"Do you think we can take two more?"

Chapter 4

Ranboo POV

I'm 'baba'. thats his nickname for me. i wanna hug him. I've never had siblings before so this is new. i (platonically) love him.

"You alright there, ran" Kristen walks to me.

"Yeah... just lost in thought"

"Y'know, he really does see you as a brother, you should see the way he talks about you sometimes"

I laugh, partially in disbelief but also in excitement, "really?"

"Yeah, he loves you and tommy, we talk quite a bit when he comes round, i think he feels out of place, but he talks about you and tommy all the time, the way you talk to each other and the way you act, the boy loves you two" she smiles while she recalls the memory.

i look over to Phil and toby, they started playing with the dinos again a little while ago but i can't help but notice the smile on his face while playing, he's telling Phil about the dinos' names.

"Baba, um ere?" he points to me with a smile.

"Course, tubs" i walk over and take a seat on the floor next to Tubbo. he looks at me with a questioning look that i can't decipher. he shuffles towards me and points to my lap.

"what's wrong?" i turn to Phil, "Phil, what's he asking?"

"i think he's asking to sit on your lap, mate"

"Ohhhhh," i turn my attention to the little waiting for an answer, "yeah, bud, 'course you can."

he shuffles further towards me, them crawls onto my lap and closes his eyes. after, maybe, five minutes, he falls asleep.

"Did you want me to move him, sweetie?" Kristen looks to me and points at the sleeping child.

i shake my head, "nah, its fine, he's comfortable, thats all that matters."

"Are you comfortable like that though? your comfort matters too, mate."

"Yeah, I'm fine" i can't really tell if thats a lie or not, but, even if i was uncomfortable, i wouldn't get either of them to move him. he just looks so peaceful and i feel like the slightest movement might wake him.

my phone buzzes in my pocket and i contemplate leaving it, but it could be important, so, after thinking, i pull my phone out my pocket to see, 3 missed called from my mother, one from tommy and several messages from the pair of them, i check my tommy's first.

*tommy*

tommy-hey

tommy-ran?

tommy-you okay?

tommy-how's Tubbo? also I'm on my way with Wilbur

tommy-Ranboo? you there?

Ranboo-sorry, was busy with tubs, he's fine, currently sleeping on my lap, if you're on your way, I'll see you in a bit, yeah?

tommy-okay, good to know he's alright, see you in a bit

then to check the ones from my mother. i don't really discuss my homelife with anyone, they've all got their own problems to deal with. i can deal with my issues by myself, or, at least, i think i can.

*mother*

mother-Ranboo (I'm not using a proper name for him, he is just Ranboo, k?)

mother-Ranboo, answer your damn phone.

mother-i will ground you

mother-don't make me tell your father, Ranboo

mother-where are you?

mother-i will come and get you

mother-answer your damn phone, Ranboo, i swear to God

mother-you know what will happen if you don't, don't you?

Mother-do you want that to happen?

Nononononono. Help. i didn't expect this.

"Um, actually, Kristen, could you, uh, y'know, move him, i need to phone my mother and i don't want to wake him while i do it."

"Yeah, of course, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm sure its fine," my voice breaks as I catch my breath in my throat

i walk into the kitchen, take a deep breath and pull out my phone.

'Hey, mom'

'RANBOO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?'

'i had to take someone back to their house, the nurse told me to'

'THAT WASNT MY QUESTION, WHERE. THE. HELL. ARE. YOU?'

'Still at their house, his parents aren't home and i don't want to leave him by himself, he's really ill'

'I SWEAR TO GOD, RANBOO, YOUR FATHER WILL BE HEARING OF THIS, YOU... YOU... DONT COME HOME TONIGHT, YOU'RE NOT WELCOME AT THE MOMENT. STAY WITH YOUR 'FRIEND'. I BET THEY'LL CARE ABOUT YOU MORE THAN I DO. ACTUALLY, I BET THEY'LL GET SO FUCKING TIRED OF YOU, JUST YOUR FATHER AND I DO. Y'KNOW WHAT, WHEN THEY GET SICK OF YOU (WHICH THEY WILL), DONT COME CRYING BACK TO US, YOU AND YOUR CHILD LIKE MINDSET, CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE WITH YOU CRYING LIKE A BABY. AWW YOU HAD A BAD DAY, WELL SUCK IT UP, LIFES HARD, LEARN TO FUCKING GET OVER IT. ALL OF YOUR STUFF WILL BE ON THE DRIVE, YOU CAN PICK IT UP TOMMORROW MORNING AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, Y'HEAR ME, NEVER AGAIN'

'i... mom.... what..? i....' i cry, i sob and cry into the phone speaker, i cry to the point of hyperventilation, i cry past that, i feel as though i might pass out but I'm still crying. she ended the call a little while ago but i don't care. between the violent sobs and full body tremors, i feel two hands lightly grip my shoulders.

"Ranboo? Ranboo sweetie? can you hear me, darling?"

i just hiccup in response. i can't stop crying still but i do tilt my head up slightly.

"Ranboo, darling, what happened? was it something your mother said?"

"She..." i cry harder

"Hush, shhhh, Ranboo, sweetie, i need you breathe, breathe for me, darling. in........ and out...... in..... and out.... hey, you're okay, you're alright"

"She kiwcked me owt," crap, I can't be doing this, I'm supposed to help Tubbo, I shouldn't be regressing too. I try to take a deep breath, but it feels like I can't let air into my lungs.

"Ran... sweetie... I need you to breathe, darling, you need to breathe."

It was at this point, when Phil came running out. He looks at me the same way a concerned dad would look at an injured child. This causes me to break down more. Everything's too bright and loud and overwhelming and I feel like I can't breathe and that's just causing me to panic more. I try to look at the concerned pair but I can't seem to move.

I just want a hug, y'know.

I want one of those hugs that parents are supposed to give that make the world disappear for a while. The hugs that calm any crying child. Or at least that's what I've been told, I never got those hugs. I just want a mom and dad that love me, or, at the least, pretend to love me. I don't think I should feel scared to go home.

Phil and Kristen are talking to me, and I know I should listen, but I just can't seem to hear them. Phil has crouched in front of me but I cant move to look at him.

My vision is starting to go dark.