A Shoulder To Cry On.

Chapter Nine

Axl and Everly woke up to screaming and ran into Nora's room. "Nora, Nora, are you okay?" Axl asked. "Who are you?! Where am I?" Nora asked before she screamed and started crying. Axl sat on the bed and brought Nora to his chest. "Nora, sh, sh, calm down," Axl murmured rubbing Nora's back. "Are you okay?" Everly asked. Nora nodded. "I'm sorry, I'm just stupid," Nora said pulling away from the hug. "You aren't," Axl said. "Nora, it's alright you're scared don't worry about it," Everly said. "I was scared when I woke up here too." Nora laughed at Axl's confused yet amused expression. 

Then there was a knock on the door. Axl rose to his feet and walked to the front door and answered it. Slash, Duff, Steven, and Izzy. "Hey," Slash said. "Hey, what are y'all doing here?" Axl asked. "The tour is in a few weeks." "Then we better get planning," Slash said squeezing past Axl followed by Izzy and the rest of the band. Axl rolled his eyes and closed the door. "Okay, I'll be back," Axl said. 

"Who is it?" Everly asked as Axl walked back into the room. "The band," Axl said. "Why?" Everly asked. "The tour," Axl said. "Today?" Nora asked. "No in a few weeks," Axl said. "C-can I take Blue for a walk?" Nora asked. "Sure, you need something to wear," Axl said. "I have some jeans that don't fit me I'm sure she can wear that and the shirt she came here in last night," Everly said. Axl nodded. "Be back in an hour and we can go to your house and get your clothes okay?" Axl asked. "Yes, thank you," Nora said. 

In about thirty minutes Nora walked into the living room where the band was sitting to get Blue. "Oh look you have a ball," Nora said. "No, he doesn't he's neutered," Axl said. Axl, Nora, and the band broke out in laughter. "That's a good one," Nora said. She grabbed Blue's tennis ball and took him outside. 

"So who is she?" Duff asked. "A girl Everly and I met at the therapy. She's thirteen and had abusive people in her life. She came here last night half-naked and scared. We took her in," Axl said. "What's her name?" Slash asked. "Nora," Axl said. "Poor girl, are you going to adopt her?" Izzy asked. "We haven't got that far yet," Axl said. "Do you think I'd be good enough?" "Of course, you seem to care a lot about her now," Slash said. Axl nodded. "And if I fuck up?" Axl asked. "You won't trust me," Izzy said placing his hand on Axl's shoulder.  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Everly was staring out the window with a coffee cup in her hands watching as butterflies and birds fluttered around. Here Comes The Sun played softly on the radio. Axl wrapped his arms around Everly's waist and placed his head on her shoulder. 

"It's beautiful out there," Everly said. "Mhm," Axl mumbled getting carried away as he kissed Everly's neck. Everly chuckled. "I love you, Axl," she said. "I love you more," Axl said. Everly placed the coffee cup on the counter and turned to Axl. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they swayed to the music. 

Axl loved Everly. And he loved Nora too. It felt like he had a family. A real family. The band, Everly, and Nora were his family and he'd be sure to never let them go. This is the happiest Axl's ever been in his life. And he never wanted this time to end.