Chapter Text
Chapter Ten
Gwen had just finished hugging Carter and Drake goodbye. Her week was finally up and here she was standing in the airport outside her gate saying goodbye to her family. She could feel the tears welling up inside her, but she knew that it would set Carter off if she let them show.
Gwen slowly lowered Drake into his pram, buckling him in. She stood up and looked at Blake. It felt like she was losing Cleo all over again. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Blake and felt him hug her back. His warmth and tight grip comforting. She lifted her head and looked in to Blake’s eyes. Standing on her toes she brushed her lips against his; not waiting for his response before pulling away and grabbing her rucksack. Hugging Carter one last time before she left.
Gwen, quickly turned on her heel as she disappeared down the gate. As she boarded the plane she unhooked her back from her shoulders. Just as she was about to put it on the overhead carry station a gentleman took the bag from her hand and placed it up effortlessly. Gwen gave the man a shy smile and mumbled a thank you before taking a seat. Her eyes were trained on the ground as the plane took off.
It had been two days since Gwen left. Blake was still feeling slightly numb from Gwen leaving and his mind was on overload from the kiss that happened. How was he meant to react? Should he have grabbed her and kissed her back like in the movies? However, it was too late to change history now.
Blake was dragged out of his thoughts when Carter jumped into the truck.
“Hey Bud, how was school?”
“Same as yesterday and the day before that and the day before that” Carter replied.
“Well, there’s only a few more years left” Blake joked.
“That’s not funny uncle Blake.”
“I thought it was.” Blake replied, putting the truck in gear.
The trio had just got home. Blake had sat Drake on the floor with his toys while Carter sat at the table in the kitchen doing his homework. Blake was about to get started on dinner when his phone vibrated.
How are they boys? Gx
Missing you Bx
I miss them too Gx
When are they next going see you? Bx
Carter’s birthday? Gx
Deal Bx
Three weeks and Blake was going to see Gwen. It felt like an eternity.
The wind was blowing through Blake’s curled hair as he galloped after Gwen, Pirate was at full speed yet he was still unable to catch up Gwen who was riding her own brown mare, Halo. She was laughing loud as she rode into the sunset. Her hair glistening in the early evening sun. Blake finally caught up to her, and he couldn’t stop staring into her eyes. Her chocolate orbs, showing nothing but happiness as she leant in to kiss him. Their lips were millimetres apart. Just as they were about to kiss Blake woke up to the sound of crying.
Blake was a bit shocked when he saw that it was Carter crying and not Drake. Blake ran into Carter’s room. Carter was curled up in his bed shaking. As Blake got closer he could see marks on the young boy’s face. Blake turned on the lamp on the bedside table and saw a small pile of vomit on the bed and small red dots on his face. Chicken pox and a sickness bug, all Blake needed.
His first sickness and Gwen wasn’t here to help him.
Blake started to strip Carter down making sure the vomit on his shirt didn’t get his face or hair. He through it in the corner of the room and took Carter to the bathroom down the hall, whilst starting the bath. Blake headed back to Carter’s room and started to strip the bed, checking on Carter as he went to get a bucket and scrubbing brush.
Once Carter’s room was clean Blake, helped the small boy into the bath and quickly rinsed him down, wrapping him in a fluffy towel before getting him changed into his pyjamas.
“Uncle Blake, I want Auntie Gwen.” Carted admitted, sounding deflated.
“I know Bud, me too.” Blake said leading Carter back to his room.
Just as Blake was about to climb into bed with Carter, Drake began crying, ready for his night bottle. Sighing Blake went to get the youngest member of the Shelton family. Drake quietened down once Blake scooped him up and started to gently rock him.
“I know baby, I know, you’re hungry.” Blake whispered as he went into the kitchen.
Blake was waiting for the bottle to warm up when he thought of sending a text to Gwen.
Hey, it’s me… Carter’s ill, he has a case of chicken pox. I’ll let you know when he’s better. Bx
Blake pocketed his phone and got settled on the couch with Drake and his bottle. Drake dosed off half way through his bottle and Blake didn’t want to move. His mind went back to his dream. Lately, Gwen had been occupying all of his dreams, but this one felt real there was something about his dreams that called to his heart.
Blake put Drake back in his cot and slowly shut the door as he headed into his room to find Carter spread out fast asleep. Carefully manoeuvring his body Blake slid into bed; groaning when he saw it was past five on his alarm clock.
Blake slammed his hand down on his alarm clock as it rang out at seven. He begrudgingly climbed out of bed and started getting ready for the day. He finished getting dressed and was greeted by a smiling Drake. After changing the baby, he took him downstairs to get some breakfast while letting Carter sleep.
It had been three days since Carter got ill, he was no longer throwing up but he was constantly itching his spots. Blake at one point ended up putting oven mits on his hands to prevent him from opening the spots. He hadn’t heard anything from Gwen and he was starting to get worried. She always texts him back, especially if it was about the boys.
Blake shot off another text just in case they weren’t sending but once he saw that it was read straight away and that she didn’t reply, he knew something was wrong. Blake called Gwen and it went straight to voicemail. Anger and frustration went through him as he realised he couldn’t get to her with Carter being sick and her living in a different state.
Carter was finally getting better and all the time they had spent together had brought Blake and him closer together. Blake finally felt like things were starting to work out, now all he needed was to know Gwen was okay.
“Uncle Blake, can I call Auntie Gwen?” Carter asked as he joined Blake on the couch.
“Urm sure Bud, she might be working though, so she might not be able to answer.”
“Okay… But we can still try?”
“Of course.”
Blake pulled out his phone and started facetiming Gwen. He handed the phone over to Gwen but when it kept ringing and ringing Blake looked apologetically at Carter.
“I’m sorry Carter.”
“It’s okay Uncle Blake.” Carter sighed.
“I’ll figure something out Carter, why don’t you go get ready for bed? I’ll be in, in a second.”
Blake looked at his lock screen on his phone, it was a photo of Gwen and the boys from the day they spent at the park. He let out a loud sigh. Something was going on with Gwen and he was going to get to the bottom, of this.
The next morning Blake packed up a suitcase for himself, Carter, and Drake. He rounded the boys up and began driving out of town.
“Uncle Blake? Where are we going?” Carter asked from his spot in the front seat.
“We’re going to get Auntie Gwen back.” Blake replied.
“But I thought she wasn’t staying? I’m hoping to fix my mistake. Your Mommy and Daddy knew what they were doing when they brought Auntie Gwen into my life.”
The rest of the ride was silent until they arrived the airport. Blake and Drake shared a seat whilst Carter was sat next to Blake gazing out of the window. Blake kept going over what he was going to say to Gwen in his head, yet somehow it all felt wrong. Heck he didn’t even know if she felt the same way.
Instead of going straight to Gwen’s, Blake decided it was probably better to head to a hotel first and get settled as best they could. Drake had a nap while Carter watched a bit of TV and Blake thought of a plan.
It was late afternoon when Gwen heard a knock at the door. Her body tensed at the thought of who it could be. Somewhere deep in her fantasies she hoped it was Blake. Her knight in shining armour. But she knew he wouldn’t be able to save her. He was probably busy on his ranch while Carter was at school.
Instead of being with them she was stuck in her apartment with a lunatic. Not long after she got back from Oklahoma, Gavin began banging on her door. Ready to tell him once and for all that she wasn’t his and that she didn’t love him she opened the door. She has never regretted anything more in her life.
The banging continued and Gavin was beginning to get frustrated. He came into the room and took one look at Gwen cowering before grabbing her arm and pushing her towards the door. Gwen was shaking violently. She had no idea who would come and see her and if they saw the state she was in she knew they would ask questions and Gavin would take his anger out on her again. Gwen took a shaky breath as she pulled the door open a crack.
Gwen gasped aloud as she saw Blake, Carter and Drake stood in the doorway.
“Blake? Carter, Drake? What are you guys doing here?” Gwen asked truly shocked.
“I was an idiot to let you go. I should have asked you to stay with me at the ranch. I never wanted you to leave. None of us did…”
“Blake” Gwen murmured as Gavin linked his arm tightly around Gwen.
Blake watched as she paled and noticed her hair hanging in her face.
“Who do we have here darling?”
“Urm, this is Cleo’s brother-in-law and her sons. Blake this is Gavin.”
Blake knew what was off.
“We best get going. We just came to check on you before we went to the park.” Blake lied.
Gwen nodded as Gavin turned to leave, pulling Gwen with him. Carter looked up at Blake confused, but Blake led him away from the flat. Blake looked at Gwen and winked before leaving.
Gwen looked at Gavin and felt anger rising in her. He’d barged into her apartment and taken her mobile phone and cut her off from the world, and when he got angry he took it out on Gwen. Her body full of dark, evil bruises. She would be wearing jumpers for a while. All because Gavin was stronger than her and he knew the right things to say.
Blake winking at her gave her hope, she just hoped she could last until he came to save her.
Anger was bubbling in Blake’s veins. Gavin had hit Gwen, he saw the way she was shaking the bruise on her wrist looked exactly like a hand print. He needed to get her out and fast.
The next morning, Blake arranged for a babysitter for the boys. He grabbed his wallet and phone and kissed the boys goodbye. Today he was going to get the love of his life.
Blake arrived at Gwen’s door and began banging on the door like it was a drum.
“Blake what are you doing here? Where’s Carter and Drake?” Gwen asked, her voice panicky.
“They’re with a babysitter. Gwen, you need to come with me.”
“I can’t Blake. Gavin will be back soon.”
“You aren’t coming back here. Get your things.”
“Blake!” Gwen whined.
She didn’t know what to do. She was terrified of Gavin, but Blake offered her hope. She followed Blake back into the apartment and joined him in manically packing her stuff away. Blake had to stop half way through, a searing pain in her ribs.
“Gwen?”
“It’s fine… Just keep packing” Gwen replied pulling herself up and slowly putting things in the bag.
Blake gently moved Gwen aside and let her sit down while he completed the last of the packing. He would look at her ribs later.
Blake had just loaded the last of Gwen’s bags into the cab when he saw Gavin coming down the street. Without a second thought Blake ran upstairs and ushered Gwen down quickly. Gwen stopped on the stairs clutching her side. Blake couldn’t wait for Gwen, he grabbed her legs and swung her into a bridal hold. He continued down the rest of the stairs before walking with Gwen straight to the waiting cab. He helped her in and gave the taxi driver the hotel he was staying at. The cab drove off just as Gavin entered the flat.
Gwen was leant against Blake’s side and the cab drove them to the hotel. Once they arrived the valet started taking Gwen’s things to Blake’s room while Blake, guided Gwen to his room.
The babysitter was sat with Carter reading a book when the couple entered the room. Carter ran towards Gwen throwing his small body around Gwen, who let out a loud gasp at the contact. Blake raised an eyebrow at Gwen before getting Carter to go back to playing with Kayla, the babysitter.
Blake led Gwen into his bedroom and sat on the bed. Gwen stood in the centre of the room like a naughty school girl.
“Gwen… Let me see.” Blake whispered, not able to look at Gwen.
“Blake…”
“Gwen, I need to see.”
Without another word Gwen slowly began pulling her t-shirt up. Wincing when her arm was above her head. She froze when she saw Blake’s face. He looked like he was in pain just from seeing the marks on her body.
“No one will ever lay a finger on you again!” Blake stated as he stood up and walked towards Gwen.
He cautiously opened his arms and Gwen stepped into them, burying her head in his shoulder as she let tears of relief flow down her cheeks.
“Richie and Cleo lead me to the love of my life, and they probably already knew what was going to happen with us.”
“I love you too Blake” Gwen whispered into his shoulder.
“You’re safe now” Blake whispered back.
Blake placed a gentle kiss on her head.
He finally had a family of his own.