Jr Rev Squad - ONE SHOTS

That old Nightmare

JRS CANON

Maria had left the house once again. Susan didn't understand why her mother had to go out so much or why Mr. Hamilton started to show up so often, but she learned to not make questions. Stay quiet, stay invisible, and you'll be fine. That's what the five years old used to repeat to herself in constant fear of getting punished out of nothing.

Susan was left alone, as usual, but she wasn't scared of loneliness. Actually, she would prefer it instead of being left with her father. She played quietly with her beautiful porcelain dolls, even though she was alone and could make noises she wouldn't dare to be louder than her usual shushed voice.

She placed one of the dolls down to put some imaginary tea in her teacup whenever her father arrived at home, drunk as hell, and stumbled until he reached the living room doorway. The little girl hugged the doll in her hands tightly, already scared by his presence, and followed him silently with her dark brown eyes.

"Whuat do you wuant~?" He said groggily and took a long swig in the beer bottle in his hand, his voice was enlaced by anger, which the girl easily noticed but kept staring at him in fear "STWOP STAWRING AT ME, B*tCH!"

The man crept closer and the girl's breathing would speed up at each step until he smashed and crashed the porcelain doll that was so carefully placed on the floor right before. Susan stared at the broken porcelain in front of her with her vision blurry by tears, which she did her best to hide.

He groaned and pulled her up by her hair, making her cry loudly and drop the other doll, which broke the left arm and cracked the face "STOP WHINING, YOU ANnOYING CHILD!" He slammed her against the wall and she slides down crying out loud as he kept on screaming "YoU ARE SO USELESS! JUSt LIKE~ YOUR MOM! WHY SHOULD I BE CURSED WITH SUCH WoRTHLESS CHILD! YOU HAVE TO LeaRN A THING OR TWO-"

James kept on shouting mean things at his daughter as she kept crying from his harsh and powerful words. Susan received a slap because good kids don't cry by being lectured, and when she attempted to run away to her room; just like her mom taught her to do whenever her father became furious; he grabbed her arm harshly and shouted again "DON'T RAN AWAY WHEN I AM SPEAKING TO YOU!"

Everything became slow motion at Susan's eyes as she saw James' hand rise up high with the almost empty bottle and how it made the way right towards her face. The next thing, Susan released a high pitch scream and leaned against the wall as her father let her go and she held her cheek.

"UUurGH- Great. Now I have to get another beer" He groaned again as Susan cried silent tears with closed eyes, her cheek starting to burn.

She slowly lowered her hand and her eyes went wide when saw it stained with blood. She cried more, finally feeling the pain of the deep cut in her cheek bleeding out, and flinched whenever heard the front door slam, also snapping awake at her bed with tears rolling down.

Susan was shaking and sweating coldly because of the dream she just woke up. Without noticing, she raised her hand and softly touched the scar on her left cheek, made by her father 12 years ago. She started to sob and hugged her knees when shorter after her bedroom door opened slowly.

"Susan?" The voice called, filled by concern, and the girl immediately recognized it "Everything is ok?"

"No..." She sniffed and her older step-brother walked into the room. Wrapping his arms around her fondly as he caressed her back and just let her cry. Georges got used to his sister's nightmare episodes and he knew all she needed was someone to hug. No talking. Just hugging.

A while passed until her tears dried up and he kissed the top of her head, then whispering to her "I love you, Sus... I will always be there to protect you; you don't have to worry anymore"

She hugged him tighter and replied "Thank you, Georges... I love you too"

And just like usual in nights like that, both of them ended up falling asleep at Susan's room. Maria found them by the morning and sigh at the view of her kids deeply sleeping, leaning against the door frame she smiled.

Lafayette stretched and yawned as he walked in the corridor and hugged his wife from behind, placing his head on top of hers, his eyes still closed from tiredness.

"Good morning, ma belle" He says and Maria giggles softly.

"Good morning, Gil" She replies quietly, still smiling. Lafayette opens his eyes carefully to not hurt them with the morning light and smiled as well.

"May I ask what are you thinking about?" He asked raising an eyebrow, even knowing she couldn't see it.

"About how much I love this family" Maria's answer makes the tall Frenchman smile wider and turn his wife around, placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"So do I, mon cher"