He had to watch, because despite himself, he felt he could really be able to fall for her.
Hayden returned home at week's end. Kristen had even offered to pick him up from the airport.
Hayden had just gotten his suitcase from baggage claim when he saw Kristen walking toward him.
Just seeing her again gave him an overwhelming feeling of elation.
He grinned and walked toward her.
Before she could even speak, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply.
Kristen returned the kiss and smiled, pulling away. "Oh boy...we may end up in a tabloid for that."
Hayden smirked, "right now, I really don't care."
The two walked out to Kristen's car and Kristen asked about his flight.
"It's always a tiring flight and now I have to get used to the time change again...but its not too bad....I'm glad to be back here, with you."
Kristen smiled, "I'm glad you're back too."
~~~~~
Hayden was between projects and continued to enjoy his extended vacation for the next several weeks.
He was able to see Kristen everyday and they spent every evening together as well.
The two had decided to take things slow- they wanted the chance to truly get to know each other before becoming intimate. Of course, being a male, this was something that could at times cause Hayden frustration. At the same time, he was more than willing to give Kristen the space and time she needed.
Hayden knew that Kristen cared about him but as much as he just wanted to revel in that fact, a nagging feeling was always in the back of his mind....he could tell in some way, Kristen was still holding back. He couldn't shake the feeling that more was going on with this girl than met the eye but he never pressed for any more information than she was willing to volunteer.
He never pushed the subject but it finally came to light one evening - Hayden had taken Kristen out to dinner and for a walk in the park.
Hayden decided to carefully broach the subject while the two were walking through the park.
"Is there something going on? Are you ok?" he asked quietly.
Kristen seemed to snap out of her revelry, "I'm fine -- what made you think something was wrong?"
"You haven't been acting yourself much lately... I mean, it seems like you're holding back....its fine if you are because we haven't known each very long, but it almost feels like you're growing more uncomfortable with me again."
"No," Kristen said quickly. "It's not you."
Hayden shook his head, "then it is something...something is going on...please....tell me."
Kristen turned her face away from Hayden so he wouldn't see the tears forming in her eyes.
Hayden caught her shoulder and turned her to face him.
"Please...talk to me Kristen."
Kristen looked up at him, "It's very hard to talk about...and I'm scared...I don't know how it may change things."
Hayden was taken aback. "Kristen...just talk to me, tell me what's wrong."
The two sat down on a bench. Kristen looking at her hands for a moment before she spoke.
"I have never really talked about my father very much."
Hayden nodded in understanding -- he couldn't remember if he even knew her father's name. They had rarely spoken of him if at all.
Kristen took a breath and continued, "...well, he abandoned my family when I was 9. We didn't see him for a couple of years until he showed up on the doorstep begging my mother to take him back --mainly because he'd spent every last dime that we had on gambling in Vegas."
Hayden remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"My mother was weak and took him back, so he lived with us again. Things were alright for about six months or so, and then he started drinking again.....I was only 12 at the time but I still knew what was going on. I would be getting ready for school and my mother would be calling in to my father's work, explaining that he was to sick to go in -- when in reality he was lying on the couch still drunk."
Hayden closed his eyes, "Kristen, I'm sorry...I had no idea."
Kristen's eyes welled with tears, "....that's not even the worst of it...the part that I'm scared to tell you...the part that makes me ashamed."
Hayden put his arm around her, "you can tell me anything. You don't ever have to feel ashamed to tell me anything."
Kristen began trembling, a combination of the cool breeze and what she was about to reveal.
"...my father, in the middle of his drunken stupors, would often come into my room at night after my mother fell asleep."
Hayden's eyes widened. He sat there in silence.
Kristen started crying, "....Hayden, I didn't want to...he made me....he made me do things..horrible things."
Hayden enveloped her into a hug as she began crying even harder. "Shh...its okay sweetheart....I'm here...its okay."
Kristen calmed down a bit and looked up into his eyes. "I've been so afraid to tell you -- afraid that somehow you would see me differently....Kaylen doesn't even know."
"I don't see you as anything different than before....you're beautiful and smart...and you're a good person....and I oughtta kill that son of a bitch!" Hayden raised his voice.
Kristen grabbed his arm, "Hayden! No-- it was a long time ago...its over and done with now."
"Still....did your mother ever find out?" Hayden asked.
"I tried...but my family...we don't really talk about the bad things that happen to us. I think my mother always wanted to believe that I was making it seem worse than it really was."
"My god Kristen -- how could you make it seem worse than it was?! He molested you- how could she not do anything about it?" Hayden asked.
"He hit her too--" Kristen replied. "My mother was very frightened of my father...she was actually relieved when he walked out on us again -- two years ago."
Hayden shook his head. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that."
Kristen hugged him, "its okay...I've had time to try and deal with all of it-- I have just been so scared because I knew this was something I needed to share with you, to be completely honest with you--"
"I'm glad you did...you shouldn't have to handle things like this alone, whether it happened ten years ago or yesterday," Hayden said. "All that matters now, is that I'm with you...."
Hayden pulled away to look into her eyes, "Kristen...I know it hasn't been very long...but I have to tell you something."
Kristen stood there, looking up at him, waiting for him to continue.
"....I think that I could fall in love with you," he said.
Kristen was silent for a second and began grinning.
"I think that I could fall in love with you too."
Hayden kissed her and the two held each other in the moonlight.