Keep Holding On

chapter 11

a/n: angst with fluff, smut: unprotected sex (no condom, she's on a pill though), soft femdom?

Molly and Spencer drifted into sleep, with Molly resting on his chest, arms wrapped around him, and him holding her close.

The gentle rhythm of his breathing lulled her into a sense of tranquility.

Suddenly, she felt a subtle shift in his demeanor, his breaths becoming short and erratic, and his arms twitching involuntarily. 

Lifting her head, she noticed he was in the grip of a nightmare, his forehead slightly damp, and his muscles tense.

Concerned, she delicately moved her face closer to his, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. 

"Hey, Spence... wake up. It's Molly," she whispered. 

Spencer stirred, his eyes darting around the room in confusion as he caught his breath.

Molly hugged him reassuringly. "Hey, it's okay. It's me. I think you had a nightmare."

He looked at her, relief in his eyes, and let out a shaky breath. Closing his eyes, he took a few deep breaths as Molly enveloped him in a comforting embrace. "It's okay," she repeated soothingly.

"Sorry. Um... I'm sorry," Spencer apologized with his eyes still closed.

"It's fine," Molly assured him.

"I'm okay. You should go back to sleep," he said.

"We can talk about it if you want... Or I could just listen," she offered.

"No, I don't." he began, then quickly realized how his words sounded. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just..." he tried to explain.

She understood what he meant and gently interrupted, "It's okay." 

Molly continued to hold him, providing the comfort he needed. Eventually, as the tension dissipated, she fell back asleep, their intertwined bodies finding solace in the warmth of the night.

........................

A few weeks passed, and Molly embarked on a new school year. On the first day, Spencer waited patiently near the school where she taught. Understanding the chaos of the first day, he wasn't surprised by her delay. 

Molly had a new class to meet, new students to connect with, and anxious parents to greet. Despite Spencer's efforts to help her relax in the preceding weeks, Molly remained more anxious than usual.

Finally, he spotted her rushing down the stairs, a mix of worry and a smile on her face. She reached Spencer, kissed him on the lips, and apologized, "I'm so sorry. You waited."

"It's okay. Busy day," Spencer reassured her.

"I know, but you waited so long. I'm so sorry. I could have told you..." Molly rambled, the worry evident in her face as her eyes darted around.

Pulling her into a comforting hug, Spencer said, "Hey, it's okay. It's a nice day. I didn't mind waiting."

"You're not upset?" Molly asked, her concern lingering.

"No, I'm not. I could never be upset with you. Everything's okay. Let's go get dinner," Spencer suggested.

"Can we just go home?" Molly requested. "I'm sorry," she added.

"Don't be. Yeah, we can go home. Whatever you need. We'll make something delicious." Spencer reassured her, kissing her on the lips.

His words, though simple, offered Molly a little reassurance. She sighed, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease ever so slightly. She returned his kiss.