AN: I think my favorite part about this story is seeing y'alls guesses at the unknown POV. Sadly they don't make an appearance this chapter.
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Emily's POV
On my way back upstairs I stopped by the bathroom. I took the opportunity to splash water on my face in attempt to hide the fact I had been crying. It was in vain for Declan noticed immediately.
"Emmy what's wrong?" He asked running up to me.
I bent down and scooped him up. "Nothing Dec."
"But you're crying. Did Daddy make you cry 'gain?" He asked with his innocent eyes looking up at me.
I knew Ashley was listening to us. "No, Declan. Remember Daddy has to go away for a long time?"
Declan nodded his head. "No more hurt?"
Ashley caught my eyes and gave me the same look Mom had in her office. "No more hurt," I confirmed for him.
I carried him back over to Ashley and sat down. "How did it go?" She whispered.
"How do you think?" I replied with a sigh.
"We'll talk tonight," She said glancing to the Declan still playing with the legos.
"Tonight," I whispered
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Padding into Ashley's room I was reminded of many nights as a teenager. Even during my rebellious phase I always made sure to read Ash a story every night. When she got older and I was home we would stay up late and talk.
"Hey," Ashley whispered as I joined her on the bed.
"Remember the last time we talked like this?"
"It was the night before you left. You came home for a visit," Ashley replied. "I think I knew that night it would be awhile before I saw you again."
"I didn't," I admitted. I was only supposed to be gone a few months; a year at the max.
"You did a good job with the kids," She said breaking up the atmosphere.
"I can't take all the credit. They pretty much came like that, and I had Declan's nanny to help me," I told her.
Ashley's tone shifted. "We don't have to talk about what happened tonight, but I hope you'll be able to share one day."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "One day," I replied. I glanced at the clock above Ashley's dresser. "It's late. I should be getting to bed."
"That's fine," Ashley's said throwing her arms around me in a hug.
I try my best not to, but I still flinched at the contact. If Ashley noticed she didn't say anything. I don't think I've ever been more grateful for Ashley than in that moment.
"Goodnight lil sis," I told her as I'm leaving the room.
"Night big sis," She replied back with a smile.
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JJ's POV
With Gwen safely in her bed it wouldn't be long before Henry was a sleep in his own. Every night we went through the same routine. Henry would put on his pajamas, and while I was getting Gwen ready for bed he would start putting all his stuffed animals to bed. When he was finished he would select one of them to take to bed. Almost every night he chose a stuffed puppy that had been a gift from Spencer. With his sleeping buddy in hand he would choose a story. Noticing the time I got up to meet Henry in his room. When I entered the room he was sitting on the bed with his favorite book in his lap, Bedtime for Baby Star!.
"Is that the story you want tonight?" I asked already knowing the answer.
"Please," He said nodding his head in excitement; his hair falling in his face. When I had suggested cutting it Henry had insisted on keeping it long like Uncle Spencer's.
I tucked Henry in and started reading, "Once there was a baby star. He lived up near the sun..."
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Ashley's POV
I awoke with a start. Glancing around to find the cause I noticed a small body at my door. "Is that you Dec?"
I didn't receive a verbal reply, but instead I heard a whimper. Switching on my lamp I got out of bed. Declan flinched as light flooded the room. I'd never seen someone look so scared. "What's wrong Declan?"
Declan's eyes darted around the room; never meeting my own. "Emmy's room?"
"Emmy is sleeping, but if you tell me what's wrong I might be able to help," I offered. I knew Emily was running off little to no sleep. She'd spent her whole life looking after me; getting Declan back to sleep was the least I could do.
His eyes finally settled on the floor; his frown deepened. "I'm scarred the bad men will come."
My expression softened. "Trust me on the fact Dad has the best security system in at least this state." Declan was still fidgeting, so I moved on to approach two. "I could keep an eye out for the bad guys while you sleep."
Finally his tired eyes looked up to meet my own. "You would do that?"
I smiled. "Of course." I held out my hand. "Let's get you tucked back in and I'll stay up too keep the bad men away."
"Thank you," Declan whispered.
"Anytime bud."
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Emily's POV
Sitting up in the bed my eyes darted around the room. I took a deep breath as I remembered I was at home and I was safe. The calmness was interrupted as my stomach flipped. Rushing to the bathroom I made it just in time to empty the contents of my stomach in the toilet. The coldness of the bathroom floor did little to calm me as my mind was plagued by the all too real nightmare I had woken up to. When my body was done betraying me I went to check on the kids. Opening the door I was shocked to find Ash leaning up against the foot of Declan's bed sound asleep. I was curious on why, but I decided to let them sleep a little while longer.
Downstairs Dad was already making coffee. "Do you by any chance know why Ash is in the kid's room?"
"I heard them get up around midnight, so I went to check on them. Ashley said Declan was looking for you but found her instead. She got him back to sleep by promising to stay up and keep the bad men away," Dad explained.
I frowned. "She could have come and got me."
"You and I both know you needed sleep." He pointed out.
I briefly wondered if Dad knew I spent many nights doing the same thing when Ashley was younger and scared of the dark. "Still she shouldn't of had to sleep on the floor."
"Didn't stop you when you two were younger." Well that answered that question.
"You knew about that?" I asked sheepishly.
"Why do you think I got Ashley bunk beds?" About a month after Ashley's fear of the dark appeared Dad had gotten her bunk beds in case she wanted to have friends over. I now realized that had been a lie and it was instead so I wouldn't end up sleeping in the floor every night.
"Thanks for that"
Dad gave a knowing smile as he walked over to wrap me in a hug. "You are always welcome."