Ronan: To the Moon and Back

26. Those Two and the Bill

Just two days later Harry invites Raelyn over for a dinner with him and the other lads. Promising a good meal and entertainment in the form of just sitting back and watching Niall kick Liam's butt in FIFA. His main reason, and not just because Louis had asked him to ask her.

"Seriously, Lou." Zayn had chuckled, "You're a grown lad, ask her yourself." To which Louis kindly told Zayn to shove his cigarette up his nose, and in returns gets Liam's snapback thrown at him. Harry simply invited her anyway.

It's only the second week of December, but the counter tops in the kitchen are already covered with cookies; actual mini loafs of gingerbread and even a pie. Rae had excitedly jumped in to help Harry, after failing to convince Louis to help them and yes, she does trust him with the electric mixer. In the end, after several minutes of flirty banter noticed by all but the two involved, Louis opts to just licking the spoon clean when Rae passes it to him. All this while Zayn stole her camera, snapping pictures of the whole baking experience. Niall leans over Zayn's shoulder, peering at the picture; the way Louis and Rae look at each other in the image shown leaves him speechless.

However, it's not like Louis meant for it to happen. It's not like they planned for the night of pizza to turn into a night filled with crazy entertainment that Harry had promised, that just happened to go on longer than any of them expected it to. And it's not like Louis planned for Raelyn to somehow end up in his room, awaiting for the tea she was offered and escaping the game of truth or dare going on between the other lads. 

Niall had dared Liam to stand out on the rail of the balcony for thirty seconds, in the biting cold of the night air with no shoes. So after nearly giving Rae and even Zayn a heart attack at their young age, and Zayn rushing forward to pull Liam back down before he could topple over; Rae opted out.

Louis didn't plan on finding Rae dozing off in his room, on his bed. Curled up in the usual way he always seems to find her when she's in that state, after he comes to bring the tea. But she's there, in a little ball of herself trying to keep warm from her body heat alone. There's a slight furrow to her brows, a small downward tilt on the corners of her mouth. Hands balled into fists too tight for her to be in a deep slumber. It's when she murmurs something soft that Louis thinks she could be stepping into the beginning of her regular nightmare.

Not wanting a repeat from two nights ago, Louis places the mug down on his bedside table and slowly sits beside her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. He rubs comforting circles into her shoulder blade, gently trying to wake her up. She doesn't, just curls into herself more, right hand subconsciously pressing into her chest. Louis lays back grabbing hold of her hand while he trails his other fingers up and down her arm, still calling her name. He reaches the ends of her hair again, snaking his fingers through the strains and brushing them outward. He ends up lightly scratching her scalp when she gasps in her half sleep.

"Raelyn, wake up." Louis tries once more.

Finally, Rae's eyes flutter open, locking on Louis' for a moment, then shuts them again.

"Were you having the dream again?" He inquires quietly, barely over a whisper because he's suddenly so, so close to her.

"S'not a dream. It's hell." She murmurs, frowning again, like she can't get the images out.

Louis has an urge to kiss her forehead (never something new to him lately), promising her that its alright. That he's here and won't ever let any nightmare terrify her. That last part can't be literal unless he's got the power to hop into her dream and fight off the darkness. Louis can't help himself, not when she's looking all distressed and scared and she looks so small to him right now. Still cured up and shivering from something that isn't the temperature. It's when her hand moves to press on her chest again, does Louis give in. He catches hold of her fingers, squeezing lightly as he places a tender kiss on her forehead.