Today was the day.
The day they'd be leaving for Paris.
Although there was the excitement of traveling looming in her heart, Raine's fear of flying was driving her mind crazy. In fact, she hadn't gotten an hour of sleep the night before.
Every time she'd shut her eyes, flashbacks of the past reappeared before her eyes, ripping her heart into pieces all over again.
And even though she was dreading going on this trip, there was nothing she could do to protect herself. It was her job to be with Xavier and assist him on these occasions and she couldn't let her phobia of flying get in the way.
Xavier Thorn >> Good morning Raine. This is just a reminder that the flight is going to be taking off later this afternoon so make sure you've got everything you need packed.
Raine Woods >> Morning Xav! I have everything ready and the bookings for Paris are all confirmed.
Xavier Thorn >> Great. I'll be coming by to recieve you with Jordon.
Raine Woods >> Sounds good.
After a quick reply, she tucked her phone away and got out of bed exhausted. There were bags under her eyes and traces of tears from the nightmares that had kept her wake all night.
As she looked in the mirror, she chringed hard at her appearance. She had to get her act together because there was no way she wanted Xavier to see her like this. She couldn't let him know what bothered her all night. She was afraid she'd scare him away.
* * *
Raine spent the majority of her day, calming her nerves down and preparing for the night. They would be staying in Paris for two nights and she needed to make sure she had everything she'd need and that when they arrived there, everything was planned to perfection.
Xavier never accepted anything less then perfect and even though he had a soft spot for her, she needed to make sure she delivered excellence.
It was late afternoon when the doorbell rang. Raine rushed to the front, opening the door to find Xavier standing in all his glory, dressed in a loose t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Jordon was standing behind him, dressed in usual his unform.
"Hello Raine." He greeted with a smile. "Shall we get going?"
"Yeah." Raine said, weakly smiling at Xavier and Jordon. "Let me get my luggage."
"Allow me, Raine." Jordon interrupted, walking towards her bags.
Xavier stared at Raine, noticing her dim face. She wasn't shining brightly like she had been every other day he'd seen her.
"You alright?" Xavier asked with concern.
"Yeah." She nodded. "I didn't get much sleep last night, that's all."
"Don't worry. You'll get plenty of rest in the flight." Xavier reassured.
The two of them walked down to the car, following Jordon's lead. He loaded the luggage in the truck besides Xavier's and held the door open for both Raine and Xavier to get inside while he took the driver seat.
It didn't take long for them to tread through the traffic and reach the airport. Unlike normal people, Xavier had his own jet and private runway that was located besides the main airport.
Jordon drove all the way through the gates and stopped the car right in front of a sleek white jet that had Thorn Inc's logo printed on the side.
Xavier got out of the car, allowing Raine to slip out before taking her hand.
"Hey." Xavier said, squeezing her hand as they stepped on the narrow staircase that led up to the airplane. "You're gunna be just fine. I'm right here ok?" Xavier assured sweetly.
"Humm..." Raine nodded, taking small steps up the ramp and into the private jet.
The jet wasn't like anything Raine had imagined. It was roomy and spacicous with large reclinable seats arranged in rows of two. There was a bar at the end of the jet and TV's behind every seat. The interior was a clean white and the oval windows lined on each side of the jet, allowed the perfect amount of light to brighten up the space.
"Hello Ms. Woods." Said a man coming out from the cockpit. "I'm Drew Walker, and I'll be your pilot for this flight."
"Hello." Raine said giving him a polite smile.
"And this is my flight crew Eva and Marisa." He said gesturing to the two young ladies standing in uniform.
"Raine, go ahead and take a seat." Xavier said. "I'll just talk with the crew and we'll be on our way."
Raine nodded before she turned to pick one of the open seats onboard. Although the flight was equipped with everything to make one feel upmost comfort, it was the last thing on Raine's mind.
She sat down slowly, glancing at Xavier who was talking with the others yet looking at her and smiling.
After a couple minutes of chitchat, Xavier ended the conversation, coming next to Raine and sitting down besides her.
"Ready to go?" He asked, waiting for Raine to reply, but no words left mouth. All she could do was nod in agreement before taking her eyes away from Xavier.
The engines of the plane powered on, and slowly she found the plane moving out of its parking spot and making it's way towards the runway. Raine clutched onto the leathered seats as tight as she could, her nails scratching the material. Her eyes shut as tight as they possibly could while she felt the asphalt roll beneath the rubber wheels of the aircraft.
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and panic surged through her body. Flashbacks played in front of her eyes and before she knew it, Raine found herself struggling to take breaths.
"Hey?" Xavier whispered, noticing Raine's stressed state. "Raine, look at me." He said.
However, Raine's eyes did not open which caused a frown to form on Xavier's face. "Raine look at me." He said once more, resting his hand on top of her's.
"It's alright. It's just a flight. Nothing to be scared of." He assured, but nothing seemed to work.
Suddenly, the plane came to a haulting stop before the engines repowered, roaring against the wind. Within a couple of seconds, the flight accelerated to full speed, treading through the wind before slowly lifting off the ground.
Raine began to breath rapidly, tears falling from her sealed eyes and a look of fear etched her face.
"Raine?!" Xavier said, worried more then before.
"X-Xavier... Xavâ" She mumbled through sobs that were now raking her body. Her fingers were trembling against Xavier's touch and her body was shivering visibly.
Scared was now an understatement to describe what Xavier felt. The painful feeling forming in the pit of his stomach, made him feel sick at a single glance of Raine.
Quickly, Xavier reach over, grabbing her into his arms and shifting her into his lap. He cradled her in his arms, pressing her head against his chest as he rubbed her back and whispered sweet nothings into her ears.
"I've got you Raine. Nothing is going to happen, I promise." He said, massaging his fingers through her hair.
"X-Xavier make it s-stop!" She sobbed hysterically. "We're going to crash Xavier! We're gunna crash! Make it stop!"
"Nothing is going to happen Raine." Xavier told her confidently. "I promise we won't crash."
Xavier's words were encouraging, yet they couldn't make Raine's tears stop. They were amongst the weightless clouds, yet there was nothing that could lift the heavy burden of memories off her shoulders. They were flying through the bright sky, yet nothing could eliminate the dark past that haunted her dreams.
Yet, as she laid there, nestled in his arms, she knew there was no other place that she would be as safe as she was now.
How could one be so terrified, yet content at the same time?
"It's ok. I'm here." Xavier whispered in a soothing voice.
"We'll be there in no time, Raine. We're safe and sound. I won't let anything happen." He whispered.
And like this, he continued to whisper, assuring her that nothing would happen while she was with him. That he would protect her from anything and everything that would ever try to hurt her.
Eventually, her sobs died down and her breaths slowed under his skin. She cuddled closer to Xavier as she slept, occasionally shivering.
Xavier's fingers trailed over her soft cheeks, stroking the tears away from her flawless skin. He felt her fingers grip his shirt tighter as she pulled herself against him subconsciously.
A subtle smile appeared on his exhausted face before it was quickly washed away with a frown.
As he sat in his seat, with Raine sleeping heavily in his lap, his mind worked busily, trying to fit all of the pieces to this complicated puzzle.
The puzzle being Raine.
Sure, it's wasn't uncommon to be afraid of going in an airplane for the first time. But the way Raine had reacted, the panic in her eyes, and the way her body shook with fear, that was anything but normal.
There was something else. A piece of the puzzle that was missing. A piece of the puzzle that Xavier was determined to find.
* * *
It had been hours since they had taken off from New York. Raine was still fast asleep and Xavier hadn't budged an inch, afraid that he'd wake her up.
Jordon had been in and out of the cabin a couple of times and was confused when he found Raine in Xavier's arms.
"Is she alright, Mr. Thorn?" He asked worriedly when he found Raine bunched up on Xavier's lap.
"I... I'm not to sure." Xavier said as he fingers played around with her long brown locks. "She was quiet scared when the flight took off."
"It's very common for one to be scared at first." Jordon reasoned.
"Yeah but she wasn't just scared. She was... she was petrified."
"Maybe she has a phobia of flying or heights." Eva, the flight attendant, said as she served Xavier a drink.
"I wish I knew before." Xavier confessed. "I wouldn't have ever brought her along, if I had known she'd be this terrified. I couldn't ever hurt her in such a way."
"Mr. Thorn, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. At least on her first flight, she was lucky enough to have you comfort her." Jordon suggested.
"I just hope she remains asleep for the remainer of the flight. I can't imagine putting her through the same fear when we land." Xavier said as he looked down at her peaceful face.
"Don't worry about it Mr. Thorn. We should be landing in a couple of hours and I'm sure Raine will stay alseep due to the time difference."
"Hopefully."
* * *
Hour after hour had passed as they raced the sun to get to Paris. Xavier had been up for the majority of the flight, but sleep had won the victory when his eyes dropped slowly until they completed sealed.
The sound of glass clattering woke Xavier up. He scrunched his eyes, frowning while he looked around.
He was still in his jet. He was still amongst the clouds. But most importantly, he was still holding Raine.
Xavier reached up to her forhead, pushing the loose hairs away from her face. But just as the tips of his fingers brushed against her soft skin, Xavier's eyes widened.
"Jordon!" He shouted, looking down at Raine with concern.
"Yes Mr. Thorn, is everything alright?" Jordon asked, rushing from behind.
"I need a doctor as soon as the flight lands." Xaver notified. "She's burning up with a fever." He said, looking down at Raine with worry.
"I'll make the arrangements right away."
Worried out of his mind, Xavier readjusted Raine's sleeping body so that she was more comfortable as she sleeped peacefully in his arms, her head resting on his chest. Her body was warm and weak, and he could feel her soft, slow breaths as her chest rose and fell in rhythmically.
He couldn't help but feel guilty for everything.
* * *
The wheels of the jet came crashing down as they made contact with the black asphalt coated runway.
Xavier hands covered Raine's ears tightly as he pressed her against himself, shielding away any noise that could wake her up.
Within a couple of minutes, they were cleared to depart the jet. Xavier lifted Raine into the comfort of his arms as he carried her out the jet and into the black limousine that was waiting patiently for them.
Although her temperature had lower a bit, heat was still radiating off her fragile body and worry was still looming in Xavier's mind.
The limousine sped it's way to it's destination, coming to a soft stop at the entrance of Lá ParÃs Hotel and Spa by Thorn Inc. It was Paris' biggest luxury resort, located just in front of the Eiffel Tower.
The walls were an ornate champagne color, lighted in hues of yellows and golds with a grand staircase leading up to the tall glass doors. Jordon exited the vehicle, ordering security guards to stand in their positions before finally allowing Xavier to step out with Raine in his arms.
Taking brisk steps up the staircase, Xavier hurried his way through the lobby, gesturing Jordon to grab the keys to his presidential suite located on the top floor of the north tower.
As soon as Jordon opened the door to his grand suite, decorated in gold and crystal pieces, Xavier carried Raine into the master bedroom, laying her gently on the plush bed.
The doctor had already arrived and Jordon led him through the suite and to Raine, inspecting her while Xavier stood to the still, biting his nails in frustration.
"What happened to her Dr. Raphael?" Xavier asked after a couple of minutes.
"Was it her first time traveling via the air?" He asked, instead of answered.
"I believe so." Xavier responded. "She had mentioned that she'd never flown anywhere before and just as the plane started up, she began to panic."
"The temperature was a result of stress, mostly due to her fear of flying. Although, it isn't normal to react this extremely." The doctor began. "I can prescribe some medication for her but I do think that the root to her phobia involves more then just air travel."
"Thank you." Xavier said with appreciation and gratitude.
"Other then that, rest should do the trick." Dr. Raphael notified, glancing at Raine's unconscious figure.
* * *
"Feeling better?" Xavier asked as soon as Raine's eyes fluttered open.
She'd been out for quite some time and Xavier had stayed by her side, each and every minute.
Raine cleared her vision, rubbing her eyes and looking around at her surroundings. The suite was just as lavish as she'd except from Xavier, yet her eyes didn't focus on the shimmering chandeliers nor the glimmering views of the Eiffel Tower from the window. Her eyes land on Xavier, focusing on his tired face and blue eyes.
He walked up to her slowly, helping her sit up before handing her a glass of water.
"Ahh." Raine groaned, bring her hand up to her head that was throbbing.
Xavier flinched at her pain, concern swirling in his azure eyes. "What happened Raine? Are you alright?"
"My head..." She said weakly. "Where are we?"
"At the hotel." Xavier said softly, handing Raine two tablets. "Take these. They'll make you feel better."
"The plane?"
"We landed an hour ago. You were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up."
"Oh..." Raine said, looking away from Xavier's eyes. But he didn't miss the slight bit of embarrassment that was looming in her coffee brown orbs.
"What's wrong Raine?" Xavier whispered softly, afraid he'd hurt her fragile heart.
"What's wrong?" She repeated obliviously.
"Raine." Xavier said, taking a seat besides her while reaching out for her hands, encasing them in his own warm ones. "Tell me what's going on. What's scaring you? I want to know why you were so scared."
"I... I am afraid of flights and heights so... it was my first time flying. I'm sorry." She let out, her eyes never meeting Xavier's.
"Sorry?" Xavier said with disbelief. "You think I want to hear a sorry from you Raine?"
"Iâ" Raine began, only to get cut off by Xavier.
"Raine, I want to know why you were trembling on that flight. Why you were crying. Why you were shivering with fear!" Xavier stormed. "And don't you dare tell me it was because you were scared. Cause you and I both know, that it would be a lie."
"N-nothing. Nothing's wrong Xavier, no need to worry." She mumbled, afraid of the storm that was now forming in the blue of his eyes.
"No need to worried?! Hell yes, there's a need to worry! I'm not stupid Raine, nor am I blind." He paused, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. "Why can't you tell me? Do you not trust me Raine? Is that what it is?" Xavier whispered softly, defeat evident in his voice.
"No!" Raine said immediately. "Xavier I trust you more than anyone."
"Then what's the matter? Why can't you tell me the truth? What worries you Raine? What keeps you up at night? What scares you Raine? Tell me."
"I... I can't."
"You can't?" Xavier said. "Why not?"
"Because you won't understand!" Raine said, raising her voice as tears welled up in her eyes. "You just won't understand."
"Then help me." Xavier whispered, leaning closer to her. "Help me understand Raine. Let me in." He pleaded.
"I'm scared Xavier." She confessed, tears dripping from her eyes.
The pain in Xavier's chest at the sight of her tears, was something Xavier had never felt before. Within a fraction of a second, he pulled Raine into his lap, leaning against the headboard with Raine cradled in his arms. "Of what?" He asked gently, pushing the tears away.
"I'm scared that you'll see me different. That you will hate me. That you will leave me."
"There is nothing, absolutley nothing that could make me hate you. Do you hear that Raine?" Xavier whispered against her skin. "And I can't ever leave you Raine."
"They died." Raine whispered softly before tears began streaming out her eyes profoundly. "They died Xavier. They died and they left me all alone. How could they? How could they Xavier?" She wept, throwing her face into Xavier's chest.
Shock covered Xavier's face but it was quickly replaced by concern. He wrapped his arms tightly around her body, holding her against his heart as he comforted her.
"It's ok Raine. Shhh." He whispered waiting for her to calm down before he could inquire further. "Who?"
Raine pulled out of his arms, wiping her tears away before trying to pull out of Xavier's lap. But he refused to let her go, holding her firmly in his embrace.
"I was 10 years old." She began soflty. "My mom and dad were the best parents any girl could have ever asked for. They were just perfect. We were perfect. But perfect doesn't exist in this world, Xavier...So perfect was stolen from us."
Xavier listened attentively as Raine began her story. "My parents worked in a big business company. They had high positions and both of them were in love with their jobs... One day, their boss asked them to go on a business meeting to Washington DC to represent the company on his behalf. The CEO was flying out of the country and couldn't make it himself but he trusted my parents enough to send them instead."
"They were gunna be gone for two weeks and I was furious. They hadn't ever left me alone before and I couldn't even imagine staying without them... Somehow, Mom convinced me though, and I accepted. They left me at my Aunt's house. I wasn't happy but I was fine with it. They'd be back in two weeks and that's all that mattered." Raine whispered, pushed her hair behind her ears as she looked down. "After the two miserable weeks were over, I got a call from Dad saying they had to extend their stay for another week. I was so mad. I hung up the phone and ran out, taking my scooter with me. I was crying and upset and I didn't... I didn't see a car coming towards my direction."
"Oh god." Xavier whispered.
"I don't remember getting hit." Raine said. "All I know is that I was taken to the hospital with a broken leg and fractured arm."
"I'm so sorry." Xavier said, trailing his fingers across her arms.
"No. That's not the worst of it." Raine continued. "My Aunt called my parents and they freaked out. They took the very next flight to come home. They shouldn't have though." Raine said, tears flowing out of her eyes at a constant pace.
Xavier tried hard to wipe them away but how much could he wipe away? He could fix her from the outside but he couldn't fix the agony that was within her heart. He could eliminate the tears that leaked from her eyes but he couldn't eliminate the tears that resided in her heart. The tears that symbolized her pain, her suffering.
"When I woke up the next day, I was in a hospital. I looked around for my parents but there was no one. No mom, no dad. No one." Raine whispered, a sob escaping her lips. "Their fight had c-crashed... No one survived. Not a single person."
Xavier's eyes widened in shock as he found tears well up in his own eyes for the first time. He had never cried after adulthood had hit him. Not even when his father died. Not a single tear.
But here he was. Sitting on a bed in the middle of France with a crying girl in his arms. And seeing her cry, hurt him in a way no other had. Seeing her in pain, pained him more then anything else ever had.
"I'm so sorry Raine." Xavier said, blinking his own tears away. He couldn't help but feel guilty for making her relive the moments she feared most in her life.
"I never got to say goodbye. I never got to tell them how much I loved them. How much they meant to me." Raine cried.
"Shhhh..." Xavier said, trying to comfort her. "It's ok Raine."
"It was my fault Xavier. It was all my fault. If it wasn't for me, then they'd still be alive right now."
"No Raine." Xavier said as he cupped her face and pressed his lips against her forehead. "It was not your fault. You were just a child. You were innocent . The flight crashing was an accident."
"It is my fault Xavier." Raine refuted. "If I hadn't left the house in anger, if I had ran off like that, I wouldn't have gotten hit. Mom and Dad wouldn't have taken the next flight home. They would have been alive. They would have come back to me. They would have hugged me." Raine said, smiling sadly. "I killed them Xavier. I killed my own parents."
"Stop it Raine!" Xavier said, covering her mouth so that she couldn't speak the cruel words about herself. "You can't blame yourself Raine. You didn't know any of this would happen. It was an accident. Do you hear that? An accident." He reassured.
"I never got to say goodbye." Raine whispered, her eyes hollow. She looked so empty, so lost. Who could have possibly guessed that the girl who smiled the brightest would have so much pain embedded in her heart.
"All I have left of them is this." She said looking down at the silver ring on her thumb. "My Aunt sold the diamond ring my Dad got my Mom to pay for the funeral. But I was able to save this. My Dad's ring." Raine said as another sob escaped her lips.
"It's ok." Xavier whispered, caressing her cheeks.
"They were the only people that loved me and now they're gone." Raine whispered, sobbing into Xavier's chest.
"Don't say that Raine." He said rubbing her back in a soothing manor.
"You were loved " Xavier said cupping her face. "And you are loved." He whispered, kissing her forehead softly.
______________________
A/N: Hey guys! Happy Spring! I hope all of you enjoyed finding out a part of Raine's past! I have to say this is probably one of my favorite chapters but there is still a lot more to come! Stay tuned!
Question of the day: What's your most memorable airport/airplane experience?
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Breathe