The Borrower and Her Bean (complete)

Part 9

Part 9

Melina could hear a cry that woke her from her deep sleep. Struggling to understand where she was, she sat up in the chair and rubbed her eyes. The moon's glow was illuminating the room making it easy to see that it was a small room made just for her size. It was cosy with a single bed in the middle and a modern dresser that matched the one Henry had in his room. The chair she slept in had been put against a wall facing a small window the source of the glow. She ran her hand over her face trying to shake the sleep from her mind. Her ears picked up the sound of a small whimper again. She knew without hesitation this time that it was her bean; it was too familiar, and it pulled on her heart as it had done the early weeks of his arrival. Standing up she walked over to the window and was startled to see his face. The room she was in was at the height of his bed and there before her was her sleeping giant.

Knowing what would settle his dreams she sang her lullaby. The sound swirled around the little room as she watched as his face scrunched up in his sleep, then relaxed. Turning around she looked for a way out of the tiny room. Before her she seemed to have two options, a door that look like it led further into the Small building and a door that looked like it led outside. This made no sense, if she could see his face from the window the building would be too high to have an outdoor. Curiosity got the better of her, so she opened it cautiously.

There before her was a miraculous thing, a large deck protruded from the door allowing her to walk out into the room. As she walked around to get closer to her bean, she saw something else that boggled her mind. Her precious bean had attached a swinging bridge from the deck to the side of his mattress allowing her free access to walk over to him. Sitting against the wall of the deck was a set of deck chairs. One of which she slowly sat down on, her heartbeat becoming fast as she pondered how and when had he done this? Her mind swirled with questions. Did this mean he liked her maybe in the same way she like him?

As she sat there contemplating the changes that had happened since her bean's arrival, she heard her name being called. It was a small deep sound floating on the air. Looking around she could only see her Bean, but he was sound asleep. She stilled and there it was again his deep voice whispering her name. Feeling more brave, being familiar with her bean in this state she stood, moving to the bridge she tested its strength. Each step she could feel the movement, the sway of the bridge as she edged closer to his bed. As she stepped onto the familiar spongy surface of his bed she let out the breath she had been holding thankful the bridge held.

She moved about the valleys of the doona that covered his bed till she reached his pillow. Once again, his voice whispered her name, his lips curling up in a small smile. Pulling herself up onto his pillow she reached his face, still lying on his side facing her window. This was where she felt bravest, not with him moving about the world shaking at his every step. Not sitting next to her, his large thighs and feet the only thing she could see. But here, his face relaxed in slumber.

Once more his face scrunched as he began to cry out in his sleep, but this time he cried out her name. Placing a firm hand on his cheek she began to sing again, as her voice rang out, he slowly opened his eyes. Sleep confused, he focused on her as she continued to stoke his cheek. "Shh my bean it's just a dream" but unlike the other times his eyes cleared, and he smiled as he said "you're here"

Realisation hit he, he wasn't going to just fall back asleep. He was now awake looking at her with a sheepish grin. Her stomach dropped as she knew her only escape was back to the house, but did it have an exit. Heart pumping, she reminded herself she was going to be brave so she moved just far enough away that he could focus on her without causing him to cross his eyes. Sitting down as a symbol of trust she said "You were having a nightmare, then you called my name. Do you want to share what the dream was about?"

Frowning Henry tried to think, he had many different dreams, most he was in character, it was a way for his mind to work through his times on set. But since Covid and being in lockdown his dreams had been about being alone. Being abandoned and even recently memories of life at boarding school started to resurface. It had been frustrating as he had already worked past that. But tonight, how could he share his dream with this little one. How could he let her know she had made her way into his dreams?

He rolled onto his back staring up at the ceiling until he made the decision. Huffing slightly his deep tamber wafting down to Melina "I keep dreaming that I'm surrounded by people, yet I feel desperately alone. I guess it's been a reoccurring dream for some time but its been worse since we have been in lockdown" he looked down at her his warm blue eyes resting on her. "Then your voice started filtering through, reminding me that I was not alone. I would always fill my mind with peace. But tonight, I saw you, you were by my side at an event I was at holding my hand. You were a bean but as the crowds got bigger, they swallowed you up and you disappeared. I called your name and then I woke up to your beautiful voice" his eyes deepened as his blue took on a the colour of the ocean.

Turning he looked at her, this little sprite who was captivating his mind "Would you be willing to move up here to my room? Your company chases away my nightmares. I even found you a proper house that you could sleep in"

Melina was more than a little confused, not really aware of what lockdown meant she felt stupid for having to ask so she didn't. His question too made her stomach roll, was he asking because he liked her more than a friend or just because she helped him sleep better like a dream catcher. She didn't like the idea of being used in that manner. Still she wanted to help him and if she never could tell him she was beginning to love him she would swallow those feelings just to be near him. She watched closely as his face broke into a cheeky bashful grin "Is it too soon to be asking you to move in with me?" She laughed at the joke "well, it is a bit forward but since you have gone to all this trouble" she swept her hand out to the bridge and the house.

From this angle she could see that it was a large Purple and Green cabin style house that could easily hold several borrowers and their families. Her room was on the fifth floor. She smiled back at Henry "so were you planning on asking the whole borrower community to move in?" he chuckled back at her "no it was the smallest one unless I just got a single room and I didn't think you would like it as the walls were made of glass. No privacy."

He sat up slightly, the pillow movement almost causing Melina to tumble. Slightly grumpy that he did not consider her in his movement she spoke "Henry, that movement almost sent me tumbling can you make smaller movements please. At least consider us?" a blush crept up his face as he realised what she was saying "I'm sorry lina, I guess I don't realise my size in relation when I move." Seeing her chiding had embarrassed him decided to change her tone. "Could you read me one of your fantasy books? I love hearing you read aloud it makes the stories come alive" this caused Henry to blush in a different way.

Henry got himself in a comfortable position leaning against his headboard. Really looking now at the difference, he realised that now all she would be able to see was his side. Looking down at her he asked "would you like to sit on my chest that way you can see the pictures when there is any. He saw the uncertainty on her face it sat there as she chewed her lower lip. The odd thought swept through his mind what her lips would taste like. He sadly also thought that their size difference alone would prohibit a relationship. These thoughts flashed so suddenly though his mind that he missed her first words. "Sorry lina I missed that" she smiled as she repeated "Ok"     

A/N Thank you for reading and as always comments and Votes are greatly appreciated :)