Lions ~~~ An Adopted by Skillet Fic (COMPLETE)

Yours To Hold

I awoke at three in the morning to meows coming from next to me. It had been a couple of weeks, and my nightmares weren't getting any better. But Chloe's growth rate was crazy fast. She was already running around and playing, as well as going to the bathroom on her own. She was on point for a kitten of a couple of months old.

Alex was already getting better. She was moving around on crutches and was constantly in shorts, skirts, or loose pants. I still felt bad, but I stopped apologizing a while ago. 

I turned to see Chloe on the bed next to me, meowing and pressing her paws into my hair. I smiled, sitting up and pulling the hair out from under her. She made a curious noise before seeing I was awake, then purred. I grinned, picking her up gently and putting her on my shoulder in order to go down for breakfast. I was pretty sure the kitten thought of me as her mother, which made me both sad and happy (I know it's weird). The past couple of days she'd been staying right on me, and even learning how to use her claws to stay on my shoulder (but not hurt it).

I held onto her back as I stepped down the stairs, following the sounds of clattering in the kitchen. I really hoped it wasn't John. I didn't want him to notice I was there.

I got to the bottom of the stairs and noticed that I still hadn't seen anyone yet. The fact that it was pitch black didn't help, but I had to feed Chloe.

Please let it be Korey. Or Alex. Or Xavier. Literally anyone else.

I poked my head inside the kitchen and saw John. I frowned, going to leave, but Chloe meowed again. I cursed under my breath and put on a mask of exhaustion as John saw me.

"Aria? Did Chloe want food?" He whispered.

I nodded, coming in and grabbing Chloe's formula. I mixed it up in water, then held her as she fed.

"She's growing really fast," John commented, setting down his cup. I couldn't see what was in it, despite the kitchen light being on.

Another nod. On the outside, I looked okay, but in reality, I was terrified. Alone, in the middle of the night, with a man. John had been doing nothing but I was still scared.

After a minute he spoke up again, "Aria, can I tell you something?"

I looked up at him, eyebrow raised, "Yeah."

John sighed heavily, "Korey did tell me that you haven't had the best time with guys, especially your dad. I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone in that."

"Well, I knew that," I smiled at him, but seeing his face I bit my lip as the pieces clicked, "You and your dad...?"

John nodded, "Now, don't think I am trying to say that our situations are exactly the same, okay?" I nodded, and John continued, "He didn't abuse me but... After my mom died my freshman year of high school he and I grew even further apart. He would always yell at me, and my step-mom did too. He married her just three months after my mom died."

I didn't know what to say. Here, the man I saw as scary, was opening up to me.

"She had stupid strict rules like I couldn't shower before school or after 9, so I would usually have to shower at my friend's house because otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to shower," John admitted, looking at me.

"That is a stupid rule," I mumbled.

"But, when I was in college, I realized that my dad was probably going through some tough crap as well. So, I forgave him. It takes two to make a situation worse, and I probably wasn't helping, being a hormonal teenager," John chuckled, and I took the opportunity to smile. "Aria, I'm not saying I expect you to forgive me, but I just want you to know that I'm not ever going to hurt you like your father did."

I had put Chloe on the counter, since she had finished eating, and she was fast asleep. But, after John's promise... I found a lump in my throat. The man I had seen in my dreams hurting and killing those I loved just stood here and told me that he would never do that stuff. He opened up, and didn't expect anything back. John was nothing like my biological father.

John was a better one.

I looked up at him, unable to help the tear that slipped down my cheek. John reached forward, but hesitated. After I didn't recoil, John gently placed his hand on my cheek and wiped the tear away slowly. I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"John... I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Sorry for what?" John asked, eyebrows creased.

"For... For avoiding you. I'm sorry," I whimpered.

"Honey, you do not need to apologize. I know you've had those nightmares. You don't have to tell me that you were in the wrong, you couldn't help it. And guess what?" John asked.

"Hmm?" I mean to ask what, but the lump in my throat prevented it.

"I still love you anyway."

With that I let out a sob, covering my mouth. He opened his arms out for a hug, and I finally accepted it, wrapping my arms around his torso. He ran his hand through my hair, at one point kissing the top of my head. I didn't realize how much I had missed getting hugs. The warmth encompassed my shaking body, but I wasn't shaking from anxiety. I finally felt safe here, in his arms.

In my Dad's arms.

And that's it! Lions has come to an end, but I have good news! 

Lions is getting a sequel!

You didn't think I forgot about that whole tour thing, right?

Anyway, I will be tying my book Forever into the sequel for this. It's not a necessary read, but it will help with some of the plot points that will be in there.

I don't have a specific timeframe for the sequel, but I will tell you what's taking over the slot on the rotation (once I get publishing again):

Silver Lining!

The rewrite of She's With Me!

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go cry. It was fun writing this