The Bird and the Bee

Chapter 8

"Jenny, darling. Open your eyes."

The younger woman heard a voice, it was quiet at first but when her ears stopped ringing, she heard it more clear now.

"Mom?"

"Matilda?" Jenny whispers, confused for a second. Wasn't she gone with Agatha? Miss Honey slowly opened her eyes, squinting from the lamp that was on the nightstand. What time was it. Her brown eyes first layed on the girl, reaching out to take her hand when she winced, a pain spreading up her wrist and Miss Peregrine gently layed her hand back down on the bed.

"Matilda?" Jenny's vision cleared, finally noticing the girl by the edge of the bed where Alma was, Matilda rushing forward and falling into her mother's arms.

"Be careful." Alma says gently, Jenny slowly sitting up in bed to hold the girl closer, hiding her face against her hair as she held her close. She was so incredibly worried that Agatha would have done something, but it was only to get Jenny to turn herself over. The ravenette let the two sit in silence for a moment, knowing both of them needed it and was about to leave when Matilda took the woman's hand and pulled her over. Alma was a bit surprised but didn't deny the offer, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Her hand moved to rest on Jenny's back, her heart fluttering when she felt the woman immediately pull her into her arms with Matilda.

"Are you both alright?" Jenny asks, pulling away, checking over Matilda and then looking over at Alma, seeing the bruise along her jaw.

"It's nothing extreme, it's alright." Alma says softly, the other woman glancing over at the window.

"When did I fall asleep?" She asks confused.

"You didn't, you fainted. Likely from shock." The ravenette explains.

"Where's Agatha?" A silence fell over the room and Jenny felt as if she got punched in the stomach. She shouldn't care, should she? She was a terrible woman, she raised a gun to her daughter, she should loathe her. But she couldn't find that hatred, deep down she was hurt.

"I'm sorry, Jenny." Alma whispers, Matilda finding her mother's uninjured hand to hold gently.

"No. No, you shouldn't be." She replies, looking down at the dry patch of red on her bandage.

"Why don't you and Matilda spend some time together? I've already done reset and tucked the children in. I'll be up shortly." Alma says softly, leaving the room and shutting the door quietly behind her.

"Did she do anything to you?" Jenny asks immediately, going to look over the girl but her hand throbbed in pain and she had to rest her arm back down.

"No, mostly just was trying to get information out and threatening me. But she didn't hurt me, I promise." Matilda replies, moving to sit beside her mother in bed.

"How are you feeling?" The woman asks, looking down at the girl.

"I'm not sure to be honest. That was..a lot." The girl admits.

"I'm still trying to process everything." Jenny sighs, Matilda resting her head against her arm, a bit tired from the days adrenaline.

"Are you tired, little bee?" Her mother says softly, the girl waiting a moment before nodding. "Here, lay down." Jenny used her free hand to lay one of her pillows down for the girl to use, Matilda laying down against it as the woman brought the covers over her. It was a bit difficult with just one hand, but she managed to tuck her in, laying down on her side to look over her.

"Close your eyes, little bee. I'll keep you safe." Jenny whispers, placing a soft kiss on the girls forehead. Matilda moved closer to her mother, Jenny lifting her arm and running soft circles against the girls back as she dozed off. The woman watched over the girl, vowing to never ever let her go again and as the hours passed, she heard the faint sound of Alma's heels coming down the hall. The door knob turned, her brown eyes landing on the ravenette when she entered the room, noticing Matilda was asleep beside her.