All Our Own

3. It all came down to you

The two siblings are lucky. They are not grounded and they can still run around the motel freely. Alex and Dahlia can thanks their dad for that because if it was only for Hannah to decide they would both spend the rest of the summer in their room. But Steve argued that they were just kids being kids, trying to make new friends, it's their holiday and they didn't do much arm anyway. Except for the pie. Their mom was really mad about that.

So, they decided that the kids wouldn't be harshly punished but they would have to do more summer homework, Dahlia really doesn't like the idea. And also, no more pie for them. That was disappointing.

The next day, they spend the whole morning doing homework. Hannah has to work for the motel so Steve has to be the one helping them and he already regrets it. This whole homework thing isn't going to last long, that's for sure. The kids like school and they are pretty smart once they focus but it's sunny out there so they are not helping in anyway. Dahlia draws more than anything and Alex pretends he is not here for the most part. Their dad tries is best to make them do something, anything because if their mom comes back and all she sees is drawings from Dahlia and an empty copy from Alex, the kids aren't going to be the ones being yelled at and Steve knows that.

He stills manage to make them do a few things but he is glad when lunch time comes and he doesn't have to fight with his kids anymore.

After lunch, Alex grabs his little sister and take her to room 7. Again. They don't have to wait like yesterday once they knock, the door opening almost instantly on Sam who drags them inside the room. And they have so much fun. This day and all the other that follows.

Dahlia thinks it's the best week of her whole life. Eating candies, playing and watching cartoons with her new friends and his brother without a grown up to tell them what to do is definitely the best thing. Sam is her best friend now. She decided. Sorry for Jo, who she grow up with, but Sam is fresh air, always laughing and ready to follow her in all her stupid idea.

Today, the stupid idea comes from Dean though. See, for the past five days they stayed inside the hotel room, the boy is getting bored. He wants to go on an adventure and he saw in the lobby a flyer about a lake only a few minutes by walk of the motel. He wants to go there, be able to take a swim because it's hot outside and again : he is bored.

"We can't leave the motel without mom or dad." Tries Dahlia. But the green eyed boy is already packing a bag for him and his brother.

"I can protect you, little one." He says. And no. Grown ups can protect children but children can't protect children. Dahlia knows that. Also, she is not so little.

"You're 12." She is frowning now, trying to understand the boy.

"Yeah.. So ?"

The little girl look at her brother for some help because she is scared of going somewhere forbidden without her mom but Alex just shrugs. He is kind of bored too. Sam is eating a chocolate bar on his bed and doesn't seems to see anything wrong about swimming in the lake as long as he is with Dean.

"Mom is gonna be mad..." She tries again.

"She doesn't have to now." And while that's true, the last time they did something their mom wasn't supposed to know it didn't end well for Alex and Dahlia so it's not really reassuring. "Come on. I'll keep you safe."

He is standing at the door with his hand toward the girl sitting on the floor.

"Pinky promise." He insists.

She is about to protest again but she looks at Dean in the eyes and she knows she is safe with him. He is not lying. She sighs for good measure and links her pinkie with his.