Page 17

SEVENTEEN

WILLOW

"Mama, I like your friend Rogue," Wren chirps happily. "He's fun! When can we see him again?"

I force a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. "Soon, Little Bird."

The truth is, I'm torn. Watching Rogue interact with Wren was both heartwarming and terrifying. He was so gentle with her, so attentive. It was a side of him I'd almost forgotten existed. But the memory of his betrayal still stings, making it hard to fully trust his intentions.

That night, after Wren is tucked in bed, I sink onto the couch, my head in my hands. The feel of Rogue's lips on my cheek lingers, along with the familiar scent of him that brought back a flood of memories.

"Little Flower," he'd called me. The old nickname sent a jolt through my heart that I wasn't expecting.

I grab my phone, needing to talk to someone who understands.

"How did it go?" Natalia asks as soon as she picks up.

I sigh heavily. "It was... complicated. Wren loved him, of course. And he was great with her. But, Nat, seeing them together... it brought up so many feelings I thought I'd dealt with."

"Oh, Will," Natalia says softly. "That's understandable. It's a big step, letting him into your lives."

"I know," I reply. "And part of me wants to believe he's changed, that he could be good for Wren. But another part is screaming to run, to protect us both from getting hurt again."

"What does your heart tell you?" Natalia asks gently.

I pause, considering her question. "I don't know," I admit finally. "I'm scared, Nat. Scared of trusting him, scared of denying Wren a chance to know her father. I just don't know what the right thing to do is."

"Maybe there isn't a 'right' thing," Natalia suggests. "Maybe it's about finding a balance, taking it slow, and seeing how things develop."

I nod, even though she can't see me. "You're probably right. I just... I need to be careful. For both our sakes."

After we hang up, I find myself staring at the few photos I have of Rogue and me from before everything fell apart. We looked so happy, so in love. Could we ever find our way back to something like that? Do I even want to?

As I get ready for bed, I make a decision. I'll continue to let Rogue see Wren, but under strict supervision. I need to see that he's truly changed before I can even consider letting him have a bigger role in our lives.

It’s been a month since Rogue met Wren and he’s been great. Each time, Wren's face lights up when she sees him, and it both warms my heart and terrifies me. It started with visits at the playground or soft play, I didn’t want him knowing my address —the place that is mine and Wren’s sanctuary—But it wasn’t always feasible to go, so now we’ve moved to having the visits at my home.

Rogue is always respectful of the boundaries I've set. He never pushes for more time or tries to explain to Wren who he really is. But I catch him looking at me sometimes, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and regret that makes my heart ache.

I’m sitting on the sofa watching Wren show Rogue her latest art project when she suddenly asks, "Rogue, do you have any kids?"

The question catches us both off guard. Rogue's eyes meet mine, silently asking for guidance. I give a small nod, curious to hear his response.

Rogue kneels down to Wren's level, his voice gentle. "I do have a daughter," he says softly. "She's about your age, actually."

Wren's eyes widen with interest. "Really? What's her name? Does she like to draw too?"

I see Rogue swallow hard before answering. "Her name is Wren," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "And yes, she loves to draw. She's very talented, just like you."

Wren doesn't seem to notice the significance of his words, but I feel my breath catch in my throat. The way Rogue looks at our daughter, full of love and pride, makes something shift inside me.

Later, after Wren has gone to bed, Rogue lingers at the door. "Thank you," he says quietly. "For letting me be a part of her life, even if she doesn't know who I really am yet."

I nod, unable to find words. Rogue steps closer, his hand reaching out as if to touch my face, before he catches himself and lets it fall back to his side.

"Little Flower," he says softly, "I know I have no right to ask this, but... is there any chance for us? To try again, I mean?"

I look up at him, seeing the hope and fear warring in his eyes. Part of me wants to say yes, to fall back into the comfort of his arms. But the scars from our past are still too fresh.

"I don't know, Rogue," I whisper honestly. "I'm not ready for that. Not yet."

He nods, disappointment flashing across his face before he schools his expression. "I understand," he says softly. "I know I have a lot to make up for. I just want you to know that I'm here, Willow. For both of you. Whatever you need."

I feel tears pricking at my eyes and blink them back. "Thank you," I manage to say. "For being so good with Wren. She really enjoys spending time with you."

A small smile tugs at Rogue's lips. "She's amazing. You've done an incredible job with her, Willow. I'm in awe of you both."

His words warm something inside me, but I'm not ready to examine that feeling too closely. Instead, I just nod. "Goodnight, Rogue," I say, my hand on the doorknob.

He takes a step back, respecting my space. "Goodnight, Little Flower," he says softly. "I'll see you next week?"

"Next week," I confirm.

As I close the door behind him, I lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. My emotions are a tangled mess. Seeing Rogue with Wren, watching their bond grow, it's stirring up feelings I thought I'd buried long ago.

But can I really trust him again? Can I let myself be vulnerable with the man who once broke my heart so thoroughly?

I don't have answers to these questions yet. All I know is that for Wren's sake, and maybe for my own, I need to keep moving forward. One day at a time, one visit at a time.

As I get ready for bed, I find myself smiling at the memory of Wren and Rogue coloring together, their heads bent close as they worked on their masterpiece. Despite all my fears and reservations, I can't deny the joy it brings me to see my daughter bonding with her father.

Maybe, just maybe, there's hope for us yet. Not as a couple, not yet anyway, but as a family. It's a scary thought, but also an exciting one.

As I drift off to sleep, I allow myself to imagine a future where we're all together—Wren, Rogue, and me. It's a bittersweet dream, filled with both hope and trepidation. But for the first time in years, it doesn't feel completely out of reach.

I'm back in that dark, horrific room. I can feel the rough rope biting into my wrists; smell the metallic tang of blood in the air.

Storm looms over me, his face twisted in a cruel sneer. "Tell us what you know about the Hawks," he growls.

"I don't know anything," I sob, my voice raw from screaming. "Please, I swear I'm telling the truth."

The first blow lands on my ribs, knocking the wind out of me. I gasp for air, tears streaming down my face. Through blurry eyes, I see Rogue standing in the corner, his face etched with pain.

I see conflict raging in Rogue's eyes. His fists are clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with tension. He takes a half-step forward before Ghost stops him.

"Stop lying," Storm snarls. "You're lying, girl. Tell me the truth."

I watch as Rogue's Adam’s apple bobs, swallowing hard. His eyes meet mine, and I see a world of pain and regret in them.

“I’m not lying,” I plead with him.

"Shut up," Storm snaps.

Another blow lands on my body, and I cry out in pain. Through the haze of agony, I see Rogue flinch, as if he's the one being hit. His eyes never leave mine, silently pleading for forgiveness.

I wake with a gasp, my heart pounding and my body drenched in sweat. The dream felt so real, so vivid. I can still feel the phantom pain of the blows; still see the torment in Rogue's eyes.

I sit up, drawing my knees to my chest as I try to slow my breathing. This dream was different from the nightmares I've had before. For the first time, I saw the conflict in Rogue, the pain it caused him to watch me suffer.

It doesn't excuse what he did, or rather, what he failed to do. But it adds a layer of complexity to my memories that I'm not sure how to process.

I glance at the clock. It’s three a.m. I know I won't be able to get back to sleep, not with these images fresh in my mind. Quietly, so as not to wake Wren, I slip out of bed and pad to the kitchen.

Since finding out that Natalia was dating Ghost, the nightmares have been back. Every night they hit me. I haven’t slept through the night since then.

As I wait for the kettle to boil for some chamomile tea, I find myself reaching for my phone. Before I can talk myself out of it, I'm dialing Rogue's number. It rings several times before he picks up, his voice rough with sleep.

"Willow?" He sounds concerned. "Is everything okay? Is Wren alright?"

"She's fine," I assure him quickly. "I just... I had a nightmare. About that night."

There's a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "Fuck, Little Flower," he says softly, the old nickname slipping out. "I'm sorry. Christ, I’m so fucking sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"

I hesitate, unsure of how to explain. "It was different this time," I say slowly. "I saw... I saw you. The pain in your eyes as you watched. The conflict."

Rogue is silent for a long moment. When he speaks again, his voice is thick with emotion. "It killed me to see you hurting, Willow. I wanted to stop it, to protect you. But I was too much of a coward. Too afraid to go against Storm and the club."

His words bring tears to my eyes. "Why didn't you believe me?" I whisper, voicing the question that's haunted me for years.

I hear Rogue sigh heavily. "I was stupid," he admits. "I let my loyalty to the club cloud my judgment. I convinced myself that you must be lying, because the alternative—that Storm was torturing an innocent woman—was too horrible to contemplate. You said you had a sister, but Storm had people look into you and there was no mention of one. But deep down, I think I knew you were telling the truth. I just couldn't bring myself to face it."

His honesty is both painful and oddly comforting. For the first time, I feel like I'm getting a real explanation for what happened that night.

"I've regretted it every day since," Rogue continues. "Letting you down, failing to protect you... it's the biggest mistake I've ever made. And I know saying sorry doesn't fix anything, but I am sorry, Willow. More than you can ever know. I wanted to find you. Right away, I wanted to go to you, but I listened to my brothers and stayed away. That’s the second biggest regret of my life, Little Flower."

I wipe away the tears that have started to fall. "Thank you for telling me that," I say softly. "It doesn't change what happened, but... it helps to understand."

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our shared past hanging between us. Finally, Rogue speaks again.

"Can I ask you something, Little Flower?"

"Go ahead," I say, my heart racing at the tenderness in his voice.

"Do you think... Do you think you could ever forgive me? Not forget. I know that's impossible. But forgive?"

I close my eyes, considering his question. Can I forgive him? After everything that happened; all the pain and fear I've lived with for years?

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "I want to. For Wren's sake, and maybe for my own. But it's not easy."

"I understand," Rogue says, his voice gentle. "I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you, if you'll let me. Not just for Wren, but for you too, Willow. I never stopped loving you."

His words hit me like a physical blow, stirring up emotions I've tried so hard to bury. "Rogue..." I start, but trail off, unsure of what to say.

"You don't have to say anything," he assures me quickly. "I know it's not fair of me to dump this on you. I just... I needed you to know. I love you, Little Flower. I always have, and I always will. Even if you can never forgive me, even if we can never be more than co-parents to Wren, that won't change."

I feel tears sliding down my cheeks. Part of me wants to tell him I love him too, that I never stopped. But I'm not ready for that. Not yet.

"I can't... I'm not ready to talk about that," I say softly. "It's too much right now."

"I understand," Rogue says, and I can hear the mixture of disappointment and acceptance in his voice. "Take all the time you need, Willow. I'm not going anywhere."

We fall into silence again, but it's not uncomfortable. There's a sense of something having shifted between us; a new understanding.

"Thank you for listening," I say finally. "For explaining. It... it helps."

"Anytime, Little Flower," Rogue replies softly. "Day or night, I'm here if you need me. For anything."

As we say goodnight and hang up, I feel a strange mixture of emotions. The nightmare left me shaken, but talking to Rogue has brought a sense of calm I wasn't expecting. For the first time in years, I feel like I'm starting to understand what happened that night, to see it from all angles.

It doesn't erase the pain or fear, but it does make it feel less overwhelming. And Rogue's words, his declaration of love... it stirs something in me that I thought was long dead.

As I sip my now-cold tea, I realize that forgiving Rogue isn't just about him, or even about Wren. It's about me, too. It’s about letting go of the anger and fear that have been my constant companions for so long.

I'm not ready to forgive him fully, not yet. But for the first time, I can see a path forward. A way to heal. Not just for Wren's sake, but for my own.