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The storm was still going strong an hour later. The wind had picked up making the rain hit the window a lot harder than before. The noise echoed off the walls. Gavin had long since fallen asleep on the pile of blankets between Nick and Kayleigh. They had simply had to lay him down and sing and he was asleep within minutes. Kayleigh had been surprised at how easily they had gotten Gavin to sleep. Usually babies fussed and complained, but the moment Nick had started singing he had closed his eyes with a smile on his face.

"Take my breath away."

That's exactly what he had done to her the moment he started singing that song. She had no idea his voice sounded like that. It took her breath away and she felt like she couldn't breath. She managed to pick up the second verse when he stopped, and by the end of the song Kayleigh's heart felt like it could burst. She had never felt this way for someone in such a short amount of time. She usually had defenses and walls when she got close to a man, but with Nick it was different. She could just feel that he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.

"You ok?" He asked watching as she absently smoothed out the wrinkles on the pillowcase.

"Yea, I'm fine," she whispered, never once lifting her gaze.

She focused her eyes onto the floor and didn't dare to look up. She knew as soon as she looked him in the eye that she would break down in tears. She couldn't describe the feeling that was flowing through her heart, but she knew she never wanted it to stop.

Nick laid his hand on top of one of her own and laced their fingers together. Neither of them spoke. The silence finally got too much for Kayleigh.

"He used to beat me." Kayleigh whispered only loud enough for Nick to hear. " My father used to beat me and my mother."

Nick felt his breath catch in his throat. He hadn't expected her to say anything like that to him. He never imagined that this could have been what she was holding back; he never believed that she would finally open up to him.

"From the time I was three until I was old enough to get out of that house he physically and emotionally abused me. He used to beat the living crap out of me and leave me to bleed to death. I was lucky if one of the neighbors found me and took me to get medical attention. My mother, got the same abuse, if not worse. I think he raped her a couple of times. It was horrible Nick. Everyday it was always the same. I never could escape it. All my friends and teachers knew what was going on, but none of them knew how to stop it. Most of the kids just looked at me and my bruises like we were diseased or something." She cried

She curled into a ball on top of the blankets and cried. Nick got up and pulled her into his arms. She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried. When she finally calmed down she went on.

"I had broken wrists, ribs, and my ankle once. I tried to fight him, every time I just was never strong enough. My brother, Riley, never got any of it. It always made me so mad. My dad resented the fact that I was a girl. The doctor had originally told my parents that I would be a boy, but when I was born they found out otherwise. It made my dad angry and he never forgave my mother or me for it. My brother knew what was going o, but he never tried to stop it. He said it was because he knew Dad would kill him, I think he was always just too chicken to stand up to him. My brother and I were never really close until we got older. I dealt with everything on my own. It made me a stronger person, but it still happened. I left home on my sixteenth birthday. I went and lived with my aunt in Georgia for the remainder of my school years. I moved to Florida to go to college once I'd turned eighteen. My brother moved down here about three years ago, and we've since put our differences aside and gotten closer. I haven't seen my father in years, and I could care less if I ever do again. It's hard not to hold resentment against my mother, because she never would let anyone report him, but on the other hand I always knew that she got it just as bad as I did." She said wiping the tears from her eyes.

Nick held her tightly and rocked them back and forth. He had no idea what to say. He had no idea how one person could put up with all of that and not be completely insane. He respected her a lot more than he thought he ever could. She always seemed to take his breath away by how perfect she was.

"I'm sorry you had to live like that. I admire you a lot for how you managed to deal with things. I really appreciate you telling me, it means a lot knowing you can trust me. I want you to know I would never hit you, or harm you in any way." Nick said kissing her eyelids to stop the tears.

"I know you wouldn't hurt me, Nick. I felt like I needed to tell you if this was ever going to go any farther." She said hugging him tightly.

They sat in silence just holding each other until Nick stared singing again. She would never get tired of hearing him sing this song.

Watching I keep waiting still anticipating love Never hesitating to become the fated ones Turning and returning to some secret place to hide Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say

Take my breath away

Through the hourglass I saw you, in time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you, and turned to hear you say
If only for today I am unafraid

Take my breath away
Take my breath away

You take my breath away
My love, take my breath away