Alex pulled me up off the floor, and pressed next on the iPod, which immediately began playing 'Again' by Flyleaf, aka best band ever. I must say that it is my favorite newer song by them, but the music video sucks so bad! Alex thinks it's pretty good, but I ignore him. He grew up in a different world, really, and didn't even know about Flyleaf before we got married and moved back here.
"You sleep good?" He asked me, pulling my close.
I leaned my head on his shoulder, tired. I yawned. "Yes," I said. "But not nearly long enough."
"Same here." Alex rubbed small circles into my back, and I clung to him groggily, liking the way his hands messaged my tired skin.
In the room across the hall, I heard a child stir, and Evin mumble "Mommy?"
With a sigh, I pulled myself from Alex, and went across the hall into the nursery. I saw Evin sitting up in his crib, which he was nearly out of. I made a mental note to go to Babys R Us to buy him a new big boy bed. Hayli wasn't awake yet, but Alex grabbed her anyway. I took Evin into my arms, and held him close. He fell into a light sleep with him head dangling on my shoulder, thumb in his mouth. I smiled, and headed downstairs with Alex.
We put Evin and Hayli on the couch, gently, then headed into the kitchen where Alex started the coffee pot, then went upstairs to shower. I sat on a barstool, and slumped over the counter, fingering through my hair, which was still soft from the day before. I found that, when sleeping beside Alex, I don't move around much in bed, and my hair is still as it was when I fell asleep. However, when Alex is away, on a business trip or something, my hair is a haystack, and I need to shower to get it out of my face. I also have nightmares. But when Alex is around, sleeping soundly beside me, as I am him, my dreams are pleasant, because I always feel safe, and protected, and worry-less. It's wonderful. I feel the same way when I nap with my kids, though I feel more protecting and safe providing, and at ease when I'm sleeping with them. I don't move around though, knowing that, if I have a nightmare, it would scare them.
"Hey Bella?" Alex asked. I looked up, and saw him leaning against the counter by the coffee pot, hair wet, dressed in his slacks and tucked in shirt. His expression was tired, but he was smiling cutely. "I love you."
"I love you too." I smiled. He made me so happy.
"What are you going to do today?" he wondered.
"I'm going to take Evin and Hayli up to the baby store to buy Evin a new baby bed, since he's outgrown the crib."
"That sounds fun. I'm going to lunch with a co-worker around one this afternoon, and having several meetings around the office. I'll be escorting a new employee through the office early today, and, if I have time, I'll be contacting a few people to get a hold of Smithers. See when he's coming over and such."
"Sounds fun," I said.
"Not as fun as your day," Alex smiled. "I'd love to just stay home with the kids, maybe run a few errands. But," he shrugged. "The office awaits." He made a 'let's go' motion with his arm, then turned to the coffee pot, which was full, and proceeded to make us both coffee.
I like me coffee with lot's of sugar, since I find that it wakes me, and makes me happier during the day, and less agitated. I have it with milk, never cream, and, when Alex isn't around, I put in some chocolate, which makes me feel better. I also do this when I'm on my period, but that matters not—what girl doesn't enjoy chocolate most when PMSing? I mean, really!
Alex drinks his coffee with one spoonful of sugar, and a bit of milk, then a few drops of caramel syrup. I tried it once, and, to be honest, it was good, but I wouldn't want it every morning.
Evin started calling for me, still half out, just when Alex handed me my coffee. I groaned quietly, taking a quick sip, before pacing into the living room.
Evin was on his side, his hair in his eyes, which were clamped shut. His cheeks were bright pink, and I could see a tear glistening on one. "Mommy!" He sobbed in his sleep.
I ran the rest of the toward him, sitting beside him, and brushing his hair away. His eyes opened, and more tears fell. I pulled him into my lap, holding his head to my heart, and rocking. "Baby, are you okay? What's wrong? Tell mommy why your crying." I smoothed his hair, while he cried into my tank top.
"The monstow!" he sobbed. "It was scawy, and it was cominga fo me! It wanted me to say asweep, but den it got weely bad, and it made me cwy, and den I wath awake, and den I was back asweep, and it was waytinga fo me!" He looked up at me with fearful, leaking eyes, and I knew that it was probably the most frightening thing he'd ever seen.
In the moment that I saw his fear, I wondered where it would go. When I was young, I'd had nightmares that kept me up for days at a time, and when I'd go back to sleep, the night-creature would be waiting for me. I hoped, remembering, that this was a different monster that was haunting my son in his sleep. Not that I was going to ask about it. My son needed comfort—besides, when Renee had asked me about my nightmares, it only made it harder for me to go to bed that night.
"It's okay, Evin, honey. It's okay." I held my son tightly in my arms, and felt his tiny arms wrap around me, seeking the comfort of my body to keep him awake and safe. "It's just a dream, baby. Just a dream. The monster isn't real, okay?" He nodded, and I knew that he was praying that I was right.
I looked over at Alex who was watching us, leaning against the wall. He looked really sad, probably wishing that he could hold Evin and comfort him as I did. I smiled at him.
"Alex, can you take Evin while I get ready for the day?" I asked. He smiled back at me, and came forward, sitting beside me on the couch. I pulled Evin back, and smoothed his hair again. "Baby, can you go to daddy, so mommy can go get clean?" I asked.
"Why you needa get cween?" Evin asked, eyes big.
"Because we're going to go out today—you, mommy, and sissy. So mommy needs to get ready. Okay? Can you go to daddy for me? He want's to make you feel better too."
Evins face scrunched up as he considered, a cute thing he does when he isn't sure, or when I really wants to get his way. He nodded, and kissed me cheek, then Alex's when I passed him over. I pressed my lips to Alex's, then to Evins forehead, before heading upstairs.
After a hot shower, I headed back into the room Alex and I shared. I went to the closet, and pulled on black panties and a bra. With my hair wrapped in my towel, I pondered what to wear. We have a walk-in closet, so I roamed the space, thinking of what to wear. I settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans, a white polo under a teal baby-doll, and teal flats. I blew my hair dry, then pulled it into a clip, strands falling on either side of my face, more on the right, since my part in on the left. I applied eye-liner to the top and bottoms of my eyes, then some mascara. After smiling to myself in the mirror, I grabbed my coffee, which I had been sipping on the whole time, and headed downstairs.
I went past the living room to place my empty cup in the dishwasher. I heard Alex talking with the kids.
"Daddy?" Hayli began. "Where's Mommy?" I knew that she'd been awake for a bit, since her voice wasn't groggy, but little-kid-perky. I also knew that she'd asked about me for a while now.
"Mommy is getting ready for her day."
"Whewe's she gonna go?"
"She's taking you and your brother to the store to buy some things."
I pictured Hayli nodding, wondering what he was talking about, but not saying anything.
"Daddy?" Evin asked. "Are you goin to wok?"
"Yeah," Alex said. "But I'm picking up dinner for everyone on my way home. We'll have your favorite: macaroni and cheese with KFC."
Evin laughed and clapped, and I heard Hayli cheer with him. They loved KFC, almost as much as they love Mac and Cheese. They're adorable.
I stepped into the living room, and saw Evin and Hayli on Alex's lap. When she saw me, Hayli bounced up and down, and held her arms toward me, wanting me to pick her up.
I scooped her into my arms, and kissed her cheek, and tickling her belly. She giggled, and hugged my neck.
I sat beside Alex, who still held Evin, who wasn't crying anymore. I smiled at Alex and kissed him, causing Hayli and Evin to squeal with joy. I smiled against his mouth at the joy.
Everything bad that could ever happen in our lives all vanished in my mind as I thought of the happiness my family brought to me: Alex, my perfect husband, loved me; my two beautiful children loved me, and were healthy…. Nothing bad could happen when we were all so happy.
Right? I mean, it only makes sense. Bad things never happen to good, happy, families in real life, right?
Wrong.
Mwahahaha! I feel the power of the cliff hangers!!! I love it, and I will try to bring in the drama super quick. ^.^
-Flys Through Water-