A night on the town (ZAIN/OPEN)

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

Holly rolled over after sticking her bookmark in place and turned off the alarm. Another night of work. As Holly went about her usual routine for getting ready she let her thoughts drift. Ever since she had moved to Seattle thoughts of the memories she lost nagged at her. It was almost eight years she had lost. Just what had happened to her in those eight years? Had she been out in the world living a life? Had she been at that lab she had woken up in? Where were her sisters in all of this? Was there anyone out there that missed her and was searching for her? She almost wanted this to be true. Just to know there was someone in the world that cared for her. Holly sighed as she stepped out of the shower. Clearing the mirror of steam she stared at herself. Shaking her head she started drying her hair and thinking about things for that night. Dwelling on the past only gave her headaches so what was the point. Once her hair was done she went back to her room and began looking through her outfits. Settling on the maroon set she pulled it out and dressed. Changing her mind about her hair, she quickly went in the bathroom and curled it a bit. She pulled the front bits of her hair away from her face with two smaller clips before doing her make-up quickly. Once settled she pulled on a long skirt over the panty part of her outfit and the baggy sweatshirt over her head. Tucking her things in her bag she slung it over her shoulder as she went out the door, locking it behind her.

She quickly made her way through the streets of Seattle to the club she worked at. She was buzzed in through the back door. It didn’t have a handle on the outside and could only be opened from the inside. It was a safety measure for the dancers and staff of the club. People could get a little clingy sometimes. Holly quickly made her way into the small dressing room of the club. This was why she got mostly ready at home. There was little room in the area and there were quite a few girls. Slinging her bag over an empty chair she stripped off the sweatshirt and shed the skirt. Putting those into the bag she had brought she pulled out the skirt that would come off on stage. Her outfit set she waited for a mirror to open up and checked her hair and make-up. Everything was set, now she just had to wait. She made her way to the edge of the stage and looked out on the crowd from behind the curtains. There was another girl out dancing at the moment so most eyes were on her. Only thing left to do for now was wait for her song to come on. She had chosen a Latin beat that she could really move to for her song for the night, no words, just a very entrancing beat, especially with her moves.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain had made his way into Forks a week or two ago. He had been staying in a motel until he tried going back to the country for his family, which, he didn't know when that would be. He terribly needed to remember how to get there. Zain is a rich man, owning the Greenbrier Resort in West Virgina, so money to and from wasn't an issue...just the location.

He undressed himself so he wouldn't loose his clothes then shifted. He bones cracked, bended, and shaped themselves into a large snow leopard feline. There wasn't pain from shifting anymore, in fact, he's become so used to it that it wasn't bothersome at all. Being Alpha had him as an animal often anyway. His long tail swished then he took of running. He used his since of smell to track down something tasteful but he couldn't smell anything but a...vampire? He could tell that this wasn't one of his kind.

Curiously, he started following the scent. It didn't take long for it to become stronger and stronger. Good, maybe they could meet up and have a little chat. Although no luck had come to him. The more he followed this scent the more vampire scents appeared. How many were there in Forks anyway?

Getting bored with this, he decided to run back to his clothes. And once dressed he took off to Seattle, Washington in his new car. He had planned on going to a bar or club for a few drinks, although he wasn't one to get drunk he did like having a few here and there. Once there he wasted no time buying himself something then took a seat watching these women degrade themselves. Dancing is one thing, however, dancing to show off goods? Wonderful way to respect your body...It was then a familiar scent hit his nose...His wife...Zains eyes searched everywhere but couldn't see her. He didn't move from his table though, instead he waited for her to come into view. If he didn't he knew people would be knocked over looking for her....that is, if he isn't imagining things.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

Holly’s blue gray eyes scanned the crowd. There were quite a few people out there. It was normal and she had long since gotten over any stage fright she may have had. Her eyes followed the girl that was on the stage at the moment. She was a good dancer but she wasn’t like Holly, she was there to show herself and find someone to fuck for the night. Holly had never fucked any of the men in the club. In fact she couldn’t remember the last time she had fucked anyone for that matter. It was something that never really bothered her so she brushed it off. Suddenly a scent hit her nose, another wereleopard, and there was some familiar about it. She couldn’t place it but let her eyes scan the crowd until they fell on a man about her age. Her eyes stayed on him as the girl on stage finished her dance. Holly was next. Blinking a few times she shook herself and let the other girl slip by her.

As her song came on Holly slipped through curtain and started her dance. She was a more clothed than any other dancer in the club and yet all eyes were instantly drawn to her as she swayed and moved her hips to the beat. The crowds disappeared from Holly’s mind as she danced. She had taken this up this work for the money when she had returned from some odd country with no memory of the past eight years. Dancing was something she loved to do and if she could get paid to do it, why not go for it? As she danced her eyes drifted over the crowds again, all the men were blurry except the wereleopard she had seen. Her blue gray eyes locked on him as she danced. He stood out in her vision like a lit match in a dark room. What was it about him that had caught her attention so? There was a nagging feeling about him like she was supposed to remember him.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain had nearly finished his drink before the next dancer had even come out. Although, he wasn't really paying attention to her, in fact, he was one of the very few not making eyes on the dancer. He hadn't a reason to. He was a married leopard and no other women has ever caught his eyes but Holly. Their love had brought along his baby, Ashley, and nothing would ever change his family. He was determined to find his loved ones even if it took him years. When the next dancer stepped on the stage he nearly choked on his last sip of alcohol. He thought he would have one of those spit take moments but instead choked. It didn't take him long to recover from that...then he just stared at her in disbelief. Her eyes were locked on him which made him wonder why she didn't stop and run straight at him.

When the shock wore down he swiftly stood up and made his way through the crowd that had their eyes on her...Anger rushed through him at all the men eye raping his wife. She was his! And he couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why she was on this stage and dancing for a bunch of men. Zains feet landed on the stage and he grabbed her arm, although not to hard, and pulled her behind the curtains. He let go of her arm and just stared for a moment trying to find the words he was looking for. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" He yelled looking straight into her eyes. He took a long breath in and tried talking without yelling. He didn't need more attention on him then he was probably already getting. "I'm not sure whether to be pissed you're flaunting yourself in front of those people or be happy that I found you..." He ranted shoving his hands into his pockets. He very badly wanted to pace back and forth but refrained from that. "Ridiculous." He muttered pinching the top of his nose. "At least I found you...this dancing thing though....gotta go." He sighed heavily wanting to give her a huge hug, but waited for her to speak.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

Her eyes never left the other wereleopard as she danced. A look of shock spread over his face and he nearly choked on his drink. She’d seen guys trip over themselves to get to the edge of the stage but this was new to her. He seemed to know her. Since her eyes never left hi s she saw him as he jumped up and gracefully landed on the stage. That alone made her sure of the leopard in him. She had stopped dancing when he grabbed her arm and pulled her behind the curtain. She could hear loud shouts from the men and the yells of the other staff to get the security. Holly spun and glared at him. If any other man had pulled her like that she would have resisted them, but she knew his strength matched hers or was even better. Her blue grey eyes flashed to the hazel of her leopard as she glared at him. Who the hell was he to pull her off the stage? "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Really? Holly stared stunned at the man in front of her. What in the hell was going on!? Being this close to him she could feel that he matched her in power and now that she was this close to him she could almost feel a pull to him.

"I'm not sure whether to be pissed you're flaunting yourself in front of those people or be happy that I found you..." She blinked a few times and stared at him. "Ridiculous." She huffed and glared at him. "At least I found you...this dancing thing though....gotta go." “And just who the hell are you to judge me? Why should you care what I do with my body? What do you mean ‘found’ me? Just who the hell are you?” She burst out in a hushed tone. Her music had been turned off and another dancer had taken the stage, some of the men yelled about it but they soon forgot her as they became lost in the next dancer. Her eyes flicked to the security that was making their way to them. She would let them come for now. She had no idea who this guy was, even if she felt this odd pull to him. Holly pulled him back away from the curtain a bit so that they couldn’t be heard above the music by the crowd. She then took a step back from him and crossed her arms over her chest and waited. Something in her brain was nagging her that he was someone she should remember and she raked through the memories she did have as she waited for an answer.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain couldn't help but glare until she said what she had. “And just who the hell are you to judge me? Why should you care what I do with my body? What do you mean ‘found’ me? Just who the hell are you?” With her last question his facial expression had changed to worried then to no facial expression at all. Did she have memory loss? That had to be it because there would be no other reason for her to not remember him. It was pretty obvious his wife had no idea of who he was. Disappointment and sadness ran through him and it showed on his face. He had back up when she moved knowing it would be better for others to not hear the conversation. He racked his brain trying to find the correct words for this, but in all honestly he never imagined being in this situation. "Zain...Zain Carvator...And I should care what you do with your body because you're my wife." He asked her looking straight into her eyes.

He sighed taking his fingers into his hair before replacing his hand into his pocket. "We're married, Holly. Don't you remember me?" His eyes pleaded her to remember. They still needed to find their daughter and without her memory he may just be on his own. But he couldn't just leave her on his search. She needed to have her memory back. Zain refused to loose her and refused to give up his search for Ashley. He cleared his throat when he noticed her wedding ring wasn't on her fingers. Either she lost it or took it off before coming out on the stage... He didn't even want to think of what had happened to her for her to have loss of her memories. This situation was all over overwhelming. It's a good thing he is an alpha were or he would have had a break down long before this.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

As his expression changed so did Holly. She calmed down a bit as he seemed to soften up and not be angry any longer. He seemed sad and worried now. What was that about? Her eyes flicked back to their human blue grey color as the security got closer. "Zain...Zain Carvator...And I should care what you do with your body because you're my wife." She shook her head. Getting married to someone was something she was sure she would remember. But his name made something click in her head. She did know him. “Zain!” She nodded a moment. “I don’t remember marrying you but I do remember you. We dated in college in Florida. You had a brother too. I remember we all got along so well cause of the…well you know…” She gave him a small smile. She couldn’t offer him much more than that. She glanced over at the security and shook her head slightly at them. She was okay. This guy didn’t want to hurt her. He might even be able to help her.

Her eyes followed his hands as they raked through his hair and then back into his pockets. She didn’t know why but she really wanted to smooth out his hair and kiss his forehead and tell him everything was going to be ok. Why was she feeling all this? If it hadn’t been for her control she would have broken down long ago with the overwhelming feelings. "We're married, Holly. Don't you remember me?" She took a shuddering breath and shook her head. Her eyes looked away from his, they were just too hopeful. She had tried so hard to remember things from the past nine years. It only gave her a headache and she didn’t want that right now. As he cleared his throat she saw him glance at her fingers. He was hoping she would be wearing a ring. Her own eyes drifted to his finger where his wedding ring sat. Something about it reminded her of her mother’s ring. “I’m sorry…I can’t remember anything. I just can’t.” She hugged herself tight. She needed to leave the club right now, she needed to shift and run into the forest and just forget any of this had happened. Her life had been simple before and now this man had come into it and set a bomb off in her mind. Most of her was longing to just fall into his arms and let him soothe her but she wouldn’t allow herself to do that without knowing why. Could this man be telling the truth about them being married? It would make sense since they were both leopards, but Holly very much didn’t want to fall into some trap.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

“Zain!” Zain had almost smiled thinking she did remember him. He wasn't thinking that memory loss can take a while to gain back though. “I don’t remember marrying you but I do remember you. We dated in college in Florida. You had a brother too. I remember we all got along so well cause of the…well you know…” He frowned. At least she didn't forget him altogether; it might make it harder if she had. He sighed once then shifted his feet. He didn't want to believe his wife lost her memory of him and Ashley. If he found her what was he supposed to tell the girl? 'Your mother doesn't remember you?'. This wasn't going to be an easy task but for Ashleys sake they should at least pretend like nothing is wrong. His thoughts were starting to go a mile a minute before he tuned back into her voice. “I’m sorry…I can’t remember anything. I just can’t.” He shook his head momentarily.

"You have too. I can't loose you again." She wasn't making eye contact with him anymore but his voice spoke with enough emotion to keep her attention. "What if I show you pictures?" He asked becoming hopeful and drug out his wallet from his back pocket. He shuffled through his things but none of the pictures were there. He must have forgotten them. He knew he had a family photo in the motel room, but the only problem was getting her there. She could think he's trying to trick her or hurt her. A frown spread across his face in defeat...Then his eye caught something, an ear ring of hers. He had been cleaning the house and come across it on the floor. Zain had put it in his wallet until the other showed up so he could give them back to her. "I don't have them with me..." He finally said looking back up. "Before I left our old house I picked up an ear ring of yours...It's from the party we had after out wedding." He held it in the palm of his hand and extended his arm over. He wasn't sure if it would spark memory but it's worth a shot. "I have a picture...a family photo...at the place I'm staying at." He hinted toward wanting to show her.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

The pain in his voice as he spoke struck straight to her heart. Why was she so torn to hear this guy so heartbroken? She bit her lower lip as he talked about pictures. She so very much wanted to regain her memory of the past nine years but she was scared of it too. It was memory she had lost or had gotten tucked away inside her. She had no idea what any of that would be. Zain seemed so hopeful that she would remember him. She didn’t want to hurt the guy any more than he seemed to be. Holly’s eyes moved from the floor to his wallet as he dug it out and shifted through it looking for the pictures he had spoken of. His longing was hurting her and she still couldn’t understand why. She barely knew him why was her heart aching so for him? She looked up at his face as he spoke again. “I don’t have them with me…” She tried to give him a smile but couldn’t pull her lips into the smile she usually always wore.

Her eyes looked to the hand that he held out to her. She blinked a few times looking at the earring. Carefully she picked it up from his hand and studied it. Something was familiar about it. Closing her hand around the earring she closed her eyes and thought hard on where she had seen it before. Suddenly an image of a small gold gift box flashed across her mind’s eye. It was from her sister. She couldn’t remember why it was given to her but she knew it was special. Holly bit her lip as she watched the memory play out in her head. Inside the gift box was a pair of earrings she younger sister had made just for her. They were one of a kind and had meant so very much to her. Where was the other one then? Opening her eyes she looked back to Zain, and caught the end of his sentence. “…at the motel I’m staying at.” He must have been talking about the picture again. Holly looked back down at the earring in her hand for a moment before nodding and holding it close to her chest. “Meet me out back…” She said softly and turned quickly to go back to the dressing room.

In the dressing room a few of the girls asked her if she was alright. Holly just nodded and told them she was going home for the night. She changed quickly into a pair of blue jeans and a gray tee shirt with a purple heart on it. She threw all her things into her bag and waved to the girls as she grabbed the bag and moved to the back door, pushing it open and stepping out into the cool night air. She took a deep breath and let it out shakily. This night was turning out to be more than what she had planned for when she left her apartment.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

“Meet me out back…” Zain gave a smile as she turned around and walked off to the dressing rooms. At least she wasn't making it hard on him. Her agreeing would make it easier than having to follow her around until she agreed... He didn't want to come off as a stalker or someone creepy after all. Sighing, he turned around and left the building. People had been eying him the whole time but he could honestly care less about that at the moment. The only thing that mattered to him was that he found his loved one.
Once outside he started up his car and drove it around back. He made sure to turn the heat on so she wouldn't be cold on the way to the hotel...Now all he had to do was wait for her to come out.

Zain hopped out of his car, letting it run so the heat would stay up and leaned against his car. Holly come out looking as beautiful as ever. He gave her a nod and opened the passenger side door for her to get in. Once she was situated he shut the door and climbed in himself. As he pulled out he turned the heat down a little then turned the radio on her favorite station. "Hope you don't mind music." He said keeping the volume a little low.

The ride was rather quiet, although he didn't mind that, he was relaxing himself and enjoying the music that had been playing. His fingers tapped to the beat on the steering wheel. Nearing twenty minutes after they had left the club he pulled into an expensive looking hotel. "Come on." He gave her a smile as he left his car.

"I wouldn't call it homey....but at least it's comfortable. You should see our house. Everything is decorated by you." He looked away from her and started going through drawers for any pictures he could find. "Make yourself comfortable."

((Just wanted to get things moving...hope you dont mind(: ))

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

Turning to look around after she had calmed herself down Holly spotted Zain leaning against his car. She offered him a small smile as she made her way over to him. Her heels clicked softly on the pavement as she walked and chewed on her lip a little. He opened the passenger side door for her and she slid in quickly. The heat was on in his car and she was glad of it. While being a wereleopard made them both run a bit hotter than humans the cold was still that, cold. He closed the door and hurried around to the driver’s side and climbed in as she moved her bag around at her feet. Her thoughts were all over the place as she watched him pull out of the parking lot. A small smile broke her lips as he turned the radio to her favorite station and shook her head a little. She loved music and he knew her favorite station. Of course that could just be a coincidence a small part of her brain thought as she settled back in her seat. A larger part of her mind refused to believe it though.

The ride was quiet and she took the time to look him over more closely. He was the same as she could remember him from college, a little older but not much. One thing about them, once they hit about 20 their aging slowed to nearly a halt. His fingers tapping on the steering wheel drew her eyes to them. They were long and tanned like the rest of his skin and some part of her longed to have them touching her skin. The twenty minute drive she spent watching his every move. Little things seemed so familiar to her but she couldn’t place if they were from college or in the time after that he claimed they were married. The look on his face told her that he was more relaxed now that he was out of the club but she could still see and feel that hurt underneath it all. She so longed to cure that look from his face but was not sure if she would be able to. And if everything that he had said were true, how would her past few months affect them now? Her mind whirled with these thoughts and she didn’t even notice they had reached the hotel until he cut the engine and spoke to her.

She stepped out of the car and softly placed her hand in his offered hand. His hand felt so right in hers and she held it tightly, reassuring herself that this was all real. Leaving her bag in his car she walked with him up to his room. Her mind still spun as she thought about what could happen tonight. Oddly enough the thoughts that never even crossed her mind were thoughts of him doing unpleasant things to her, they never even touched the surface of her thoughts. Holly chewed on her lower lip as he opened the door to his room. She walked in with him and let him close the door softly behind her as her eyes looked around. The walls were covered in ugly wallpaper, she had seen worse but it was the same with most hotels. Her eyes were drawn from the room and back to him as he spoke. A small smile lit her face as she thought about ‘their’ house. She could see herself decorating a house of her own, but seeing a guy let her, now that was a bit difficult for her to see. As he moved away from her their hands dropped and she softly bit the inside of her cheek as she felt almost a loss from that simple thing. Shaking her head softly as his back was to her she watched him for a moment as he started going through drawers. How long had he been staying here? She wondered as she let her eyes move from him to the rest of the room.

It only had one bed, a king, and in front of that was the usual set up of a TV in an amour. The doors were open on it but the TV was off. Sitting on the corner of the bed, Holly slipped her heels off as she took in the rest of the room. It seemed to be like most hotel rooms. Glancing to the window she could see that there was a small balcony out the sliding doors. Setting her heels on the ground she scooted herself more onto the bed and tucked her feet under her and looked around at the things of Zain’s in the room. She could see many things around and wondered again how long he had been here and how long he planned on staying. Taking her thoughts away from his things she looked back to Zain and watched him look through drawers. “Did you find anything?” She asked softly, her eyes hopeful. She had already had once memory come back to her from him, who knew what else he could give her.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

Zain smiled to himself at the fact she had held hands with him. It felt wonderful for her hand to be back into his again. As he shuffled through his things, he laid certain pictures on top the dresser making sure to remember as many details about the days when they were taken. That way, he could tell her exactly what happened on those certain days and just maybe it'll spark memories. Any little memory he could have her remember would be a great start and he made a mental note to stay as patient as he needed to be with her.

By the time he had brought out seven pictures he figured that might be good enough for now. And if she would be ready for more he would pull out as many as she wished to see. He would also be sure to have all their albums mailed over so she could be really occupied for a while. After the pictures are all looked through he could bring out certain objects that meant a lot to her. Ashleys toys could probably help a lot as well. Ashely had been their pride and joy ever since they found out they were going to have a baby. That might help Holly more than anything else. “Did you find anything?” Her voice rang into his ears.

He turned his head to look at her. "Yeah, just setting some other things aside that might help later." He told her and started going back through his drawers. He made sure to put the other pictures and objects to the right side of his drawer so he could show her them later and the other things he could show her that he knew might not help he sat aside to the left.

He shut his drawer with a sigh then picked up his pictures he had sat out for her. "I have much more to show you, but I don't want to overwhelm you." He began sitting on the bed beside her and folding his legs. "Here." Zain handed over a picture of Ashley. A school picture from last night that was in her little year book as well. Ashley had been so excited when her pictures come back and when the year book come out that she talked about it non stop for a few weeks. She had showed Holly and Zain both all her little friends in the book as well as the class superlatives and other random pictures. Hopefully, this would spark a memory for her. "That's Ashley. She was so excited when the pictures came in." He didn't bother asking her if it brought back memories, afraid it would put stress on her. He wanted the memories to come back on their own, not forced. "Are you okay?" He asked still worried.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

She nodded slightly and watched him for another moment as he shuffled through his things. Her thoughts wander as she watched him, bring a small smile to her face. Shaking her head lightly she dug into her pocket and pulled the earring out from earlier that night. She turned it over and over in her hands as she waited for him. This was hers. That she was sure of. She was also sure that she hadn’t been in college anymore when her sister gave the set to her. So that meant he had to know her after college right? He had to at least be in part of the memories she had lost. Her fingers traced over the earring as she waited for him to come to her with pictures.

His voice pulled her from her thoughts and she looked up into his face. She became lost for a few moments as she stared into his eyes. How could she forget a face like his? How could someone as gentle and kind have fallen for her in the first place? She was so lost and she just wanted to remember so bad. At least there were no headaches yet, but the night was still young. Blinking a few times she realized he was handing her a picture. She took the picture carefully from his hand and watched him look at it before she cast her own eyes down at the picture. ‘That’s Ashley’ was all that she heard from his lips as she was sucked into the picture. It was a school picture so there wasn’t much to other than a background and the little blonde girl. But all it took was the little blonde girl. Holly bit her lower lip as she stared at the picture. One hand held the picture and the other traced along the girls face.

The face of the girl had instantly made her heart ache with loss. All she had needed was the girls face to link the name tattooed on her shoulder. “Ashley…” she whispered softly, her memories of the little girl flowed back to her in a steady stream. She was Holly’s first and only daughter. Her flesh and blood. Her hands shook as she began to remember what a good part of her last 8 years had been spent doing. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared at the picture. She couldn’t ever imagine having forgotten one of the most important people in her life. ‘Are you ok?’ His voice brought her back to the room and she shook her head softly, tears slipping from her eyes. “How could I have forgotten her?” Clutches the picture to her chest and closes her eyes, tears still slipping from the corners. Shaking she tried to focus on him and other things he had told her. “She’s missing? She’s still missing?” Shakes her head, her tears coming faster. “She can’t be missing! She’s only eight! Oh god….what if something happens to her?” At this point she began sobbing softly and trying to hold it all back at the same time. She remembered Ashley, her daughter but Zain, her husband and the father to her beloved daughter she was still fuzzy on. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry for breaking down like this….I just can’t imagine her in the world all alone!” Reaches behind her and grabs one of the pillows and clutches it tightly.

[ZAIN CARVATOR]

The look on her face was almost to hard to watch. He hated seeing his wife in any sort of pain mentally or physically. “How could I have forgotten her?” Zain wasn't sure whether to smile or frown or...both. Remembering Ashley was something that was definitely a good thing and she obviously knew their daughter was missing. If anything, the memory of what happened to her would flood back as well so they would at least know something. In his heart, their daughter was still alive and somewhere to be found. The problem though, where was she? She could be in the country, America, or some other country lost and confused. He was just glad he taught her how to take care of herself in case she would get lost. He knew very well Ashley was young but she was also a very bright young girl, and she's a wereleopard which helps her on survival.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry for breaking down like this….I just can’t imagine her in the world all alone!” His facial expression went from frowning to worried. Besides not knowing what memories, if any, of him, Zain didn't know whether to hold her or let her be. He didn't want to do anything wrong so this put him in a bit of an awkward position. He went to take her into his arms and let her know everything would be alright but what if she didn't want him to hold her? He sighed softly doing the only thing he knew to do.... he placed hand on her back and moved so he was sitting against her then rubbed her back lightly. "I'm sure she's okay. We taught her well we just..." He started looking at his lap. Her breaking down made him want to fall apart but the Alpha in him made him hold himself together, at least for now. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold himself back but for her he would do anything.

"I've been looking for her. We can find her, Holly. She's still out there we just need to be as patient as we can." He paused realizing his words were harder to do then to speak. Being patient on waiting for their daughter isn't something easy to accomplish. What else were they supposed to do though? He had been searching for so long for his wife or daughter and patients got him to Holly... Hopefully, it will do the same for his one and only daughter. Zain sighed setting the other pictures on the other side of the bed. He knew they were to much for her right now. When she wanted to see more, though, he would. But for now, he needed to be there for her. "We'll find her." He said again to reassure her. His arm was around her now, rubbing her arm.

[HOLLY CARVATOR]

Holly shook her head and shivered. Ashley. Her daughter. It was all so much to remember at one time. Looking at Zain she felt even more guilt and pain. He looked so worried, whether about her or Ashley she wasn’t quite sure but either way; she hated seeing that look on his face. She wasn’t sure why but she just felt so drawn to him. She had found him and now she never wanted to leave his side again. That’s what it felt like. That if she left her whole world would fall apart. When he put his arm around her she instantly felt better. Not enough to make the tears stop but enough to make the shivering stop. She could feel the tension in him. He didn’t know what to do she thought. She did though, well she knew what she wanted. She leaned against him and buried her face against his neck listening to his words. Being this close to him just felt right.

‘We taught her well…’ Those words stuck in her head. We. Was he really Ashley’s father? Was she really married to him? She only wished she could remember. Holly held on tight to him. She could believe him being Ashley’s father. She could feel the genuine care and love that he felt for her. As to whether or not she was married to him was something she wondered about. It was something she hoped was true. She had always said she would only marry one guy and only have kids with that one person. It had been a belief of hers since before college. Looking up at Zain she listened to his words and nodded. Wiping the tears from her eyes she nodded softly. She had never been much for patience but if it might bring her daughter back to her she would learn it. Taking a few deep breaths she slowly started to calm herself, her alpha leopard taking over. She watched him move the pictures away and sighed softly as his hand stroked her arm. The tears had stopped now but the shivers came back. They were faint but present all the same.

Closing her eyes for a moment she sighed softly and pulled gently away from him and looked up at his face, their legs still touching. “Do..do you have any pictures of us?” She asked hesitantly. Her hand instantly went to her necklace as she asked. The ring attached to it she believed to be her mother’s and she always drew comfort and hope from it. She often fiddled with it when she was nervous or thinking. She couldn’t explain why she felt this pull to Zain. It was like they had always been meant to be together and now that they were again nothing could go wrong, except not knowing where their daughter was. One hand played with the ring and then other rested on her leg, fingertips brushing his legs gently.