CHAMPION

Chapter 6 The curse of Thoughts

Even with the quiet music playing in the charming little nursery, the room felt eerie, dimly lit, with the sounds of Erika's gentle nervous breathing filling it as her and Jake stared at each other...Something about the calmness on his face made her and the rest of the room feel uneasy.

"Did he wake you up?" Jake whispered leaning towards Erika a little, getting her out of her daze, "He? Who...?" Erika questioned, Jake arched an eyebrow before chuckling quietly, "Jax" Jake responded making a cold shudder rip through Erika's body, from the sound of her departed son's name, Jax's name was one she kept close in her heart but out of her mouth, she'd made her peace with the situation being a firm believer that everything happened for a reason...

But now, being up so late, Jake staring at her with the words that left his mouth, and the look of her face, she knew for a fact something was horribly wrong...

"Do you want to hold him? He won't fall asleep- must have got that from me" Jake whispered chuckling, Jake's laugh seemed creepy in Erika's ears, she knew her husband's mischievous chuckles and smirks, but something about this one seemed even more disturbed.

Erika swallowed nervously, "Let's try together" She suggested, she wanted to leave- forget the situation, but she had never been one to run from problems, especially when they concerned Jake. Jake nodded before leading her to the rocking-chair, eventually Jake was sitting in it, Erika in his lap, his arms around her waist while Erika held the "baby".

Erika recognized the blanket as the one Jake once held Jax in, he'd kept it since they were first at the hospital with him, it was folded in way where he could hold it like a baby was still in it...

Erika's eyebrows knitted together, as she tried to forget her own fear of the uncomfortable situation, and really understand everything that was happening, she knew Jake cared about the situation since the night she went into labor and he was right by her side...But she'd never fully thought Jake cared that much about the baby, she always thought he had a little more compassion then people thought, but she mostly figured he was just okay with having the baby because he was confident Erika wouldn't leave him, but now? She wasn't sure...

Suddenly they started to move, back and forth, back and forth, slow and calm, Jake rocked them as he hugged a little tighter to Erika, "Is it working?" Jake whispered, making goosebumps rise on Erika's skin again feeling the low rumble of her husbands body against hers as he spoke, "Yeah...He closed his eyes," Erika whispered back, "Good," She heard Jake sigh as he continued rocking them.

The swaying was calm and relaxing, but Erika couldn't just fall back into it, she had to speak up, thats why she came there in the first place, and she wasn't going to leave without progress.

"Jake?" Erika spoke, "Yeah babe..?" Jake said back, his voice heavy and tired due to the other nights he'd spent like that, "How long have you been doing this...With Jax?" Erika quietly questioned, Jake stopped their rocking for a moment making Erika tense, trying to prepare for anything, but finally Jake let them fall forwards again rocking them.

"Since we brought him home of course" Jake answered plainly,

After a few moments of silence and slow rocking, she spoke again,

"Jake, do you remember what happened at that hospital?" Erika questioned, "Yes, you were in labor, after Jax was born, they took me to see him first-" Jake paused, as he really began recalling that night. He was still staying with Logan before he rushed to the hospital to see Erika and his first born, all the emotions that came with seeing Erika after their "break", the emotions that arrived when he first saw the baby;

The fear, the shock, the guilt...The love and care he hadn't really felt for anyone in so long, it all screwed with his head, the words of the doctors, the sound of the babys crying...The crying that had been stuck in his head all this time, it mingled with his already twisted tangled thoughts....

Jake's fingers dug into Erika's sides, resting his face on the top of Erika's head, his eyes glued to the crib in front of them, Jake swallowed stiffly, his mind like static, as he replayed that night,

Even on his best days, if he didn't focus, the dull sounds of his childs screaming crept back into his mind, the scream that rattled him to the core, his own pathetic pleas for everything to just be okay for once- for his baby to live.

Jake's tortured brain hadn't had a moments peace, and the screams of his infant, he never even got a chance to get close to, the screams brought up his own buried feelings; The silent cries for things to just, please, please work out and get better, the things that never did...

"Jake? Jake? Your hurting me" Erika whispered with a slight whine to her voice, as Jake's grip on her tightened, never letting up as he printed her skin, Jake took his fingers out of her, both sitting in silence again, Jake never fully answered her question, and she assumed his grip on her was his warning not to press further, so slowly she got up, she placed the "baby" into the crib, about to leave and give Jake his space, when she heard him call her name.

"Goodnight Jake" Erika whispered leaning down to where he sat to kiss him, as she pulled back Jake reached for her hand holding it gently, "Don't leave me," He spoke quietly, it wasn't exactly weak the way he said it, but there was certainly the tiniest bit vulnerability to his voice, which could easily be chalked up just to Jake being so sleepy, but regardless, Erika couldn't help but melt, at him wanting her there

Erika slid back into his lap, having his strong arms engulf her smaller body, pressing her against his warmth, "I love you Jake," Erika whispered, kissing his cheek softly, Jake didn't respond, "And I'm never leaving you..." She promised him, feeling as his grip tightened a bit. The couple soon falling asleep together.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed! What are y'all most excited for?🤔 also don't forget to LIKE and COMMENT ❤