A Family (x reader)

Mothers

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You sit in the back of the jeep with the doors open, with Parker leaning on you. Mary stare at you from a distance, but unconsciously slowly walk toward you. Getting closer, they hear your voice. You were singing a song, 'You're gonna be okay' by Jenn Johnson, your voice is soothing your son.

On your lap you have a small knitting project, hopefully making something worth trading for food. When you were scavenging a house, the former resident who unfortunately was rotted on the floor, had been a passionate knitter. You took some yarn, needles and a book on knitting for amateurs, then taught yourself how to knit.

Parker is trying to get some sleep after long nights with nightmares. And he isn't feeling well, which isn't surprising, he's starving. It's very difficult to get food lately. You and Ethan give your kids bigger portions than yourselves, but you also had to be strong enough to protect them, especially when they're weaker. So it was hard times for your family.

You stopped in this city to see if you could find anything here or close by, you went on the market first. When you didn't find enough food from the market that you could afford and didn't have anything else to trade with, Ethan and the others went out hunting in case they could find anything outside the city. He brought Mia, since he knew there wouldn't be much to hunt outside that would make it too dangerously and he could have take the chance to teach her some things and just to spend time with her alone. She was super excited to learn more about hunting and to spend quality time with her Dad.

"It's just the song you used to sing to us when we were young, Mom." Jake tells Mary.

Parker had glanced around and noticed the woman. Mary sees the child staring at her, and she smiles friendly to him. Something about her feels so welcoming, that to even his own surprise he climbs down from the jeep and start walking in her direction. He carefully and tentatively stroll toward her, clutching his teddy in his arms. When you see him walking to a woman you slowly stand up and follow him, to be closer and watch. You wanted to give him some space and see how he did. This was a first, that he took initiative to interact with anyone new, especially a stranger. You watch him, still singing.

You knew the song was something both Mia and Parker felt a lot better when you sang it to them. When Ethan was injured or just felt down, you would sing to him too, it helped him.

You won't forget the first time you sung it, Ethan's reaction was shock. He's eyes started watering and you were startled thinking you did something wrong. But he shook his head and begged you to continue, he fell asleep to it and the next day he told you his mother used to sing it to him when he was a kid.

His family meant so much to him. He really missed them. Ethan has so much respect for his parents and he felt so protective of his younger brothers, even though they were adults now. And his old team, they were his friends, because he didn't really have a life outside of work. The team has gone through a lot together and had become close.

Parker walks toward the woman but then glance back at you, the timing coincidentally perfect as you had reached a certain part of the lyrics and sang 'Just take, one step, closer. Put one foot in front of the other'. He takes a few more steps toward the woman, but stops still at a safe distance and stare up at her. As you're slowly getting closer too, you look at the group of men all watching, seeming to be with the woman. You move your jacket casually so that your weapons are visible, just to make sure they know you're not defenceless if they try something.

Parker digs in his pocket and pull out a dried flower he had picked when he was out walking with Ethan weeks ago. He had been on a walk with his Dad in the forest, before you left the vehicles that had gone empty of fuel. He had told him that you were going to travel in a desert soon and most likely for a long time, so told him to enjoy the green forest until you left. Parker and Ethan had then picked some flowers and when they walked back, he gave one to you and one to Mia. It was absolutely adorable. Ethan even gave you one extra just from him, just because, and it definitely earned him a kiss.