19|When Secrets Unfold.

We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it.

--Lauren Oliver

Aiden's Pov

"Bree would you just say something? You're beginning to scare me," I state looking at Bree who's been silent ever since we got into the car. Something seems off and the worst part is, I could feel the fear of something bad that's going to happen.

I grab her hand into mine and give it a slight squeez, making her look at me with confused emotions along with fear that I saw in her eyes when I left her. "What's going on?" The questions slips out of my mouth making Bree press her lips into a thin line showing the stress she's going through.

"If you get to know things you had to sooner..." Taking a deep breath and looking at our hands, she continues, "but if I was the one to keep stuff from you... w-would you leave me again?"

I look at her confused trying to make sense of her jumbled words. I never heard Bree mess up with what she has to say before, "I should've known you wouldn't understand,"

Bree keeps shaking her head in disappointment and then it strikes my stupid head, "I would never leave you baby doll, I promised you remember? And even if you keep something from me, I'm sure you had a reason to do so and I'm sure you'll let me know when the right time comes up,"

I just hope this would help her open up to me, just hope and how can I even afford to lose her again? No, definitely not. "Aiden, what I'm going to show you today might actually change your mind..."

"And what is that you're going to show me?" I look at her with my curious eyes trying to read her mind. Why does she confuse me so much?!

The car stops with a jerk, making me clash my head with Bree's, "shit!"

"Are you alright?" I ask Bree as I hear her curse in pain. "I'm alright, just hurts a little but I'm fine now,"

Is she being cold to me now?! Oh god no, not again. This is going to make things harder then they already are. I sigh looking out of the window and realising we reached Bree's house. Looks pretty impressive like her house back in DC.

I get out of the car as soon as Brad opens the door and face Bree once again. "I'm carrying you in,"

She just silently nods making me grin in victory but my heart clenched at the sight of the cold and probably vulnerable Bree once again. Tucking a hand under her thighs and once around her back, I slowly help her out before bracing her completely. "We've should go back to DC sometime, to refresh our memories,"

I whisper with a smile but she just shifts a little before opening her mouth to say something but closes it almost immediately as the sound of the doors opening interrupts us making me sigh. Everything's got such a great timing.

"Welcome home you two!" Maria sounds with excitement lacing in her voice making me feel as if nothing really changed. Brad heads to her before us and pecks her lips making her turn a tinge of pink.

Taking a deep breath, I step in and feel Bree tense up in my arms. I look her to find her making eye contact with Brad and Maria as if she's telling them something by just giving them a look. "Why don't you guys sit down and have some tea before heading back to your rooms?"

"Sure," I say following Brad into the living room through the huge double doors revealing the classic designed living room with natural lighting. A brown carpet covering the wooden floor as I walk and I slowly settle Bree down on the couch. I look down at her to find her looking anywhere but my face. What did I do now? Or is she feeling uncomfortable because I'm at her house?

"Do you want me to leave?" I ask her as I hear Brad leave the room.

"No," She answers immediately making me relax and take a seat next to her. "You can stay here as long as you want..."

I nod unsure of the hidden feeling in her voice. Maybe I should just wait until she gets comfortable and then ask her what she wanted to show me or tell me. We fall into a comfortable silence as my eyes wander around the room as I figure out that this is all probably designed by Bree herself. What can I say, she's a gods given gift and an example for perfection even if she never considered it.

"What's got your pretty head all worried?" I finally ask her unable to stay silent anymore.

"Nothing," and then I feel the urgency to kiss her and take away all her pain. "Bree,"

She looks at me and I grab the side of her face gently as I lean closer, never taking my eyes of hers. "I love you baby doll,"

She presses her lips to mine before closing her eyes as I kiss her back, I pull back and whisper into her ear, "look at me baby doll," with that I get back to kissing her as our gazes lock and I deepen the kiss as she gives me access to her mouth. Her free hand travels up my abs and reaches for my hair making me groan as she runs her fingers through my messy hair.

We pull back when we get breathless but I lean my forehead against her's, my eyes never leaving her's as I find her eyes clouding up with tears. "No no, don't cry sweetheart. Please don't,"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." She just keeps going on apologising me as her tears pool down making me peck her swollen lips once more. "Don't ever apologise for anything no matter what it is that you've done,"

"But-" I cut her off by kissing her again. Can I ever get enough of her? And I don't think there's a better way to stop her from over thinking. Her lips move in sync with mine as she kisses back while her tears keep rolling down non stop. My hands wipe her tears away as Bree's hand plays around with my hair. I let go of her lips as she starts getting breathless and trail my lips down her jawline, kissing her making her breath hitch as I move lower to her shoulders and suck in on her sweet spot, "Aiden..."

She throws her head back but stiffens as she hisses at the pain that shoots through her head. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

I regain my posture and kneel down in front of her as she clutches her head. I should've just been careful before losing myself too much instead I did otherwise and now I hurt her. "Aiden I'm fine. My head is just being a bitch today,"

I smile at her statement and she slowly opens her eyes as if her pain eased up a little. "You know maybe there is something important before anything right now,"

She looks down as I take her hand into mine and fixes her gaze there as if she wants to just avoid eye contact. "And what is-"

"Here's your tea," Maria cuts me off making us both snap out of our conversation. I wonder what took her so long or did she enter while things got heated between me and Bree?

"Hmm Maria, we'll have the tea later if that's okay," Bree says still not looking up. Maria looks at both of us and probably taking in our appearances while giving me a gentle smile.

"As you wish,"

"Can you ask all the workers to leave the house for today and you as well as Brad could spend some time at your place," Bree finally looks up at Maria as if looks could explain more than words do.

"Sure. Just give us five minutes," with that she leaves us both.

"Does she know about what you're going to tell me?" I ask Bree giving her hand a slight squeez. She just nods while gulping instead of answering me.

"Is it something about that person called Jayden?" I ask before I could think twice and watch Bree freeze. I guess I got the answer. All I knew about this person is that he's dead now according to what Jackson told me.

"We're leaving. Aiden could you just lock the door?" Maria interrupts once again making me sigh and I nod before standing up and kissing Bree's forehead and follow Maria out.

We get to the door sooner than I notice and she finally turns to me, "She's breaking down in front of someone after a long time and her revelation is going to be hard on you too but remember that she's been through worse and I expect you to be with her this time,"

She finishes in a motherly tone, "I wouldn't leave her again Maria,"

I reassure her with a small smile and she just nods before leaving. I've got a great reputation now, don't I?

Sighing, I shut the door and twist the key, locking the doors. It feels home here maybe because I'm with Bree and she makes everything seem like a piece of cake even in the worst situation. I walk back to the living room while unbuttoning my sleeves and roll them up and take off my tux.

Entering the familiar room, I look at Bree who's sitting impatiently and busy thinking as always. "Baby doll would you show me what it is now?"

My voice softens as I get a full view of her worried face and she just nods. "I promised you that I'll not leave you Bree so stop stressing yourself out please,"

She stares back into my pleading eyes and presses her lips together forming a thin tight smile accompanied with a nod. "Good. Where to first?"

I ask her as I stand up and scoop her into my arms. "My room first, we need to get onto the first floor. Are you sure you can carry me that long?"

"You're questioning my strength?" I ask her with a smirk and she let's out a nervous giggle as I walk us out and head towards the stairs. I could feel Bree's heart thumping against my chest but I just choose to keep my mouth shut instead.

Once we reached the top of the stairs, I look at Bree for directions, "that one,"

She points out at the second room onto our left and I just nod before heading that way. I stop in front of the door and Bree opens it letting us in while she let's out a shaky breath. The smell of lavender hits my nose as we walk in, "Can you put me down on the bed next to the nightstand?"

"Sure," I say and put her down on the bed as my eyes wander around her room. It's plain and nothing like Bree. A plasma TV stuck to the wall and dark curtains covering the balcony opening with a couch and a coffee table plus a small bookshelf. But something catches my eye when I look at the nightstand where Bree was looking for something.

A photo of me and another with a small kid who wouldn't be more than a year and a half but wait he looks like... me. No no I guess it's just my mind playing tricks but why did Bree have his photo here? I don't know if I should just bash myself up for not realising that she never stopped loving me and still had my photo with her or to just try finding out who that kid is.

Is it Jayden?

"Bree..." She freezes in her place closing her eyes with a painful expression.

"Who is this?" I ask her picking on the photo frame while trying to study his features which only make me think that he looks like me as a kid.

I shift my gaze to Bree who's hand is gripping a key so tightly as if her life depended on it, "Is this Jayden?"

I watch her expression change from cold to broken but she doesn't look at me, instead she just nods. "P-please just don't ask me anything right away,"

She's clearly breaking down but is trying to keep herself up, "Aiden can you take me to the next room?"

"Sure," I say before placing the photo down and scooping her up again. I'm trying not to think of the possibilities cause everything just gives me an impossible answer which I don't want to think of knowing that it's not possible.

Just about four steps away from her room we reach a blue door with JAYDEN written on it along with some smurfs around his name probably spray painted which only Bree can do so perfectly. I watch as she places her hand on the door knob twisting it as she pushes open the door trying to keep a sob as she totures her lower lip. Doesn't seem like this is going you end up good.

I carefully step in as I take in the room, walls full of the kid's pictures and a few with Bree and everyone else. The whole room is covered in toys and different coloured gift boxes still lying unwrapped. "Put me down,"

Her words come out followed by a sob but I just do as she says and put her down on the recliner still trying to sort this mess in my head. I walk around leaving Bree sitting there cause I knew once she reveals something that she's been keeping from me, it would just get worse. I find Bree smiling brightly in the all pictures she had with Jayden, just as she'd smile around me before I messed up.

"D-did you not notice anything about his name?" Bree asks in her broken voice and I nod cause I knew derivation of his name was part of Jared's name and mine. I concluded that the night Jackson told me about him.

"It's a mix between my name and Jared's," I continue walking around but stop when I see a pile of Cd's next to the small TV. I pick them up and started reading the titles;

First time Jayden crawled

First time Jayden walked

First time Jayden said "mom"

First time Jayden said "dad"

But why did Bree have all this? "Didn't you figure it out yet?" Bree's voice interrupts my thoughts again and I face her this time.

"No, I-I just don't understand. Who's this kid? And how is he even related to you?" Bree looks up at me with red eyes pooling with tears with pure pain and sadness.

"He's y-your son, Aiden," my eyes widen as the cd's slip out of my hand.

"O-our son," No no, this couldn't be happening. I had a son with Bree and I didn't even know?! No this couldn't be happening.

I stride towards Bree and kneel down in front of her with the fear of her confirming it again. I take her face in my hands and fore her to look at me, "t-tell me you're lying... please,"

She just shakes her head sideways with tears falling down, "N-no I'm not,"

She completely breaks down and starts crying as I find my own tears. "Jackson told me that... J-Jayden... died,"

I look at her through my blurry eyes and she just nods once again. I drop my head into my hands hand and dig my nails into my scalp trying to understand the reality. "W-we had a baby and I never got to see him. I-its my parents again isn't it?"

Her silence was my answer. I had a baby with the girl I love and I never knew it, I left her to suffer through his loss all alone while my parents were busy keeping me away from her. How did he die? Why did my parents keep Bree and J-Jayden away from me?

So many unanswered questions.

So many new revelations.

All I know is that no matter what, I'm not letting this go and I'm not leaving Bree ever again. We had a family before I knew it and now that I know we did, I'm going to fight for it.

×××

Something you guys have been waiting for, isn't it?

So what do you guys think about this chapter? And I've decided something since you guys decided on being silent readers and I'm lacking motivation. So I'll be updating only when I get at least:

20 votes and 25 comments.

Is it too much to expect? I don't think so when compared to the starting chapters of this book or the previous book. I hope you guys understand cause I'm trying so hard to accommodate my writing schedule in life right now and it is depressing when I keep losing response from you guys.

I hope you like the chapter and help me reach my minimum goal so that I can update asap. Have a great day or night!

Love ya'll,

-Ana.❤