ODDS

ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍꜱ

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 the red hair giggled in my arms. It was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard, showcasing the boy's pure innocence. I was glad he could hold on to it, his innocence. His father and I weren't granted that luxury.

If fate couldn't grant us innocence, I was at least glad it would grant it to him.

"Mommy!" he squealed with delight. "You're squishing me!"

I feigned a loud snore.

More giggles followed. I almost broke my act at the sound.

"Mommy!"

"Oh," I yawned in an overdramatic fashion. "I'm so sorry, baby! I was asleep, I must've rolled over on top of you!"

The soft rays of the District Four sun painted the room a glowing orange. I almost wanted to fall back asleep.

"It's okay, Mommy. I forgive you."

I let out a sigh of relief, kissing his plump cheek. He giggled in response before turning serious, his dimple, which he had inherited from his father, disappearing.

"Can we eat now? I'm starving."

I laughed, combing his hair with my fingers and nodding.

"Go downstairs. I'll be there in a minute to help you."

He screamed, as every kid does, as I winced at the volume. I couldn't blame him. I had been the same at his age.

As he exited the room, clomping down the stairs with footsteps that echoed across the house, and singing an obnoxious tune that would've been annoying if it had been anyone else, I chuckled.

From her bedroom, his sister groaned loudly. "Shut up, would you? Some people are trying to sleep!"

I felt an arm grab my waist, pulling me into a pair of broad arms. As I looked at him, a small smile made its way to his face.

"What?" I asked, ready to defend myself from any loving attacks he had planned. He loved to tease me.

"I'm just happy." he answered, brushing my hair from my face. I grinned at him, resting my head on his chest.

"Me too." I whispered. He kissed the top of my head pulling me in closer.

"I need to go help little man, or else he's going to destroy the kitchen." I whispered. He only groaned in response.

I laughed trying to get out of his arms. He did this every morning, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.

"Stay in bed." He whined. I rolled my eyes, peering up into his sea green eyes.

"Do you want to clean a destroyed kitchen? Because I sure don't."

He shrugged his shoulders lazily. He smirked, then rolled over, pushing me underneath him as he snuggled into me.

"Make the kids do it. That's what they're here for."

I grunted under the weight of him with a laugh. He only held me tighter.

"If you get off of me, I'll make you a special breakfast." I bargained. It was silent for a moment as he contemplated my words.

"If you feed me."

I rolled my eyes, smirking at his intentions.

"You're a grown man. You can feed yourself."

A squeaky voice came from across the house.

"Mommy!"

"I'm being summoned." I whispered to the man. He whined again.

"Daddy won't let me go!" I screamed to the little boy. Footsteps followed, and the boy appeared in the doorway, hands on his hips.

"Daddy, my tummy is not happy right now." His eyebrows were furrowed and a frown painted his lips.

His father turned his head, looking to the boy with a smile on his lips.

"Can't your tummy wait just a little bit?"

The boy shook his head quickly. "My tummy can never wait."

I felt his laughs tingle my skin as I laughed along.

"Fine. But you have to save me some." The man told his son.

The boy nodded, waving me over.

"Come on, Mommy!" He raced back to the kitchen.

The man let me go, placing a peck on my lips as he moved from on top of me.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you."

The dream ended and I was thrown into another dream, just as I had been experiencing for so long, forced to live out impossible futures.