A Fire That Burns (32 page)

Chapter Fifty-Seven

“YOU
okay, Baby?” Austin asked
as she came into her room at Tom’s. She had waited on Tyler to get out of the
shower, and having heard him moving around, she had come up. It had been hours
since the proposal and life already seemed to be running along more than a
little smoothly in Point Arena. She had been taken off by her parents while the
men worked a little more on the house and admittedly, she had wanted to get her
hands on Tyler ever since.

Running a hand over his shoulder, Tyler rolled his head around, his face
scrunched up in discomfort, “Hurt my shoulder today at the house, that’s all.
Trying to get it done in a rush wasn’t my wisest idea.”

“My bad boy,” she responded by kissing his bad shoulder. “Want me to
massage it better?” Austin asked. Without a response, she started to run her
hands over the same spot she used to years ago. This process was second nature
to her, if she forgot this then it was like forgetting how to love Tyler. She
was using her bad arm gently while the other worked the muscles, but the two
together were obviously having the desired effect.

“
Mmm
,” Tyler groaned with pleasure, “That
feels good.” As he sat enjoying the feel of Austin’s hands over his sore
shoulder, he realized just how much he missed this.

Opening his eyes, Tyler was grief stricken with comparisons. Natasha had
never been bothered to help him with his shoulder complaint; she had never even
picked up when he was in pain. She had never been attentive to his needs that
way and it shocked him to the core.

“What’s wrong?” Austin asked as she felt him pull away from her touch,
“Did I hurt you?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Tyler deflected her concern.

“Don’t lie to me,” Austin replied as she remained behind him for a
moment, her hand still on his shoulder. “I don’t do lying. Not now.”

Sighing, Tyler put his hand to hers, “I just can’t believe I lived so
long believing that I loved her.”

Austin was glad Tyler couldn’t see her and that he didn’t look back, “We
all do things we think were right, even when they’re not.”

“I was with a woman that didn’t care about anyone, but herself,” Tyler
confided nonchalantly and he felt his shoulders become heavy with his own woes.
“She never cared for me like you did, nor did she love me enough to build a
life on truths. It was all lies and I hate that. I hate that I made a life like
that.”

“It’s all better now,” Austin consoled him lightly. She could give him
some spiel about how life was meant to take this dastardly route and how
everything happened for a reason, but right now, the use of simple consolation
seemed to fit better.

“You’re right because she was never you and I love that. No one will
ever be you,” Tyler murmured softly at the final realization that Natasha would
never eclipse any aspect that concerned Austin.

“This life is
amazeballs
,
”
Austin whispered with a giggle as she kissed his shoulder again and then came
to sit on his side, balancing on the edge of the bed. “I wouldn’t change it for
the world.”

Tyler, looping his arms around her waist managed to pull her to him and
kiss her longingly. Pulling away he looked down at her as she smiled and again
he was shot with the realisation that life had torn them apart and brought them
together. Now, however, he could look at Austin and now see an entire life with
her, not just his career.

“Now there’s a word I haven’t heard in forever and a sentence I wouldn’t
deny either,” Tyler responded with a smirk.

“Good,” Austin started, “Because I’m not letting you.” She then
proceeded to sit up and climb off of the bed. “You’ve been working hard all
day, T, you need some sleep.”

“Have you taken your pills?” Tyler quizzed her.

She nodded and smiled, “And Tom changed my bandages.” She showed him the
fresh wrap around her arm, “All done with a big girl smile. Now can we please
get some sleep?”

“I will when you will,” he commented hesitantly. He just wanted her in
his arms tonight after a hard day’s grafting, and even though he could class
their engagement as a perfect end to this day, he would only be heart and soul
happy when she was sound asleep on his chest.

“I’m just going for a pee then I am jumping in my PJs and I am all
yours,” Austin told him, “Get in, I’ll be two minutes tops.”

“Don’t be long,” he called behind her as she walked towards the
bathroom, taking her top off as easily and independently as she could with her
burns. He sighed contently and got under the quilt, immediately feeling sleep
snatching away at him regardless of him wanting to stay awake for Austin.

He never did feel her join him later. It wasn’t until he woke up in the
dead of the
night, that
he felt content with her
sleeping soundly while he found himself lying awake. He couldn’t help but look
down to watch Austin sleep. She was
so
perfect as she
remained still, her breathing heavy with sleep, her body outlined by the
minimal light making it into the room. He couldn’t help but want to fast
forward life to where he was finally married to Austin and setting up a home
fit for a family with her.

With his shoulder playing up, he knew he had to slow down the process of
making their home perfect for her. However, with Austin’s aid and massages, he
knew he would be back to full health before long – just like when he was a
teenager.

    
Life was
falling back together again and he couldn’t imagine anything happening to
change that now.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

AUSTIN
was standing in
front of the mirror looking over the scarred skin across her side. As her hand
came to touch it, she saw the ring on her finger and stalled her motions. She
might still be healing, but she had scars and that scared her. That was until
she caught the glint of the ring and realized that Tyler loved her – scars and
all. He had proven that when he had stripped her down to nothing and made love
to her just a few days after their new engagement.

She cringed when she thought about how she felt right after the fire,
convinced she was going to be deformed and look like a monster, but nearly four
months down the road, she felt empowered. She felt like her life was finally
getting back to how she spent the past six years dreaming it should be. Today was
her birthday, Tyler had woke her up to the most romantic meal possible and had
showered her in gifts, only leaving her so he could help her brothers and both
their dads set up the birthday bonanza. She could do nothing but smile at how
perfect life was falling back together for her.

Except there was one matter that was scaring her deep down in her soul;
she was yet to admit out loud.

“I missed your smile,” Jane commented to Austin as her daughter stood
staring at her reflection. Her voice dissolved all of Austin’s thoughts
instantly. “You only get it back when Tyler’s around you.”

“That’s not true,” Austin defied her mother’s claim. She quickly covered
herself with the lilac top and then pulled it on, covering her mutated skin.
Morbid curiosity had her looking at her wounds. She knew it was stupid, but she
just couldn't help herself, and she had been caught in the act.

Jane went to stand next to her daughter and offered her a warm smile,
“He makes you who you were.” She began and smiled, “When you came back, you
were just given cold shoulder after cold shoulder, and I helped make you the
saddest I had ever seen you. That’s something I will punish myself with for a
long time yet.”

“Don’t,” Austin told her mother and smiled, “You had every right, and
since the fire you’ve been my support and my best friend again.” She shrugged a
little, “Just like I had dreamed you would be when I got back.”

“You know, you don’t have to stay here,” Jane commented as she watched
her daughter. She knew it was stupid, but Austin was twenty-six today, she knew
that if she wanted to leave, she would let her.

Austin gawped at her mother in that moment, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you ever wanted to go back to New York, we would fully
support you in that decision,” Jane told her daughter, and although it upset
her at the thought, she managed to keep a lid on her true fear of losing her
daughter again.

Austin went and sat down on her bed and looked up at her mom, “I won’t
ever be going back there.” Austin told her, “I know that’s ridiculous to say,
but I want my life here and I want to know that when I go to bed I won’t be
seeing what I spent all day watching.” Flashing her eyes up to her mom, Austin
felt fearful for a moment, “However much help we did, and how many lives we
saved, it just didn’t stop me from seeing what happened to them all. It just
seemed to cancel it out, and as much as I love them all back there, it doesn’t
beat this life I have here anymore.” She then smiled and looked down at her
ring, “I’m happy again. Something I haven’t been in a long time.”

“You do what’s right for you,” Jane said as she sat down next to her
daughter on the bed and took her hand. “All I want is to see you happy.”

“Not dreaming about those cases is keeping me happy,” Austin admitted to
her mom honestly. “Being there, working those cases, took over from me
remembering the good times I had here before it went wrong. I never had room to
dream about Tyler, or feeling your hugs, or hearing dad
tease
me, because all I used to dream was what horrible things people could do to
others.” Taking in and exhaling a breath of relief and peace, Austin smiled,
“Now that I’m back I don’t have that many nightmares.”

Jane felt her body ease with relief. She pulled her daughter in close
and gently placed a kiss to her temple, “It’s good to see you happy at long
last.”

“I have Tyler, and he knows about everything, about the baby and about
why I left,” Austin spoke up and she couldn’t stop the smile from just growing
on her face, “I finally found peace with it all. After six years, I think I
deserve this.”

“You do,” Jane told her daughter. “Now, we need to get ready,” Jane said
ending the moment so that the excitement for the evening’s festivities could
begin. Going over to the wardrobe, she began looking through the clothes.
  

Austin didn’t move, she watched her mom, and rang her hands together
heavily. “
Erm
,” Austin cleared her throat nervously,
“Mom, I need your help with something.”

Jane turned around from the wardrobe and looked at her daughter her
happiness was masked with something else and she stopped what she was doing,
“What’s wrong?”

“I think,” Austin paused and shook her head, “No, I know I’m pregnant.”
She looked up fearful, “I don’t know what to do, it’s like it was six years
ago.” Austin then laughed, “Well, kind of, I don’t feel second best anymore,
but we’re engaged again and I jus-”

“You have nothing to worry about,” Jane soothed her daughter lovingly.

Austin felt her eyes water, “I don’t want Tyler to know until I’m
positively sure. Not after him thinking Natasha was pregnant and then finding
out I miscarried. I don’t want him to get excited that this is really happening
for it not to.” Austin slowly admitted, “I just want to wait until I can ensure
this isn’t going to get our hopes up.”

Silencing her daughter, Jane spoke up, “We’ll deal with this without
Tyler having to know until you’re ready to do so.”

“He’s going to know something’s up,” Austin fretted for a moment. “He
can read me like a book, Mom, he’s going to know.”

Jane shook her head and took Austin’s hand in hers, “I will get you a
pregnancy test, but you enjoy tonight,” Jane told Austin, “Don’t let Tyler know
until we’re one hundred percent sure.”

“This sticks between us until we’re sure?” Austin asked her mom, “I
don’t want what happened before to happen again.”

Jane nodded, “But, if that test is positive you tell Tyler.” She then
pulled her daughter close and kissed her, “The past isn’t going to happen
again, just remember that.” She pressed one more motherly kiss to Austin’s
head, “You need to get ready, Baby,” She murmured and then stood up to leave.
Freezing in the doorway, Jane turned
back,
“Is this
another reason why you don’t want to leave?” she asked Austin and hoped she
would get a truthful response.

Shrugging, Austin sighed, “I guess, but I just like knowing my family is
just down the road and not literally a world apart. I like feeling part of a
family.” She then smiled a little more, “I like knowing I’m not alone.”

“Baby,” Jane empathized for a moment, “You’ll never be alone in this
life.” She gave her a wink and before leaving, she paused and said; “Ever.”

***

Hours later, Austin sat a little disheartened after
four negative pregnancy tests and she couldn’t stop her mind from wishing they
had been positive. She wanted a second chance so badly that it actually made
her heart ache – ache almost out of her chest. She wanted Tyler’s child, and
she wanted to make that family with him.

As she watched him dancing with his sister, she smiled at how lucky she
was to have him love her again. Even though it had taken drastic measures and a
huge amount of heartbreak, she was back to where she was happiest and she loved
her life now – just the idea of a child would make it complete.

She had admittedly cried over the failed tests, falling into her
mother’s safe embrace, because she was sure she was pregnant, like one hundred
percent sure. Four tests couldn’t lie to her. She wanted so bad to tell Tyler
some news like that, but she couldn’t, and now she had to just try and enjoy
herself. It was her birthday, after all, and birthday girls didn’t cry – her
dad’s rule, not hers. Plus, Tyler didn’t deserve to know about the almost could
have been family. Not after everything he had loved and lost. Her suffer in
silence
behavior
had reminded her how she dreamt of a
family since she miscarried, and she knew that only having a baby would fill
that void that still lived deep within her.
One day
, she inwardly told
herself,
one day, Aussie
.

“I guess I better be nice to you tonight,” Michael’s voice carried
through the air all of a sudden and he watched as Austin looked up in shocked
awe. He grinned at her; he had lied saying he had to stick around in New York –
regardless of her birthday – when in actual fact he was sorting out a longer
stay for them all.

Getting up, Austin wrapped her arms around his neck, “What are you doing
here?” she asked him, “I thought you had to work.”

“You’re not the only one that can sweet talk
Wanslow
,
Aussie,” Jessica’s surprised Austin next, and smirked as Austin broke away from
Michael to be greeted with Emma and Jessica. “The guys are coming in, in a
moment.”

Austin’s excitement for the evenings events only became stronger to know
they had put in the effort to come here for her birthday, “Oh, goody!” Austin
exclaimed and was taken into Jessica’s arms for a massive welcoming hug.

“Exactly why are you sitting out on all the fun?” Jessica asked as she
pulled away from the hug to allow Emma to wrap her arms around Austin.

Austin shrugged, “I’m a little tired,” she admitted. Her exhaustion was
the number one thing that had raised her suspicions that she could be pregnant,
that and her hormonal rollercoaster, but again, her subconscious reminded her
that four failed pregnancy tests didn’t lie. Her mom was scheduling a doctor’s
appointment as soon as possible, regardless of her disapproval.

“Did
someone
keep you up?” Emma teased as she pointed her head
towards Tyler as he sauntered over and all Austin did was offer a small smirk
as her eyes twinkled a little, she didn’t need to tell Jessica or Emma that
Tyler had kept her awake.

“I see you made it,” Tyler said as he came over to them. He gave the
girls a hug and then shook Michael’s hand before pulling him in for a brotherly
hug. “Thanks for coming.”

“Like we would have missed Aussie getting older,” Michael teased Austin
lovingly. “It’s good to see you a year closer to my age.”

Austin tilted her head to the side, “I think I’m good before I reach
prehistoric, Mike.”

Everyone laughed as Austin smiled sweetly and looked at Michael’s
shocked face. It was in that moment that Emma and Jessica realized they missed
the banter between Michael and Austin, but neither could fault how happy Austin
appeared to be now.

“I’m only eight years older than you now,” Michael defended himself
playfully at her comment. “You wait until you’re thirty-four, then you’ll be
panicking about getting old.”

Shaking her head, Austin continued to smile sweetly, “I’m going to be
forever young.”
 
Austin giggled as she
watched Michael try and come up with a comeback, but failed. This was always
something she loved, whether it
be
Michael or Tyler,
one of her brothers or one of the team. “Don’t even try to trump me, Old Man.
I’m the birthday girl and I’m still as young as I was when I was nineteen and last
celebrated a birthday Pearson style!”

“That is what I like to hear,” Tyler exclaimed as he watched his baby
girl smile brightly.

“So,” Austin began and turned to Tyler, “What do we have planned to make
tonight magical, Sugar?” She asked him, knowing if anyone, it would be Tyler
who had packed tonight full of surprises.

“Well, can I steal you for a moment?” Tyler asked Austin quickly,
flashed the three in front of them a knowing glance before looking at Austin’s
expectant expression for him to divulge more information. “I want to give you
some birthday loving.”

“Do your worst,” Austin told him and grinned teasingly, her eyes
glinting with sexual tease instead of playful. That look meant just for him and
he knew it.

Feeling Tyler lead her away made her forget about the pregnancy tests in
her en-suite at Tom’s and just enjoy the moment. Hers and Tyler’s time to have
a family would happen soon enough, and for now, she just had to enjoy this life
and focus on getting completely healed.

As he spun her around, he watched her stop as she gasped painfully, “You
okay?” Tyler asked, terrified he had hurt her.

Austin nodded, “It’s just a little tight still.” Austin calmed him down,
“I’m fine, Handsome! We know that although I’ve been
okayed
by the doctors, there’s still some healing to be done.” She smirked as his face
remained unchanged, “You know I’m still tender, but I’m fine,” she then kissed
him to prove her statement right. “You need to not worry, Ty.”

“I can’t help it,” Tyler said deflated. He knew she was still new to
healing, regardless of the weeks that had transcended. He knew there was so
much more recovery ahead of them and he panicked that she was in pain or
suffering and he had missed the telltale signs. “I just know how hard is it for
you to have full mobility at the moment in that arm and I just expect you to
have it.”