On our way back from the restaurant I realised I was exhausted. Even though I had been given blood and fluids at the hospital I still felt a little weak. Now that James was nearby I was more relaxed than I had been in weeks, and now I really felt how little energy I had. Opening the front door I was greeted by Max, steaming towards me at full speed with arms outstretched and a wide smile on his face. I caught him just as he was about to trip over his own feet, lifted him up and gave him a big hug.
«Max, my man! Hows my favourite toddler?» I smiled. Max's short little arms clasped around my neck.
«Em-lee!» He squealed.
«At least someone is happy to see me,» I giggled and gave the boy a kiss on his cheek. I carried Max into the livingroom, James trailing behind me. Elin appeared from the kitchen with Amalie and both gave me hugs and welcomed me back, then they went back to their project of tidying up after dinner. With a groan I sank down into an armchair. Max sat in my lap for a little while, but he quickly got restless and crawled down from my lap and went back to his cars. Just as James sat down in the sofa his phone made a sound and he quickly looked at it, then sighed.
«I have some e-mails I have to answer...» he said a little apologetically.
«Sure, go on. I'm just going to sit here for a while and... be,» I smiled weakly. «I don't have much energy these days.» James dug out his laptop and began tapping away at his computer while I stared absent-mindedly at the TV, happy to just sit. After they had sorted out the kitchen, Elin took her daughter for a bath. A little while later Amalie came stomping determinedly into the living room in her pyjamas, carrying a book under her arm.
«I said I wanted auntie to read to me!» She called defiantly back to her mum.
«But Emily is probably very ti--» Elin shouted back, trying to be considerate.
«It's all right, I'll read to her!» I said loudly. Amalie climbed into my lap with a smug expression. Mostly Amalie did the reading, she was after all eight now, I only helped her out with a few difficult words and explained to her if she didn't understand the meaning of a sentence. I looked at James over the edge of the book and caught him looking at us, seemingly deep in thought. After two long chapters I closed the book.
«That's probably enough, it's getting really late,» I said mildly.
«Aaw. Okay,» Amalie said a little sadly. «Auntie, why were you in the hospital? Isn't the hospital for sick people? You're not sick!» She said firmly.
«No, I'm not sick, sweetie,» I said and shook my head with a little smile. For a moment I wondered what to tell her. «You know when girls have a baby in their tummy?»
«Like mummy did with Max? Yeah!» She said, frowning a little.
«And when she had you! You were in her tummy once, too!» I pointed out, and she made a face, obviously thinking it was a strange thought. «Well, I have a baby in my tummy, now. And sometimes when girls have babies in their tummies, it can make them feel a little sick. I was very nauseous and felt ill, so I wasn't eating enough. At the hospital they helped me with that,» I explained, hoping it was enough to make her understand. «I feel a lot better now.»
«But...» Amalie began, looking confused. She pulled up my shirt to reveal my stomach. «But your tummy isn't big like mum's was!» She argued, poking it gently.
«It isn't, not yet,» I answered, touching my own stomach. «That's because the baby is still really, really small. But the baby will grow, and as the baby gets bigger, so will my tummy, until I'm big as a house!» At this Amalie giggled loudly.
«Is it a boy or a girl?» She asked.
«I don't know yet.»
«If its a girl, you can call her Hanna! Like Hanna Montana!» She said excitedly. Unable to help myself I broke out laughing.
«We'll see about that, sweetheart,» I giggled. «Now go on, get to bed before your mum gets mad!» Amalie nodded, crawled out of my lap and took her book with her, happy with her explanation. I watched her go, still giggling at her naming suggestion. James was looking at me with a bemused expression, obviously having watched the entire conversation. I heaved myself out of the armchair and sat down next to James, needing to be a little closer.
«What was all that about?» James asked curiously, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
«She wondered why I had been in the hospital. So I told her.»
«Aah,» James said, understanding.
«She wondered why my tummy wasn't big like Elin's had been when she had Max,» I explained, and James chortled a little. «And if it was a girl, she suggested Hanna Montana as a name.»
«Can I veto that name right away?» James said with horror in his eyes, raising a finger.
«You don't have to, it's already vetoed!» I laughed. Resting back against James' arm I yawned widely. «You know, I might have to be really boring and go to bed soon...» I admitted, looking up at James.
«That's okay, you need your rest,» James said and squeezed me gently. He shifted a little in his seat, turning to face me. «Emily? Can I.. sleep next to you tonight?» He asked, looking awkward and shy.
«Of course you can,» I said mildly. James smiled, looking relieved that I hadn't rejected him. «Where did you sleep last night?»
«Pull-out sofa downstairs.»
«Ouch. No wonder you want to sleep in my bed,» I teased. «I'll go get your duvet and things, take it upstairs,» I said as I got up.
«All right. I'll be up in a bit, I have a little more work to do,» James sighed.
«Take your time, I won't fall asleep just yet,» I smiled and ran a hand over his hair. I went to get the pillows and duvet that James had used and carried it upstairs to the double bed in the guest room where I had been staying. Now that both kids were in bed I knew I would find Elin in her office by her computer. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her properly since James arrived. When I entered she looked up and motioned for me to sit.
«James is sleeping in my room tonight,» I said as I sat down. At this she raised her eyebrow a fraction.
«Oh really? Have you two.. sorted everything out?»
«Mmno, not everything,» I admitted. «I've missed him... We've missed each other. And we've told each other how sorry we are.»
«You both acted like bloody idiots,» she snorted derisively. «And the baby?»
«We... haven't quite decided, yet,» I said vaguely. «But its not totally out of the question, actually,» I added, unable to stop myself from smiling. Elin's jaw dropped.
«No?»
«I don't know yet,» I shrugged. «We'll have to talk more about it. Just... not today.»
«All right, I see,» Elin said with an understanding smile. «You seem better, though. Happier, calmer. You need him, you know.»
«I know,» I said simply. «Thank you for... everything. For taking me in. And for calling him. I never would have let you if you'd asked, but... You were right in doing it. Goodnight, Elin.»
«Nite nite.»
«Max, my man! Hows my favourite toddler?» I smiled. Max's short little arms clasped around my neck.
«Em-lee!» He squealed.
«At least someone is happy to see me,» I giggled and gave the boy a kiss on his cheek. I carried Max into the livingroom, James trailing behind me. Elin appeared from the kitchen with Amalie and both gave me hugs and welcomed me back, then they went back to their project of tidying up after dinner. With a groan I sank down into an armchair. Max sat in my lap for a little while, but he quickly got restless and crawled down from my lap and went back to his cars. Just as James sat down in the sofa his phone made a sound and he quickly looked at it, then sighed.
«I have some e-mails I have to answer...» he said a little apologetically.
«Sure, go on. I'm just going to sit here for a while and... be,» I smiled weakly. «I don't have much energy these days.» James dug out his laptop and began tapping away at his computer while I stared absent-mindedly at the TV, happy to just sit. After they had sorted out the kitchen, Elin took her daughter for a bath. A little while later Amalie came stomping determinedly into the living room in her pyjamas, carrying a book under her arm.
«I said I wanted auntie to read to me!» She called defiantly back to her mum.
«But Emily is probably very ti--» Elin shouted back, trying to be considerate.
«It's all right, I'll read to her!» I said loudly. Amalie climbed into my lap with a smug expression. Mostly Amalie did the reading, she was after all eight now, I only helped her out with a few difficult words and explained to her if she didn't understand the meaning of a sentence. I looked at James over the edge of the book and caught him looking at us, seemingly deep in thought. After two long chapters I closed the book.
«That's probably enough, it's getting really late,» I said mildly.
«Aaw. Okay,» Amalie said a little sadly. «Auntie, why were you in the hospital? Isn't the hospital for sick people? You're not sick!» She said firmly.
«No, I'm not sick, sweetie,» I said and shook my head with a little smile. For a moment I wondered what to tell her. «You know when girls have a baby in their tummy?»
«Like mummy did with Max? Yeah!» She said, frowning a little.
«And when she had you! You were in her tummy once, too!» I pointed out, and she made a face, obviously thinking it was a strange thought. «Well, I have a baby in my tummy, now. And sometimes when girls have babies in their tummies, it can make them feel a little sick. I was very nauseous and felt ill, so I wasn't eating enough. At the hospital they helped me with that,» I explained, hoping it was enough to make her understand. «I feel a lot better now.»
«But...» Amalie began, looking confused. She pulled up my shirt to reveal my stomach. «But your tummy isn't big like mum's was!» She argued, poking it gently.
«It isn't, not yet,» I answered, touching my own stomach. «That's because the baby is still really, really small. But the baby will grow, and as the baby gets bigger, so will my tummy, until I'm big as a house!» At this Amalie giggled loudly.
«Is it a boy or a girl?» She asked.
«I don't know yet.»
«If its a girl, you can call her Hanna! Like Hanna Montana!» She said excitedly. Unable to help myself I broke out laughing.
«We'll see about that, sweetheart,» I giggled. «Now go on, get to bed before your mum gets mad!» Amalie nodded, crawled out of my lap and took her book with her, happy with her explanation. I watched her go, still giggling at her naming suggestion. James was looking at me with a bemused expression, obviously having watched the entire conversation. I heaved myself out of the armchair and sat down next to James, needing to be a little closer.
«What was all that about?» James asked curiously, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
«She wondered why I had been in the hospital. So I told her.»
«Aah,» James said, understanding.
«She wondered why my tummy wasn't big like Elin's had been when she had Max,» I explained, and James chortled a little. «And if it was a girl, she suggested Hanna Montana as a name.»
«Can I veto that name right away?» James said with horror in his eyes, raising a finger.
«You don't have to, it's already vetoed!» I laughed. Resting back against James' arm I yawned widely. «You know, I might have to be really boring and go to bed soon...» I admitted, looking up at James.
«That's okay, you need your rest,» James said and squeezed me gently. He shifted a little in his seat, turning to face me. «Emily? Can I.. sleep next to you tonight?» He asked, looking awkward and shy.
«Of course you can,» I said mildly. James smiled, looking relieved that I hadn't rejected him. «Where did you sleep last night?»
«Pull-out sofa downstairs.»
«Ouch. No wonder you want to sleep in my bed,» I teased. «I'll go get your duvet and things, take it upstairs,» I said as I got up.
«All right. I'll be up in a bit, I have a little more work to do,» James sighed.
«Take your time, I won't fall asleep just yet,» I smiled and ran a hand over his hair. I went to get the pillows and duvet that James had used and carried it upstairs to the double bed in the guest room where I had been staying. Now that both kids were in bed I knew I would find Elin in her office by her computer. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her properly since James arrived. When I entered she looked up and motioned for me to sit.
«James is sleeping in my room tonight,» I said as I sat down. At this she raised her eyebrow a fraction.
«Oh really? Have you two.. sorted everything out?»
«Mmno, not everything,» I admitted. «I've missed him... We've missed each other. And we've told each other how sorry we are.»
«You both acted like bloody idiots,» she snorted derisively. «And the baby?»
«We... haven't quite decided, yet,» I said vaguely. «But its not totally out of the question, actually,» I added, unable to stop myself from smiling. Elin's jaw dropped.
«No?»
«I don't know yet,» I shrugged. «We'll have to talk more about it. Just... not today.»
«All right, I see,» Elin said with an understanding smile. «You seem better, though. Happier, calmer. You need him, you know.»
«I know,» I said simply. «Thank you for... everything. For taking me in. And for calling him. I never would have let you if you'd asked, but... You were right in doing it. Goodnight, Elin.»
«Nite nite.»
Half an hour later the door to the guest room opened slowly and James peered inside. I was lying under the covers but I was wide awake, playing on my phone.
«I'm beating Hammond at Wordfeud,» I said, holding out my phone as a way of explanation when James gave me a quizzical look.
«That can't be difficult,» he scoffed as he closed the door behind him.
«You coming to bed already?»
«Yeah. If you don't mind?» He asked timidly.
«Of course not, silly.» I shook my head a little and smiled. James seemed almost shy as he took off his jeans and his shirt and got into bed, coming to rest a little distance from me. Needing him closer I stretched out my arms toward him.
«Come here?» I asked quietly. James crawled under my duvet and into my arms, wrapping his arm around me and burying his head against my neck and shoulder. He squeezed me tight and I hummed, happy to have him in my arms and close again. I ran my hand through his hair. James' shoulders shook a little and it took a moment before I realised that he was crying. «Oh, James, it's okay sweetie...» I whispered soothingly as I hugged him tighter. Seeing James cry broke my heart, just as it had the first time, and I hated knowing that I was the reason for it. Being able to just hold him and comfort him felt good in a way, god knows how many times I had cried on James' shoulder, and now I could return the favour for once. I ran my hand calmly over his hair and back, just being there for him, letting him cry. Exactly why he cried didn't really mattered, he needed an emotional release just as much as I had done. We'd both been scared, hurt and confused, and we both needed some comfort and reassurance. Eventually James wiped his face and pulled back a little to look at me, his eyes red and puffy.
«I thought I'd lost you,» he said thickly, his eyes full of fear and sadness.
«I think I lost myself there for a while...,» I answered. «But I'm here now. I'm sorry that I left, that I shut you out... I made everything so much harder than it had to be.»
«I thought I'd never get to lay like this with you again,» James admitted. He looked at me searchingly, then he shook his head a little. «You're always making me chase after you,» he observed.
«Well, when you insist on acting like a tosspot... Of course I have to make you work a little for it,» I said with a laugh, and James gave a watery chuckle. «How long can you stay here?»
«I really should be getting back tomorrow,» he said apologetically. «There's some interviews, and some car reviews I have to do...»
«That's okay... I understand,» I said with a sad smile.
«Will you... come back with me?» James asked timidly, looking as if he was afraid of the answer.
«I'd love to, but I think I have to go see my dad first, I haven't seen him or my brother for ages. Just a couple of days.» At this James just nodded. He ran a hand gently over my temple and cheek, his eyes glittering as he looked at me.
«I really want to kiss you,» he admitted quietly.
«Then why don't you?» I challenged, sensing how my heart immediately started to beat faster in my chest. James licked his lips and leaned in so close that our noses were touching, but he stopped there, looking into my eyes. I closed the final gap between us, trembling a little as my lips touched his. His kisses were nervous at first. I opened my mouth to him, kissing him lovingly, wanting to reassure him that I truly wanted him to kiss me. As his confidence grew he buried his fingers into my hair, holding me close as he kissed me deeper and I hummed into his mouth. Gently I ran my fingertips down his spine and he shuddered a little. «I just realised I haven't kissed you in over a month,» I said as I pulled back slightly.
«We have some catching up to do, then,» James mumbled and pulled me in again, sucking a little at my bottom lip. I snuck a leg in between his and caressed his chest and neck. Our kisses quickly grew from considerate and loving to passionate and hurried. Having James' lips on mine again, his body against mine, his hands on me, it all felt exciting, safe and familiar. It felt like home. I was surprised to feel that glowing pit of arousal coming to life inside me – I wanted him, I wanted him to touch me and make love to me. James gave me a final, lingering kiss and pulled away. «I think we need to stop... Before I end up doing something very unseemly to you in your sisters house,» he blushed. I could feel his erection pressing against me. I smiled and nodded my agreement.
«You're right, we probably should,» I said with a giggle. I turned around in James' arms so he was lying behind me, his chest against my back. Taking his hand I wrapped his arm tightly around me and sighed happily, feeling safe. After a long silence James cleared his throat.
«If that was supposed to help, it really isn't,» he mumbled against the back of my neck. He hugged me tighter, pushing himself up against me and I could feel his erection against my bum, hard and warm. He kissed the back of my neck lazily, his tongue grazing over my skin.
«Stop it,» I warned, but giggled despite myself and turned around in his arms again. I pushed him down on his back and rested my head on his shoulder, draping an arm and a leg over him. «I haven't been this relaxed in... oh, it feels like years,» I mumbled, already getting drowsy.
«I know what you mean,» James said and kissed my forehead lightly.
«James?»
«Mm?»
«We'll figure this out, right? We'll be okay?»
«Of course we will,» James assured me. And with that, I drifted off to sleep.
«I'm beating Hammond at Wordfeud,» I said, holding out my phone as a way of explanation when James gave me a quizzical look.
«That can't be difficult,» he scoffed as he closed the door behind him.
«You coming to bed already?»
«Yeah. If you don't mind?» He asked timidly.
«Of course not, silly.» I shook my head a little and smiled. James seemed almost shy as he took off his jeans and his shirt and got into bed, coming to rest a little distance from me. Needing him closer I stretched out my arms toward him.
«Come here?» I asked quietly. James crawled under my duvet and into my arms, wrapping his arm around me and burying his head against my neck and shoulder. He squeezed me tight and I hummed, happy to have him in my arms and close again. I ran my hand through his hair. James' shoulders shook a little and it took a moment before I realised that he was crying. «Oh, James, it's okay sweetie...» I whispered soothingly as I hugged him tighter. Seeing James cry broke my heart, just as it had the first time, and I hated knowing that I was the reason for it. Being able to just hold him and comfort him felt good in a way, god knows how many times I had cried on James' shoulder, and now I could return the favour for once. I ran my hand calmly over his hair and back, just being there for him, letting him cry. Exactly why he cried didn't really mattered, he needed an emotional release just as much as I had done. We'd both been scared, hurt and confused, and we both needed some comfort and reassurance. Eventually James wiped his face and pulled back a little to look at me, his eyes red and puffy.
«I thought I'd lost you,» he said thickly, his eyes full of fear and sadness.
«I think I lost myself there for a while...,» I answered. «But I'm here now. I'm sorry that I left, that I shut you out... I made everything so much harder than it had to be.»
«I thought I'd never get to lay like this with you again,» James admitted. He looked at me searchingly, then he shook his head a little. «You're always making me chase after you,» he observed.
«Well, when you insist on acting like a tosspot... Of course I have to make you work a little for it,» I said with a laugh, and James gave a watery chuckle. «How long can you stay here?»
«I really should be getting back tomorrow,» he said apologetically. «There's some interviews, and some car reviews I have to do...»
«That's okay... I understand,» I said with a sad smile.
«Will you... come back with me?» James asked timidly, looking as if he was afraid of the answer.
«I'd love to, but I think I have to go see my dad first, I haven't seen him or my brother for ages. Just a couple of days.» At this James just nodded. He ran a hand gently over my temple and cheek, his eyes glittering as he looked at me.
«I really want to kiss you,» he admitted quietly.
«Then why don't you?» I challenged, sensing how my heart immediately started to beat faster in my chest. James licked his lips and leaned in so close that our noses were touching, but he stopped there, looking into my eyes. I closed the final gap between us, trembling a little as my lips touched his. His kisses were nervous at first. I opened my mouth to him, kissing him lovingly, wanting to reassure him that I truly wanted him to kiss me. As his confidence grew he buried his fingers into my hair, holding me close as he kissed me deeper and I hummed into his mouth. Gently I ran my fingertips down his spine and he shuddered a little. «I just realised I haven't kissed you in over a month,» I said as I pulled back slightly.
«We have some catching up to do, then,» James mumbled and pulled me in again, sucking a little at my bottom lip. I snuck a leg in between his and caressed his chest and neck. Our kisses quickly grew from considerate and loving to passionate and hurried. Having James' lips on mine again, his body against mine, his hands on me, it all felt exciting, safe and familiar. It felt like home. I was surprised to feel that glowing pit of arousal coming to life inside me – I wanted him, I wanted him to touch me and make love to me. James gave me a final, lingering kiss and pulled away. «I think we need to stop... Before I end up doing something very unseemly to you in your sisters house,» he blushed. I could feel his erection pressing against me. I smiled and nodded my agreement.
«You're right, we probably should,» I said with a giggle. I turned around in James' arms so he was lying behind me, his chest against my back. Taking his hand I wrapped his arm tightly around me and sighed happily, feeling safe. After a long silence James cleared his throat.
«If that was supposed to help, it really isn't,» he mumbled against the back of my neck. He hugged me tighter, pushing himself up against me and I could feel his erection against my bum, hard and warm. He kissed the back of my neck lazily, his tongue grazing over my skin.
«Stop it,» I warned, but giggled despite myself and turned around in his arms again. I pushed him down on his back and rested my head on his shoulder, draping an arm and a leg over him. «I haven't been this relaxed in... oh, it feels like years,» I mumbled, already getting drowsy.
«I know what you mean,» James said and kissed my forehead lightly.
«James?»
«Mm?»
«We'll figure this out, right? We'll be okay?»
«Of course we will,» James assured me. And with that, I drifted off to sleep.
A piercing cry tore me out of my deep sleep. Sensing James next to me I first thought I was in Hammersmith, and couldn't make sense of the noise. Then I remembered where I was, and recognised Max's cry. I crawled out of bed and stumbled through the hallway and into his room. The little boy was standing in his crib, crying almost hysterically. I scooped him up in my arms. He was trembling against me, his pajama clammy with sweat.
«Hey you, what's going on, huh? Sssh, it's okay, love,» I whispered soothingly. Pacing back and forth in his room I held him tight, rocking him in my arms. He clung to me for dear life, still shaking even though his crying had settled somewhat. «Max, what's wrong? Does something hurt?» The little boy just shook his head, face buried against my shoulder. «Are you scared? Did you dream something bad?» At this question his crying intensified a little again, confirming my suspicion. I knew that I'd had horrible nightmares and night terrors growing up as a child. «It's okay, baby, you're safe now, I'm here.» I patted his back as I kept pacing around in his room. A shadow appeared in the doorway, Elin was looking at us bleary-eyed and disheveled. Max's face was still buried against my shoulder, so he hadn't noticed his mother. I waved at her, signalling that she could go back to bed and that I could take care of Max. She mouthed a 'thank you' and shuffled off again. Max's sobs slowly died down, but he was still clinging to me. «Think you'll be able to go back to sleep now?» I asked quietly, stopping in front of his crib. He looked at his bed, then up at me, then shook his head sadly. «Hmm. What if you got to sleep in my bed, then? Between me and James?» At this Max gave a non-committal shrug and flopped his head back down against my shoulder. «Lets try that, then. But then we have to bring the rabbit, right?» I picked up his little comfort blanket with the rabbit-head and long ears. He reacher for it and clutched it against his chest. When I returned to the guest room the light on the nightstand was on, James had obviously woken up by Max's crying. «Someone had a nightmare,» I explained in hushed tones as I climbed into bed, holding Max tightly against me. The little boy came to rest with his head on my arm, fiddling with his comforter while habitually sucking on one of the rabbit-ears. «It must've been a really bad one, he's still shaking.»
«Aw, poor thing,» James mumbled huskily and ran his hand over the boy's back. At James' touch Max rolled over onto his back looked at James, blinking slowly as he started to relax a little.
«See, James is here too. We'll both watch over you, nothing bad will happen now,» I explained in hushed tones. James, not being able to tell the boy what he wanted to, just smiled mildly at him. «Go on, close your eyes, try to sleep,» I whispered, pulling the duvet over both of us. Max sighed deeply and closed his eye, a rabbit-ear still in the corner of his mouth. Resting my head on the pillow I placed a hand on Max's stomach and caressed him lightly, knowing I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep until Max was. James smiled as he watched the two of us.
«Lights out. Nite nite,» he said quietly and turned off the bedside lamp.
«Hey you, what's going on, huh? Sssh, it's okay, love,» I whispered soothingly. Pacing back and forth in his room I held him tight, rocking him in my arms. He clung to me for dear life, still shaking even though his crying had settled somewhat. «Max, what's wrong? Does something hurt?» The little boy just shook his head, face buried against my shoulder. «Are you scared? Did you dream something bad?» At this question his crying intensified a little again, confirming my suspicion. I knew that I'd had horrible nightmares and night terrors growing up as a child. «It's okay, baby, you're safe now, I'm here.» I patted his back as I kept pacing around in his room. A shadow appeared in the doorway, Elin was looking at us bleary-eyed and disheveled. Max's face was still buried against my shoulder, so he hadn't noticed his mother. I waved at her, signalling that she could go back to bed and that I could take care of Max. She mouthed a 'thank you' and shuffled off again. Max's sobs slowly died down, but he was still clinging to me. «Think you'll be able to go back to sleep now?» I asked quietly, stopping in front of his crib. He looked at his bed, then up at me, then shook his head sadly. «Hmm. What if you got to sleep in my bed, then? Between me and James?» At this Max gave a non-committal shrug and flopped his head back down against my shoulder. «Lets try that, then. But then we have to bring the rabbit, right?» I picked up his little comfort blanket with the rabbit-head and long ears. He reacher for it and clutched it against his chest. When I returned to the guest room the light on the nightstand was on, James had obviously woken up by Max's crying. «Someone had a nightmare,» I explained in hushed tones as I climbed into bed, holding Max tightly against me. The little boy came to rest with his head on my arm, fiddling with his comforter while habitually sucking on one of the rabbit-ears. «It must've been a really bad one, he's still shaking.»
«Aw, poor thing,» James mumbled huskily and ran his hand over the boy's back. At James' touch Max rolled over onto his back looked at James, blinking slowly as he started to relax a little.
«See, James is here too. We'll both watch over you, nothing bad will happen now,» I explained in hushed tones. James, not being able to tell the boy what he wanted to, just smiled mildly at him. «Go on, close your eyes, try to sleep,» I whispered, pulling the duvet over both of us. Max sighed deeply and closed his eye, a rabbit-ear still in the corner of his mouth. Resting my head on the pillow I placed a hand on Max's stomach and caressed him lightly, knowing I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep until Max was. James smiled as he watched the two of us.
«Lights out. Nite nite,» he said quietly and turned off the bedside lamp.
Sweet and touching. :) And with a dollop of hope, too! :)
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