Breathless // lp

Chapter 6.

The next morning, when Liam woke up, he knew something was wrong straight away. Memories of last night flooded into hismind reminding him of carrying Ash to bed after she fell asleep in his arms on the sofa while they had watched a movie, wrapping the blankets around her gently. 

First of all, it was dark. Which made Liam glance at the alarm clock on his bedside table. Almost three in the morning. 

It led Liam to knowing that something had woken him up from his blissful sleep. It was the noises coming from Ash's bedroom that made him squirm uneasily. So as anyone else would do, Liam sighed deeply and got up from his warm, cozy bed, pulled on a pair of boxers, and waddled sleepily towards her bedroom. 

"Ash?" Was the first thing that he mumbled as he scanned the room, stopping on the curled up figure sleeping on the bed. Except Ash wasn't sleeping, she was sobbing quietly, small gasps and hiccups escaping her lips. So Liam shuffled closer, pulling his lips into a small frown as he watched Ash kick the blankets off her small frame. 

 "Ash, sweetheart are you okay?" Liam whispered softly. Ash shook her head, burying her face into the pillow, breathing so ragged and fast that it was almost scary to Liam. So he leaned in and unsure of what to do, hesitantly let himself slip beside her on the bed, wrapping her in his arms. 

"Ash? Relax for me, baby," Liam mumbled against Ash's flushed cheeks. "Take deep breaths for me, okay? It's alright I'm here now." 

He looked down and Ash nodded slowly, keeping her eyes shut tight. 

"Deep breaths," He whispered, watching her chest rise and fall in a rhymic pattern. After awhile, Liam sucked in a breath, and swiped some stray hairs from Ash's face as he whispered in her ear. "Good, are you gonna go to sleep now, love?" 

Ash violently shook her head, letting out a chorus of whimpers and desperate cries. "No, no, can't sleep now." 

"Have a nightmare?" Liam asked, watching Ash curiously. She slowly nodded her head, nuzzling herself closer into his arms.  

"Want to talk about it?" Liam said after awhile, hesitant of her reaction. Ash's eyes snapped open and she looked at Liam in fear before slowly sitting up and wrapping her arms around her knees. She found her eyes wandering to the closet, but quickly tried to focus on something else.

"Uh well it's usually about...well my past," Ash croaked quietly. "You know, being homeless and scared and all." 

"But your not alone now...you know that right?" Liam whispered quietly as he snuggled closer to her, wrapping his arms around her torso into a protective hug. 

Ash nodded her head helplessly and looked towards Liam, water lining her eyes. "I....I-I'm sorry Liam," She breathed. 

"What? No baby what are you sorry for?" Liam said, a confused frown growing on his face. Ash sighed and turned away, her chin trembling. 

"I shouldn't be here," She mumbled under her breath,  fiddling with the warm comforter. Liam's eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly in protest. He grabbed her hand and gently slipped his warm fingers into hers. 

"Listen to me, I won't let you leave knowing that you'll just go back to the streets again, I can't baby,"Liam gasped, brushing her curly red hair behind her ears so he could see her sparkling green eyes. 

"But-" 

"No buts, alright?" Liam whispered, resting his forehead against hers. She sighed shakily, blandly brushing her fingers against his cheek.  

"Thank you," She whispered quietly, letting her eyes shut. "You make me feel safe." 

"I do, do I?" Liam laughed, hugging her tightly. Ash giggled and nodded her head against his chest.