Forever His Princess

-fifty three-

AMARI ROUSSEAU

I put on one of Niko's shirts and he motioned for me to lie down on top of him. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my head in the crook of his neck and he kissed my forehead.

"I feel like we've had to do that too often." Niko mumbled as he stared up at the ceiling.

"What?"

"Me taking you into the shower to wash blood off of you." The first time was when Ellie shot Alex and his blood went all over me, today was the second time.

"Twice." I muttered.

"Two times too many." I smiled weakly at him and I felt as if my heart was slowly breaking. "I have to get us away from this, all of it. I can't keep doing this to you."

"We'll think about this all later, my love, we're both tired and it's been a long day; we should get some rest."

"Ok." He said barely audibly.

"Can I go get Manny? I wanna have him close tonight."

"Of course, stay here, I'll go and get him." He was about to get out of bed but paused when there was a noise on the other side of the door and it opened. "You're getting really good at picking locks aren't you, little man?"

"Yep." He said as he shuffled towards Niko, who picked him up and laid him down in the middle of us. "Today was weird, there were too many loud noises." He's completely oblivious to the fact he could've died today. We all could've when I think about it.

"I know, I'm sorry, baby."

"How long will we live here for?"

"We don't know yet."

"Will I still go to school?"

"Not for a while. We can have your tutors come here though, they can teach your school lessons so you won't miss out."

"That'll be boring, none of my friends are here."

"I know, baby, but we'll make sure they make the lessons super exciting and you'll be taught at the same time as the twins so you won't be by yourself."

"Ok." He said with a light smile. We all laid in a comfortable silence for a while before Manny broke it. "I'm sorry for being mean to you, Ma."

"Did I do something to upset you?" He stayed quiet and I watched as his eyes started to tear up.

"You won't want to love me anymore." Manny managed to say quietly.

"What?"

"It used to be me, you, Papi, Ant and Auntie Liv. And then Uncle Daniel. Then there was Dad. Now, Sely and Ryan are with us too. So that means I have to share you with..." He started counting on his fingers before pushing eight fingers in my face. "Eight people, Ma."

"Baby, you only named seven people." I said, laughing softly.

"But with the new baby, you won't want me anymore." My eyebrows raised in confusion as I looked at Niko but he only shrugged, feeling just as confused as I was.

"There isn't a new baby."

"I heard you, Ma. I had a nightmare ages ago and I was going to come and sleep with you but I heard you and Dad talking about babies. I thought that meant you had one in your tummy."

"No, Manny. We said later down the line, not now. But even when we do have a baby, it won't change how much I love you."

"It will."