#blaketina

“Are you kidding me? Of course! Anything for you,” Cam states with a heartfelt smile.

“Christina is very lucky to have you in her life,” Shelley holds tightly on Cam’s hand, meaning what she said.

“… Thank you but it’s the other way around. I’m lucky to have her,” Cam nods in appreciation and ended with an evident fracture in his voice, “… She … Christina completes me…”

Shelly gives one last tight squeeze to Cam’s hand and smile, heartbreakingly and whispers with lingering of empathy, “… You’re an amazing human being, Cam and I’m happy that you walked into our life when you did.” She unlatches from Cam’s hand and reaches for the car door to exit. If anyone knew Christina, it was her mother. Shelley knows that Cam was right for Christina and after all that they’ve been through, he deserves her and her daughter deserves a man who stuck by her, one who never left despite circumstances that arises. Let’s face it; the accident could’ve left Cam running but he didn’t. The accident could’ve left Christina paralyze, but he stayed. Compared to Adam, Cam was clearly the keeper but Shelley knows her daughter. It isn’t Christina if things aren’t complicated.

Adam finally got to the hospital and parks his motorcycle in front. He grabs all the roses he got from his little trunk in the back. It wasn’t any particular dozen roses. It was twelve single roses wrapped individually as he remembered that Christina was quirky that way. As extravagant as she appeared, she was a simplistic girl at heart and that is one of the reasons why she stood out to him. She wasn’t any girl. She was the girl that spoke to his heart. And as much as he had shower her with presents in the past, it was this kind of gesture that made Christina’s heart melt. It was the right amount of cheesiness that she appreciated. He takes a whiff of the fresh roses and smile dartingly, thinking of how much points he will gain back once Christina sees them. He then takes a look into his rear mirror to check himself out one more time while straightening up his leather jacket, heading into the entrance with a confident strut. The sexiest man alive is indeed back.

While in Christina’s room, Shelley was having a full belly of laughs with her daughter. Christina subsides her laugh as she takes a glance at the clock hanging at the wall. Shelley notices that her daughter was getting impatient and decided to question her about it. “Are you expecting someone?” She grins and added, “You’re looking for Cam, aren’t you? He’ll be here soon. He wanted stop by your favorite bakery and pick you up a few goodies.”

Christina exhales, having no idea how to approach this. “Is it terrible for me to say that I’m waiting for Adam?”

Before Shelley could speak, Christina inclines her bed up while having a pillow protecting her abdomen and continue, “I know! I don’t remember the guy! But after last night, I can’t stop thinking about him, mom.”

“He has that side-effect.” Shelley mumbles under her breath and rolls her eyes.

Christina wasn’t able to catch what her mom had said which prompted her next response “What was that mom?”

“Nothing,” Shelley quickly snaps. “So you and Adam spent the night…. So how was it?”

“We did not spend the night,” Christina bashfully covers her face. “I mean he did not spend the night. We didn’t do anything!” Her face turns bright red and quips, “We talked and he’s cool.”

“Just cool?”

“He’s really cool. I feel like I know him, you know? It just felt like we caught up like best friends except it didn’t feel at all friendly; it felt like we had a relationship – something more. It felt almost therapeutic like it was something that I needed…”

“Like a closure?”

“Exactly!”

Shelley swallows hard and before she can give her two cents, a knock came at the door. It was Adam. Christina perks up instantly as he enters. “We were just talking about you.” She stated sweetly with the most adorable smile.

“Oh? All good I hope.” Adam winks at Christina as Shelley stood and watched.

Christina sees the bunch of roses he was holding and asks with the cutest pixie voice, “Do you have something for me?”

Adam giggles, “Yeah. Yeah. I hope you like these roses I picked out for you.” He hands Christina the roses as their hands touched in passing.

Christina brought the roses up to her noses and lets out a satisfying moan. “Hmmm, these are beautiful and they smell absolutely amazing. Thank you!” She then tilts her head and wonders one question, “How did you know I prefer single roses and not dozens?”

“Let’s just say, I took a lot of time out of my hands to do some observing...”

The chemistry between the two was inevitable and Shelley felt like a third wheel to the party. However, she had concerning things on her mind that she needed to address. She lets out a purposeful cough as the moment between the two broke. She approaches Adam and whispers into his ears, “Can I see you outside – for a moment – please?” She then turns to her daughter and said, “Sweetheart it’ll be only a second.”

“Sure.” Christina replies with a smile that was slowly diminishing.

Shelley and Adam step out into the hallway. They didn’t say anything for a good five minutes. Shelley then looks up with a pair of dutiful eyes and softly stated, “Lets walk over here and talk.”

With his hand nervously in his jean pockets, Adam finally decided to speak up, “So what did you wanted to talk about?”

“What are you doing?”

Confused by the question, Adam asks, “I’m sorry I don’t think I understand?”

“What are you doing with Christina? Are you trying to get her heart broken for the second time?”

“No. No. I’m ----“ Adam was completely caught off guard with the question that he did not know how to respond.

“If you forgot, let me jog your memory. You left her. You didn’t leave any girl. You left my daughter.” Shelley stated firmly with her heart shattering remembering the pain Christina went through. “You broke her into pieces. Pieces that I had to pick up.” Her jaw clinched from the intense rage she felt; she manages to continue, “And I thought the divorce she had with Jordan was tough but this, this, you were incomparable. You destroy her in ways that I didn’t think was possible.”

“I’m sorry.” Adam stated affirmatively, trying to remain composed but couldn't help the tears forming in his eyes. “My intention was never to hurt your daughter. I promise you it won’t happen again.”

Shelley bends down on her knees, meeting Adam’s height as she grab his hand. “I know honey. I don’t question your love for her but ---- “

“I love her, Shelley. You have to know that! I mean you know that, don’t you?”

“I do but sometimes love is not enough. Sometimes you have to do what is right,” Shelley pulls Adam in for a warm embrace. As tears fill her eyes, she goes in for the kill, “… Maybe this accident was a blessing in disguise. Maybe this will be good for her… Maybe it’s good she forgot that you ever existed…”

A speechless Adam looks up, absolutely confused and frustrated about what just had happened. “What? --- What are you saying?”

“Adam, I know this is selfish of me ---“

“… Then don’t say it.” Adam gets up to Shelley's face, completely outrage.

“Leave her alone if you want her to be happy again.”

“I’m not going to do that.” Adam shakes his head profusely as he tears formed into soft sobs. “I’m not – I’m not – I won’t do that.” He adamantly finishes.

“I’m afraid I saw this response coming so you leave me no choice, Adam…  but she’s going to move back to Pittsburg with me,” Shelley stated as her tears saturated her face.

“You can’t take her away from me!” Adam screams as Shelley walks away. He continues with the banter, “You can’t take her away from me!”

“You can continue talking to her as long as she is still in the hospital.” Shelley turns around, leaving with one last word, “Trust me son, you and Christina will be better off without each other.”

On the other end of the hall, Blake finally made his way up to Christina’s floor. He walks in and saw Christina struggling to sit up. He quickly runs to her and grabs a couple of pillows sitting on the couch, placing it strategically behind her back. She smiles as Blake goes in and places a soft kiss on her forehead. She lets out a cute giggle as Blake finds his seat.

"We could've been a cute couple, you know?" Blake winks and continues, "Too bad, I got married before I met you or else I would've changed my mind."

"You're such a flatterer, Shelton." 

"I had such a crush. On you." 

Christina lights up. "You did?" She finds it amusing, as she didn't think they had that much in common. She had a reason considering Hollywood hasn't seen a pop star marrying a country star and if there were such marriage, it probably didn't landed on her radar. 

"Such a crush for the longest time. I still do! In fact I don't think that's ever going to change!" Blake lets out a Santa chuckle and slyly added, "But lets just keep that between me and you. If Miranda heard this, she'll have a field day! I mean my wife she's hot, but you know, you're Christina freaking Aguilera."

Christina lets out a bashful laugh - the kind of laugh that made the boys weak in their knees. "Well, in our next life... Perhaps, you got a shot!"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"You heard that, heaven above?" Blake stands up looking at the ceiling, hoping he can reach the gods above. "Ya'll better make sure I stay single whoever manifest my next life ... until I meet this hottie. I ain't getting married until I see her, you got that?" 

"SHHH! They heard you! Now stop, shouting!" Christina pulls on Blake's sleeves as much force as she could to get him to sit back down on his seat. Passerby were peeking their head into her room, hearing that entire ruckus. 

"Okay now that I got that out of the system. Lets start the Q & A," Blake moves closer to Christina as her face adorably wrinkles.

"Q & A?"

Blake presses his lips together and stated nonchalantly, "I can tell you have questions... or something you want to tell me."

Christina looks at Blake and takes a couple of minutes to think. "I feel like I know him from somewhere."

"Who? Adam?"

Christina gulps upon hearing the name and rashly continues, "Yeah... I feel like we had something together. Did we---?"

"How can I say this, honey?" Blake begins to fidget, nervously leaning back to his chair. He was hesitant with the response, coming out sputtering, "He He-he-he was very important to you...."

"He was? So he's not anymore?" 

".... He was once very important to you. And maybe he still is.... But things happen... things change and you just don't know --- anymore, you know?"

"Did I love him?"

Saddened to hear the question, Blake nods his head with devastation of how much things have shifted. However, he responds with a twinkle evident in his eyes, knowing deep down that there's hope. And if things didn't go the way he had hoped, he was at least proud to seen the love that existed between his best friends. "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You sure did."

A beaming smile appears across Christina face upon hearing, and at this instant, it was perfect timing. Adam appears at the door. Blake quickly stands up and greets his other best friend, “Speaking of the devil….” He pats Adam on the back and whispers, “I did my best with her; your turn to finish it. You got this buddy….”

Blake left the room and closes the door behind him. Adam walks up to Christina’s bed, looking for a comfortable spot to sit on, however Christina pats a side she wanted Adam to sit on which was right next to her. He fragilely smiles and fulfilled her request. “So… what did you and my mom talked about?” She asks.

“Christina…”

“…Yeah?”

“I haven’t been exactly honest with you…”

“I’m confused. Is everything okay?”

Adam chokes, “No…I lied. We’re not friends.”

Christina smiles, knowing that her feelings were right all along. “I knew it! I knew we had something more…”

“Please Christina. Before you say anything else ----“ Adam wipes his tears and swallows painfully, “You don’t remember right now but I broke your heart…”

“You’re forgiven.” Christina naively stated as if it was that easy as she reaches her hand out and held Adam’s warmly.

Adam detaches his hand right away. “No you don’t understand. I was engaged with someone else! And-and-and I cheated on her with you!”

“Why are you doing this?” Christina’s voice cracks once the question left her lips. She did not know why what he said hurts her but it did.

“Why? Because I need to stop running from my problems and face it…. I thought this accident gave me a chance to renew our relationship but I was wrong.” A breathless Adam stated and continues, “You’re going to remember… and I want you to remember this moment when you do… that I didn’t leave you…”

Christina acknowledges Adam’s effort. “… I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know if I loved you or if I still do. But what I do know right now is that... I feel safe. I feel safe with you and that’s all that matters right at this moment.” She presents Adam her hand as he takes out his to grab ahold of hers. She pulls him in and whispers tenderly, “Kiss me.”

Disbelief by what Christina said, Adam anxiously spit out, “What?” He remembered the pact they had. They weren’t allowed to kiss each other until they were both single. He didn’t think it took today to make all this come true.

“Kiss me.” Christina reiterated once again.