Sweet Girl

So afraid

"I hope she sleeps tonight" Lindsey whispered, over Bella's head.

"I don't mind staying up with her. If you want to go to bed, when you're tired, you can." Stevie smiled at him, soothingly, while picking her fingernails.

Lindsey found that habit endearing; the way Stevie would flick her fingers while she spoke. Her hands looked so dainty. The veins had protruded slightly over the years. Her skin dragged a little around her wrists. Her bangle still tilted down her arm and her nails were always painted. They were currently navy. They shimmered as the ceiling light bent down on her.
Her fingers were still bejewelled with rings. His favourite was the silver serpent that coiled around her middle finger, reaching to taste her knuckle.

He smashed out from his lust when Bella tugged on his arm. Her tiny body was sat in between him and Stevie. She pointed to her bag which sat by his feet.
Lindsey grasped it from the floor and perched it on her lap.
Stevie watched, infatuated as Bella's loose russet springs bounced around her head whenever she moved.
She had settled somewhat since she had eaten, and seemed quite content, watching the rest of the movie with her new guardians. Stevie watched her fidgeting, rummaging through her bag, taking items out, holding onto them prematurely, then putting them at her side.
She noticed the bottle, laying lifeless in the pit of the tiny rucksack. Her heart sank as she glanced at its faded illustrations. She suspected that it had been cleaned in her last placement, as she'd imagined it crawling with scale, as it was in her mind's image of Bella drawing from it when she was found.
She watched, waiting for Bella to pull it out and place it beside her.

"Well you don't talk much but you sure do know what you want" Lindsey chuckled as Bella dove her arm into the bag and retrieved the bottle and pushed it toward Stevie, who giggled.

"Milk? Or water?" Stevie enunciated, as the bottle was pushed further into her hand.

Bella whined, frustrated.

"Let's go in the kitchen, sweetheart. Come on." Stevie stood up, with the bottle in one hand, outstretching the other.

"You can show me what you want." She reached her hands forward to pick Bella up.

She opened the fridge, with Bella on her hip.
"Milk?" she pointed.
"Water?"

Bella leant forward, stretching her arms to point to the milk carton which Stevie promptly grabbed from the fridge and shut the door.

Bella watched from Stevie's embrace as the milk was heated on the stove. She squeezed the material of Stevie's jumper in her petite hands. The cashmere felt comforting for her, and she'd found that she enjoyed rubbing it between her fingertips.

Stevie let the milk reach a boil, then placed the pan on a bed of frozen peas to cool it a little.

"Here you go, sweetheart"

Bella eagerly took the bottle and drank as she rested her head over Stevie's shoulder again, being carried back to the living area.

Stevie adjusted Bella to cling round her middle and sat down on the couch, clutching the small child. She leant her head back, closed her eyes, and smiled.

Lindsey gazed at her, as she blindly stroked Bella's hair, looking so peaceful.

He looked at Bella's gaping circular eyes. He smiled at her, gratefully, overwhelmed with joy. They watched each other while she drank, leant into Stevie's chest. Pride flourished through his throat as he whispered
"I could sit here all day and watch you." He beamed. He felt so proud to protect this little girl, for her to call him home.

The sun was beginning to retreat from the sky.

Bella stayed, nesting in Stevie's arms, twiddling her jumper, feeling her heart thump as she realised that it was dark.