Unspoken Goals

Baby

Continuation

It was close to 3 a.m. when the last of the guests finally trickled out into the quiet of the night. The house felt different now, the once vibrant chatter and bursts of laughter replaced by a heavy stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The chaos had settled, leaving behind empty cups, crumpled napkins, and a bittersweet kind of silence.

The group had gathered on the floor near the TV, their usual hangout spot, since the couch was still crammed into Juliette's bedroom from earlier in the night. Juliette leaned back on her hands, exhaustion pulling at her, but she remained perfectly still. Abigail had fallen asleep against her, sprawled across Juliette's lap, her face tucked into the soft fabric of Juliette's jeans. It had only taken two minutes into their debrief of the night for Abigail to give in to sleep, her soft breaths a steady rhythm against the hush of the house.

Juliette let out a quiet breath, her hand instinctively tracing slow, careful circles along Abigail's back. Her fingers moved gently, brushing against the curve of her spine in a soothing pattern she hadn't even realized she was making. She wasn't tired anymore—not really. Not when Abigail was like this: peaceful, vulnerable, and just... hers, in some unspoken way that she didn't want to disturb.

"You guys can head to bed," Juliette murmured softly, her voice low enough not to wake Abigail. "I'll take care of her tonight."

Soph tilted her head, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face. "Are you sure, Julie?"

Juliette didn't look up, her attention still fixed on the way Abigail's chest rose and fell against her. "Yeah, I'm sure. She's already out, so it won't be too bad." 

Soph lingered for a moment before stepping forward, leaning down to kiss the top of Juliette's head. "Alright. But come get us if you need anything, okay?"

"Will do," Juliette replied with a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Em followed suit, pressing a quick kiss to Juliette's head as well. "Thanks, Julie. Goodnight."

The boys shuffled past next, each giving Juliette a light pat on the back before disappearing down the hallway. Normally, when someone in the group had too much to drink, they'd share the responsibility—taking shifts, dividing the care. But tonight was different. Juliette didn't want to share.

All night, she had tried to steal a moment alone with Abigail, only for the chaos of the party to pull her away time and again. Abigail had been dragged off for another round of shots, another conversation, another interruption. Juliette had let go of the hope of having her all to herself. But now, in the stillness of the early morning, she finally had her moment. Abigail, asleep and unguarded, was here with her. And that was enough.

Juliette's hand stilled, resting lightly on Abigail's back. "Abs," she whispered, her voice impossibly soft, "I need you to wake up so I can take you to your room."

Abigail let out a groggy groan, burying her face deeper into Juliette's lap. "I'm comfortable right here," she mumbled, her words slurred with the weight of sleep.

Juliette chuckled quietly, the sound low and warm. "Of course you are," she murmured, more to herself than to Abigail. Carefully, she shifted out from under her, wincing as pins and needles pricked at her legs from sitting still for too long. She stretched her stiff limbs before crouching down beside Abigail, who now lay sprawled across the floor like a contented cat.

"Alright, if you're not going to move, then I guess I'm going to have to carry you," Juliette teased, though there was no real annoyance in her voice—only a quiet affection she didn't bother to hide.