Title: After Dark

Pairing: None

Rating: G

Disclaimers: Not mine, not mine, not mine

Summary: Ashley waits for her mom.

Author Notes: Just bringing over the stories from my LJ.

There were no monsters under her bed. There were no monsters in her closet. The shadows cast by the light of the lamp, which she would not be afraid to turn off when the time came, were just shadows. Her window was just a window and the wind was just the wind. There were, however, several things that one might consider monsters living right down stairs, but that was alright. For a little girl who was frequently babysat by Bigfoot, there was absolutely nothing about night time to be afraid of. Except, perhaps, that her mother wouldn't return from it. There were occasional stretches of time during which she would disappear for days in the pursuit of one abnormal or another and Ashley would sit alone the dark, struggling to stay awake for as long as she could in the hopes of being conscious when Helen finally returned.

Ashley knew she wasn't supposed to worry, but that didn't dissuade the heavy weight that would inevitably take up residence in her belly and refuse to go away until after her mother had snuck in, smoothed her blankets and kissed her brow; All of which was done quietly, so as not to wake the child who would keep her eyes shut and her breathing even, only giving in to the relieved sigh and jaw numbing grin after her mother left again.

This night was one of those and she burrowed down into her pillow as the door creaked open. Helen's footsteps were light, the heavy boots would have been discarded at the door, and she brought with her the smell of leather and sweat and foreign things and places Ashley couldn't name yet. There was a tug as the comforter was dragged up to cover Ashley's shoulders and then folded back just so. The mattress dipped and then there was a gentle hand at her back, warm breath feathering her hair as a barely-there kiss was planted.

Sometimes words would be spoken, endearments or other such nonsensical murmurings, but not this time. Just a stuttered sigh, a brief sniffle. Ashley wondered if her mother had been crying but didn't dare open her eyes to find out, unwilling to ruin the game.

The hand on her back lifted to a shoulder, squeezed, then was gone, along with the extra weight. There was a long moment of oppressing silence and then the door clicked shut and Ashley rolled over onto her back and opened her eyes. The lamp had been switched off, leaving the room in comforting darkness.

Her mother was home and there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of.