Drawn to Him

thirty - eight

Time Jump
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ELISE'S POV:

I was woken up in the middle of the night by a banging on my door. Instantly shooting out of my bed, thinking something was the matter.

When I opened my door the boys were standing there, Grayson crying and Khol with his arms folded so adorably.

"What's the matter?" I ask picking Grayson up. "He woke me up with his crying saying something about dad", Khol grumbled. I sat on the bed tucking him under my arm and on my lap.

"Tell me about it", I say, wiping the tears of my youngest son.

He was shuddering and grabbing my shirt in fright. It took him a while to form words but I saw Khol getting comfortable under the blankets and laying in his fathers spot.

"I saw dad getting shot..." he says then points to the floor by the balcony. "Right there", he cried a bit harder.

"Nothing is going to happen to your dad, he will come back soon", I whisper, laying a kiss on his forehead. "I miss him", I heard Khol mumble.

He was facing away from us at first but then came closer to me. Khol is exactly like Roman. Hiding his feelings behind tough acts, but he's only a kid and I will teach him it's okay to show feelings, just as I told Roman.

The doorknob started to rattle and the boys jumped. "Who locked the door?" I questioned. "I did, I got scared", Grayson trembled. I got up and for the door to unlock and open but it opened on its own.

"Why is the door locked?" Roman grumbled. I let out a breath and Grayson and Khol got to him before I could. They both shouted his name with a few 'I missed you'

He picked them both up and held them in his arms. I touched his face with comfort and he closed his eyes a bit before kissing me.

"Hi", he whispered.

"Hi", I say, so tired. "Why'd you two wake up your mother", he asks, walking to the bed. "He had a bad dream", Khol says. "About you dying", Grayson said whimpering and pointed back at the balcony.

"I'm fine, and I'll always be here", he reassured them and started rubbing his head. I was just laying there watching them. My boys, they will always be my boys.

"I knew you were fine the entire time, I was never worried!" Khol says. "I'm glad, but it is okay to feel worried for someone", Roman tells Khol.

"Now, do you think you can go back to bed?" He asks Grayson. Grayson nods instantly with a smile.

"I'll see you in the morning", he sends them to their room and closes the door. "And how are you?" He leans beside me and kisses my forehead.

"Exhausted", I mumble. "Well you sleep in. I'll deal with the boys in the morning", he whispered, tracing his finger across my check.

I nod sleepily and dozed off.

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The most wonderful smell of pancakes had woken me up. The room had Roman no where in sight, he must be downstairs. I grab a robe to put on and head that way.

As I got close to smell I could hear little voices. Isaac, Roman and the twins were in the kitchen making pancakes.

Isaac at the stove and the boys sitting on the counter watching Roman decorate the already cooked pancakes.

"Well good morning", I say and walk over to them. "Morning mommy!" Grayson beams. His bed head was too cute and all over the place.

I reached to kiss Roman on his cheek. He was spraying whipped cream and placing blueberries on the pancakes so carefully.

"Mom we're making boys pancakes! These are not for the girls", Khol says to me. I pretend to make a sad face and say, "That's fine I guess, Auntie Ivy and I will just get something as good."

"Not better than our pancakes", Isaac tags in. "I'll save you some", Roman whispered to me. I smile in return and watched them sit ready to eat.

My life was complete now, I had friends, earnest living, and a beautiful family. There wasn't a thing I wished for right now. "Good Morning all!" Ivy popped in with a smile. She's been full of those lately.

Grayson and Khol had their faces stuffed with sugar and pancakes so they couldn't speak but Roman and Isaac did. "We aren't allowed to have pancakes", I informed her with a fake frown. "What, why not?" she plays along, seeming bummed.

"The boys said they were boy pancakes", I sighed and strided over to the coffee maker. Ivy clicks her tongue and places a hand under her chin.

"Gosh and to think I had gifts for them, oh well the dumpster they go", she said. Even with my back turned I knew their interests were piqued. "Gifts!" Kohl's voice asked in a shout. "Hm, what gifts?" Ivy teased. "The ones you're talking about", Grayson chimed in.

"No I don't have any for boys who don't share", Ivy told them. I turned on the coffee maker and placed my mug underneath. When I turned to watch them the boys were holding their plates up to Ivy offering her some pancakes.

"Nah I don't want any. I was just teasing you guys", she waved her hand. "But what about our gifts?"Grayson quizzed. Ivy was silent and glanced from Roman to the boys. He was just watching them in interest.

"Ah, there in your rooms", Ivy chuckled and the boys took off down the hall and I could hear the pitter patter of their feet. "More gifts? You and Sage spoil them rotten", Roman shook his head and placed his plate in the sink.

"They're my only nephews. I'm obligated." Ivy laughed and took a seat.

"Tell them about tonight", Isaac says with a mouth full of food. "Oh yeah, It's been a while since we all went out together so Isaac and I took the liberty of planning something." she tells Roman and I.
"What is this something?" Roman asked. "We're going bowling", She says with excitement. There's silence throughout this kitchen until I hear a slight snicker from Isaac. "That's exactly the reaction I predicted."

"Bowling?" Roman spoke in a questionable tone.

Ivy nodded. "It's not the worst thing at least we're going out", I smiled awkwardly. I've never been bowling but when I have caught glimpses of it, it seemed like the most boring thing to do. But if this is what Ivy and Isaac planned for us to do then I'll do it.

"Who'll watch the boys?", I asked. "I asked your brother, he said sure so he will be here later before we leave." she says. I nodded my head in understanding. I don't even remember the last time I went out with these three, hopefully we do it more often.

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