Little

Chapter 12

The days and weeks started to fly by. Stephen started to get even better at magic, learning new spells and practically robbing a dozen books from the library at a time. Peter finished school in early June, and after that, Stephen decided to stay with him more often. He couldn't leave Peter alone in the room all day.

He emailed Christine three times, but he never got any replies. Either both of them were too busy, or she didn't want to reply to him.

June passed. Nothing happened. In mid-July, one morning, after breakfast, Peter shyly walked up to him.

"I made this for you," he said.

Peter handed him a piece of paper. 

He took the piece of paper and observed it. It was a drawing of Peter, holding...Stephen's hand. 

"Oh, um...thank you..." Stephen said. He knew Peter meant well, but seeing a drawing of himself like that, well...

Peter giggled and fell into Stephen's arms, giving him a hug. Stephen wasn't sure whether to be surprised, or to accept. Slowly, he wrapped his arm around Peter and rubbed him on the back.

"I wanted to give you a thank-you present for taking care of me," Peter said. "So I made this."

"I...I like it," Stephen said.

"You need another present," Peter decided. "How about...ice cream!"

"No," Stephen said. "I have another idea."

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He opened a portal, making sure he was in the right place. He figured he was.

It was 11 in the morning back in Kathmandu, but 1 in the morning in New York. Everyone would be sleeping.

He walked up to the door of an apartment, and left a letter taped on the door.

"To Christine" it said.

==================

It was now early August, around Peter's birthday. Stephen felt he needed to do something big, considering how much Peter had been through this year.

On the 10th, Stephen shook a sleepy Peter awake. "Happy Birthday!" he said. "Look at you, you're seven now!"

Peter sat up groggily. "I...am?" he mumbled.

"Of course! Today's your birthday!" Stephen said. "You're older now, so today, you can do whatever you want."

This made completely awakened Peter. "Really?!" he said, jumping up. "I wanna eat ALL the ice cream in the world!"

"Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea," Stephen said, chuckling. "You're gonna get sick."

"M...meet Iron Man?" Peter said.

"Too hard," Stephen said.

"...McDonalds?" Peter asked with big eyes.

"Yeah, we can do that," Stephen said with a smile.

With the bit of money Stephen had left, he bought Peter a Happy Meal for lunch, which Peter happily devoured. 

The second thing Peter decided to do that day was to watch a Star Wars movie, which Stephen watched with him. But the problem was, Peter couldn't decide which one to watch. 

Eventually, after fiddling around on his Ipad, he must've decided, because for the next two hours, it was completely silent as Peter watched the movie, headphones plugged in. When he finished, he got up, and retrieved something from his backpack.

 He held up a toy. "Can we play?"

Stephen sighed. "Okay," he said.

==================

Night soon fell. Which meant bedtime for Peter. 

"Time to go to sleep, Peter," Stephen said. He saw Peter sitting on the edge of his bed, looking down...and sad.

"Why are you sad?" he asked Peter. "You're breaking the rules if you're sad on your birthday," he said, jokingly.

Peter didn't laugh.

"...Is there something else you want?" Stephen asked. He was confused as to why Peter was sad.

"...C.." Peter started, then stopped. He squirmed uncomfortably.

"...Cookie?" Stephen guessed.

"...C..cuddle..." Peter said quietly. "Cuddle with you."

Stephen looked at him. This again? He wasn't the hugging type. Or the cuddling type.

But the look on Peter's face was desperation and sadness and longing. And the look that said, "Please love me." 

Stephen knew that look. In the past few months he'd felt more alone than he had in his entire life. He knew what it felt like. It must have been harder for a seven-year-old kid.

Stephen sighed. "Okay," he said, extending his arms out. Peter ran into them and grabbed him tightly. He held on for a long time, until Stephen realized he'd fallen asleep.

Stephen tried laying Peter down on his bed, but Peter wouldn't let go. He clung the Stephen as if his life were about to end.

Time passed by. Nine, ten, eleven. Stephen started to get tired. But Peter wouldn't let go. Finally, he decided he'd have to go to sleep while Peter was still hugging him.

He sighed, turning off the light, and lay down in the bed. He could feel Peter shift around in his arms. He could hear him breathing.

Since Peter had entered his life, everything had been turned upside-down. For once, he felt something he hadn't in a long time: genuine affection. For Peter.

As if hearing his thoughts, Peter nuzzled his head into Stephen's chest. He was so adorable when he slept.

Stephen sighed as he too, fell asleep.