Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 143

**Blake**

By the time Dad comes back from speaking with Dr Hale, Charlotte has changed. Mum sits behind her on the bed, gently working a brush through her hair in slow strokes. Charlotte sits still between her knees, eyes half-lidded, leaning into the touch without even realising it. Mum hums under her breath, something soft and old. Charlotte’s shoulders drop a little more with every pass of the brush. Charlie stands beside the bed, arms folded, watching them both with a warm smile.

Dad clears his throat lightly at the door. “We’re ready.”

Mum ties off the end of Charlotte’s braid and presses a kiss to the top of her head before standing. Charlotte blinks up at her like she’s been pulled out of a dream.

“Ready to go home, sweetheart?” Mum asks.

Charlotte hesitates, then nods. “I think so.”

I step forward, offering my hand without thinking. She looks at it, then at me, and a blush creeps over her cheeks as she takes it.

We move slowly through the halls. A couple of nurses smile and wave as we pass. It all feels too normal for what we just dragged her out of. Theo brought my truck around this morning. I see it sitting out front, engine already running, heat fogging the windows. I open the back door first. “Hop in,” I tell her.

Charlie is already there, climbing in beside her. Titan is still too close to the surface. I can see it in the way Charlie moves, the way his eyes keep flicking over her like he’s counting her breaths. He needs her close. I think she needs it too. Lex shifts inside me, restless, pacing, wanting closer, wanting contact, wanting to check she’s still here every second. We’ll wait. We have to.

I help her into the seat, steadying her as she climbs in. Her hand lingers on my arm, and my chest tightens at the contact. Then I close the door. I circle the front, sliding into the driver’s seat. Dad takes Mum home in the other car. The drive is quiet. The heater hums, and the road stretches out ahead. In the mirror, I catch glimpses of them. Charlie leans slightly toward her. Charlotte sits with her hands folded in her lap, looking out the window, taking everything in like she’s seeing it for the first time.

When we pull into the driveway, the house stands the same. The lights are on, and the snow is pushed to the sides. I cut the engine and step out, moving around to the back before Charlie can even reach the handle. He opens it anyway, and I step back. He helps her out, one hand at her elbow, Titan sitting a little calmer in him now. She looks up at the house. “We live here?” she whispers, loud enough for both of us to hear.

Charlie laughs, the sound rough but real. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. We got lucky, sis.”

He guides her across the icy driveway, keeping his steps slow, making sure she doesn’t slip. I move ahead, unlock the door, and step aside to let them in. Charlotte pauses just inside the doorway, looking around. Her gaze moves over everything like she’s trying to find where she fits.

“Come on, pretty girl, I’ll show you your room”, I say, heading up the stairs and opening her door. She walks in slowly, looks around and then turns back to me. “Am I still broke broke?” she asks.

The corner of my mouth lifts before I can stop it. I scratch the back of my neck. “No… uh… a lot of your stuff is still in my room. I can move it back here if you’re more comfortable with that.”

Her eyes go wide, and she looks at Charlie.

He grins. “Yeah, believe it or not, you actually like cuddling the big bastard.”

The blush that creeps up her neck hits me like a memory I can’t hold onto properly. Gods. I’ve seen that before. I loved how shy she was with me at first. I step back, giving her space as she moves through the doorway. I push open the bathroom door, then the one to my room. She doesn’t hesitate. She walks straight through, like her body knows something her mind doesn’t. Lex stills inside me. *Mine.*

She stops at the foot of my bed. Her jersey sits there, folded where Mum must have placed it. She found it outside the hall after everything. Charlotte’s fingers brush over my name on it slowly. The same way she did the first time I gave it to her.

“You play hockey?” she asks.

I lean against the doorframe, watching her. “Yeah. I’m the captain. Charlie made the team, too. He goes alright.”

Charlie snorts. “I’m amazing. He just doesn’t want to admit it.”

Charlotte laughs. It’s softer this time, but it’s still her.

“Do I skate?” she asks.

I glance at Charlie, unsure of what to say here. He steps forward, taking her hands gently in his. “Would you like to?” he asks.

She bites her lip, nodding a little. “Yeah.”

He smiles. “Then yeah, you skate. Whatever you want to do. Whoever you want to be… now’s your chance to do it.” He says, a little grin breaking through, “Don’t change your name, though. That would confuse way too many people.”

She laughs again, and for a second, just a second, it feels like we didn’t lose her at all.

“Blake, Charlie,” Mum calls from downstairs.

I look at Charlotte and give her a soft smile. “We’ll be back.”

She nods, still holding the jersey between her fingers. Charlie follows me out, and we head downstairs to help Mum bring in groceries. There are too many bags, which means she’s planning to stuff us full tonight, whether anyone asks or not. We carry everything into the kitchen while she opens cupboards and gives quiet instructions. Charlie keeps glancing toward the stairs. I do too.

After the last bag is inside, I head back up. My room is quiet, and I’m surprised to find Charlotte curled up asleep on my bed. Not in her room. Mine. Ours. She’s tucked on her side, one hand under her cheek, the jersey still close beside her. My pillow is pulled against her chest, and her braid has slipped over her shoulder. Lex settles completely. I step inside slowly and pull the blanket up over her, careful not to wake her. She moves a little, pressing her face deeper into my pillow, and something warm cracks open in my chest. Her mind doesn’t remember, but some part of her came home anyway.