I was never ungrateful. I have money to help people who need it. I have a job people would kill for. My family loved and supported me wholeheartedly when I was young. But I would give it all up in a second to keep Ellis safe. Forget the money and the fans screaming my name, as long as I can come home at the end of the day and lay in bed next to Ellis then it will be a damn good day. Right here, as I sit beside Ellis a stillness settles over me. I don’t think I can sign another contract for the Spears. Another year away, travelling and missing everything. I don’t think I can stomach it. This is where I am meant to be.

“I’m waiting for the doctor, I need to pick Jack up soon so I need the discharge papers.” Ellis breaks through my thoughts when she notices the time.

“No chance. Anders and Edge have gone to get Cassie to pick up Jack. They’re going to take him home and chill with him until we can leave, and we are not leaving until we know for sure that you and the baby are okay,” I tell her, tipping her face up to mine with a finger under her chin. Ellis didn’t fight about adding Cassie to Jack’s pick-up list. It made sense, if Ellis is ever in too much pain and I am travelling with the team, it means Lyndsey doesn’t have to close up the shop to get him.

“They have Jack?” Her brows furrow.

“They dropped me here and left to get him, they’re his family now, too.” I assure her with a small kiss, just a peck on her forehead. I can’t help myself, my hands itch to rub over her skin, needing to feel her reassuring warmth against me.

“Family?” she whispers as I pull away, more to herself than to me and her eyes flood with tears.

“Fuck, why are you crying?” Her face drops to the centre of my chest and her tears soak my T-shirt.

“I miss having a family.” Her words are muffled against the fabric, but they hit my heart with the strength of ten men. She has a family now and I’m not going anywhere.

“So… I’m your partner, huh?” I need to see her smile more than my next breath.

“You caught that?” Her voice is still quiet but her shoulders shake in a small laugh.

“Best thing I’ve heard all day,” I tell her honestly, but after all the other things I’ve heard today it wouldn’t be a task to top them.

“Ignore that.” She laughs and moves to look up at me. “Apparently I fainted because I was dehydrated and under nourished.”

“How did that happen? Have you not been eating?”