A Love Like This (Stauren) {Book 1: Completed}

Chapter 17

It turned out that both Lauren and I had fallen asleep on the picnic blanket with Lauren still in my arms. When I had finally woken up and looked at my watch, it said that it was 11:30 pm.

"Laur," I mumbled and gently shook her shoulders. "We fell asleep." She softly hummed in her sleep before turning over so we were chest to chest, making me smile.

I let out a sigh and carefully moved her off of me so I could stand up. Then, I packed up the leftover food into a a bag and swung it around my shoulder before glancing down at Lauren who was still peacefully asleep on the blanket. I reached down and picked her up bridal style, carrying the blanket with her as well.

About halfway to the car, Lauren shifted in my arms. "Why are you carrying me?" She asked softly with a yawn. "You didn't have to, you could've woken me up." When I looked down at her, she opened her beautiful eyes slightly.

"Because I love you, and wanted you to be able to sleep," I said, making her smile.

As I approached the car, I set Lauren down and she got in the car while I put the bag and blanket in the trunk. Once in the car, Lauren looked at me with another one of her beautiful smiles and took my hand in hers, gently running her finger over the top of my hand. She brought it up to her lips and gently kissed each of my knuckles.

"I love you," she whispered against my hand.

In return, I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. "I love you too. Now let's go home."

~•~•~•~•~

Lauren unlocked the front door of her house while I brought in our stuff. "We should go get changed," I whispered once we were inside. I set the blanket and bag on the kitchen counter and followed Lauren upstairs. We went to her room and got into the closet to get pajamas out. I grabbed my normal sweatpants and t-shirt and put them on while Lauren did the same with her pajamas.

"I'm gonna go check on Emmie real quick," I said and Lauren nodded.

"Hey." She put her arms around my neck. "Not so fast, handsome." I suddenly felt a need to have her lips on mine and pulled her close. I ran my tounge over her bottom lip to ask for entrance and she gave it to me. "No more until you check on Emmie," she teased after a few seconds of that perfect moment. I gave her a fake pouty face.

"Okay." I leaned in for one last quick kiss and when out into the hallway.

I peeked my head into the guest room to see the TV still on and Emmie watching something on her phone, practically asleep under the covers, but still fighting to stay awake. "Emmie?" I asked quietly and she jumped a little. "Why are you still awake?" She turned her head and looked into the pillow. "Em?"

When she turned her head back to look at me, her cheeks were stained with tears. "You scared me!" She cried. "You said that you would be gone for a couple of hours, but you were gone for almost six and I thought something had happened to you!"

I then realized how freaky that must have been for a kid her age and instantly felt bad. "Ah Emmie, I'm sorry." I sat on the bed next to her and pulled her to my chest. "I didn't mean to, we fell asleep and I didn't wake up until late after we already should've been home. I'm so sorry."

A couple minutes later, Emmie whispered, "Daddy?"

"Yeah baby girl?"

She moved her head from my chest to me shoulder and twisted the fabric of my shirt around her finger. "I.....I love Lauren like a mom, I've even almost called her that a few times, but.....it used to be just me and you all the time." After that, she stopped for a second and bit her lip, tears obviously forming in her eyes. "And I feel like I'm not as important to you as I used to be. Do you love Lauren more than me?"

"Emerson Yeun, you are my daughter and I love you and Lauren more than anything, and I love you both the same amount. Don't you ever forget that okay? You're my little girl, I'll always love you no matter what," I said.

"Okay. I love you," she yawned.

"I love you more than you'll ever know. Now go to sleep, I'll be right here." She nodded and snuggled up into my side.

It was only a couple more minutes until my eyes gave into sleep.

*Lauren's POV*

It had been a while since Steven had left to check on Emmie, so I decided to go and see what they were doing.

"Steven, Emmie?" I whispered and looked at the two once I had opened the door. They were both asleep with Steven holding onto Emmie protectively.

A smile spread across my face and I sat on the edge of the bed, leaning down to kiss Emmie's head. Shortly after, I pressed a gentle kiss on Stevens lips twice before closing the door and going back to my own bedroom.

A/N
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