Respite - HS

Surprise?

Harry Styles

The house has been tense since yesterday. When I came home Serena was nowhere to be found and Alex was sending me gentle smiles whenever she saw me. It's like she was trying to tread lightly around me. Like she felt bad for me.

In this very moment though my room couldn't be more joyful.

"Daddy it's Christmas Eve you need to wake up." A small hand smooshes my cheek.

I blink open one eye and stretch out my arm to poke at Felix's side.

"Bud, we don't have to get up early on Christmas Eve. We'll do that tomorrow morning." I explain groggily to the six year old who is much too awake right now.

"Oh." He blinks at me and I hold back a smile. I groan as I reach for my phone on the bedside table. The screen lights up with three messages from work and three from Audrey.

"Fif it's 6 AM. Why are you awake?" I groan.

I see him shrug from the corner of my eye as I swipe away the notifications from work.

I turn back towards him still standing next to my bed, "You alright lovie?" I ask softly reaching to brush his wild hair away from his face.

"Is mommy mad at me?" His face scrunches when he asks.

I look at him bewildered, shuffling in bed to pick him up.

"Babe, what are you talking about? 'Course not. Did something happen?"

He snuggles up to me as I sit up against the headboard, "She didn't say goodnight to me. And we left her at the park." He mumbles with his head on my shoulder.

I deflate at his words, feeling like a shit dad.

"She's not mad at you bud I promise. I'm sorry she didn't say goodnight to you last night, everything's okay though." I scratch his back lightly and feel him relax against me.

I'm not even entirely sure that everything's alright though.

"I miss auntie. I haven't seen her in forever." His words start to slur as he gets sleepy again.

I laugh softly as his proclamation of 'forever', we saw her two days ago.

"She misses you too Fifi."

As Felix drifts back off to sleep snuggled up to my chest I'm reminded that Audrey texted me. Which is strange considering how early it is in the morning.

Checking the text again it says it was from two hours ago.

I frown as I read the text.

Sunny Girl

Hi i can't sleep.

i know you probably aren't awake but i'm kinda freaked out and texting you is the only thing i can think to do.

I see another text underneath the last message but I don't even bother reading it before I'm hurriedly pressing on her contact.

"Hello?"  Her voice is scratchy.

She actually picked up.

"Have you been awake this whole time?" I whisper.

"Uhh, kind of?"  She replies hesitantly. 

"Love, that's not good. You should have called me."

"Called you? But you were asleep, I didn't wanna wake you."

"Aud," I chuckle exasperated, "doesn't matter, would've stayed up with you. Or at least tried to help you fall asleep."

The line goes quiet for awhile, "Are you okay Audrey?" I ask quietly trying to be mindful of Felix.