CHAPTER FOURTEEN

After a while, both Eric and Monica had calmed down. Eric nodded and decided to help out

"Okay, let's do this. Dora you go first". He said

"Why should I?". Dora complained

"Because looking at the situation, you are actually the one who started this". Eric stern gaze landed on her

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes she turned to Daniel and took a deep breath before apologising "I'm sorry for taking matters into my hands Dan. I should have heard your part before doing anything. I shouldn't have assumed instead, now I've spoiled everything. I'm sure she now hates you, and it's all my fault. Though you say it's for the better, I still don't think it is. She shouldn't have found out how you felt like that. And dad's right, I did start all this. So I'll definitely fix everything, maybe not how it was but I'll do something about it". Dora said determined giving him a small smile

"You aren't at fault Dora, you did it out of concern. But your fault was not asking my thoughts but instead doing what you think was right. Mine was acting without thinking. I should never have said those words to her, her love was true, I shouldn't have made fun of it. There are others ways to have gone about it, like, I could have even just simply and politely rejected her. But like I said Dora, it's all for the best now. You shouldn't try to fix anything, it's best now that she hates me. You should just leave the matter as is it. Instead you try to focus on your relationship. And if ever she's to learn anything about the truth or receive an apology, it should be directly from me. And not from you on my behalf. I hope you understand me Dora, this is best, I promise". Daniel pleaded

"Why do you keep saying that?". Dora sighed annoyed "what do you mean by it's for the best. And we'll understand in the future". She folded her hands

"I can't tell Dora. I'm sorry". He said as he scratched his neck

Dora narrowed her eyes before sighing in defeat "whatever".

"Hug?". Daniel asked nervous

She stared at him for a while before dropping her folded hands and nodded walking into the hug

"I love you Dora. Regardless of how much we fight, argue or your age. You'll always be my little sister and I'll always protect you". Daniel smiled

"You'd better keep your promise. I love you too Daniel. And you'll always be my big brother". She smiled too

"Now that's more like it". Eric grinned as he stood up along with Monica, still holding hands

"You're ruining the moment dad". Dora rolled her eyes as she and Daniel broke the hug

"It's late kids. You both should go get some rest. We'll see tomorrow". Eric said

"Sending us away for some alone time with mum?". Daniel snickered

"That has nothing to do with you. Now off you both go". Eric shooed

"Goodnight dad, mum. Love you both". Both kids said as they hugged their parents and left

"Good night love. Sleep tight. Love you both more".

"Yh, goodnight. Love you". Monica and Eric said at the same time watching their children walk into the house

After the kids had left their view and were safely inside the house, Monica turned to Eric and pecked him on the cheeks "I love you". She whispered love evident in her eyes

Eric grinned "that's no way to show it honey. But no worries, I'll teach you how". He grinned as he took her into his hands and kissed her on her lips

"Goodnight Dora". Daniel said giving her a peck on her forehead then left

"Goodnight Dan". She grinned, waving at him as he left. Letting out a sigh she went to the kitchen to have a drink of water as all that talking made her thirsty

***

"No..help...me...dad...mum…please". Violet mumbled in her sleep before suddenly jerking up. She squinted her eyes around the dark unfamiliar setting of the room before it dawned on her that she's in Dora's room and Dora isn't back yet. The sky is now dark and the only source of light in the room is the moonlight coming through the closed window with the curtains drawn open and the star-shaped stickers on Dora's room ceiling which glowed at night

Her nightmares had been about her time in the forest but with a twist. There was no Dora nor any wolf to save her, it was just her alone in the dark forest with the red eyed wolf running after her to take revenge for its eyes that she had struck. She had fallen down while running and the wolf had lunged at her almost landing on her when she suddenly woke uo, sweating all over

Letting out a dry cough she looked towards the bedside drawer in hope of finding water and to her glee, she did find a small jug half filled with water and an empty glass cup on a tray. She smiled grateful, it must have been Dora who thought of putting it there, since she knows how she usually wakes up at night to drink at her home

She let out a groan as she tried to sit up and stretch her hands a bit towards the tray which Dora had placed in a way that it's easily in her reach

Sighing in gratitude as the water rolled down her throat, she gulped down the water she had poured herself and returned the cup back to the tray. "No sleep for you tonight Violeta". She said to herself using her full name which she dislikes as she stared outside the window to gaze at the moon

"Argh! Are you serious?". Violet asked as her attention now moved to her tummy, annoyed. It seems to reply her with a rumble which made her groan

"Stupid mother nature". She mumbled and her tummy sounded again this time more demanding "you, shut up". She demanded as she tried getting of the bed while turning and twisting on it

"Violet?".

Turning her head to the sound, Violet saw Dora -whose fist is still wrapped around the door knob, indicating she just arrived- standing looking at her confused

"Uh, hi Dora". Violet awkwardly waved

"Are you trying to wrap yourself like sushi? I could help". Leave it up to Dora to make a joke out of it

"Thanks for the offer Dora, but its not needed". Violet rolled her eyes

"Are you sure? I can do a good job".

"Dora I don't want to….". Violet began but was interrupted by the loudest rumble of her tummy

Dora stares at Violet with an amused smile just as they heard footsteps and the door burst open

"Did you guys hear it too?". A confused and half asleep looking Daniel said as he put his head through the door to stare at both girls. Immediately he got to his room and used the bathroom, he had fallen asleep the moment he laid on his bed only to jerked up by a loud rumble thanks to his good hearing

"You guys didn't hear it?". He asked more confused as he stared between the girls. She noticed Violet was looking embarrassed as she look down at her tummy while Dora was trying to hide her laughter

"Why are you… oh!". He began asking Dora until it clicked. Scratching his neck now embarrassed he tried to avoid their gaze "I'll just em...go back to sleep. Goodnight". He quickly closed the door and ran away to his room "stupid Daniel". He muttered as he closed his room door and leaned on it. Hiding a smile he went back to sleep

Immediately Daniel left Dora couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing hard as she bent over her knees, slapping them with her palm

Violet scowled at her then ignored her and tired to get away from the sheet she had wrapped herself and get down the bed

"I'm sorry Violet, here let me help". A now grinning Dora said extending her hands towards Violet who had finally unwrapped herself

"Done with laughing or you need more time?".

"I'm done, I promise". Dora grinned her hand still extended

Violet only glared at her before taking her hand and Dora helped her to the bathroom

***

"I swear I could hear a whole country go down in ruins there". Dora joked when she Violet are now well tucked in the bed

Violet glared at her but chose not to say a thing. It had taken quite a lot of energy to get into the bathroom and back

"I'm sorry Violet, I really am. For everything". Dora's grin suddenly dropped as she turned serious as looked away from her friend

Noting the change in Dora, Violet could have used this moment as a revenge for picking on her but she wasn't like that. Besides Dora can be so emotional it's sometimes scary

So she held Dora's hands in hers and squeezed it reassuring "its alright Dora, you didn't mean for this to happen. Besides I'm also at fault, I shouldn't have run in the forest without thinking". She gave a small smile

Dora stared at their intertwined hands before looking up at her face then reciprocated the smile "cheers to the beginning of sleepless nights for us". She joked

"Can't argue with that, but tonight I have you here, so it should be bearable". Violet grinned

"It should''. Dora nodded in affirmation then grinned

"Goodnight best friend". Violet said

"Goodnight best friend". Dora replied

Then both girls closed their eyes hoping their unexplainable love would ward off any nightmares and their sleep would be comfortable