After It All

Chapter Fourteen

Riley

"Where is he?" I called as soon as we walked into The Next Step. Zach and Ellie stayed back with Michelle while James and I came here. The last thing we needed was something to happen to anyone else right now
We stepped into Miss Kate's office to see Landon sat there colouring. Oblivious to everything around him

"Landon" I said making him look up. He turned to James and I flashing up the biggest smile
"Mummy Daddy!" He called dropping his crayons to run over to us 
The moment he was close enough, I pulled him in as tight as I can standing up with him in my arms as James joined the hug
"Lan" James whispered making Landon look up from the hug smiling at both of us
"Mummyyy you're hurting my tummy" He laughed making me loosen my grip slightly 

I turned to Miss Kate to see her smiling at the three of us
"Who dropped him off?" James asked but Miss Kate shrugged
"I came in this afternoon after Lunch to see him wondering the halls on his own" She explained

"I've already checked our Camera's and the only person I can see if Landon entering on his own" She added only making us more and more confused

"Buddy, what happened?" James asked running his hands through Landon's hair
"I was scared at first but he said he was your friend so I knew I was okay" Landon said smiling
I instantly looked at James worried

Landon is our cautious baby, he doesn't go off with strangers, he doesn't warm up to people just because they are our friends unless we are there
This isn't Landon talking..

After about 10 minutes, the officers from last night arrive just as confused as we were
"Can we talk to you both alone?" Officer Jenson asked, I looked at James before we both looked at Landon
"It's okay. He'll be safe in here with the officers" He said making James and I nod leaving the room but staying at a distance where we could see him 

"Landon is saying that it was a friend of yours. We're going to need to talk to all of them" He said but James shook his head
"This so called friend would be someone Landon hadn't met. Meaning he wasn't used to them before" He explained
"The only reason Landon was calm was because they said he was our friend. That doesn't mean he was" Riley added
"Plus all of our friends were with us. They wouldn't and couldn't have done it" James continued to argue

"I understand the frustration but the only lead we have at the moment is that he was a friend of yours" Officer Jenson asked
"What did Landon say he looked like" I asked, the officer turned to look at me before taking out his notepad

Landon and the Officers stayed in the room when James and I left so they could talk to Landon. They figured that us being around would be enough to panic Landon thinking he was in trouble
It made sense but I didn't want to let Landon out of my sight ever again..

"He said he was talk and had dark hair like Mummy's old hair? Around Daddy's height, green eyes and no obvious marking like a tattoo" The officer said 

I looked over at James who look had the same look his face too..

"I have no idea who that is" James said and I nodded
"Me either. None of our friends look like that" I said looking back at Landon 

I want to know what happened, I want to know who took him. But something tells me this story is just beginning 

--

From the moment we got home, Zach has be tied to Landon's hip not wanting to let him out of his sight.
I can't blame him. I'm the same right now too
"Hey" James said coming up behind me placing his hands around my waist resting his chin on my shoulder as we watched the kids 

"I don't like this" I whispered making James hum in response
"I feel helpless like I can't protect them anymore" I said 
"Ri" he said but I shook my head
"I should have done something more. I should have told you straight away about the house being broken in. I could have prevented this" I said as James pulled me in closer by the waist

"Breath" He whispered into my ear allowing me to take a deep breath in, James then turned my body so I was facing him

"None of this is your fault Riley" He said as I bowed my head
"You aren't failing, you are protecting them. Neither of us could have prevented what happened. Considering we don't even know who it was" James said mumbling the last part

"The important thing is that we all back now. Landon is here, he's safe. We're going to find out who did this and I've already bought the deadlock for the door" He said
"I'll install it right now if it'll give you a little piece of mind" James offered before we both looked over at the kids 

All of them were in their own little world. Almost as if the last 24 hours hadn't happened. Ellie was attempting to chase after her older brothers but couldn't quite make it 5 paces without falling causing Landon to laugh while Zach helped her back onto her feet

"I love you" James whispered, I turned to look over my shoulder at him before smiling slightly
"I love you too" I said leaning up to press our lips together

From the diagnosis of Landon's Lungs, moving, last night. James and I had slowly been losing track of each other. Our relationship..
That isn't something we need to falter right now

"We're going to be okay" James said kissing the back of my head
"I promise" He said, I sighed looked at him

"Pinky promise?" I asked making him smile softly pecking me lips again

"I pinky promise" He said. I looked out at the kids again as they started to head back inside, Landon had a hold of one of Ellie's hands while Zach had the other one. Every one of two paces the boys would swing her into the air making her irrupt into giggles

Everything had to be okay.. Right?