Baby boy

Silent Promises

Damien's POV

As soon as we settle onto the couch, I feel the weight of Lauren resting against me, and it brings a sense of calm. The soft hum of the TV fades into the background as I wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer. It's nice to have a moment of peace after such a big day, but it doesn't last long.

A muffled cry comes from upstairs, faint at first, but it quickly turns into a full-on wail. My heart lurches—it's Jesse.

I'm on my feet before I even think about it. "I'll go get him," I say, glancing at Lauren, who's already getting up.

"I'll come with you," she says, and we rush upstairs together, our hearts racing.

When we step into Jesse's room, the sight of him thrashing around in his crib, tears streaming down his face, hits me like a punch to the gut. He's sobbing, his little body shaking, clearly terrified.

I kneel down beside the crib, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. "Jesse, baby, it's Daddy. It's okay. Daddy and Mommy are here."

Lauren scoops him up into her arms, and he clings to her, sobbing into her neck. He's shaking like a leaf, and it breaks my heart. 

"It's okay, sweetheart. Mommy's got you," she whispers, rocking him gently, trying to soothe him. I can see how scared he is, and it makes me feel helpless.

I reach out and rub his back in slow circles. "We're right here, buddy. You're safe now. It was just a bad dream," I tell him, my voice as soft and reassuring as I can make it. 

Through his sobs, he finally manages to whisper, "Scared... so scared."

Lauren kisses his head. "I know, baby. But you're safe now. No one's going to hurt you here." 

I keep rubbing his back, wanting him to feel our presence, to know we're not going anywhere. "No one will ever hurt you again, Jesse. Mommy and Daddy are here, and we love you so much."

Slowly, he starts to calm down. His sobs turn to soft hiccups, and his little body relaxes bit by bit. Lauren sits down in the rocking chair, still holding him close, and I crouch next to them, keeping my hand on his back. I don't want him to feel alone for even a second. 

After a few moments, his voice comes out in a whisper. "Want Daddy."

My heart just about bursts at that. I carefully lift him from Lauren's arms, cradling him against my chest. He curls into me without hesitation, pressing his face into my shirt, his tiny hands clutching at me like I'm his lifeline.

"Daddy's got you, little man. I'm right here," I murmur, rocking him gently. I start humming, not even thinking about it, just wanting to keep him as calm as possible. I feel him relax against me, his breathing slowing down, his eyes getting heavy.

I glance over at Lauren, and she's watching us with a soft smile. "He feels safe with you," she whispers, her voice full of warmth.

I nod, never taking my eyes off Jesse's peaceful face. "I'll hold him a little longer, just to make sure he's okay before we put him back in the crib."

Lauren leans in and kisses my cheek. "You're amazing," she whispers.  "He's lucky to have you." 

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. "We're both lucky to have him." 

Jesse's breathing steadies, his body completely relaxed against mine. I stay like that, holding him close, vowing that I'll always be here to keep him safe, no matter what. As I hold Jesse, feeling the rise and fall of his little chest against mine, I can tell he's drifting off, finally at peace. His grip on my shirt loosens, but I don't move. I want to make sure he's really asleep before I even think about laying him back down in the crib.

Lauren's still sitting nearby, watching with that soft, loving smile she gets when she's completely in the moment. It makes me feel like everything's going to be alright. We've got this, even when it's tough. 

After a few more minutes of silence, Jesse's breathing becomes steady, deep. I glance at Lauren, and she nods, knowing what I'm thinking. Slowly, carefully, I stand up, cradling him close. I move to the crib and gently lower him onto the mattress. His little body stirs for just a second, but I keep my hand on his back, rubbing lightly until he settles back down.

Once he's still, I pull the soft blanket over him and tuck in the stuffed tiger he's growing attached to. I linger for a moment, watching him sleep. There's something about seeing him like this—peaceful, safe—that hits me right in the heart. After everything he's been through, he deserves this, and I'm determined to give it to him.

I turn and step back towards the door, where Lauren's waiting. We tiptoe out of the room, pulling the door closed behind us as quietly as possible. 

As soon as the door clicks shut, I let out a long breath I didn't realize I was holding. Lauren slides her hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

 "You're so good with him," she whispers, leaning her head against my shoulder as we walk down the hallway.

"I just don't want him to ever feel scared like that again," I say, the weight of the responsibility settling in my chest. "I hate that he's been through so much."

Lauren stops us in the hallway and turns to face me. "He won't, Damien. He's with us now. We'll protect him, love him, and give him everything he needs to feel safe."

I nod, knowing she's right. But it still lingers—the thought of what he went through before he came to us. The fear in his eyes tonight brought it all back.

"Do you think it'll get easier for him?" I ask, needing reassurance.

Lauren places a hand on my cheek, her thumb gently brushing my skin. "I do. It'll take time, but he's already making so much progress. He feels safe with us. That's what matters most."

I pull her into a tight hug, grateful for her strength. "I just want to do right by him, you know?"

"You already are," she whispers into my chest. 

We stand there for a while, holding each other in the quiet of the hallway. 

Finally, she pulls back, a playful smile on her lips. "How about we get back to our show before he wakes up again? We've probably only got a short window."

I chuckle softly. "Yeah, we better take advantage of it while we can."

We head back downstairs, settling onto the couch again, but my mind is still with Jesse. Even though he's fast asleep now, I know the road ahead might not be easy. There'll be more nightmares, more moments of fear and doubt. But I also know we're in this together—Lauren, Jesse, and me. 

Just as we're about to hit play on the TV, we hear a soft sound from the baby monitor. Lauren and I exchange a look, both of us smiling. 

"He's okay," I say, listening to the tiny noises Jesse makes in his sleep. It's just the sound of a little boy dreaming, this time of something far nicer.

Sorry this took so long to upload... Hopefully you like it. What do you think Jesse's dream was about? 

Do you like seeing more moments of Damien and Lauren being a couple?

Or do you prefer more of Jesse's POV?

Hopefully it won't take long for me to update! 

-Your author