You're Not In This Alone

When I come back out of the bathroom I wander into the living room, finding dad on the couch, Ryan and Sophie gone. I feel my bottom lip start to quiver as I run across the room and launch myself into his lap, burying my face in his neck as I start to cry again. Dad wraps his strong heavily tattooed arms around me and holds me close as I cry it out and when I calm down again enough to speak I whimper out "Dddaddy." "Shh baby girl it's alright, I've got you. Everything is going to be ok, I promise." My tears slowly come to a stop and I sniffle against his skin before pulling away and resting my head on his shoulder as his hands gently stroke up and down my back and side. "Talk to me baby girl, what's on your mind?" "I....I went to meet my mom and everything you guys told me just all came crashing down on me at once and she grabbed me, to hug me and I panicked." "Did she hurt you? Are you alright?" "No she didn't hurt me, I'm ok. I just freaked out and I've wanted to meet her for so long and I never thought I would and then having her there in front of me and it was really happening I guess it just got to be too much and now I don't know if I should try it again." "You've been wanting to meet her?" "Well yeah, for a long time now." "Why didn't you say anything?" "I didn't know you guys knew who she was and I love you and pa, so much and I didn't want you guys to think you weren't enough, because you are, you're more than I deserve but I just was curious about my real mom." "I understand that baby. I know me and your mom have had run ins in the past but would you like me to go with you next time, if you want to see her again?" "Would you?" "Id do anything for you baby girl, you know that." I nod as I snuggle further into his chest and dad's arms tighten more around me. "You ok now?" He asks softly and I nod, wrapping my arms around his waist and cuddling him back. "Thanks daddy." "Any time Rubes."

After dad goes home again I wander into the bedroom to find Ryan laying on the bed reading a book. I crawl up beside him and cuddle into his side, resting my head on his chest as I slide one of my legs over his, resting it between his and wrapping my arm around his waist. Ryan slides one arm under me and wraps it around my waist as he turns his attention from the book to me and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. "You ok baby?" He asks and I nod before saying "Thank you." "For what babe?" "For helping me out of there today and for calling dad, just for knowing what I need better than I do myself sometimes and always giving it to me." "You don't need to thank me for anything babe, I love you and I would do anything for you." "Love you too" I say softly and we fall into silence, Ryan turning back to his book while I continue to cuddle up to him, closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep. I'm woken a few hours later by Ryan gently shaking me awake to tell me he made me dinner and I let him drag me out of bed, his arm wrapped around my waist as he guides me into the kitchen and into a chair where I see dinner is already on the table. "I'm just gonna check on Sophie and I'll be right back" Ryan says softly as he presses a kiss to my hair and I nod as he leaves the room, smiling at how lucky I am to have him in my life. When he comes back he takes a seat beside me and we start to eat, our hands linked under the table and when I'm done I lean across and press a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, that was really good." "You're welcome, why don't you go watch tv or something and I'll be in in a minute." I nod as I get up, leaving the kitchen as Ryan starts rinsing off the dishes and loading them into the dishwasher. I make my way into the living room, laying down on the couch and turning on the tv, flipping through the channels to find something to watch and just after I settle on something Ryan comes in and climbs over me, laying between me and the back of the couch, his warm chest pressed against my back and I sigh and melt back into him as he cuddles me close, his arm around my waist and he starts pressing soft kisses into my hair as we watch tv together.

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