He trudges through the small hall, a glass of warm milk in his hand. A small yawn escapes his lips and he blinks rapidly, as if it will help him in getting the sleep out of his eyes.
The clouds outside the house are dark, busy in pouring rain down as lightening flashes and thunder roars.
However, hushed voices hits his ears and Lawrence pauses, turning to look at the door. He reaches forward, twisting the door knob and pushes the door open, entering the room of his sons. His brown eyes sweep over Ferb, the greenette peacefully asleep with Perry huddled around his legs. But then his gaze comes over Phineas and his eyebrows knit together to find the small boy twisting and turning on his bed, mumbling as beads of sweat glisten on top of his forehead.
A clap of thunder comes from outside and Lawrence is startled as Phineas bolts up in his bed, gasping and trembling. The boy's deep blue eyes meets his hazel brown ones and he blinks, perplexed. "Dad?" He sounds confused, "What're you doing here?"
Lawrence offers a warm smile, "I thought about checking up on you too." He tells in his lovely British accent, stalking towards his son's bed.
"Well, we're fine." Phineas assures with a smile.
Lawrence places the glass and chocolate on a nearby drawer. "By the looks of it, I don't think you're fine."
Phineas frowns slightly, "No, I'm fi—"
"What's wrong, chum?" Lawrence interrupts him, placing a hand on Phineas's knee. "Everything all right?" He watches as Phineas parts his lips to answer but then slams them shut again, sighing heavily before he lowers his head.
A few seconds of silence pass and Lawrence decides to break it, "You can tell me anything, you know?" He squeezes his knee.
"I had a nightmare, okay?" Phineas scowls at the bed, "I was afraid and then the storm woke me up." He cocks his head up, shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, dad."
"You didn't disturb me at all," Lawrence responds honestly, reaching forward and surprising Phineas as he holds the glass of warm milk towards him.
Blue eyes look up at him, confused and Lawrence cracks a grin. "Drink it. It'll help you sleep." A smile tugging his lips, Phineas takes it with a small thank you, pressing it to his mouth and sipping the warm liquid down his throat.
It helps to ease his mind.
Lawrence places the glass on the drawer again, Phineas releasing a laugh as his father whiles the milk mustache on his lips. Grinning from ear to ear, Lawrence ruffles the boy's red locks. "I better get going now," Lawrence gets off the mattress, grabbing the blue blanket.
"You get to sleep now, all right, chum?" He smiles as Phineas lays down and he pulls the blanket over to his son's shoulders.
"Uh, Dad?" Phineas pipes up, "Uh... can you... uh..."
Lawrence ignores the boy's stammering, leaning forward and patting the blanket straight. "Yes, son?"
"Can you sleep next to me tonight?" Phineas finally blurts out, freckled cheeks flushing slightly.
Thunder rumbles outside and Lawrence stares, worried as Phineas squeezes his eyes for a second. With a silent sigh, he tosses the boy a tight smile, sitting back on the mattress. "Sure thing, chum." He chuckles, "You might wanna move over, though."
Phineas shifts back, making more room and Lawrence slips beside him. He wraps an arm around the boy, smiling when thunder roars in the sky because only this time, Phineas shows no signs of fear.
"Good night, son." Lawrence whispers softly.
Phineas gives a small hum, eyes fluttering close as he snuggles into his father's chest. Lawrence lets out a yawn, tugging his son closer and falling into a deep and peaceful slumber.