Ashton's P.O.V
I woke up to the feeling of Iris twisting and kicking, and her mumbling gibberish.
"Iris?" I mumbled, and I could see anything, so it must have still been dark outside.
She was still whimpering and turning, so I sat up, and her eyes were tightly shut.
"Iris, wake up!" I said louder, then her eyes shot open and she jumped up frantically, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Iris, calm down- it's okay... It was just a dream" I soothed, and she started sobbing, falling into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back, waiting for her to settle down.
"I- I'm sorry" Her voice shook, and I cocked my head.
"Why are you sorry, ba- um.. Love?" I asked her, quickly changing the word 'baby' to 'Love', but she quickly jumped up and wiped her eyes with her sleeves.
"N-nothing.. I'm not tired anymore, I'm going down stairs" She said plainly, then walked out the door and down stairs. I furrowed my eye brows and followed her down the stairs, and she sat down on the couch without looking at me.
"Iris, are you okay?" I asked her, turning on the light, making her flinch. I turned on the tv and Xbox, then grabbed the Xbox controller.
"Um, yeah. Just a little uneasy from- from my dream.." She said, pulling her sleeves over her hands.
"Well.. wanna watch something?" I asked her, and she shrugged. I kinda wung it and put on Spongebob, I wasnt really sure she liked it, but she smiled at me when I put on an episode.
"I'll make you some coffee" I told her and got up, going to the Keurig coffee maker and made her a cup, putting the need sugar and creamer. I walked back into the living room and gave it to her, she thanked me and took a sip.
"You know.. I realized you almost called me 'baby'" She smirked, and I blushed, making her chuckle, "I don't mind, it's cute" She gave a cheeky smile but kept her eyes on the tv screen, and I blushed even harder.
We continued to watch spongbob, and when Iris finished her coffee, we both laid down, and I had her lay on top of me. I put my arms around her and she laid her cheek on my chest. I was close to falling asleep, then she spoke up.
"Ashton...." She said lightly, and I looked down at her. She wasn't looking at me, just at the tv.
"What's wrong?" I asked her, and she still didnt look at me. After she didn't answer, I sat up, making her sit infront of me, but she still didnt look at me.
"Iris.." I started, then she sighed and finally looked at me.
"I shouldn't tell you.. You'll be mad" She said, and I shook my head.
"I could never be mad at you. what's wrong?" I went to hold her left hand, but she pulled it away and looked down at her cast.
"....I did it again..." She whispered, not looking at me. I felt my eyes start to burn, and my hands started shaking.
"Iris, what are you talking about" I demanded, and her lip started to quiver. she got up and walked into the kitchen, so I followed. She was just standing there, her back turned towards me. I hugged her from behind and set my head on her shoulder.
"Iris, you can me anything. What did you do, Beautiful?" I asked her, and she sighed again. I waited for her to talk, but instead she pulled up her left sleeve, and my mouth fell open.
Three fresh, long cuts and an 'x' at the side. They looked kinda deep, and they looked like they were done not so long ago. Some of them still had a little bit of blood on them.
"Iris.... why? When?" I turned her around, but she just looked down and put her sleeve down. I lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss, then looked into her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I promised you I wouldn't and I did... I know you're disappointed" She shook her head and looked down, but I shook my head.
"No, baby no! You could never disappoint me. I know it's hard for you, and you need to know that I'm hear for you... Please don't do this to yourself." I told her, and she smiled at me. I didn't realize I said 'baby' until now, so I felt my cheeks heat up.
".... Remember a while ago... when you said you loved me?" She said, and I nodded, remembering that night.
"Why?"
"Because..... I think I love you too" She mumbled, making me grin. I picked her up in a hug and spun her around, giving her a long kiss.
"I love the sound of that when I really mean it" I grinned as I set her down.
"Sound of what?" She asked chuckling
"I love you" I told her, and she grinned.
"I love you! I promise I'll never do it again!" She smiled, and I did too, giving her another kiss, but when I pulled away, she had a sad look.
"What's wrong?" I furrowed my eye brows, and she frowned.
"What do I tell Piper? Oh god, she'll be so upset! I Pinky promised her! I, I-" She started, but I interrupted her.
"Don't worry. She's like your sister, she'll understand" I reassured, and she nodded.
"You're right, I'll talk to her in the morning" She said, and I nodded. I threw her over my shoulder, making her squeal, and I walked up the stairs to her room, and dropped her on her bed, and she got under the covers, and so did I. She curled up into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her, and I kissed her forehead.
"Do you really mean it?" Iris asked after a moment of silence.
"Mean what?"
"When you said you love me?"
"Baby, of course I do! I know we've only known each other for so long, but I feel I really do love you" I told her, and she looked up at me and smiled.
"I really love you too, Ash"
