good friends for a very long time but after spending so much time, I felt attracted to her. Then we started dating and this happened last week," Taking his right hand up in air which had a beautiful ring on his ring finger, he amused. "She proposed to me. It's a promise ring. I know I know...It should've been me and you must be thinking how dumb I am but umm...she said I'd have never had guts to confess ever so she did."

Nothing, no response.

Steady breathing passes in the air as Blake sighed and scooted closer.

"I'm such a bad brother Aria, you've been calling me and I came late baby sister. I'm so sorry. I should've seen your loneliness. Now wake up and fight with me. Scratch or yell but don't stay like this please," Tears dwelled in his coffee warmed orbs but he wiped his eyes just as the door opened and Fred walked in with tired blood shot eyes.

"Did she wake up?" As he asked Blake looked over his shoulder before back to her and shook his head slightly and stated. "Doctor said there's nothing to worry uncle. She'll wake up in few hours."

"She will, she's been through a lot Blake. Since we lost Louise, it was like she had closed herself from the world. somewhere dark. Somewhere she couldn't reach to take herself out back then," Fred walked to the window and folded his arms over his chest, staring out to nothing in particular.

"And you never once thought to tell me about it?" Blake glared down on mattress but sighed looking down at fragile hands.

"It's not my choice Blake. It would have trigger things if I'd have done something against her choice. You were busy in your duties and also she didn't want to worry anyone...but it didn't last long. When she joined highschool, it was like her life turned into something pleasant. She made friends aside from bethany. She met Ethan who loved her like no one. Her life was changing and I finally saw my daughter after so long. Everything was going fine until..." He trailed off which made Blake to raise his head and look at him.

"Until?"

"Until she lost her best friend too and worse than that, she got blamed for her death," Fred gulped and cleared his throat not looking away from the window. "It was worse than when she lost her mother."

He couldn't look at her, couldn't accept the truth, the reality. The guilt of puting a blind eye to everything.

Blake didn't say anything. He just bit his Lip and curled the sheet into fist but his trance broke when his phone buzzed inside his jeans pocket. Taking it out, he saw the text before closed his eyes shut before stood up sighing.

"I'm sorry uncle but it's time for me to leave. Orders from Headquarters. I'll call you as soon as I get a chance. Take care of her and yourself. I will try my best to visit in some days," Fred nodded to him as Blake bend forward and Kissed Aria on forehead. "And you must be awake when I come back and tell me everything wee-one. It's time to end whatever is the cause of this all."

With that he straightened himself and nodded once to his uncle and was gone the next second.

°°°°°°

The clanking of glass and soft jazz music with the smell of liquor nuzzled in his nostrils. The young man with slumped shoulders shifted around the bar uncomfortably.

It was a beautiful evening as the restaurant was filled with people around every age. Some were swaying along with melody, some were breaking into laughter over something but none of this was attracting the young lad in any way.

He'd been here for an hour waiting for certain someone but the absence and tardiness of other one was testing his patience. If it wasn't for something that matters to him the most, he would've gone long before or would've never came.

He checked his watch then took a sip from his liquor which burned his throat with it's sensation before a tall man suited in gray tux pulled the stool beside him and took a seat before ordered his drink.

The boy didn't had to turn and see to guess who it was as he sensed his rich unpleasant cologne before spoke gritting his teeth.

"I've been waiting here for more than an hour, where have you been?"

The tall man paused in taking a sip in mid air before turned to the young man, raising his brows. "Mind your tone son, you can not talk to me like that!. I'm not someone who has to informed you about my business. Got it?"

The guy didn't respond but slowly gulped his patience. His eyes were staring straight on the wall behind the bar.

It infuriated the old man. "You give me an answer when I ask you!, GOT IT OR NOT!" The man with hint of gray hair and wrinkles screamed at his face making people around to glance at them in curiosity.

"Got it sir," He answered in a firm tone, to which the old man gave no reaction but glared around with threatening eyes making others to squirm.

The bartender continued to bring them their drinks before left them alone as per orders to the old man. It wasn't hard to guess that the old man had a strong influence on people.

"I didn't come here to waste my time so you better tell me what I want to know...where is she?" Asking, he gulped his drink in one go, putting the glass on the graphite counter still not meeting his gaze.

"Have some patience boy. I'll tell you everything. The fact that it's so much fun to see you as a pawn in my game but first there's something you must know," The old guy checked his watch as if he had somewhere to be. "I didn't hurt her as I promised but she did something to herself so don't blame me."

Just as these words left the old man's mouth, young guy's head turned in a swift to him with wide eyes. He tried to wrap his head around that man's words.

"W-hat did y-you do?" He stuttered as fear crawled in his chest. "WHAT DID YOU DO!" The young boy marched from his stool and grabbed the old man's collar in a threatening manner.

Everything paused. The waiter, the guest, the music and his heart which was pounding inside his chest. His eyes were glistened with tears and burning with rage.

"STAY THE F*CK IN YOUR LIMITS!, or you know what I'm capable of. She's fine as I've heard," He jerked the boys hand from his collar and stood up adjusting it as people whispered around. "You've dared to manipulate me in front of so many people and now you'll face the consequences."

With that the old man took out his cigar, put it in his mouth, lit it before took long a puff and released the smoke, disappearing in the air. He patted young ones shoulder and squeeze it in a threatening way to which the boy shrugged off his hand roughly making the man smile wickedly before he walked away with his guards who stood outside the glass door.

°°°°°°

-

Aria woke up.

She woke up after Blake was gone but as if her body was showing some kind of post stress, she didn't speak up. Not even a word. It had been a two days she woke up gasping. Her mind was still not over something which according to doctor was depression and anxiety.

Her eyes had dark circles and were dull like surrounding wasn't existing. She was trying to hide from herself but couldn't find a place. Her heart made of glass was shattered, her mind was stone. Even Fred's voice couldn't struck her heart which made him broke down outside her room completely. Her gaze was fixed straight to far somewhere inside her head.

But all hope was on that someday she'd make her way out of this darkness of her own soul.

Nate and Rachel visited her yesterday but went home with nothing. It was breaking them apart, their existence to see their friend like this. Only they'd understand the fear cause they also had lost a friend.

The wind blew through her curls caused her jet black hair to flew and splatter across shoulder. As if the universe fooled her and set her to be the next Grace. Leo and Gwen sat with her on the bench outside in the garden trying their best to let out any kind of movement. Any expressional or anything.

"I have got another one. This one is funny. What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofishticated," He laughed out loud along with Gwen whose laugh died when Aria didn't react. Everyone knew her obsession with Leo's jokes. Even she was the first person who acknowledged his talent but looking at her now was telling as if he wasn't good enough in that.

Not the other way around.

"That wasn't good one Leo, look she didn't even smile, tell another one," Gwen disagreed slapping Leo on the shoulder playfully. Although her face was masked with sweet toothy smile. Her world was collapsing every second.

If only you'd know a true friendship like theirs.

"Yeah I think too," Leo rubbed the back of his neck shyly. He thought of another one and told but again this time Aria just blinked. Leo looked away angrily before stood up breathed out and came back as he kneeled down in front of her. "What happened to you muffin? Why are you so quite?"

She responded.

Her eyes shifted to a bit left but not because of Leo, not cause of Gwen but to certain someone who called her from the back with his melodious voice.

"Wee-one?"

She turned her head slowly to the left before looked over her shoulder as her hands started shaking. She stood up stumbling but balanced with the armrest as she blinked in sunlight shining at her body. Blake stood there with his coat handing on his forearm as he just arrived back from Canada and other arm tucked in his jeans with a wavering smile.

Aria took a step of toddler then another as she walked hesitantly with flip flop against concrete, dressed in her hospital gown. Leo and Gwen shared a stunt look but with ecstatic tears in their eyes.

Blake didn't move an inch when Aria reached her finally. She blinked wet lashes to him, her lips trembling as she straightened her arms and wrapped them around him and pressed her cheek to his chest who didn't waste a second and responded her gesture.

"You came late Blakey," A tear slipped her eyes down her cheek before vanished into think air as she closed her eyes and whispered. "I have-e lost myself somewhere."

Blake kissed her head softly before tightened his arms around her. Her words boiled his blood and set him uncomfortable. "No wee-one, you haven't and I'll make sure that. I promise."

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