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Stubborn Love- A Modern/AU Walking Dead Story	By : ImagineLayla131 Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 2907 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH TWD FRANCHISE NO MONEY/PROFIT IS BEING MADE!

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Hi everybody! Today is my birthday! I'd also like to give a birthday shoutout to Prettyprincess45, whose birthday was yesterday! Happy Birthday, girl! :)
If you were surprised by the last chapter, hold on, because there's plenty more in store. Allen, Donna (who is briefly mentioned in Chapter Five), and Ben were the family that were with Tyreese and Sasha in Season 3 when they first got to the prison. We all remember Milton, the pushover right hand man of The Governor! Like I've said before, I plan on incorporating every single character from the franchise!
I wanna give a special shout out to my beta reader texasbelle91, as well as Chloe3, DarylDixon'sgirl1985, Headwalkerz, He-Who-Shall-Live, Hey01ig, Lego Kid At Heart, Prettyprincess45, and SilverSun09. Please check out their stories, because they are freaking awesome!
Chapter Sixteen: Divulge, Part Two
GARETH
"DA-DDY!"
I froze, the timing on this could not have been worse. Not only had Melody been on the verge of having her first mind blowing orgasm, as was I from her delicious taste, but now things were going to be incredibly awkward. Looking up from my position on the floor, I saw Melody immediately covering her breasts and giving me a confused, almost startled look as I rose to my feet.
"Hold on, I'll be right back. Don't go, please, Melody. Give me five minutes, I'll explain everything when I come back." I was begging her to stay when I knew she was going to leave, I also knew it was probably the end of our relationship. She didn't say a word and the look on her face stayed the same, she just fixed her dress as I went up the stairs. My moms were right, because this was already biting me in the ass.
A FEW MINUTES LATER
"Autumn, what's the matter?" I asked as I opened the door, looking around the large lavender room adorned with wall decals of Disney Princesses, as well as holding a deluxe Barbie dream house, a pink vanity, and tons of toys. It had taken a few minutes longer to get here since I had to clean myself up and get dressed. Even though she was still too young to acknowledge such an intimate act, I couldn't go into my daughter's room reeking of foreplay.
"Daddy!" Autumn Montana was hiding under the covers with a flashlight, I was pretty much talking to a balled up comforter. I couldn't help but silently chuckle as I walked over and crouched down, lifting the blankets to see her tiny form barricaded by a dozen stuffed animals as she lay sideways on her stomach, clutching her pet mini pig Violet to her chest.
"Daddy's here, sweetheart. What happened? Did you have a bad dream?"
"Thank goodness you're finally here, Daddy! There's monsters under the bed! And in the closet! And the ceiling! Hurry, you have to call the exterminator and get rid of them! Call Ghostbusters! They're not afraid!"
I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from busting up laughing. At three and a half years old, Autumn Montana was already a little ham, she also had a tendency to be a bit mellow dramatic, the latter being exactly like her mother. The only other thing she had of Theresa's were her light green eyes, she looked exactly like I did as a child, and even now my mom says she makes some of the same faces.
"Honey, there aren't monsters anywhere in your room."
"Yes, they are! I heard them planning to take over! I know this because I know this!" The motion detector for the doors went off and she let out a yelp before diving back under the covers again. "See! They're coming already! I'm a-scared!"
"No, cupcake, they aren't. That was just the motion detector. I already checked your room for monsters before I left, remember?" I felt my heart sink, knowing that Melody had just walked out of my life, probably for good. Why hadn't I told her in the beginning? It would have been better that way.
"That was during the day, that doesn't count, they're sleeping! Monsters only come out at night, and bedbugs! And ghosts and vampires! Aunt Lizzie told me so."
"Ok, fine. You don't believe me? Alright, I'll do it again. Flashlight." I reached out my hand, retrieving the flashlight, before "searching" under the bed. Out of the five of us, Lizzie and I were the only ones not afraid of monsters under the bed. Apparently, we had both been looking for them to play with, not hiding from them. I also made a mental note to have a discussion with Lizzie about what was appropriate to talk about with her niece. "Oh, monsters. Come out, come out wherever you are." I then shined the flashlight up at the ceiling, walking to the closet. "It's Autumn Montana's dad, and I won't allow for any monsters to bother her or Violet."
"Except Mike and Sully!" Autumn Montana said from under the covers.
"Except Mike and Sully, those are the only ones." I closed her closet doors. "It's official, AM. Your room has once again been cleared of monsters."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me as I walked over, setting the flashlight back on the nightstand and crouched down once again. "Yes, I'm 100% positive."
Autumn Montana popped out from under the covers, sending her stuffed animals flying to the floor, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the bestest daddy ever!" She wrapped her little arms around my neck and gave me a big kiss on the cheek as I held her tightly.
"I'll do anything for you, you're my baby girl." I pulled back, looking at her eyes and smoothing her light brown hair behind her ears. "But you know that even if the monsters were real, which they aren't, you're bigger and stronger than them, right?"
Autumn Montana nodded as she sat down on her bed. "Yeah, I guess I just forgot."
"That's ok, we all forget things sometimes, but it's why we have people to remind us how strong we are when we're down. And you," I picked up Violet, who was lightly snorting. "Violet, you're supposed to guard Autumn Montana, at least that's what I would think her best friend would do." All she did was sniff my face and squeal, which made Autumn Montana giggle.
"She was a-scared, too. Can we please sleep in your bed tonight, Daddy? We'll feel better knowing we're protected. Pretty, pretty please?" She looked up with puppy dog eyes, which made me snicker a little.
"Yes, you can, you don't have to do the Puss-in-Boots face." I bent down, picking her up. "You have Pipper with you?" Pipper was the purple and white Beanie Boo I had bought for Autumn Montana at the hospital when she was born. Owls are symbolic with fall and they both have the same green eyes. Like Violet, she was rarely seen without Pipper.
"Yes." She nodded, wrapping her legs around me and her arm around my neck as she held on to Pipper.
"Good. Come on, Piglet." I whistled, watching her hop out of the room and trot down the hall next to me.
A mini pig might be an odd choice for some, but Violet was actually a fantastic pet. She was intelligent, obedient, patient, and housebroken, not to mention affectionate. I bought Violet for Autumn Montana after I moved in at The Moms' house to make her feel better about the breakup and the two houses, and they bonded immediately. "Piglet" as I nicknamed Violet, followed Autumn Montana around everywhere, it was very sweet. The books say not to spoil your child, but I couldn't help it. She's definitely Daddy's Little Princess and has me wrapped around her finger, but she does have a good head on her shoulders, she even decided to donate her old toys at the end of every month to the Salvation Army, just like me.
"You good, pumpkin?" I tucked Autumn Montana and Pipper into my California King, with Violet jumping up and curling into a ball behind her head.
"Uh huh. Aren't you coming in, Daddy?"
I shook my head. "Not yet, there's some things I have to take care of downstairs, but I'll be back shortly. Here," I left and went into her room again, coming back with a plaster music figurine of The Genie from Aladdin. I started winding it up. "Genie will keep you guys company and help you get to sleep." I set Genie down as it started playing an instrumental music box version of "Friend Like Me".
Autumn Montana smiled and nodded with a yawn. "Ok, Daddy." She snuggled up to Pipper, her head sinking into the pillow. "I'll see you in a while."
"Alright. I love you, baby girl, more than anything in the whole wide world."
"I love you, too. Night, Daddy." With one final yawn, she was out in a snap.
Genie always came in handy whenever we needed to get her back to sleep. When Robin Williams committed suicide over two months ago, Alex told me that I would make a fortune if I sold it online, but I would never. It was too sacred, not only to Autumn Montana, but to me as well. Dale had made it for her when she was born, it was a side hobby of his, making musical figurines, and it was the last one he made before passing away right after my art school graduation last year from diabetes. He was pretty much the father I never had, I really missed him, and he absolutely adored Autumn Montana.
There would never be a love that could ever come close to the one I have for Autumn Montana. I like to think that it started when I first found out I was going to be a father. Theresa had wanted to put the baby up for adoption, but I talked her out of it, promising to take care of the two of them. This was during a time when I thought she was my true love and that we'd spend the rest of our lives together, I was excited to start our family early, even though we were both starving artists. I actually cried the first time I held her, she was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, and I wasn't just saying that because she's my daughter.
When I caught Theresa cheating on me, it had only been two days before Autumn's third birthday. Even though we were both furious at each other, we agreed not to make any sudden changes until after her birthday, and I spent my time securing the best child custody lawyer. At the moment, we were sharing child custody because the judge thought that a toddler shouldn't be entirely separated from her mother and I was always working, despite having a flexible schedule, so Theresa and I alternate weekly.
I walked down to see Melody by the staircase, and I was rather surprised that she hadn't left. "You're still here? I thought you left, I heard the motion detector go off."
She nodded. "Yes, I'm still here, I had to get my purse out of your car. "Daddy"? How'd that happen?"
"Well, when two people get together and make a baby, the female is the mother and the male is the father. Although, now there can be two daddies or two mommies thanks to the increase of homosexual couples adopting and/or using surrogates, like my moms did with Lizzie and Mika."
I could see she was trying not to laugh. "No, not that. I mean... How... When..."
"Oh, you mean THAT."
"Yeah."
I scratched the back of my head, chuckling nervously. "Well... What's there to say, really? I didn't use a condom, she wanted to give it up but I talked her out of it, and that's how Autumn was born."
"Your daughter is named Autumn?"
I nodded. "Autumn Montana."
"Mmhmm, and why aren't you with the baby mama? I'm guessing it's Theresa?"
"I already told you, Theresa is a deceptive, immature, slutty 25 year old bitch that's trying to bleed me dry. It was a mistake ever being with her. I thought it was love, but sadly I was blinded, I'm glad I found out before taking the plunge. Autumn Montana was the best part that came out of it."
"So you have a daughter?"
"Yeah, I have a three and a half year old daughter, she'll be four in January. What's so hard to understand?" I knew right then my last statement had been the absolute WRONG thing to say. Why was I acting so nonchalant, am I that much of a moron?
Melody shrugged, fully annoyed. "Nothing, just amazed how it failed to come up in conversation or how Rick failed to mention it. When were you going to tell me? Scratch the when, WERE you going to tell me?"
"Yes, of course I was. Tonight, actually."
"But not until getting in my pants first, right?"
I scrunched my eyebrows up in confusion "What? No!"
"You say that yet you had your head buried between my legs not even ten minutes ago." She turned on her heel and walked out the front door. I followed her out to the sidewalk.
"Melody, wait."
"What should I wait for?" She finally turned around, throwing her arm up in the air. "You've slept with two clients to land accounts and you have a child, what the hell else could you possibly have to tell me?!" Her voice got louder, and I could hear a couple of dogs barking in the distance. "Are you sure you're not a cannibal? Maybe you're really gay, or maybe you're still with Theresa and you're just fooling around with me on the side. Which one is it, huh?!"
"Keep your voice down, I don't want to hear it from the neighbors." I grumbled, walking up closer to her, but she didn't stand down, the grimace on her face still fully intact. "I'm not a cannibal or gay or with Theresa. Again, the only woman I'm with is you. What I did, although thoughtless and stupid, it wasn't intentional. Yes, I should have told you up front and I'm sorry I didn't sooner. It's just that you're the first person that I started dating since I called off my engagement. I didn't want to spook you, we're both vulnerable. That and since Autumn Montana is so young, she would get easily attached and I didn't want to introduce you until I knew we were a sure thing."
"See, that's not a problem. Everything you just said, I would have been totally fine with. I don't understand why you didn't tell me sooner, Gareth. I thought we had trust."
"We do have trust. That was what I had to discuss with you tonight. I regret not telling you sooner, you deserve to know. My moms said this was going to eventually bite me in the ass and it is. Besides, you said you had some things you wanted to get off your chest also, what could it possibly be? My cat's out of the bag, what's yours?"
I noticed that Melody had actually calmed down some, but I was worried she was going to explode again. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't blame her, but I was curious on what she was hiding. It was time to get to the bottom of things, but all she did was scoff.
"Like you deserve to know, and before you ask, it isn't a child. It's much heavier than that, but I had actual reasons for hiding them."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, yeah? Try me."
MELODY
I was trying everything to keep calm, it wouldn't be the first time that I've woken up the neighborhood with my screaming, but I was even more pissed off now than I was earlier. A child?! Who hides that for over a month?! And now he's putting me on the spot?! That's some nerve right there. Although, I had waited long enough with what I hid.
"I don't even know where to start, Gareth."
"Whatever's easiest."
There was so much to tell him, I might as well get it over with already. With a deep breath, I began. "For starters, I was engaged two years ago, to the son of my dad's work associate."
Allen Morrissey and my father had been friends since their fraternity days back at Yale University, and they've continued being friends for the past thirty years. The two of them always planned for me to marry Ben, his and his wife Donna's oldest son, so Woodbury and Alexandria Public Relations, Allen's P.R. firm, could merge into one business. Ben and I pretty much grew up together and started dating once I dumped Randall for good. He was a nice boyfriend for the most part, but there was no spark or passion. It was exactly what our fathers and his mother wanted, an arranged engagement. My mom tried to be friends with Donna, but she always thought my mom was beneath her for some reason. Apparently, she's become very good friends with Lily since working at Sanctuary as an esthetician. Ben also had a tendency to be full of himself for being a cross country all star for his high school and scoring a scholarship to Yale, and that was a trait of his that drove me bonkers. He wasn't as smart as he thought he was, I know that he only got in because of his father.
"I didn't tell you because I was embarrassed that at nineteen I already had a broken engagement. Even though it was a mutual decision and we're still cordial, it's one of the reasons why my dad is so detached from me, he thinks it's my fault. If only he knew that his precious Bennie couldn't even get his jet fired up."
Gareth and I shared an awkward laugh, which I was fortunate to have a brief moment of levity, because it was about to go to hell in a minute.
"Alright, that's fine. Is that the worst possible thing you have to tell me?"
I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. "No, I wish it was, but it's not. I had a brief affair with Shane." My heart sank to the pit of my stomach watching his eyes widen and his mouth fly open as he started stammering.
"Sh-Shane Walsh? My boss?"
I nodded in shame. "Yes. It was when I moved in with Rick and Lori back in June, three months after Aiden died. He took me to get some pot and came on to me. I didn't stop him, I didn't say anything, so it wasn't rape, but I was stupid enough to keep caring it on. He took advantage of me, Gareth, and I shouldn't have let him. Finally, a month later, I was able to stand up for myself and break things off, but it wasn't easy. You know that scar on his neck? That's from me." I was doing everything in my power not to start crying, I had cried when I told Maggie, Beth, and Tara, and I had cried when I told my therapist. Gareth was still flabbergasted.
"Does Rick know? It's his best friend."
"Neither Rick or Lori know. Shane keeps harassing me, and he actually cornered me today at Woodbury. I keep threatening to tell them, but he won't let up. I plan on it after the baby is born, but there's something else I have to tell Lori, also. I kissed Rick five days before we met."
If Gareth was shocked before, he really was now. "You made out with your brother in law? Your sister's husband?! Are you serious?! Why?"
"It was a moment of weakness, I haven't exactly been in the right mind frame since losing who I thought was going to be the love of my life. I'd go from being practically catatonic to almost psychotic. No, I'm not bipolar, I was just in the rut from hell, but things have gotten better for me. There's really no excuse to what I did, and I know karma is going to come around tenfold. I love my sister with my whole life, and I am terrified that I'll lose her because of one stupid mistake. If that happened, I don't know what I'd do." I took a shaky breath, noticing that Gareth was walking closer. "I don't want you to feel sorry for me, I don't even feel sorry for myself. This is all my fault."
He stood in front of me but didn't do anything. "It takes a big person to own up to their mistakes, and you clearly have. The fact that you feel so guilty means that your remorse is and will be authentic. So that's it? You were engaged to a flaccid jerk, you slept with my boss and made out with my other boss?"
I shook my head again. "No, it's not. There's something else you don't know about me that I've been holding back since we met." With a deep breath, I knew it was time to come clean. "My birth name isn't Melody Silverstone. It's Melody Jasmine Blake."
I watched his eyes widen once again and he took a couple steps back, his voice trailing off as he spoke. "Blake as in..."
"Yep. Phillip Blake is my father. I'm The Governor's oldest daughter."
"So at the party when Beth cut Noah off with that commercial, it was about your dad?"
"Yes. That's not the only thing." Sighing heavily, I sucked up my embarrassment as I started whistling the theme of "Steamboat Willie", with Gareth giving me a strange look. Within a matter of seconds after hearing their signal, Abraham and Eugene popped out from the shadows across the street, their wardrobe almost camouflaging with the dark black night. "Hey, guys."
They nodded at me, their hands clasped in the front. "Good evening, Miss Blake."
"Melody, who are they?"
"They're my body guards, and they've been following us on every single one of our dates."
His mouth was slightly agape and I could tell Gareth was annoyed. "I thought there was trust between us. The broken engagement and bonking my boss I could see past, I know you wouldn't go back to Shane or kiss Rick again, but why would you hold back something so serious? Why didn't you tell me I'm dating the founder's daughter of the company I work for?"
"Would you have treated me any differently if I did?"
"No, not at all."
"There's a reason I don't like to talk about it. My father may be an outstanding businessman and politician, but he is not a good father, at least not to me. To him, I'm the square peg that can't be forced into the round hole, why try to fit in when you're born to stand out. The Governor of California is unable to accept that I can't be forced to what he wants, and he wants nothing to do with me because of it. There are days where I even doubt he truly loves me. I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself, it's why I only go by Blake when I need to."
"Oh yeah? Like when?"
I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or not. "Things happen where I have to use it, like insurance or school. That's irrelevant, I didn't completely leave out the fact that I co-created a human being."
"I know, and I'm kicking myself for it. Just come back inside and we can discuss this. Send your bodyguards away, spend the night and I'll drive you home on my way to work." Gareth walked forward again, reaching his hand out to me, but I shook my head.
"No, Gareth, I can't. I may seem composed right now, but I am freaking out on the inside it's not even funny. My head is actually spinning, I can't even look at you."
"Melody, things come out at unexpected moments. Sometimes it causes arguments, but they can be worked out."
His willingness to work this out made my frustrations bubble to the surface. If it were only my issues, I'd be willing, but I can't just accept that he hid something so serious from me. "It's not that simple! We both need some time to process everything here. I like you a lot, but I'm so mad at you! You fucked up here so badly, I don't even know if I can talk to you again. So please, do me a favor and don't do a damn thing. Don't call, don't text, don't do anything. I don't even know." I was running out of things to say, officially sounding like a moron since I was so discombobulated, which meant it was time to leave. "Abraham, Eugene, let's go!" I walked off into the night as they got their blacked out Cadillac town car started.
"Melody, wait! Please, come back! I'm sorry!"
Once I was inside and the car drove off down the street, I finally let my tears fall.
A HALF HOUR LATER
After sending Abraham and Eugene home, I stormed into the house, not knowing whether to cry or scream. Kicking my shoes off, I marched up the stairs, not even bothering to change my clothes, I was on a mission to find out from the one- no, two people- that should have informed me about this information, if not from Gareth himself.
Both Rick and Lori were heavy sleepers, they didn't hear the automated alarm system when I opened the front door, nor did they stir when I barged into their room. Without even properly thinking, I crawled up on the bed and straddled Rick.
"Rick. Rick. Rick, wake up." I started lightly slapping his face, which started working a little, but I need both of them to hear this.
"RICK! LORI! WAKE UP!"
That seemed to work, because Lori woke up and gasped, which is when I moved to the center of their bed, realizing that I was in Rick's lap. Luckily, the lights weren't turned on until I had moved.
"What's going on?! Where's Carl? Is it Mom? Grams? Grandma Jun-Jun? Who died?!" Lori put her hand on her chest, trying to catch her breath.
"Nobody died, everybody's fine. Do you two love me?"
Lori scrunched up her eyebrows, flabbergasted. "Melody, how could you even ask that?"
Rick cleared his throat, which was when I noticed he was staring at my dress. "Of course we love you."
"Then why didn't you tell me that Gareth has a child?!"
LORI
"What?" I sat up, fully alert. "He has a child?! Since when?"
"Since we were about to get it on and I heard somebody shout "DA-DDY!" For a second, I thought it was Alex's kid, but then Gareth left. Her name is Autumn Montana, she's three and a half years old."
I turned to Rick, completely in shock. Gareth Mandel seemed like the most unlikely person to have a child already, but what concerned me is that my husband hadn't said a word. "Why didn't you say anything to either one us?"
He heavily sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly? It was his place to tell, not mine. I'm the only one at Woodbury that knows and I think Martin. He wanted it kept on the down low because he thought that it would hinder his workload."
"Hinder it how?" Melody asked with air quotes.
"It's different with me since I run the place, but Shane would deliberately not send Gareth out of the country to meet with clients knowing he had a kid just to screw with him, and he's worked too hard to let that happen."
I could see why Rick hadn't said anything. He wanted to give Gareth the best chance to make the most of himself, and it should have been Gareth to break the news, not Rick. "Melody, why didn't you look on his Facebook or Instagram?"
She groaned and rolled her eyes before flailing her hands everywhere as she spoke. "I know, I know, I should have, but I didn't. I didn't want to psych myself out and jump to assumptions based on pictures. I wanted a fresh start with this one, look at the moronic jackasses I've been with! One's a dimwitted moron, the other has a premature ejaculation problem! Why, why can't anything ever go right for me?!" Melody's voice began to crack as she spoke, and I could feel my heart breaking. "I finally told him about Ben and my dad, his reaction ranged from accepting to shocked, almost slightly annoyed. He definitely didn't freak out over my news like I did over his. All I want is what you two have, everlasting love, and I've fallen for Gareth. I've fallen for him really hard, but right now I am just so mad at him!" She had held back long enough and allowed her flood-gates to open as she bowed her head and started crying.
"Awww, honey." I did what my maternal instincts told me, what I knew our own mom would do. I pulled my baby sister in for a hug, wrapping my arms around her as she sobbed into our pillow and I stroked her hair. It had been a while since I had seen her so upset, and in a way, I felt partially responsible since I had been so adamant on fixing the two of them up.
"Why did I have to find out this way? I don't even know if it's the news itself or the fact that he didn't tell me sooner." Melody continued crying, returning the hug as Rick rubbed her shoulder.
"It's ok, Melody. Let it out."
We sat there with her as she cried until she wore herself out and fell asleep, her dreams now stained with tears of frustration and agony.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, TARZANA, 2:00 PM
MELODY
"And that's the whole story." I heavily sighed, laying back on the chaise lounge as I watched Dr. Milton Mamet quickly writing everything down in his notebook before intently re-reading it. "Oh, and I'd appreciate it if we kept this between us. If my dad found out, it would open up a can of worms that I don't need to deal with right now."
Lori said I had cried myself to sleep, which explained why I woke up in her and Rick's bed yesterday morning with my dress on. Of course, Gareth didn't listen, leaving me two texts and a voicemail to see if I was ok, which left me tempted to block his number until I was ready to speak. My friends were all kind of in shock but thought that I shouldn't write him off entirely. Beth especially thought that I should give him another chance. I was too embarrassed to tell my mom and I couldn't eat. Luckily, Milton had a cancellation, so I was able to get an appointment in last minute.
"Melody, whatever is discussed in this office is never repeated unless you're a danger to yourself or others. Patient-doctor confidentiality." Milton adjusted his glasses, which was a tell for whenever he was nervous or studious. He was kind of dweeby looking with a longish nose, front teeth similar to a mole rat, and beady eyes. Even though he's pretty timid, I think he's nice, I just don't know if I can trust him. After all, he was referred by my father.
"Ha. Dr. Milton, you obviously don't know my father. He's ruthless, he'd probably beat you up and strap you to a chair to get you to spill my secrets." I scoffed, rolling my eyes up. "Who am I kidding? He let me be jobless and homeless, he clearly doesn't give a shit. My dad isn't my problem right now."
"I understand, and I wish that you would feel more comfortable in this environment. Therapy is supposed to be beneficial, not detrimental. What I've observed in my notes of our sessions is you have a tendency to be indecisive, which you're doing right now with Gareth. Had you found out the news differently about his daughter, how do you think you would have reacted?"
"Honestly? I don't think I would have reacted as strongly as I did, I think it was all in the heat of the moment. Do you agree with his reasoning as to why he didn't tell me?"
Milton put his notebook down and his hands in his lap. "Well, it's not really my place to say, but I think it's clearly obvious that he cares a great deal about you. From what you've told me, he doesn't sound manipulative or calculating like your last relationship with Shane was. Perhaps the way Gareth went about it was a little unethical, but I think it was only done to make sure your relationship was in a comfortable place before taking things further. Essentially, you did the same thing as well by not telling him sooner about your father and the other men in your past. You two became better acquainted and gained trust, which is why you felt ready to disclose those parts of your life with him. Gareth may not be perfect, but it seems that he has been very tolerant and understanding, which hasn't been the case with the other men you've dated. From what you've told me, this is the healthiest relationship that you've been in in a long time and I've noticed a change in you this past month. You've been much happier and willing to open up."
I took a minute to absorb Milton's words and realized he was right. That had been the reason why I waited to tell Gareth my secrets, because I need to get to know him better, and know that I can trust him. He obviously did the same thing with me, and had things been different, I wouldn't have been as angry. Now that I told the story, I actually felt a lot better and saw things more visibly.
"You're right, Dr. Milton. The timing was just wrong, I was still steamed from that interaction with Genevieve, and it caused me to lash out irrationally at him. Same on his end, also. We both said things we shouldn't have. I think I know what I need to do."
"I can tell. Start slow, make a plan to meet up and talk things out, but be sure to let him know that you aren't ready to call it quits just yet."
I smiled thinking about Gareth. "I'm not. He really is one of the best guys I've ever met, and we all make blunders. Even me. So, same time next week?"
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Stubborn Love- A Modern/AU Walking Dead Story