21. The Sleep

3.03.20

James's POV

Kody's lips pressed together in a thin line while he read my journel. There were so many expressions on his face, but the most prominent was actually anger. "I can't believe that they took out their anger on you like that," Kody sympathized quietly once he was done reading.

"I know. It was hard growing up like that. I never really knew happiness before I met you, Kodes. That's why I'm so happy... Because I want to teach our kids what love and happiness is before they turn 18."

Kody's smile was just as bright as mine, and I knew that he wanted this just as much as I do. Even though we were young, it was like we were both ready for something like this to pull us together. "James... What happens if the sun guardian comes back? The only real way to kill one of us is to steal our energy, and all my dad did was stab him."

"I'll keep you safe, Kody. I won't let anyone hurt you or our kid ever again. Even if I have to die, I will keep you alive."

Suddenly tears came to his eyes. "I could never live without you, Jam. If you died, I would never be happy again."

"I guess you're right. God, Kodes, this is why I love you so much. I feel like you're perfect for me in every way."

"That's what a moon pairing is, dear... And I love you too. No matter what happens to us in the future, just remember that."

I forced him to lay down on the soft bed and curled up right against him. I was tired, and now that I knew that I probably had a child, I actually wanted to sleep. I had to be as healthy as possible for the baby. Kody's gentle strokes in my hair made me calm down, and I leant into his hand while my eyes slowly drifted closed. "Don't leave the room while I'm asleep," I mumbled sleepily before falling into a light sleep. I just barely felt him stand up and put us underneath the covers while whispering kind words in my ears.

"I love you, Jam," was the last thing I heard before I fell deeper into the darkness.

Kody's POV

I held James against myself while he slept because I didn't want to lose him. It was probably also because I was naturally defensive of our little child. He looked so sweet with a small smile on his exhausted face, and I could easily imagine myself with him for the rest of my life. I kind of liked his hair semi long, and I hope that I can convince him to keep it this way. It was fun and stress relieving to just stroke my fingers through it when he was asleep because his head would unconsciously lean into my hand. Eventually it got dark outside of my window, and I picked up my phone to call my dad.

"Hey, could you bring some food to my room?" I breathed into the speaker.

"Oh, sure. Why?" my father responded. "Also, I gave you friend a room. She seemed close to you and excited, so I just let her stay."

"James fell asleep on me, and he made me promise not to leave while he was asleep."

My father laughed sadly from the other side of the line. "I remember when your real mother was like that with me. It was so fun to be with her, but fun never lasts. I'll bring you food."

Fun never lasts... How could I be so stupid. How could I let myself believe that James and I would be lovers forever without any issues. We would fight, maybe even break up, or hurt our child eventually. It was just inevitable. I guess I'll just hold him tightly while I can because life is unpredictable, but we can chose how we spend our time with people.

Dad knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. I smiled briefly at him when he set two plates on the night stand. "You should wake him up to eat. He's too skinny; it isn't healthy for the baby," my father suggested quietly.

"Alright, thanks Papa," I murmured before he walked out. I reluctantly shook James awake, but at least he was cute while walking up.

"Babeeeeee," he whined, and I knew what came next. "Five more minutes!"

"Sorry, sweetie, but you need to eat."

He sat up and looked at me like a kid in a candy store. "Food!" he shouted. Dang, I knew that James liked food, but I didn't know that it was that severe.

"Yes, Jam," I muttered before handing him one of the plates. He shoveled the food into his mouth faster than the speed of light. Remind me to never challenge that one to a good eating contest. I was only about a third of the way through my meal when he was scraping the plate clean. I finally finished, and almost as soon as I put the plates on the night stand, James leapt onto me.

It was clear to me why he was so childish all the time now. It was a side effect of not being given a real childhood, and I was willing to give him that feeling. We ended up in a mini wrestling war on the bed, and I managed to pin James onto the bed. We were both sweating and panting loudly, and when I looked down at James he had a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Suddenly, I was rolling around on the floor giggling as James attacked my sides relentlessly. It felt good to laugh like nothing was wrong, and even though I was trying to escape his wiggling fingers, I had never felt more loved than right now. I knew that I would never feel safer or more loved than when I was in his arms, and that was how it should be.

Then I got an idea. I reached up my own hands to James's sides, and I underestimated just how sensitive he was. Somehow, he was more ticklish than even me. It soon turned from him tickling me to me attacking him. Sweet laughter was the only sound evident in the air, and I fell more in love with him by the second.

Eventually he called for mercy, and I obliged. We lie next to each other on the floor, and I curled my fingers around his. Our breathing was directly in sync, and I swear that our thoughts were too.

"I love you so much, Jam," I admitted quietly. The room was only light enough now for me to see an outline of his face, but when I did, I could see him smiling brightly. He pulled me into a tight hug, and I responded just as well.

"I love you too, Kodes," he murmured into my hair. I picked him up and sat down on the bed. I set him down next to me, and for the second time today he forced me to lie down next to him. Of course, I would have even if he didn't make me.

"Good night."

"Night, Kody."

Fluffiest chapter I have ever written, no lie.