Author's Note: Thanks to everybody who has read and reviewed this story. This chapter is for crazyobsession101 who wanted to see JJ and Henry interaction to see what that is like. As you'll see, Henry loves his mother but because of his home environment, he only knows two ways to deal with anger: violence and running. The next chapter should be up soon.
Henry leaned against his mother closely, taking comfort in the warmth and steadiness that radiated from her while she read to him.
" A smoke seemed to rise up and darken the sun's disc to the hue of blood, as if it had kindled the grass as it passed down under the rim of earth. 'There lies the gap of Rohan'," His mother read, her soft relaxing voice lulling him slowly to sleep, "said Gandalf. 'It is now almost due west of us. That way lies Isengard.' 'I see a great smoke,' said Legolas. 'What may that be?' 'Battle and war!' said Gandalf. 'Ride on.' "
Noticing her son's eyelids drooping heavily, JJ smiled as she kissed the blond headed boy next to her. "We'll start the next chapter tomorrow."
Henry whined drowsily as he snuggled closer to her, longing to hold on to the comforting feeling of protection that her presence provided.
"Tomorrow." JJ reaffirmed softly, pulling Henry tightly against her in a warm hug. "Now- -"
'JJ!' Will called distantly from his spot in front of the television. JJ bit her lip, fighting her first instinct to run to his beck-and-call and looked down at her son.
"Henry, we need to talk about what happened today." JJ said seriously, the little boy still snuggled against her. "You slapped me today. We don't ever hit, ever." She said pointedly, pulling on his chin to tilt his eyes toward her. "It is never okay to hit someone."
'JJ, where are you?' Will's voice was louder, more angry but JJ pushed that away.
Some things were more important, and she would do anything for Henry.
Even if it meant causing another disagreement with Will.
Her face softened as she saw Henry's eyes fill with tears. He was obviously sorry, but she wasn't about to let this go quite yet. "Henry, I know when we told your daddy about what happened, he laughed. But it's not okay to hit people. Do you understand me?"
Henry nodded, burying himself tighter against his mother.
'Damn it JJ, where the hell are you?' Will bellowed from somewhere downstairs.
JJ sighed, trying to disentangle herself from Henry so she could fix whatever she had somehow managed to make a mess of. She frowned as Henry clung tighter to her, as if pleading for her not to go.
"Henry," JJ smiled at the boy, "it's time for you to go to bed."
She chuckled as he shook his head, burying it against her shoulder. After all, what seven year old liked going to bed?
"Henry. Bed time." JJ hugged him once more, pulling herself away as she knelt beside his bed to reach his eye level. She smirked as he fought bravely to keep his eyes open, as if by single handedly staying awake, he could keep her by his side forever. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you." She kissed him goodnight, smiling as he sighed against his pillow and buried himself deep in his blankets and pulled them close.
Almost as if the mountain of blankets would keep him safe in JJ's absence.
She smirked as she checked the nightlight and watched Henry snuggle in deeper in his blanketed cocoon. "I love you Henry, sleep tight." She said softly as she closed the door, bracing herself for the next argument she knew was coming.
Henry bit his lip and waited, hoping the stillness would remain quiet, if only for a minute.
Because quiet meant that his Mom wasn't getting hurt.
Quiet meant no yelling.
Henry was wise, wiser than any seven year old should have to be. Having seen for years that saying the wrong thing had just led to getting hurt, Henry learned to stay quiet. Silent, even.
Because if he was quiet, he would never say the wrong thing.
And then no one would yell. No one would get hurt.
And he could have a happy family.
He jumped as the sound of a glass shattering against a wall seemed to shake the entire house. Anxiously, waiting on pins and needles for the next sound, he felt himself relax as he heard the door slam.
The child knew the routine as well as anyone else. Either his mom would be in his room in an instant, gently waking him and telling him they were going on 'A Late-Night Adventure'.
Or, his mom was safe.
A slamming door meant that he and Mom would not be going to Uncle Aaron's to sleep on his couch.
Waiting, he felt his eyes droop softly, the corner of his lips turned upward in contentment. "I love you too Mom." Henry murmured as he closed his eyes and gave into the drowsy darkness.
Tonight, every one was safe.