Saving Ant and Sarha

A Special Visit

"What do you mean you're here for your kids?! They're my kids and there's no way you're getting them back!"

"We'll see about that. I'll be speaking to the judge."

"Yeah we'll see about nothing. Alph!" Alph came bounding the stairs when he heard his name. He was relieved to see that no one was hurt but confused to see Christine at the door. Confusion soon turned to concern when he saw she was having trouble staying on her feet.

"What's going on?"

"Can you please get her out of here?" Alph walked over to Christine and gently took her by the arm and led her to the door.

"Come on Christine, I'll call you a cab. You shouldn't be driving in this condition.

"Get off of me!" She pulled her arm from his grasp then turned back to Anne. "I'll see you soon in the meeting." And with that Alph took her outside and proceeded to dial the number for the cab.

20 minutes later Alph returned and walked up to his wife.

"What was that about?"

"Dec and Sarha were playing a board game and Ant was asleep on the couch when Christine comes banging on the door demanding that she get Ant and Sarha back." Anne sighed.

"Honey, you know that is not going to happen. Now where is Ant and Sarha?"

"I'm right here." They both turned around to see Ant standing at the top of the stairs with wide tear-filled eyes.

"What are you doing down here?" asked Anne. She wasn't upset, at least not at him, she just wasn't expecting him to be down there at that moment. She could only hope that he didn't hear the conversation, which was quite unlikely because they were a little loud.

"I had a bad dream. Dec was in Sarha's room and I didn't want to bother them."

"Alph, why don't you take care of him while I go make an appointment with Ms. Chesterfield for tomorrow?" she whispered while walking past him. Alph nodded and directed his attention back to Ant who was already making his way down the stairs.

"Come here son," he beckoned him over and knelt down so they were face to face. "You wanna tell me what your dream was about?"

"It was like I was there again, only this time I couldn't escape. He just kept hurting me. He burned my arm with the stove and was just hitting me with this pipe over and over again. Then he raised it over his head and said, 'Say goodnight, my son.' But before he could hit me with it I woke up." he finished. Ant had tears falling down his face and was breathing hard. The nightmare had brought back some bad memories. Alph pulled him into a tight hug and gently stroked his hand through his hair which seemed to calm him down. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Alph released him.

"It was just a dream. Don't you worry, you're safe with us." he pulled him into another hug. "Okay little man, go upstairs and tell Decky and Sarha it's time for bed. I'll be up soon to tuck you all in." Ant nodded and went back upstairs.

Anne walked back in a moment later.

"She said she could see me on Monday after work. Christine will be there too. What if there's a chance she changes her mind?"

"Don't go jumping to conclusions, love. We just have to see what she has to say and whatever happens next we'll go on from there." she nodded. "Ant just went up to bed and I promised to go tuck him Dec and Sarha in so I'll go do that, meet you upstairs, and we'll get a good night's rest. Okay?"

"Okay. But don't take too long."

"I won't." he first went to Sarha's room and saw she was already in bed waiting for him. He walked to her side of the bed and proceeded to tuck her in.

"Goodnight...dad." he smiled, touched she had taken to calling him that.

"Goodnight...daughter." he kissed her on the forehead and made his way out of her room. He had just closed the door when he heard a voice.

"I heard everything." he quickly turned around and saw Ant standing in the hallway.

"You're getting really good at that, aren't you? You scared me."

"Is it true? Will she get us back?" Alph walked up to him.

"You know we would never take you two away. You and Sarha are part of this family now and you always will be and nothing will ever change that." he took his hand and led him to his room. He opened the door and saw Dec looking at him and Ant, then he led Ant to his side of the bed and made sure he got under the covers before walking over to Dec's side and repeating his actions before with Sarha.

When he was finished he gave both them kisses on their foreheads, wished them a goodnight, and made his way to their door only stopping to look back at them.

"I'll see y'all in the morning." he said before closing the door and making his way back to his room to a waiting Anne. Only after he left did Dec look at Ant.

"You know mom and dad would never let anyone take you guys away." Ant just looked at him with a small smile before replying.

"I know. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."