{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 116

October 21

Asher's POV

I crept down the stairs trying to be as quiet as I could. It's hard when there are like five hundred people in this house. The anxiety was really getting to me tonight. Once again pitch black as I shuffled my way into the kitchen taking a small drink.

Leaning over the cold counter I suck in a deep breath. I need to get some sleep. Exhaling, I pour the rest of the water out and set it next to the sink.

With that, I start back for my room not making it as I hear crying? I instinctively jog down the hall to find Emerson's door ajar. He sees me and quickly closes it. "EJ?" I whisper opening the door a bit.

"I'm sorry, I was trying to be a big boy" he whispers rubbing his eyes. "You are a big boy" I smile walking into his room completely. "Why didn't you go to your parents?" I ask and he looks around scared before grabbing my leg.

"I was scared to wake them up" he answers sheepishly. Leaning done I bring the now heavy child to my hip. He's getting way too big. "Well, why are you crying?" I ask and he shakes burying himself into my side.

"I couldn't sleep, but- so I went to find my light, but I saw a scary thing outside" he starts crying as I freeze looking to the window. I bite my lip rubbing his hand. "Baby what did this creature look like?" I ask and he sniffles. "Like- scary human!" He whispers and I once again look to the window terrified.

"It's okay, it will be okay" I coo speed walking over to the window. I close the curtain shut before backing up towards the door. "You're going to come to sleep with me, okay?" I tell him kissing his head. "Yes please," he hiccups looking towards the now closed windows.

I hold his head into my chest trying to protect him as best as I could. I stop what I'm doing and rush over to his bed grabbing Wolfie. "Emerson, look who I have" I cheer dancing the old stuffed animal in front of him.

He looks up from my chest and giggles when he sees the wolf. "Wolfie!" He cheers hugging the wolf tightly.  I bounce the toddler while bringing him out into the hall. I used my foot as best as I could to close the door behind me, before putting my back against it to think.

It didn't take long and I brought EJ out to the common room. Sitting on the couch, I patted the back of the younger boy. His arms rested over my shoulders lazily and he hung onto Wolfie loosely.

I adjusted him so he straddled my lap and like that he was almost already asleep. I could tell by the way he lifted his head to say something but it quickly fell back down exhaustion overcoming him. I closed my eyes leaning against the couch as well.

There was a knock from outside, it didn't sound like the door it was more like from the wall. It startled me and I hugged EJ tighter. My heart was racing once again. Then another sound from outside woke EJ and he quickly looked around before grabbing onto my shirt in a panic.

"I'm scared, I'm scared!" He repeats over and over again. I stand with a little struggle and rush down the hall, looking back every once in a while my adrenaline rushing.

Without thinking I enter Atlas's room and close it behind me with my foot. I go over to his curtains still holding the crying toddler. I closed them not caring how loud I was before hopping onto the bed.

I turned to the wall and cradled Emerson close to me. He did the same with Wolfie crying silently. "Shh it's okay, I'm right here, I won't let anything happen to you" I coo trying to wipe his tears.

I continued to rub his tummy trying to relax him. "You're so brave, so brave" I whisper sweet things wiping his cheeks dry of any tears. Once I knew he was asleep I let out a breath of relief before closing my eyes.

I froze as hands found a place on my hips. "Angel..." he murmurs pulling me closer. My eyes go wide and I drag the sleeping child with me. "Is it morning" he murmurs kissing my neck. "No, go back to sleep love" I whisper and he nuzzled himself further into me.

"Well then... what has made you bless me with your company?" He asks his voice low and heavy. He yawns and I can tell his eyes are still closed. "You're so beautiful" he continues rubbing his hands up and down my side.

His hand moves from my side squeezing my butt. "Mmmm I love you so much" he laughs quietly his hot breath on my neck. My breathing stops for the moment and he begins to kiss my neck.

"Atlas, your brother is in here with us" I giggle, he flinched moving his arms back. "Did he hear that?" He whispers now suddenly wide awake. I look down at the toddler and smile. "Nope, still asleep" I whisper cradling him close.

Atlas shifts again putting an arm around to spoon me. "Are you two okay?" He grumbles and I nod. "He had a nightmare... or saw something and I just wanted him to feel safe" I explain.

"Oh that's not good is he okay..." his voice gets groggier and groggier. "Mhmm, I was able to calm him down" I giggle to myself as Emerson's curls brush against my shirt. He's so cute.

"That's good... that's good..." he trails off falling asleep for a split second. "Hey! Wait a second!" He sits up turning me from EJ to face him. "Did he see a figure! Like a human!? Did you see it too" he asks and I look at him in a panicked state.

"No Atlas-" he cuts me off with a stern look. "What happened, I want the truth" his voice had a warning tone. "I went to the common room to sleep, but... I just... I started hearing knocking on the walls and stuff, it woke EJ up and he's started crying... so I brought him here" I confess getting a nod.

"This is fucked up... I'm getting so sick of this happening to you! You've done nothing wrong" he whisper-shouts going to continue but I cut him off-putting a finger to his lips. "Atlas it's fine... it's not bothering anyone but me. EJ just had a nightmare and I heard things that freaked me and him out" I admit getting a groan.

"Babyyyyy, I'm about to go stomp around those woods for the next 5 hours if it doesn't get better" he scoffs and I chuckle leaning over to give him a small peck. "It's going to be fine" I reassure him getting a pout.

"Ashy!" EJ gasps tears running down his face as he scrambled to find me. I quickly grab him pulling him to my chest. "Shh, shh, I'm right here, I won't let anything happen to you, you're going to be okay" I kiss his head laying down with him.

He turned into my chest Wolfie wrapped in his arm. "I love you, night Emerson" I remind him wiping his tears. "I- I love you too" he sniffles, grabbing my shirt. The bed moves from Atlas's weight and he wraps his arm around EJ and me. His other hand ruffling my hair.

"I'll protect you both, so please try to get some sleep" he whispers and I turn to look at him a bit without moving my entire body. "You also need to get some sleep" I smile. He purses his lips and I giggle giving him one final goodnight kiss.

"I love you, Asher, I love you so much" he admits and I smile wanting to hold him, but at the same time I could let go of EJ. "I love you too" I reply turning back to face the wall.

"Cuddle me, you're too far away" I decide to tell him what I thought, getting a low chuckle in response. His body pressed against mine and his arm moves to hold my chest the other still in my hair.

"Goodnight my handsome angel" he mumbles as I enjoy the warm embrace of my boyfriend. EJ clinging to me also helped as I started to realize how much I loved the child.

I closed my eyes feeling Atlas's hot breath on my neck. His fingers drumming lightly on my chest. My arm rises with EJ and every heavy breath he took. He'd yawn and turn from one side to the other trying to figure out which position made him closer to me.

I smile finding it kind of hard to sleep. Steadying my breathing I tried so hard to sleep, but ultimately I couldn't. I just... the eyes I still felt like they were watching me.

"Asher, I'm going to protect you... I'm not going to sleep until I know you're sleeping"