Bad Dreams //mgc

19.

*Cara's POV*

Today was a wonderful day. I absolutely love snow. I hate the cold that comes with it, but it's never as bad when there's snow on the ground.

Pam quickly made us hot chocolates while we all went to change into dry warm clothes. I threw on an old pair of gray sweatpants from my closet and my old beat up bon jovi sweatshirt, then stole a pair of Pam's fuzziest slippers. I threw my hair up in a messy bun as I headed back down to the living room.

Dad and David came barrelling in the door with a freshly cut Christmas tree and 5 pizzas from the best pizza shop in town. It's only a week and a half til Christmas, so they needed to get it up, mostly for James' sake.

"Good, you guys are back! Michael, come help me set this thing up? The stand is in the closet right there." What the hell dad? TJ was the only person he ever had help him set up the tree. Dad winked at me as he and Michael got it secured and perfectly straight. Dad really likes Michael if he had him help!

It was comical to watch, honestly. Dad gets frustrated easily when things dont go his way, and Michael isnt exactly the most coordinated person, I've learned that quite quickly. But somehow, they managed, and dad was laughing instead of getting mad. There's a first for everything tonight, it seems. Stepping back from the tree, he put his arm around Michael's shoulder and just said, "Good job son," then left for the kitchen.

Regan and I looked at each other in shock. Dad has never called a guy "son" before. Not even TJ! Where did this come from? He wanted to kill Michael this morning when he caught us sleeping in the same bed, now he's calling him "son" and having him help set up the tree? I'm thoroughly confused.

Michael plopped back on the couch, face red from actually doing manual labor. "You didn't tell me I'd have to work while I was here!" he teased. I still couldn't speak and just looked at him. His face turned even more red and simply asked, "What?" Regan's the one who answered him quietly.

"Her dad really likes you. SON"

Everyone came in the living room at this point with boxes of tree ornaments. Dad set his down and announced. "Since we have everyone here tonight, Cara, Regan, Michael, and Calvin too,"

I groaned and interrupted him, "Calum, Dad! It's Calum," he never gets people's names right unless it's a generic name.

"Right," he continued, "AS I WAS SAYING... Since we have everyone here, let's decorate the tree!!" We each have a box of our own ornaments. Its a family tradition we do. Every year we get a new ornament that represents the past year. There's no room for generic bulbs anymore, we've collected too many!

"We're forgetting something," Calum says and looks at Michael. What are they up to? The two guys get up and get their guitar cases out of the closet. "You need music!" he says as they tune their guitars and start playing Christmas songs. Just when I think the night can't get any better, Michael begins singing. I stop and turn to watch him. His voice is beautiful. I'm in awe. I've never heard a voice so perfect. He smiles at me and his cheeks turn slightly pink. When he looks down at his guitar I turn back to the tree and notice my family looking at me. Now I'm the one turning pink! We finish decorating the tree and all step back to look at it. Pam speaks up. "We forgot one!" as she hands one last one to Michael. It's a picture frame with the words "First Christmas" across it. The picture in the frame was one mom must have taken when we were outside. It was of Michael and I. His arm was draped over my shoulder, stuffing snow into my face. My eyes teared up and Michael looked down at me with a different look in his eyes. It made my stomach erupt. He looked back at my mom and thanked her as he put it on the tree.

Calum put the star on top and we turned out the lights, all adoring our perfect tree. This was the perfect day.

****
""So Cal," Dad said. Its easier for him to call him Cal so he doesn't keep messing up his name. "After seeing the mess you make while sleeping, we're putting you in the bottom bunk in David's room. Michael, you get the fold-out again. And Cara, I better not wake up to anything funny tomorrow!" We all say goodnight and it's just the four of us on the couch.

Regan turns to me and asks, "What the hell was that?!" So many things out of the ordinary happened this evening that I'm not sure which one she's talking about. I shrugged and yawned. It was a long day.

"Tired Angel?" Michael whispers in my ear. I shivered then nodded. If only he knew what that does to me.

Regan and I got up and said good night to the guys and went up to my room for bed. I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.

****
"Trouble in paradise? I'm back in my room in my old apartment. Not again! I'm laying on my bed crying when I hear a familiar voice tell me "Let's get you ready for bed beautiful" I then feel hands on my waist pulling my shirt up, followed by kisses on my bare skin. He pulled my shirt off over my head and quickly removed my bra. His hand traveled to my small breasts, cupping them in his hands as his mouth took in my nipple.

I shot straight up in my bed, tears falling down my face and I can't breathe. Regan wakes up and seeing my tears, grabs me in a hug. I start shaking uncontrollably. She gets out of my bed, passing my dad who is watching with concern. "Bad dream," she whispers to him. "I'm getting Michael," she tells us both as she runs downstairs.

*Michael's POV*

I haven't been to sleep yet. Today's events since coming back to Cara's house keep running through my head. I hear some muffled commotion upstairs followed by Regan running down the steps towards me. I sit up as she almost trips trying to get to me so quickly. "Cara needs you. Now." she said and turned back around up the stairs.

I darted off the fold-out bed, thanking myself that I kept my sweatpants on, and ran after her. Cara's dad was at her door, watching quietly and stepped to the side as I made my way onto her full sized bed. She immediately wrapped her arms around my waist, burying her head into my bare chest. I wrapped my arms around her tightly, one hand running through her soft curls.

"Shhh shhh shhh," I whispered, "I'm here. I got you." Regan got up and said, "I'll take the couch." Cara's dad nodded and let her pass through. He watched us for a few minutes as her sobs started quieting down, then turned back to his bedroom across the hall. "Thank you Mike. Goodnight," he said, shutting and locking the door behind him. I'm sleeping here tonight.

I turned my attention back to the crying angel in my arms, rocking her side to side as I continued playing with her curls. When her crying finally stopped, she leaned back and said "Th-th-thank you" then laid her head back onto my chest again. We stayed that way for what felt like an hour. I don't know for sure how long it was, when she finally spoke.

"I remembered more," she croaked, and she proceeded to tell me her dream. "It started the exact same, but continued. He... Trevor... He... Took off my shirt and bra. He touched me and had me in his mouth..." Light tears fell again and I held her tighter. If I ever see this bastatd, I'm going to kill him.

"I said it before, and I'll say it again and again Angel, it's not your fault. It is not your fault." She nodded and yawned. I slid down so I was laying on my back on the pillow and she readjusted herself to hold me tighter and we both drifted off to sleep.