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New challenge (Part 16)

Hannah laid next to Alex until she fell asleep. The emotions of the day had left them both exhausted, so the little girl went down easily.
When she was certain the little girl was out of it, she snuck out of her room. Hannah grabbed her phone, calling the one person she knew who'd always be available at any time of the night.
"Hello?" Grace's groggy voice came down the line.
"Grace? Did I wake you up?" Hannah asked.
"No it's fine, what's up?"
Hannah fought back tears, "Nothing...It's just been a very shitty day."
"Do you want me to come over?"
"Yes please?"
Within 20 minutes Grace sat on Hannah's couch, holding the shorter woman as she cried. Hannah was so busy caring for Alessandra, that she hadn't had a chance to let her own emotions out.
Grace brushed her hands through Hannah's hair, trying to comfort her, "It's okay Hannah. Everything is fine."
Hannah's body wrecked with sobs, and Grace couldn't do anything but hold her even tighter.
"She's so tiny..." Hannah cried, "it's so awful..."
"I know babe," Grace soothed, "But she's here now, and you're keeping her safe, it's all fine."
Hannah's crying slowed down, until Grace was pretty certain that the woman had cried herself to sleep. In Grace's arms. On the couch.
Grace decided not to wake her up, and just continued to run her hands over Hannah's back and through her soft hair. Hannah sighed happily in her sleep.
Grace allowed herself to close her eyes, letting her head rest gently on Hannah's.
The door creaked open, and Grace heard the pitter patter of tiny feet, followed by a loud sniffling.
"Hey Alex," Grace whispered.
Alex didn't respond, she just rubbed at her eyes. To hide tears or sleep, Grace didn't know. She assumed it would be both.
"Hannah is sleeping," she told the little girl, "Can I do something?"
Alex moved closer, gently prodding Hannah's side to make sure she was really asleep. When she didn't get a response she sighed heavily.
"What do you need?" Grace asked again.
Alex bit her lip, "Gracie? Are you scared?"
Grace was taken aback by the question, "Eh, yeah, sometimes."
"Of what?"
Grace took a breath, "Well, I have anxiety, wish means that I am scared of a lot of things, new places, new people, talking in public, it all makes me very very afraid."
The girl nodded her head thoughtfully.
"But what I'm really afraid of, is you." Grace admitted, "I'm not used to being around kids. I don't want to say something wrong or hurt your feelings or be too rough with you. That's something I'm really scared of right now."
"Oh..." Alex muttered, not realizing someone so big could be scared of her.
"But sometimes you just have to push through. I mean, I can't be afraid of you forever, I'll get used to having you around, and I'll just forget that I was ever afraid. That's how it works, you get over it eventually. But it takes time." Grace said.
"Thank you." Alex whispered.
"You're very welcome." Grace smiled. She didn't know why Alex would ask a question like that, but she was glad that she could help. The girl seemed a bit calmer now, and Grace was grateful for that. She made a mental note to mention this conversation to Hannah sometime, maybe she could make sense of it.
Alex climbed on the couch, shuffling close to Hannah, and trying to lay on top of the blonde.
The girl nestled herself against Hannah and closing her eyes.
Hannah grunted in her sleep, shifting and turning until Alex was safely in her arms.
Alex grinned, allowing herself to be held like a teddybear.
Grace thought it was the most adorable thing ever. She gently untangled herself from Hannah, and snapped a picture of the two before heading out.
No matter what happened, no matter how bad, these two belonged together.