I sighed as I snuggled into the warm covers. A smile spread across my lips, the visuals of my dreams delicately playing in my head.

It was the first time in a long time that I had a full night's rest, not a single nightmare waking me up in terror as the Men in Black finally cornered me.

I blushed as the dreams fully registered in my head. I quickly shook them away, my tranquil moment trampled by reality. I made a silent vow to put those dreams in the dark recesses of my mind.

I closed my eyes and tossed the blankets over my head, hoping to go back to sleep. I almost successfully made it back to dreamland when I heard a knock.

Peeking through my sheet, I glared at the door.

"Flower, open up. You know I can easily open it, but I don't want to break the door." Damon called out from the hallway.

I let out an embarrassing whine as I realized that I couldn't return to my marvelous dream (that totally did not feature him at all). With a small pout, I left my cocoon and sulked to the door.

I opened the door and looked at Damon in annoyance, a yawn escaping my lips as I rubbed my eyes. I blinked groggily as I focused on the man in front of me, my eyes widening as I took in his appearance. My jaw dropped a little.

Gone was his attire of dark jeans and black leather jackets that he wore the last couple of nights. It was now replaced with an expensive black suit. The black buttons were done, and his red tie made a striking contrast with the rest of his attire. The suit fit his large frame perfectly, the fabric stretching out to show the toned muscles on his arms and legs.

"...Flower?" Damon's voice cut me out of my ogling and my eyes snapped to his amused ones. My face flushed in horror as he caught me practically undressing him with my eyes.

I opened and closed my mouth to come up with an excuse only to find none. Damon seemed to notice my suffering and decided to spare me from crawling into a hole from embarrassment.

"May I come in? I brought you some food." Damon raised a Starbucks bag containing what I assumed was breakfast. My stomach growled at the sight. I eagerly widened my door so he could come inside. Settling on my bed, he opened the bag to reveal some pastries and I beamed as I saw him unwrap a butter croissant.

"I didn't know what you preferred, but I got a bagel, muffin, croissant–" before Damon could finish, I grabbed the buttery morsel away from him. I took a large bite, enjoying the flavor and textures.

"Or you can take the croissant." Damon chuckled as he took the bagel and started eating.

We silently enjoyed our breakfast while I contemplated what to say, making sure I only took small glances at Damon. When I finished the pastry, I wiped the crumbs off my crumpled uniform that I wore to bed last night. I went to reach for the napkins in the bag when Damon grabbed my arm.

Damon observed the charm bracelet on my wrist. "It's beautiful," Damon complimented the piece of jewelry. I couldn't help the smile that escaped.

"Thanks. It was my mother's. I never take it off– sentimental reasons and all that." I pulled away so I could clean myself up. I put the used napkins in my almost full trash bin.

We sat in silence for a bit. I twiddled my fingers, trying to figure out what to say next.

"Thank you for the breakfast, but...what are you doing here? And why are you wearing a suit? Not that you can't wear a suit! It's just...." I trailed off as a smirk formed on the corner of Damon's mouth. Nervously, I twirled my hair between my fingers.

"I wanted to check up on you before I went to work. I have a meeting and I'm required to wear a suit. It's frowned upon to wear jeans and a t-shirt."

"Where do you work?" I asked curiously.

"I'm the vice president of Monroe Protective Services," Damon answered and looked at me expectantly as if I knew the company he was talking about. I made a face. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Before I could ask, Damon spoke again.

"Besides, I still need to talk to you about last night, Flower," Damon explained as he turned his body to face me, looking at me intently. Flashes of last night went through my head and I knew what Damon was going to talk about based on his scowl.

"I don't want you to work at Elysium anymore," Damon started and continued before I could open my mouth to protest. "It isn't safe for you to be there. I can help you find another job."

"B-But," I sputtered and stood up, walking across the room in disbelief and anger. I tangled with the ends of my hair. "I need it to keep my apartment!"

"I'll help you find a better apartment. This area isn't safe and your apartment is a hazard!" Damon reasoned, though his tone was slightly off.

I tightened the grip on my hair. While his points made sense, I didn't want to leave this apartment unless it was on my terms. This place symbolized my survival and the fresh start that I'd worked hard for.

"I-I like it here. I am going to keep staying here," I said quietly, lacking the confidence I wished was in my voice.

Damon looked at me in disbelief as he gestured to the room mockingly. "You want to stay here with a shitty landlord that wants to take advantage of more than just your money? I don't think you're stupid enough to not notice."

I twisted my hair in distress. Damon gestured for me to come to him. Obediently, I stood in between his legs. Damon delicately removed my hands from my hair as he continued.

"Flower, I just want you to be safe. I'm only going to be worried if you stay here. I can tell you are uncomfortable and unhappy living here. Let me help you, Flower. Please," Damon said softly as he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

I felt myself slowly start to cave in. I had a feeling Damon asking for something wasn't a normal occurrence, let alone saying please. He was very demanding and always in control. And he was right, I didn't want to live here, even though this place held some importance to me.

Before I could come up with a solution, his phone rang. Damon cursed under his breath as he answered it.

"This better be good, Erik," Damon grumbled into the phone. A voice was talking on the other end and Damon's face went dark as the speaker kept talking. "I'll be there in five," Damon growled as he hung up without hearing the person's response.

He turned back to me and gave me a stiff smile.

"I have to head out, the meeting has been moved up," Damon said as he collected the bag and walked toward the door. I followed him as he faced me once more.

"I'll be back. Do you have any plans for today?" Damon said and I shook my head. "Good. Stay here and lock the door behind me, all right, Flower? Think about what I said." Damon opened the door to leave.

"But I have a shift tonight with Maria," I argued as I twisted my hair. Damon turned around and frowned at my hands, pulling them away from my head.

"We can discuss that more as well. I really need to go. Bye, Flower," Damon said as he brought my hand to his lips, pressing the back of it softly.

I nearly swooned at the action. Damon winked and closed the door behind him.

I locked the door, staring at my tingling hand and I had the stupid thought of never washing it again. I raised my other hand and gently slapped my cheek to snap out of it.

Get it together Rosaline! You're acting like...I don't even know at this point. It's just sad.

I ran to the bathroom and quickly washed my hand in hopes that the weird hormones would go down the drain with the soap and water. With no success, I took a shower to wake myself up even more.

Two hours later, I was looking at the ceiling with boredom. There wasn't anything to do in my room besides playing on my phone, but I quickly grew tired of it. I had no books and was too awake to take a nap.

After another half hour, I heard my phone beep. I opened up the message that was sent to Maria.

Maria: Hey Rosie! I need to talk to someone besides my husband. Want to come to my place for some wine? We can even watch a movie or something.

I contemplated the idea. I didn't really drink, but how could I pass up a chance to leave?

Damon told me to stay here, but I was going to lose it if I stayed here any longer. And if I was with Maria, it would be fine, right? Remembering the security guards that surrounded her, I knew that I would be temporarily safe.

Making a decision, I texted her for the address as I eagerly got ready to leave.

~*~

I gaped at the large mansion Maria called her home, miles away from the city. I got out of the taxi towards the black intricate gate in awe.

The modern mansion looked remarkable, three stories and the architecture polished, the lawn stretching for what seemed like miles. The exterior of the house was painted a neutral brown, giving some warmth to the house.

There was even a large fountain in the center of their lawn!

As I got closer, I noticed the number of guards and cameras that patrolled the area. Some men were carrying weapons. I gulped at the intimidating sight, reminded of the Men in Black. Reminding myself that they wouldn't harm me, I went towards a booth next to the gate. Two guards greeted me.

"Name?" one of the men asked. I tried not to shrink from their stares.

"Rosaline Sinclair. Maria invited me." I said. The man typed something in the booth before returning it to me.

"She's clear. Welcome, Ms. Sinclair," The man said and the other man pressed a button. Hearing a beep, I turned to see the gates slowly open to the property. Letting out a small thank you, I walked down the path to the mansion as the gates closed behind me.

I stopped at the large wooden door, ringing the doorbell and waited patiently.

The door swung open and Maria launched herself at me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Maria, I can't breathe!" I whined, but hugged her back.

"Finally, a fresh face! Entertain me." Maria dragged me inside. I barely had a chance to absorb my surroundings as she pulled me down a long hallway and into a small dining room.

I was shocked this room existed. This room had a more intimate feeling, the warm walls covered with pictures and paintings. There was a table that seated six people, a vase of daisies at the center.

"Your place is beautiful Maria," I said in awe. Maria smiled at my expression.

"This home was built by Xavier's father. Once he retired, he left the estate to us. There's a larger dining room, but I prefer this one. It's simple and warmer than some rooms in the house." Maria said casually as she grabbed wine glasses from a cupboard.

Also getting a bottle of wine, she poured it into the glasses before handing it to me.

We sat at the table, glasses untouched as we fell into conversation.

"Thank you for the invite. I was going crazy at my apartment." I said dramatically.

"I should thank you. I love Xavier, but sometimes he can be the biggest asshole on the planet. I needed someone else to talk to and you are on top of the list. We've got the whole place to ourselves," Maria winked at me.

I shyly smiled at her, happy she wanted to spend time with me.

"The only people I really have contact with are you and Damon. I saw him this morning when he brought me breakfast."

Maria's eyes widened comically as she leaned toward me in shock.

"You got Damon Cohen to make you breakfast–for no special occasion? I've asked him for years and he usually says no! You, Rosie, are a miracle worker. I'll have to invite myself when he bakes you something else," Maria said dreamily. I shook my head at her nonsense. Damon baked? I pictured Damon wearing an apron and baker's cap. The image seemed impossible.

"He bought the food and we're not dating. He was just checking up on me. There's nothing else to it." I insisted.

Maria rolled her eyes at my response.

"Honey, that's how it always starts. Just a simple checkup, then BAM!" she clapped her hands together for emphasis. "You will be walking down the aisle and I will be the maid of honor–well technically matron, but you get the point."

I looked at her incredulously and before I could somehow form some type of response, Maria continued.

"Don't worry though, that's not happening for a long while. Now, tell me how you like the place."

We continued talking about random subjects when I asked a question that had been bothering me for the last few hours.

"Maria, what is Monroe Protective Services? Damon said he was the vice president, but I can't recall the business. It's been on the top of my tongue all day!" I explained and Maria let out a laugh.

"Only you would forget about a well-known and international business, Rosie. And I won't comment on the fact that you didn't just look it up on your phone. MPS is one of the best security companies, my husband is the CEO," Maria cackled. "How did you not know about it?"

I gaped as recognition hit.

Monroe Protective Services was known for protecting civilians, even extending to national leaders. They also spent a fortune to help different charities and social issues. Damon was the vice president of that? No wonder he was overly protective, it was practically in his DNA.

I tried to fight the new surge of hope.

Can they help me? They had the resources...

As I gathered my thoughts, I saw Maria grab her glass and bring it to her lips. Before the liquid even moved, Maria pulled it away and slammed it on the table.

Maria gagged before she rushed out of the dining room. Worried, I quickly followed her down the hallways and found her in the bathroom.

Seeing the door partially open, I went in and pulled her hair back as she threw up in the toilet. I rubbed her back as Maria started dry heaving.

I grabbed a towel from the rack and put it under the sink to soak it in warm water. Squeezing the excess, I handed it to her when Maria pulled away from the toilet. She wiped her face and flushed the toilet.

"Sorry, the scent of the wine threw me off for a second. I've been feeling funky these last few days and I knew the wine was pushing it," Maria apologized. "I guess we are now closer than ever since you held my hair back. We have officially reached best friend status."

I smiled at her little joke.

"Hormones?" I asked, feeling a bit weird asking her a private question even though it was normal talking about the menstrual cycle.

"No, I haven't..." Maria trailed off before she pulled out her phone frantically. Hitting a few buttons she stared at the screen in shock.

"I'm late. I'm never late by more than a day or two. I'm over two weeks late!" Maria hissed and I gaped as it dawned on me what she insinuated.

Now on a mission, I opened up their large medicine cabinet and was mildly surprised to see almost every product I would find at any drugstore. I searched the shelves as Maria started hyperventilating. I needed a way to calm her down. I instructed her to take deep breaths, happy that Maria followed my instructions.

"When was the last time you did...the deed?" I whispered and Maria laughed weakly.

"You mean sex, Rosie? Very recently, and we've been doing it for a very long time." Maria said with a wink and my face flushed.

I finally found what I was looking for and pulled a pregnancy test from the cabinet and offered it to her. Any amusement Maria had earlier was gone, a scared look on her face as she shakily took it from me.

"Can you give me a moment? I'll call out when I'm done." Maria mumbled shakily and I nodded, closing the door behind me.

The thought of Maria being pregnant wasn't surreal to me. Even though I met her a few days ago, I knew she would be a great mother. The idea of meeting the new baby brought a small giggle from my lips.

The door flew open with a nervous-looking Maria.

"Done! I put a timer on my phone for three minutes," Maria whisper-shouted and pulled me back inside. I saw the test facing downward on the counter as Maria sat on the toilet seat.

Hopping onto the counter, I grabbed her hand in support. Maria gave me a grateful look, doubt and hope reflecting in her eyes.

We sat in silence, letting Maria process the turn of events. Time seemed to stop as the phone alert went off. Maria looked at me in panic.

"You look–no, I will–no, you!" Maria pointed at the test. I got off the counter and held her shoulders firmly to calm her down.

I understood how it felt having a panic attack and I wanted to soothe. It felt nice and strange being on the other end.

"Deep breaths. Do you want to look or do you want me to look?" I offered gently. Maria stared at me blankly before sighing.

"I'll do it. It's my possibly unborn child after all...I can do this." Maria took another deep breath before she straightened herself up and grabbed the test. Quickly, as to not lose her courage, she flipped it around and read the result.

Maria dropped the stick. My curiosity got the best of me as I picked it up and read it.