traded my life [TWD]

『101』

Waking the next morning, I ease my head up from where I was sleeping on.. Daniel's chest?

We weren't on the bed. Woojin was still sleeping there all to himself. Instead, while the infant got a twin-sized bed, Daniel and I were tangled on the uncomfortable chair beside the bed.

"Don't move," he complains, tugging me back down, "It's warm.. comfy.."

Awkwardly, I stay down. Was my head heavy on him? Where do I put my arm? Was I breathing? Why was I sleeping on the extended bed instead of mine with Woojin?

When was the last time I was held like this? To sleep?

I was used to holding the kids so they could sleep, even Carl until recent years. But, to be held.. this was a first.

"Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position right now?"

Any tension or worry I felt flies out the window as I roll my eyes, lightly hitting his stomach.

"You're an idiot," I name.

His chest rumbles under me as he laughs, scooting closer to nestle his nose in my hair. I swallow a dry lump in my throat, my heartbeat quickening at the contact.

As silence sweeps back over us, I try to remember last night.

After Gorman came by, I had cried and told Daniel everything. Everything from the 'agreement' that I had with O'Donnell and that the other officers seemed to want the same. Everything about my mom and my birth father.. Jiwoo.. Q.. How Shane found me and how I lived with him. Everything. I told Daniel everything about my life.

We'd sat on this bed to avoid disturbing Woojin and when my words would choke me up, Daniel would hug me tighter and assure me that it was over now and I was safe.

Then, we'd gotten on the subject of simple likes and dislikes until we fell asleep- the sun was beginning to rise last I remembered.

I learned that Daniel played baseball since the day he was strong enough to pick up a bat. He didn't love it, per se. But, he was good at it. And that's all his family needed to send him off to college with a scholarship. That his father was never home because of an affair and his mom was more concerned about her 'inner circle' than him- then, they divorced when he was fifteen.

"Eomma?"

At once, Daniel and I are shooting up at lightning speed and looking at where Woojin is rubbing his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Daniel and I ask at the same time.

Woojin frowns, patting his stomach, "Food."

--

"Eomma!" Woojin cheers. "Eyes!"

I reach out to grab him as he takes off, a warning of running in the halls on my tongue until he stops running and slides on the newly mopped floors.

"Yah! Yoo Woojin!" I scold.

He giggles, looking at me, Daniel, and Beth with those big eyes that tugged at my heart.

"Daryl taught him to run," Beth informs. "He mentioned that you were having a hard time teaching him to walk and he wanted to show off when we found you."

"Great. He spends a few days with Samchon Daryl and he becomes a hellion," I complain.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg."

Woojin happily bounces his way between Daniel and me. Once close enough, he grabs our hands, keeping himself in the middle.

"Did Daryl teach him the walker noise?" I suspect.