Forever.

Chapter 13: Her laugh

Braden's P.O.V. (The next day)

I open my eyes and look down, my eyes meet the most beautiful sight.

Claire is asleep in my arms.

Her head is resting on my shoulder, and my arm is wrapped around her, my hand resting on her waist. Her even breathing and her arm across my stomach sends a tingling sensation throughout my body. She re positions her head against my shoulder and pulls her arm to her chest. I gently kiss the top of her head and she nuzzles down into my chest even farther. Her breaths begin to even out again and she slumps against me again.

She's so beautiful when she's asleep. Her face is just so relaxed and soft that her features are even more noticeable. Her striking blue eyes may be closed, but that doesn't stop her natural beauty. Not one drop of make up is on her face and she's still the most beautiful person I have ever seen.

"I can feel you staring at me." She whispers. We both slightly laugh.

I kiss the top of her head and she wraps her arm across my stomach again.

"What do you want to do today?" I ask quietly.

"I don't know. How are you feeling?" She asks.

"Perfect." I say with a cheesy smile as I look down to her.

"That's good." She says quietly.

"Are you okay?" I ask. Now that I look at her, her eyes are drooped a little and they're not as blue. Her voice slurs slightly and sounds weak. Her body weight against me is the same from when she was asleep, and her skin has a slight pale tone to it.

"I'm just really tired." She says.

"Do you want to sleep?" I ask.

She nods.

"Okay." I say as I gently stroke her waist with my thumb.

"Thank you." She whispers.

"You don't need to thank me. I should be thanking you for everything you've done for me lately." I say.

"It's okay, I don't mind." She says tiredly.

"I'm sorry I worked you so hard. Again." I say as I gently pull her closer to me.

"It's okay. I'm just gonna sleep for a little for longer if that's okay." She slurs.

"Of course it's okay." I say as I kiss the top of her head.

"Thank you." She says lazily.

"You're welcome." I say through a sigh of defeat.

She closes her eyes again and slumps against me a few moments later.

Her even breathing lulls me to sleep.

***

I feel and hear Claire's breaths speed up against me. I open my eyes and see small beads of sweat on her forehead. Her leg twitches, and then her neck. She breaths heavier and her neck and leg continue to twitch.

"Claire." I say as I shake her shoulder. "Claire." She quietly moans, and I start to shake her shoulder again. She starts breathing normally again and stops twitching, but I can still feel her rapid heartbeat against me. "Claire." I say. She twitches again and I notice more sweat on her forehead. "Claire." I prop myself up on my elbow after unwrap myself from her. I place my other hand on her waist and gently run my thumb over her stomach. "Claire." I say again as her leg begins to twitch again. She must be having a nightmare about something. She holds her breath for a few seconds before she releases it. "Claire."