33.

"You want me to give Nick a job?" My father asked, his eyes twinkling but the seriousness was on his face. His salt and pepper hair, which was once as dark as mine, was cut neatly on his head.

My father was heavily tattooed just like Nick. They were comforting, something that I liked on a man. Maybe it was because I had always looked up to my father and his tattooes, either way, I loved them.

"He's lost his at the police station. He wants to go to uni and do his art degree. I don't know what more to do." I sighed with defeat. I hated seeing Nick upset about his lack of employment. He worked so hard and I knew all he wanted to do was get money to make me happy.

I didn't need it but I think he thought I did.

"I'd love to give him a job here, he's artistic, creative and one hell of a good drawer." He stopped. "But that's not how Nick works. I doubt he'd want a job just because I asked, he works for the things he gets, he doesn't just take."

"I know but couldn't we at least give it a shot?" I asked, hopeful. "He doesn't exactly have a choice right now."

"Ask him and then we will talk about it." I gave my father a kiss on the cheek before looking up to my next client.

I got back to work.

Hours went by where I was able to lose the troubles in my mind of the last few weeks and just tattoo. I loved this job and I was the luckiest person alive to be doing what I had loved since I was little.

I was artistic just like Nick but we expressed it in different ways. That was the thing with art, we use it in anyway we can.

Nick liked to draw, paint, make abstracts and paintings whereas I was more in to the tattooing scene. Maybe Nick wouldn't like to work here, doing this, but I knew he'd be amazing at it for the time being.

This was the only chance he had whilst he was still on trial.

Every time I thought about Nick and his talent, I couldn't help but smile. I loved that he could draw and I loved that he was ambitious and determined enough to make a thing out of it.

I really hoped it worked out for him.

By the end of the day, I was worn out but feeling a little happier and lighter than I had in ages. My father could see the smile on my face and he smiled back at me.

I was glad I had him back, too. Seeing him so heartbroken broke me even more. I loved my father, idolised him even, and I couldn't bare to see him so torn and devastated.

I wished I felt the same about my mother. I wanted to get close to her again but every time I looked at her, I saw John, too. I didn't want to associate her with him, not one tiny bit but I did.

Hopefully that would change soon and I could also have my mother back.

John stole her from me too.

"I've been thinking." Glenn stated as we closed the doors of the parlour. I hadn't heard from Nick all day as I had been busy at work. Hopefully he was okay. He had probably been painting all day. That took up a lot of his time.

"About?"

"What you can do to help him." I looked at my father, puzzled. "I could give him the job here, that would be fine, but Nick would need training as he has never done tattooing before. He also needs certificates and training courses to be done before he's legally allowed to be a tattoo artist, just like you and I."

"Right." I nodded my head as we both got in to Glenn's vehicle.

"He wouldn't be on an amazing salary to start off with, that's for sure. I doubt he'd get enough for that university degree he wants."

"Oh." I knew I looked crestfallen. I loved Nick enough to want the world for him.

"But, I'm getting old now and I've saved up a lot of money to know I'd be happy with giving you my position at the parlour."

"What?" I looked at my father with shock. Was he going to give me the parlour?

"I earn a lot more than you do at the moment, I'm the owner of the parlour." He stated, matter of fact. "But, if you were to become owner of the parlour, you could save up for him, let him get his university degree, let him find his feet with a new job. He wouldn't have to worry and you get to do what you've always loved for extra."

"Dad..." I couldn't speak as my voice came out as a whisper. "I couldn't let you leave your job."

"I've been thinking about it for ages. I was thinking about taking your mother somewhere hot, to take her mind off everything here for a few months." He shrugged as if it were no big deal. He loved her and he'd do anything for her.

"God." I breathed. That tattoo parlour would be mine.

"I'm not the richest man in the world but it has given me everything and more. That parlour is my baby, my second baby." He clarified with a cheeky smirk. "I wouldn't think about giving it to anyone else, Birdie."

"I am so grateful." I said, honestly. For him to do that was huge for me, huge for Nick and I as a team.

"I know you are, you're my daughter. We work for what we have and we're grateful for what we get." He nodded firmly. "And you and Nick are going to get married soon, you work as a team like that, help eachother out when you need it and you'll realise you won't need much else."

I thought back to a few days ago where I took off my ring in rage at the man I loved. I didn't ever want to do that again, I didn't ever want to run away from him whenever something went wrong.

That's what we did, we loved then we hated, but our pasts defined us and we love the way we love. Every relationship is different and we all cope differently.

I run, like a coward, but I wasn't going to do that anymore.

Whatever life threw at us, Nick and I were going to take it and become stronger for it.

Like my dad said, we were a team.

"I love you so much." I couldn't help but say. My father looked to me, unleashed tears in his eyes, and he took a hold of my hand.

"You won't ever find a love as strong as the one you have with your children, that's for damn sure." He shook his head. "I promised to give you the world and more. I let you down and now I'm making it up to you."

My heart broke.

"You don't have to do this, any of this to make it up to me. You weren't at fault, you were never to blame. You're the only thing that got me through it. I thought about leaving and coming to see you so many times, knowing one day I would have the chance got me through everything happening over there. You've given me the world and now more."

After all, he led me to Nick.

"This helps me to move on." He looked touched. I was hoping one day the guilt would be free from his face. "And I believe in you."

~

I got home after our heart to heart. My father dropped me home as he wanted to pick me up this morning on my first day back, to see if I was okay.

I took a lift up the elevator and reached Nick's apartment door. I could hear gentle music as I stood outside the door and I smiled.

He was home and my heart was beating in excitement to see him. Was he painting? Having a shower?

I didn't know but I wanted to find out.

I opened the wooden door and I gasped at the sight before me. Candles were lit at almost every point of the room. I briefly wondered if he had a working fire alarm just incase it set fire to the curtains, but my thoughts evaporated as soon as I took in the petals on the floor.

What a soppy sod.

I couldn't help but smile as I followed them all the way in to the bedroom.

I saw Nick as soon as I did so, he stood before he in a pair of skinny jeans and a plain black t shirt. He looked casual but good enough to eat.

How did I ever get so lucky?

"What's all this?" I beamed his way as the music lifted up my spirits. This was so romantic. Who would have thought Nick Abel was capable of any of this?

"My apologies, my blessings and my love for you." He smiled sweetly. "I want you to remember this moment whenever I fuck up. Whatever I do, you know I'm in love with you, I have been since the day I met you and I will be until the day I die."

"Nick." I couldn't help but run in to his arms and squeeze him tightly against my body. He took me in to his arms and squeezed just as tightly back.

"I have something to show you." Nick stated. "Don't tell your dad because I know he will be mad at me for getting it done somewhere else..." he trailed off as he lifted up his shirt.

The heart I had talked about before now had my name written on it above his chest.

This day was full of so many surprises.

"Nick." I said his name again in a breathless whisper as I traced the black ink across a small part of his chest. It was still healing and Nick flinched a little bit. I looked up in to his eyes and I saw that love he had for me there straight away.

"There's no way we can be apart from eachother now." He looked devishly handsome. "We're stuck with eachother, Angel, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Unless you get it removed." I stated playfully. He scowled.

"This will never be removed." He looked proud of what he had done. "It's my favourite tattoo." He smiled.

I couldn't help but laugh. Out of all the tattoos he had, that was his favourite? He was so sweet.

"Dad is going to be mad at you, you're right." I smiled, then I remembered what he had given me. "Actually, I'm going to be mad." I started to smile.

"What do you mean?" He looked puzzled at my suspicious smirk.

"I own it."

"Own what?" He asked.

"The parlour. It's mine once the paper work is all done." Nick opened his mouth with shock.

"Serious?" I nodded and he pulled me in to another tight hug. "That's amazing!" He gushed. He sounded so proud and happy for me, and that meant so much more than anything else.

"I know." I said back. I couldn't believe it myself.

"Does that mean I can get free tattoos from now on?" He smirked my way playfully. I gave him a light punch to the chest.

We spent the rest of the night talking and doing what we knew best.

We talked about the parlour and what I could do to make it even better than it was now. Nick was all for it and I couldn't be happier.

I didn't tell him about the saving as I didn't want him to tell me off for doing his work for him. I knew he wanted to do it all his self but I just wanted to help and I knew I'd be able to without his knowing.

Instead, I watched him as he relaxed beside me. I watched him as we both turned to realise that everything was working out for the better.

We still had a long way to go but with him by my side, life was going to get easier.

He had saved me from my past and made a future I'd never have thought possible. He came barrelling in to my life, tattoos and just as dark as I.

He says I gave him feelings again, that I coloured him red, but little did he know, he coloured me every colour there was to offer.

He didn't just give me feelings, he gave me life.

And I lived just for him.

THE END

HI GUYS, this is the ending!! There will be an EPILOGUE or two, so the story isn't over quite yet, keep hanging on!!

Thanks so so so much for reading and commenting and voting. I hope you all enjoyed this story and even the little bits after this.

New story as of 2024!!! The wall between us | Dark #4 Description:

"He doesn't see you the way I do. He doesn't see the broken girl inside, a soul that just wants to be loved, protected, needed. But I do. I see you because I've made it my every damn mission to." His eyes held mine with a piercing stare. My breath caught in the back of my throat. "And you know what? I'd do it again and again and again until you realise just how fucking badly I need you."

Avery Watkins hasn't always had it easy. Growing up with both parents struggling with addiction and trying to find her place in the world, she doesn't have much trust in others. So when Sonny, her current boyfriend comes along, he is positive, caring and everything she thinks she needs.

That is until she comes head to head with Sonny's flatmate, Harrison Shaw.

Harrison is a lot of things but positive isn't one of them. He is quiet, mysterious and equally as guarded as Avery. Not only that, he forces Avery to dance with the ghosts of her past whilst also uncovering his own.

But Avery soon finds out that what she has needed all along is right under her nose, or more specifically, in the bedroom next door.

And the wall between them may not be as thick as she believes.