Will you still love me?

04

Eleanor woke up to the feeling of Toby's childish hands gently shaking her shoulders, she squinted her eyes tiredly, moving to look at him with a tired groan as she did so, it was still night, she had been asleep only for a few hours now, and she was still so tired from the day that she had. "Yes, Toby?" Eleanor grumpily asked him, her tone was far more mean sounding than she had meant for it to be, and even he knew that it was only because she was tired, and although he didn't know she had spent hours trying to clean and get rid of the evidence, he was still sure that she was tired, she normally was. The poor woman worked so hard day after day, and she wasn't exactly young either, it did take a toll on her some days, and she really just wanted to be able to relax and sleep when she wasn't working. 

Toby's brows knitted carefully together as he moved to sit next to her on the bed, bowing his head a little bit. "Ma'am, I had a nightmare, can I sleep here with you tonight?" The young boy softly asked, embarrassed by this. It wasn't the first time he had a nightmare and asked to do so, and every time he did, Eleanor always ensured he felt safe and fell asleep.

"Of course, come on," Eleanor said softly to him, moving so that he could, glad to be able to have that comfort, Toby moved tiredly next to her, moving to cuddle into her, resting his head on her chest as she gently rubbed his back. "I would never let anyone hurt you, and I promise that I will always do whatever I can to keep you safe.. I know that right now be a bit hard, and it's alright if you're a bit scared," she said softly to him, she was also a bit scared about what would happen to them, if they messed up, they were going to end up being locked away or killed, and she knew she needed to try and keep the three of them safe, she just hoped they were going to be able to get out of this mess.

Toby relaxed at her touch and words, she was the closest thing he had ever had as a parent, she loved him and cared about him as if she was his mother. He was forever grateful for the fact she had taken him in, that she had been so willing to care for him in that way. "Thank you, Ma'am, for everythin'." the young boy softly said, closing his eyes as he listened to the beating of her heart. The woman smiled softly at the thanks, and she had felt so sorry for him, she knew that she couldn't just toss him out onto the street after what Todd did to the Italian, she knew that she would never forgive herself for doing that to a child.

"No need to thank me, just get some rest," she said softly, and soon she heard soft snores, soon closing her own tired eyes to get some rest.