Fixated

((22))

I jolted from my sleep, the darkness of my bedroom comforting me. I realized quickly that Evan's hands were no longer on my throat and that the cruel laugh he let out was just a nightmare. 

I pulled my feet out from under the heavy comforter, finding the cold wooden floor. I looked over at Archer, his calm eyes closed as his hair fell into them. 

I stumbled to our bedroom door, closing it lightly behind me as I walked toward the stairs. I could see the light blue door from the corner of my eye, the beautiful sleeping boy beyond it lured me in. I opened my son's bedroom door, glancing at his fine wooden crib, the name Luca carved into it in cursive handwriting. His barely visible hair was in curls on his pale skin. His beautiful blue eyes were hidden behind his little eyelids. I shut the door as quietly as I could, hoping not to wake my restless infant. 

"Mommy?" 

I turned around to find my three year old daughter standing in her doorway. 

"Remi? What are you doing up, baby?" I asked softly, walking toward her. 

"I had a bad dream," She mumbled, holding her arms out toward me. 

I lifted her off of the floor easily, carrying her down the stairs on my hip. She laid her head on my shoulder with her small thumb in her mouth. 

I glanced at the clock on the oven as I entered the kitchen, the numbers flashing at me were surprising. 6:50 a.m.

"It's almost time for us to be up anyways, do you want some chocolate milk?" I whispered, setting my daughter on the kitchen counter. 

She nodded her head yes, watching me pour the milk into her sippy cup. 

"Do you want to go wake daddy up?" I asked, gaining a beautiful smile from Remi. 

"Let's go," I mumbled, lifting her off of the counter and setting her on the floor. 

She scurried off, followed quickly by me. I would have to carry her up the stairs, just like always. 

"Mommy, mommy!" Remi whined, trying to make me move at a quicker pace. 

"I'm coming," I said, laughing as she sat on the step to wait for me. 

I lifted her, placing her on my shoulders as we made our way to Archer. I pushed my bedroom door open quietly, watching the hallway light spread across his face as the door opened. He was still sound asleep. 

I crossed the room, setting Remi on the edge of the bed so that she could climb to her father. 

"Daddy! Daddy, wake up!" She yelled, jumping on top of him. 

"Whoa, Rem!" Archer groaned, grabbing his daughter and lifting her into the air above him. 

The sound of her giggles echoed in my heart, the only thing in this world that could make me even happier than Archer. 

I heard cries from the next room, immediately followed by Remi jumping down. Her feet thumping across the wood flooring toward my bedroom door. 

"I'll check on Luca. You need to get ready for work," I mumbled. 

I walked quickly into Luca's room, scooping him from his crib. His small hands grabbed at everything in reach as I carried him into my bedroom. His small body in the curve of one arm as I held Remi's hand with the other. 

"I'll take him," Archer said, taking Luca into his arms. 

He held Luca to his bare chest, his tattoo peeking out from behind our sons head. The tattoo he got the day before I told him I was pregnant was running along his ribs.