Brian’s POV

It was a beautiful day outside and I was just getting ready for beach day with the guys and girls and of course our babies. I couldn’t wait to show of my son again. Jamie was so clever and so incredibly funny. Together with River, he was such a delight to have around. However, Michelle had taken him on a short trip to see some of her relatives, which means that I haven’t seen him in over three days now. It was weird but I had to admit to myself that I missed having this little guy around.
Michelle and Jamie were still living with me. We were getting along very well and it helped me a lot, knowing that someone was home and actually waiting for me. It’s been so long now that I have heard from Katie, that my hopes of seeing her again and making amends were slowly decreasing with every morning I woke up to her empty bedside. It seemed like she didn’t want to be with me anymore; that she had given up. Not one of us has heard from her. Not Val and not Zacky, who Katie used to be so close with. I had even called Elly to ask her if she had any news from her best friend but instead she was very surprised about Katie being back in Germany. Apparently the girls hadn’t had contact in a long time. With all the shit happening between us Katie had completely isolated herself from her friends. That wasn’t like her at all.
Maybe she has gone home, now that she was back in her home country. Maybe she and Jordan hit it off in the end and she was just too much of a coward to actually break up with me. As far as I remembered we were only on a break … which was just as good as a break up …
I splashed cold water in my face and looked at my reflection in the mirror in the bathroom. I had to snap out of this. Those depressing thoughts weren’t helping anyone. I had to be strong for my son. And for myself. I was sick of being seen as the weak cry baby. They didn’t say it out loud but I saw it in my friends’ eyes; whenever we hung out and Val kissed Matt or Kim cuddled to Arin. They pitied me. But not anymore.
With a determination of being a real man and role model again I did my hair and buttoned up the white shirt I was wearing along with cut jean shorts. I went downstairs, grabbed my sunglasses and rucksack with my beach stuff in it and with Pinkly on my heels I left my house.

I parked my car in safe distance to the pier; it was nearly impossible to get a parking spot close to it anyways. We were all meeting at our favorite ice cream parlor and I couldn’t wait to introduce River to the best chocolate ice cream with chocolate bits in it ever. Jamie was too small to eat ice cream yet but it would be fun nevertheless.
With my sunglasses on I smiled up to the blue sky, enjoying the warm sun on my face. I loved Huntington Beach so much. This town was heaven on earth. I would never leave it. It was my home.
Soon I reached the ice cream parlor and spotted Matt, Val, River and Zacky and Allie standing in line. But where was Michelle and my baby boy?
“Hey guys, I hope you left some ice cream for me.” I said with a smile and they all turned around.
“Uncle Bri!” River squealed and let go of his mother’s hand to run towards me.
“Hey big guy.” I smiled as I picked him up, “Have you picked a flavor?” I pointed at the huge display but he shook his head no.
“He’s probably having what everybody picks.” Val chuckled while she gave me a hug.
“You have a very wise child then.” I grinned at her as I greeted Matt who took over his son. With my arms empty again I really missed having Jamie here. But when I greeted Zacky and his girl I was able to successfully hide that fact. Allie wasn’t a big supporter of Michelle being back in my life AND my house and the last thing I needed right now was a snappy comment from her.
“Johnny and Lacey are on their way from his cousin’s wedding and Arin is picking Kim up from visiting her grandma. They will all meet us at the beach.” Val smiled as we all occupied a table at the windows.
“Nice, I can’t wait for beach day!” Zacky threw his arms in the air, having his ice cream rain over us all. However, only River found it funny enough. Allie punched his arm, making me laugh at his face.
“And what about Michelle?” My eyebrows shot up when Zacky’s girlfriend asked this question.
“Excellent question. She wanted to meet us here actually.” Val frowned and handed her son over to Matt who put him on his lap and helped him with his ice cream. I tried to contain my excitement and focused on my cup with Katie’s and my favorite flavor. My sub conscience was bringing her up in the weirdest moments. Even now.
I was looking out of the window, having the flavors of chocolate and strawberry filling my mouth when I watched a cab parking a few feet away across the street. A girl with red hair that fell down past her shoulders climbed out and shot a dazzling smile to the driver.
I didn’t even notice that I dropped the small plastic spoon to the ground and that my shoe crushed it as I hurried out of the building.



Katie’s POV

“Thanks, Jay. For everything.” I smiled at the cab driver as I handed him all the money I could find in my purse. But he pushed my hand away gently.
“It’s ok, Missy. You needed to get away from that guy. Just stay safe ok? The police station is right around that corner back there.” He pointed somewhere behind him.
“Ok, thank you … again. Drive safe.” I closed the door and stepped away from the car. I waved Jay goodbye and then had a look around.
Great. So this was Huntington Beach. It was nice and – oh what a surprise – close to the sea. Seeing the water line at the far end of the street made me smile. This place seemed too perfect to be real. But where should I start? I knew that Jeremy wasn’t my boyfriend; that in fact this Brian-guy was. But I only knew his first name and nothing else. Maybe coming here without someone who knew my past was a mistake. Maybe I should have talked to Jeremy instead of running away from him.
“God, Katie, you really are a blonde.” I groaned and looked up to the blue sky. It was so beautiful, so endless and the warm rays of the sun warmed my pale skin. With a sigh I looked down to letter in my left hand.
“Where are you, Brian?” I mumbled.
“I’m right here, baby girl.” I jumped when the familiar voice spoke to me from behind. With cold shivers running down my back I turned around, only to look at the broad manly chest, covered by a white button down shirt. My throat was dry as the Sahara and my heart was racing as my eyes darted up to his face. I knew this voice. It echoed through my every bone.
His chocolate brown eyes were filled with disbelief and pain. His lips were pressed together as if he was holding back a scream. His hair was shorter, his sides unshaved. But he was just as handsome and glorious as in my dreams. It was him. It was truly him.
I couldn’t move though. Seeing him, in the flesh, was such a shock. My heart was sprinting and my brain was working so hard to find his face in my memories. But it was gone. All of it. Knowing that this man in front of me was a part of me that I couldn’t remember at all made me want to cry my heart out. I looked at him with teary eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” I whispered and that’s when he woke up from his trance. He came closer and pulled me into the tightest hug. His broad tattooed arms held me close to his warm chest and his head rested on top of mine. I could feel his racing heartbeat on my cheek.
He was shaking like a leaf and his arms kept tightening around me but I didn’t care. I had no need for oxygen because I was back where I belonged. My heart was dancing happily, telling me that I was home. He was my air, my sun, my world. I wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes tightly to block out the cruel reality.


Brian’s POV

She was back. She really was back. My Katie was finally where she belonged. In my arms. God, I was ready to cry like a little boy.
At first I didn’t believe my eyes. This girl climbing out of the cab was too skinny, too pale and her fading red hair was too long. But my heart was telling me that it was my angel, the love of my life. Ignoring my friends I had rushed out of the ice cream shop and crossed the street behind the cab. I had listened to her talking but when I noticed the purple letter in my own handwriting in her hands I knew for sure that it was my Katie.
Now that I was holding her as close as I could I noticed the many changes about her which made me so incredibly sad: Her skin was cold and not as soft as it used to be. Her hair had lost its shiny health. But feeling almost every bone of her body was freaking me out. She had lost so much weight.
So many questions were running through my head. So many why’s and what’s and how’s. But I knew in my heart that she needed time. I would make sure that we had that. Everything else had lost its meaning to me now that I had my girl back. I wanted her to be ok first before we could start working on our relationship. She was my first priority now.
I kissed her temple and inhaled her fair scent that I had missed so much. I was so endlessly grateful that God or whatever brought her back into my arms. This was a chance that I wouldn’t blow. Or my name wouldn’t be Synyster Gates anymore.
Reluctantly I loosened my embrace and let my hands run up her boney shoulders up to her cheeks. I looked down into those beautiful blue eyes that I had missed so incredibly much. They had lost their spark of life but I was determined to get it back for her. Nothing could take her away from me ever again. Nothing …

Notes

My dear fans,
Thank you for sticking with me so long. So, here is the new chapter - a day later as originally promised.
However, I did an important change in here. As I'm editing the first two books I changed a few characters. Instead of Lindsay we have Allie now as Zacky's girlfriend in this story. And yes, it's because of personal reasons.
But I hope you enjoy this chapter the ones to follow. I try to update once a week.
Thank you for reading!

Love yous!!!