Chris and Hazel

'When will you be back?' Hazel asked talking over the phone as she pranced around in the veranda outside the house.

'Tomorrow morning' Charlotte mumbled slowly, it almost seemed that she was hiding and talking.

'Why are you mumbling?' Hazel asked confused by the way Charlotte kept answering her questions.

'I am kinda outside, Haze. I will call you later' she responded quickly disconnecting the call within Hazel could speak up.

'That was weird' Hazel thought to herself as she turned back to enter the house but stopped when she heard the gate open. She saw Chris and Ed driving into the driveway in their car.

'Where were you guys?' she asked going up to them as they got down from the car.

'Hazel, I need a favor' Chris said looking at her, ignoring her previous question.

'What is it?' she asked turning serious from his reaction.

'I want you to stay in your room for at least half an hour' he pleaded, hoping that she wouldn't object.

'It's a weird request but okay!' she accepted not knowing what else to say.

'Thank you, come on, Ed! Let's go!' he said suddenly brightening up from her response as he dragged Ed inside.

'Chris…' she tried calling out but he was already near the entrance.

'Though he seemed to be in a hurry, I think it must be something important, but what is it?' she wondered as she entered the house walking towards her room.

'Ok Ed, the moment has come. We need to stay strong' Chris said taking a deep breath as they reached the living room.

Ed nodded at Chris in acceptance as he took some deep breaths too to calm himself.

'Just a second, I will just peek inside to see what mood they are in so that we can prepare accordingly' Chris said closing in towards the door slightly taking a peek inside.

'Bad…it's bad!' he said shaking his head resentfully facing Ed.

'Are they angry?' Ed asked his face clouded with anxiety.

'No…I mean yes!' Chris answered moving away letting Ed take a peek.

'Dude, what's wrong with you today? They both are laughing' Ed frowned looking back at his friend.

'He looked grumpy to be' Chris defended looking blankly at him.

'Their faces were created that way' Ed told him trying to calm down his racing heart.

'Shall we?' Ed asked tilting his head to the right looking at Chris.

'I don't know…I was never this nervous in my life' Chris replied as he walked around in circles out of nervousness.

'We can do this, if they tend to get angry then I have a plan' Ed said reassuring Chris.

'Really…? What is it?' Chris asked stopping to hear his plan.

'We will run away' he answered proudly.

'...Sounds good to me, let's go!' Chris said accepting is best friend's plan as it seemed the only possible and practical outcome for the situation.

'Mr. Steve?' Ed called out entering the room as Chris followed right behind him.

'…Edward? Finally you got the guts to show up' John Steve answered looking at Ed smiling but it was obvious that he wasn't happy to see him.

'Yours is better Mr. Steve, he disappeared for just a few hours but mine did for six years' Richard answered looking up at Chris lethargically.

'Mr. White, I need to talk to you' Chris said as his face got clouded with distress.

The pain in his eyes was explicit to the other three present in the room with him.

'I will let you two talk; John. I am leaving with Mr. Christopher Finch who's here to give an explanation…and I hope it is for that, right?' he asked raising a brow at him in question.

'Yeah' Chris said nodding at him avoiding eye contact.

'Behind you' he said getting up showing Chris towards the door.

Chris slowly nodded and made his way towards the door as Mr. White followed him outside.

'You, talk!' John said pointing his finger towards Ed who was staring back at the door that is friend just walked out of.

'Well Mr. Steve, why don't you like me?' Ed asked gathering all the courage left within him.

'I know you don't like me' Chris said as he took Richard White to the driveway.

'Why are we here?' Richard asked puzzled as Chris unlocked the car.

'I was just hoping that we could talk while going for a ride, driving helps me calm down' Chris replied as he opened the passenger seat for Richard.

'Funny! Hazel does the same thing too but only after she joined college' Richard told getting inside the car.

'I know! It helps her calm down especially when she's angry' Chris said as he closed the door for him smiling.

'So, I am guessing you taught her that?' Richard questioned after Chris climbed into the driver seat, starting the car.

'…Yeah!' Chris accepted driving out from the driveway as his heartbeat rate kept increasing due to anxiousness.

'Well, tell me how long have you been dating my daughter?' John asked moving aside to let Ed sit beside him.

'A few months' Ed answered as he settled down beside him.

'A few months…? And now you want to marry her? I might be getting old but I still didn't go insane enough to not know it is way too early' John said as his anger reached its peak.

'I know…it's too soon but I don't have any other choice. I have to take over my family business soon, I am already 28 and my parents want me to get married before I take upon my responsibilities…and when I think about getting married to someone, all I can think of is Ava and no one else' he answered firmly.

He wasn't afraid anymore because he knew he was talking the truth and he had no reason to be nervous. Let people think that he is rushing with his relationship and let them presume that he is taking a big decision in a short time but he knows his love for Ava and moreover Ava understands...and that's enough for him.

'Well initially I just wanted to introduce her to my parents but since I will have to take on the companies…everything is happening too fast though I don't want it that way...and one more thing…I have loved Ava for two years so please…you can tell me that I am not good enough or am not good looking or anything that you don't like about me but just don't…don't ever insult my love for your daughter' Ed finished looking up his father-in-law…well future father-in-law.

'I don't like you' Richard said as Chris kept driving the car through the city.

'I know…and I know the reason too' Chris said accepting his hatred.

'Why did you hurt her like that? All she did was love you, you moron!' Hazel's father shouted glaring at Chris.

Chris could just feel the heated gaze of Richard on him.

'I didn't mean to…I was just…protecting her' Chris spoke out swallowing the last part of his sentence.

'You have every right to be angry on me Mr. White' Chris said completely changing the sentence.

'You have no idea…how much she went through all these years. It was so hurting to look at my baby girl like that' Richard said heartbroken.

'Mr. White…' Chris started.

'Just tell me why?' Richard asked interrupting him.

'I had to…I had no other choice' Chris answered his voice drowning again.

'Really…? Did you even think about my daughter at least once in the past?' He asked as he grew more irritated with Chris by his side.

'Why? Just why can't you people understand?' Chris screamed stopping the car midway right in the middle of the road holding tightly on to the steering wheel taking out his frustration on it.

'I know you love her…but what about the future? What if you lose interest in her?' John asked staring at Ed.

'Mr. Steve, I already told you. Look, I respect you so much but not a word more about my love for your daughter…if you want I could prove it to you by spending the rest of my life with her but for that I need you to give me a chance in the first place' Ed pleaded as he could no longer stand the way Ava's father was talking about his love for her.

John quietly stared at him for some time before speaking out;

'Give me one reason to believe all this nonsense you just spouted out' He said not at all moved by Ed's outburst.

'All I can ask for is, your trust and blessings but since you don't trust me and that makes it evident that you aren't gonna give us your blessings…I don't want this marriage to take place' Ed said decisively.

'I knew you would give up, you are just weak like your love' John said as his face remained emotionless.

'Chris?' Richard called out as Chris kept staring at the steering immersed into his thoughts.

'Chris, just start the car. You are causing traffic jam' he said shaking Chris, bringing him back to reality.

Chris slowly parked the car in the nearby coffee shop and they both went inside in order to continue their unfinished conversation.

'What are we failing to understand Mr. Finch? Maybe you could tell us' Richard spoke out after they finished ordering.

'Mr. White, I know you have all the right in the world to be angry on me for hurting Hazel for the past years but just listen to me once' he answered with utter sincerity.

Richard nodded at him, telling him to continue.

'I have loved Hazel for the past years…and still do. It was not at all okay to leave without giving her an explanation but I had to, it was my only choice. I am the least person who wants to hurt Hazel but I ended up hurting her more than anyone else. I had no idea that she would wait for me all these years…I thought it was only me who was still in love with Hazel. When I got back and came to know that she has been waiting for me all these years I just wanted to run to her and explain everything and then we could have happy ending like in the movies but reality was very different…I couldn't get myself to talk to her. I had missed so many years …I just didn't know where to start and how to start and so I was waiting for the right time but now it's too late…' Chris stopped as the waiter approached them with their respective orders.

'I still think Ryan was better than you' Richard said taking a sip of his coffee.

'You knew Ryan?' Chris asked puzzled.

'Just because Haze doesn't visit us much doesn't mean she doesn't talk at all. She told us everything…about Ryan, your kids and how you avoided her at the beginning but the difference is she managed to maintain a brave front in front of us so that we wouldn't get suspicious of her pain but she still hasn't learned that parents know their kids better than they know themselves' he answered not bothering to look at Chris.

'Ryan…Ryan Anderson! The perfect guy on Earth, right?' Chris spoke out letting out a laugh filled with nothing but pure agony.

'Yeah, after all he had never hurt Hazel and was very much understanding at all times and not to mention a very successful lawyer who also runs a company. Mr. Perfect! But still your daughter didn't fall for him, do you know why?' Chris asked looking directly into Richard's eyes.

Richard's silence allowed him to continue talking further;

'Because…she knew me! She understood me and she loved me. She knew if I left without an explanation, I would definitely be back to explain things. She knew me like how the sky knew the moon but none of you understood that but now the girl who once understood everything about me is only focused on getting the answers to her questions' he replied hurt.

'Well she deserves to know and I never trusted you from the beginning' Richard said coldly.

'Yes she does! But why is no one thinking about what I have been through during the past years, just why? No one…no one asked me how I was during the last six years. All they asked was…why did you leave? You didn't want us, ah? And all kinds of bullshit! But I struggled too…a lot than you people could imagine…I didn't want you all to understand right away but you guys never really allowed me to settle down…I wanted to settle down so that I could be ready to tell you all everything but I was too focused in keeping everything perfect to prove my innocence…and didn't see it backfiring. But I tried…a lot more than all of you could imagine' Chris said as his mind got clouded with the bitterness from his past, there was a sharp pain in his heart reopening the wounds that he just wanted to forget but it had to revealed, after all people just wanted proof and thesis to understand the pain of a human.

'Anyways coming to the point' Chris started composing himself.

'I love Hazel very much, I still haven't sorted anything with her but I know she will understand but right now I just don't want you to hate me…I just want your blessings…if you believe in me' he finished as he stared down at him coffee which had become cold by now.

'Are you done? Can I ask a few questions?' Richard asked placing his cup down.

Chris slowly nodded in acceptance.

'Are you married?' he asked looking at Chris.

'...…'

'Mr. Finch?'

'…No' Chris replied after a short pause.

'Then what about the kids?' he asked suspicious.

'Can I just tell you this answer after I tell Hazel?' he asked growing restless.

'What's the difference? You can't say they are adopted; they resemble you Chris' Richard said determined to get the answer from Chris.

'I didn't say they were adopted' he shouted fuming with rage.

'Just a sec, Ed' John stopped Ed as he was about to walk out.

'What is your decision?' John asked looking at him.

'You think it's too soon, right? That's okay! I will just beg my family to give me one more year and I just hope you will accept by then' he answered turning away.

'You are the only relationship that my daughter ever considered taking it to the next stage…I still don't like you and don't trust you at all but you are my daughter's decision and I trust her decision…so I will give you a chance' he answered finally giving in.

Ed couldn't read his father-in-law but he was able to understand his sentence and that was enough, he got John Steve's approval. He was on cloud-nine.

'Thank you' he said looking at John smiling whole-heartedly.

'Fine…why didn't accept Hazel if you loved her too?' Richard asked ignoring his previous question.

'It was the only way to protect her' Chris said looking outside the café's window burying his anger within so that it doesn't turn into an emotional outburst.

'Why?'

'I didn't want her life to be at stake' Chris answered trying to be formal and straight-to-the- point as possible.

'Why was your life at stake?' He asked confused.

'Business rivals'

Richard was sure that Chris wasn't telling him the entire truth but yet continued with his questions.

'You could have told her to stay away, she would've listened' Richard said not sure why Chris hid it from Hazel.

Chris chuckled a little before answering;

'It's Hazel, she wouldn't listen. She will get involved no matter how much I try to stop her and I couldn't afford to lose her at that time' he answered.

'...…'

'That's it?' Chris asked looking at Richard.

Richard nodded slowly telling him a yes.

Chris paid the bill getting up;

'One second' Richard stopped him.

'After you explain everything to Hazel, if she still likes you maybe…just maybe I would give you my blessings' he said walking past Chris.

'So he accepted?' Ed asked Chris as they sat in the guest bedroom.

'I guess so…but he didn't ask much. I seriously have no idea how he accepted' Chris answered looking into a distance.

'…Well it's a good thing. Mine accepted too and now we can celebrate' Ed said cheering up.

'But the best thing was, the way they both handled us' Chris spoke out after a moment of thought.

'I know! They were so cool. Like they were strict but still understood our point of view and later even accepted us' Ed answered agreeing with Chris.

'Yeah, it was quite nice to think about it now. They threatened us but at the same time managed to take out all the truth from us and made the right choices' Chris continued looking at Ed.

'Maybe in the future we should be as cool as our father-in-law's' he said laughing.

Chris smiled at his friend slowly getting up.

'I have to go to Hazel, it's time Ed. If I prolong any longer I won't be able to forgive myself. I am going to find Hazel' Chris said walking out the door, determined.

'So you accepted him?' Richard asked as he sat with John in the living room watching TV.

'Yeah, I know Ed was a good kid. Hazel already sent me a recording of him pouring his heart out about Ava. He will take care of her and I have asked a few questions in person and he answered honestly' John said smiling.

'I was very angry on Chris when we left but that guy I don't know what happened to him in the past years…it just looked like he was extremely hurt and had to face it all alone…he didn't tell me what he went through but I could fish out that he suffered...a lot actually though he kept covering up the stories he was honest. I liked it and considering that he will tell Hazel everything is enough. It is Hazel's decision' Richard said wondering about the events that are gonna happen in the future.

'Hazel?' Chris called out knocking at her door.

'Come in' a faint voice answered.

'Hi!' he greeted as he entered the room to notice her standing next to the window staring outside.

'Are you all right?' he asked walking over to her.

'The kids went out with Ava to the park nearby' she said still looking outside.

'I didn't ask that' he said standing beside her.

'...…'

'Hazel…is something…wro...' within Chris could complete his sentence Hazel wrapped herself around him sinking into the comfortness of his arms around her, hoping that she could stay in his embrace forever.