The Hardest Part Is Letting Go Of Your Dreams

The next time I wake up Ruby is asleep snuggled into my side, her little hand curled into a fist around my shirt and Frank is sitting against the headboard on my other side, reading. "Hey baby" I croak out, my voice thick with sleep. "Hey sleeping beauty. How do you feel?" "Better" I croak out and Frank smiles down at me before sitting his book aside and reaching down to feel my forehead. "You're still a little warm but you've got some colour now" he tells me and I smile and pucker my lips, wanting a kiss. He leans down and gives me one before sitting back and saying "Can I get you anything?" "Coffee?" I ask and he smiles and ruffles my hair before hopping off the bed and saying "You're such a junkie," leaving the room and coming back with a cup of coffee exactly how I like it. He sits the cup on the bedside table before helping me ease myself up, moving Ruby over before sitting beside me again and handing me the cup. Once I have it in my hand he slides his arm around my waist and gently pulls me over so I'm leaning into his side as I drink my coffee. "This is so good baby" I whisper to him after my first sip and he smiles and leans in to kiss my forehead. We sit in comfortable silence after that, me drinking my coffee and Frank picking up his book with his free hand, bringing his legs up and resting the book in his lap as he reads. Once I'm done Frank takes the cup off me and sits it back on the table and I snuggle further into his side, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes. I'm almost asleep again when Ruby kicks out her legs and screams before a high pitch wail escapes her and she starts sobbing. I sit back up and lean over, picking her up and sitting her in my lap, her eyes still closed as she lets out whimpers and sobs. "Shh Shh hey Rubes it's ok" I whisper in her ear while I gently shake her, trying to wake her from her nightmare. She screams out again and her eyes flutter open, my arms tightening around her as she cries. She buries her face in my chest as she sobs out "Daddy" and I gently rub her back as I say "Shh baby it's ok I've got you, you're alright." She quietens down and her sobs turn into little sniffles as she rubs her face in my shirt, still half asleep. I continue to hold her close, gently rocking her side to side in my lap and she lets out a huge yawn before pulling back from my chest, her little eyes red and swollen. I lean in and kiss her forehead before bringing one hand up to wipe her face dry. She hiccups a few times before climbing off my lap and into Franks, settling against his chest as she traces over the tattoos on his arms with her finger. Frank cuddles her close and lets her do what she wants, looking relieved that she's ok. We sit in silence for a while before I climb off the bed and say "I need a shower," making my way out of the room. Once I'm in the bathroom I start the shower and strip naked, climbing under the spray of hot water and feeling my muscles instantly relax. Once I've washed myself I slide down the wall to sit under the hot spray, closing my eyes and letting out a deep breath.

After I get out of the shower I pull on clean pyjamas and go into the living room, finding a bunch of guys there that I don't know and Matt. They all stare at me as I walk in and one of them lets out a low whistle, making me instantly blush and feel self conscious. Frank stands up and walks over to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and saying "Babe I totally forgot I invited them over earlier with you feeling unwell and all. Do you want me to ask them to go?" I shake my head and say "No it's fine but I don't feel up for company. I'll just go back to the bedroom." "Aww babe stay with me? Please" he pleads and I sigh before making my way into the room, finding the only place to sit is on the floor or on Franks lap. I sit on his lap and see Ruby on the floor playing barbies with Matt. I smile before catching sight of the clock which reads 11.15pm. "Shit Ruby should be in bed" I tell Frank and he shakes his head before saying "You guys slept all afternoon babe, she's wide awake. Just let her play, she'll tire herself out." I sigh, deciding he's right and putting her in bed will be a waste of time. One of the guys gets up and stumbles across the room, disappearing and coming back with three beers. He offers one to Frank and one to me and I decline but Frank takes his before the guy stumbles back to his seat. "Is he drunk?" I ask and Frank chuckles and says "Probably." "I don't want Ruby exposed to that" I tell him and the guy sitting beside us slurs out "Jesus lighten up." I turn my head to glare at him and say "She's four you idiot why would I want her around that?" The guy immediately looks sorry and doesn't say another word and I look back over to see if Ruby's ok. She's still happily playing barbies with Matt, who appears to be sober and I sink back into Franks lap, laying back against his chest.

Notes

I sense DRAMA in the very near future......