I was hesitant at first.

I know he means well, though.

I put on the blindfold.

It brought back unwanted memories, but I knew I was safe.

I leaned back against the chair and tried to relax.

I knew that we've been only driving for minutes, but it felt like hours.

Maybe I was just antsy.

"Mama?" I heard a groggy voice ask from the back.

"Yes, Mia?" I asked, not bothering to look back because I knew that I couldn't see her.

"Where are we goin'? It doesn't look like we're going home." She said, her voice rising a bit from panic.

Oh, God.

No more episodes, please.

"Mama, where are we?" She was panicking. I could feel it.

"It's a surprise." Daddy said, trying to calm her down.

But that bugged her even more.

"Mommy, I-I can't . . ." Her voice was shaking.

I ripped off my blindfold.

"Pull over." I ordered Beck, and he did so without hesitation.

I transferred to the backseat next to Mia and my heart broke right then and there.

Her eyes were open but they were focused nowhere.

Her hands were together, as if they were tied up.

Same goes with her feet.

"Mama, I can't see," She whimpered, looking straight.

"Oh, God, Mia," I gasped out, taking her from the car seat and cradling her in my arms.

Beck bent the passenger's seat forward so he could sit in front of us.

"I'm hungry. I'm hungry and she won't give me food. She won't give me food. She won't give me food and my tummy was all rumbly and she won't give me food," She chanted, as if in a trance.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

"It's so dark. I can't see. I can't see and I'm hungry and she won't give me food," Tears were streaming down her face, but her expression was no longer blank but extremely pained.

"Mia, Mia, baby, it's mommy. Come on, baby, listen to mama's voice. Come on, baby. You're not there anymore." I tried soothing, rocking her back and forth.

"M-my wrists . . ." She chocked on her spit.

I stared at her wrists.

They were still shaking.

I held her hands but she let out a slight scream from contact.

"I can't feel my wrists." She hiccuped. "I can't feel my wrists and I can't see and she won't give me food but I'm so hungry." She chanted.

I kissed her face.

Please stop this, baby girl.

Stop scaring me.

Beck tried to help by wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"I'm scared but I'm being brave for mommy. I'm being scave for mommy. Mommy will find me and mommy will hug me and kiss me and tell me I'm a big girl for being scave for her." She trailed off, still in that scary panicked voice that I hated.

But her faith in me is overwhelming.

Comforting.

"Mia, baby, you're with mommy now. I'm so proud of you for being so scave for me. So, so proud," I whispered in her ear, still rocking her. "Come on, Mia, you're safe now. You're with mommy and daddy now."

"Mia, love, come on. Nothing to worry about, come back to us." He soothed, kissing her hands.

Mia closed her eyes and then visibly relaxed.

She opened them after a few minutes.

"Mommy," She whispered tiredly, lifting her hand to touch my face. I kept her hand there and kissed it.

I smiled a bit.

"Can you see me?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Are you alright now, love?" Beck asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

She nodded again.

We stayed like that for a few minutes.

Mia catching her breath, me being thankful that she's fine, and Beck was just watching us being sentimental.

I looked up at Beck.

"I'm staying back here. You go drive where ever you plan on driving us. I promise I won't look." I told him.

He shook his head.

"Actually, I think we might have a change of plans." He answered vaguely.

"What?"

He took in a large breath.

"I was supposed to ask you this in the restaurant I took you to on our first date, but I think this would be more memorable." He said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Just get to the point." I deadpanned.

"Marry me." He said, looking straight into my eyes.

Well, it doesn't get more straightforward than that.

"Why?"

Wrong answer, Jade.

"I hope I don't sound too sentimental because I know you hate that, but the moment I first saw you, I knew that you were the one for me," He started, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. "You're smart, you're gorgeous . . . you're pretty much everything I dreamed of and more. So, please, Jade, marry me?"

I stared at the simple silver band.

No second thoughts.

I nodded my head.

With a shit-eating smile, he leaned in to kiss me.

Taking the ring from the box, he slid it on my ring finger.

It felt weird.

He's not my boyfriend anymore.

He's my fiancée.

"And you, little darling, how could I forget the first time I met you?" Beck grinned, taking Mia from my lap and setting her down on his. "I may not be your father, but baby doll, remember that I'm your daddy."

"Always always?" Mia asked, raising her pinky finger.

He grinned and shook her finger with his. "Always always."

He took this little charm bracelet from his pocket and wrapped it around her wrist.

She jingled it, making her smile a bit.

Despite the ups and downs that we've been through, I was glad that for the first time, everything seems to be falling into place.

For the first time, everything felt right.

THE END

"When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching – they are your family." –Jim Butcher

Thank you all so much for going through this journey with me. Thank you for all of the amazing support that you have given to this story . . . I just couldn't thank you all enough.

Please do tell me what you think. Wishing you all the best.

Until my next story.