Page 59 of Rogue’s Reckoning

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 andreservations, 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 backin 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 slippingout. "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."

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