I had some help

Fifty-eight

Alex brought Indie back inside once she heard that his parents were done fighting. She handed Indie to Lesli before heading up to Morgan's bedroom.

As she climbed the stairs, she noticed his door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, Alex could see Morgan pacing around the room, his fists clenched at his sides as he marched back and forth, tension radiating off him.

Taking a deep breath, Alex pushed the door open and stepped inside. Without saying a word, she walked over to Morgan and pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

Morgan stiffened for a moment before relaxing into her embrace, his tense muscles slowly unwinding. He let out a shaky breath, his forehead resting against her shoulder.

"How did it go?" Alex asked softly, her voice filled with concern as she held him close, refusing to let go.

Morgan took a moment before answering, his voice low and strained. "It was rough, Alex. She was saying things I didn't want Indie to hear. It's like she doesn't even care what she's doing to him." His arms tightened around her, seeking comfort in her presence.

Alex closed her eyes, feeling his pain as if it were her own. "I'm sorry." She whispered, her voice gentle as she ran her hand soothingly along his back. "You're doing the right thing by being there for him. He needs you."

Morgan nodded against her shoulder, the weight of the situation still heavy on his mind. But in that moment, with Alex holding him, he felt a small measure of peace. It was a reminder that no matter how difficult things became, he wasn't facing it alone.

Alex held Morgan tightly, feeling the tension slowly ebb away from his body. She could sense the storm of emotions swirling inside him-the frustration, the helplessness, and the deep concern for his son. She wanted to take some of that burden from him, to make him feel less alone in the chaos.

"I hope he didn't hear anything." Morgan said, pulling away from Alex's grasp, worry etched on his face.

"Only when he came into the kitchen for a second. We had a lot of fun outside, though." Alex said, smiling reassuringly at Morgan. Her words seemed to lift some of the weight off his shoulders.

"Thank you, Alex." He said, looking down at her, his eyes full of appreciation.

Before they could say anything else, Lesli appeared at the door, holding Indie. "Why don't you two take the night to yourselves?" She offered with a warm smile. "I can take care of Indie. You both need a break."

Morgan looked at Alex, and for a moment, they silently communicated their gratitude. "Are you sure?" Morgan asked his mom.

"Absolutely. Katie left already, it took a lot to convince her to leave though." Lesli said, bouncing Indie gently in her arms. "He'll be just fine with me. You both deserve a little time to relax."

Alex reached out and squeezed Lesli's hand. "Thank you." She said sincerely.

Lesli nodded, her smile growing wider. "Go on, enjoy yourselves. You both need it."

As Lesli turned to take Indie to bed, Alex and Morgan exchanged a glance. The tension that had been hanging over them all day began to dissipate, replaced with a quiet understanding that they had each other's backs, no matter what.

"What do we do now?" Alex asked, sitting on Morgan's bed, her voice soft as she watched him.

Morgan ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed in thought. "I'm not sure." He admitted, glancing around the room. "We can get a hotel, I guess."

Alex considered it for a moment, then nodded. "A hotel sounds good. We could use a change of scenery, just to get away from everything for a bit."

Morgan stood up, offering her his hand. "Let's go, then. We can pack a few things and head out."