Battle Of The Blondes

© Sweet Kisses™

~*~

Nick sat back in the chair next to Britney's hospital bed and sighed. He closed his eyes for a few brief moments, trying to make himself think of anything but Britney being beaten in the hospital. She was gingerly holding onto her life, and he had done nothing to help her. His body began to tremble. If he claimed to love her as much as he did, then where was he when she needed him most? He should've gone with her, despite all her protests. He should've seen some of the warning signs.

Something.

Anything.

Anything that would've told him that Justin was beating her to an inch of her life. And he hadn't even seen it coming. What an absolute asshole he was. Not even caring or protecting the one he loved when they needed him. Her bruises, her ripped clothes, just made him want to cry. He wanted to cry so much, but he wouldn't allow himself to, because Britney was going to wake up and be back to her old self again.

Nick then made a pact with himself to never let her out of his sight again for as long as he lived. As long as he was alive, he would take care of her, cater to her every need and whim, and make sure she was happy, and he'd make damn sure that she knew he loved her with all his heart, in more ways than one. She was going to know for sure that his heart belonged to her, and that, forever, they belonged together.

Nick had previously talked to the doctor that was administering her case. Nick had been told that her condition was stable, that was she a survivor. She was tough. Nick knew that, he didn't need to be told. There was a lot of bruising on her body, he had been told, and a lot of cuts as well. Luckily, the doctor had said, no bones had been damaged or broken.

Oh, yeah, she was also two and a half months pregnant. 

That significant detail she hadn't told him, either. But then again, he didn't even know if she knew herself. How would he bring up the subject? He had no idea, but he knew he'd be supportive. No matter what.

Nick stared in at the lifeless girl that was between stark white hospital sheets. Even from the distance he was at, he could see the cuts and purple, black and blue bruising on her face. He could see how ghostly-pale her complexion was. He could see how white her lips were. He could see how dull and lacklustre her blonde hair was. And he could just tell that she'd gone through so much pain, and at the expense of her love for him. Because of him. Because of how much she loved him.

He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered and felt a tear trickle down his cheek. "I'm so sorry."

Nick regained his composure after letting himself shed a few much-needed tears and took hold of the door handle. He gingerly opened the door and stepped into the hospital room, his ears becoming aware of the rhythmical beeping of the machines that were taking Britney's readings and conditions and from the air-conditioning vents overhead, his eyes becoming aware of just how traumatised Britney really was. He closed the door quietly behind him and walked over to the chair that was beside her bed and sat down. There were no flowers in her room, nothing to brighten it up, nothing to make it seem as though anyone really cared about her. Except for him. He knew that he was the only person in the world that loved her whole-heartedly.

There was nothing more that he wanted to do in the whole wide world than to take care of Britney, to make sure that nobody hurt her again, or laid a finger on her, as long as they both lived. And Nick would reaffirm his love for her, despite everything that had happened to her. Even if Britney wasn’t Britney, but just any other girl he saw in the street, he’d still feel the exact same way about her. It was her that he had fallen in love with, not her money, not her fame, not her stature. But her. Plain and simple. And just the thought of her being beaten and abused by anyone was enough for him to react, to feel anger, to feel her hurt, her pain.

He stared at her, his heart feeling like it was being strangled very, very slowly, his pulse racing, his whole body feeling anger, pain, sorrow and guilt. If there was nothing material that he could give her, he’d give her something emotional, something from the depths of his soul. His heart. His love. His trust. His support. His help. His whole life. Everything that he had was for her, to make her happy, to make her feel loved, and he was determined to give it all to her again, once she made a full recovery.

This time, when she came out of this nightmare, he’d show her, once and for all, just who really loved her, and in a way that he had never before. This time he was going to prove with more than just words and soft kisses just how deep his love for her ran, and he could only hope and pray that she’d see just how much he loved her and eventually give in.

She would have to, she’d have no choice.

Nick took hold of her cool, clammy hand. "I'm so sorry," he said softly, his eyes becoming misty again from the sight of her bruised face, her battered arms, her beaten body. "I could've helped you, saved you. Why did you keep this from me?"

But Britney never answered, all he got in response was a few high-pitched beeps.

Nick stood up and kissed her forehead softly. "I love you, Britney," he said and sat down once more. "I love you so much. But...why didn't you tell me what was going on? Did you think that I'd just leave you because of the baby? Did you honestly think that I'd do what he did to you? All I would ever do is love you, and I'm sorry that I never got the chance to prove it to you. But I will, believe me, I will. You'll be mine."

His eyes roamed over her body and caught sight of the diamond studs in her ears, that he had given her the first time he'd told her he loved her. "Next time I give you diamonds, it's going on your finger. That's a promise."

And with that promise, he sealed it with a kiss.

~**~