Sleep without fear

He stared out the window, trying to keep the fury from boiling over. He stood there for a few more minutes, arms crossed, before finally returning to the bedroom.

Bella was stirring. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. For a second, she looked around groggily. And then her gaze locked onto Lucas sitting at the edge of the bed.

She reached for him without a word. Lucas immediately shifted closer and pulled her into his arms again. She buried her face in his chest, her voice soft and shaken. "You didn't leave, right?"

"Not for a second," he promised, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm right here."

For the rest of the afternoon, Bella didn't let go. Wherever Lucas went—whether he sat on the couch, checked his phone, or stood near the balcony—Bella stayed close. It wasn't like her. She was usually independent, quietly strong, but today… today she needed him.

Rachel noticed it too. While coloring on the living room rug, she tilted her head curiously and looked up at her mama, who had been holding Lucas's arm even while pretending to help Rachel pick out crayons.

"Mama?" Rachel asked, chewing on her lip. "Did something bad happen?"

Bella blinked and smiled softly. "No, sweetheart. Mama just had a bad dream today."

Rachel's eyes widened. "A really scary one?"

Bella nodded. "Very."

Rachel scooted closer and held her hand. "It's okay. I'll stay with you too, Mama. I can fight the nightmares."

Lucas smiled at that. "She gets her bravery from you."

Bella looked at them both—her little girl and the man who had held her when she was breaking—and felt a tight knot in her chest loosen, just a little.

Time passed quickly and Lucas decided to cook dinner after hearing Rachel complaining about how hungry she was. The warmth of the kitchen and the soft clatter of pots and utensils couldn't fully mask the lingering tension in the air. Lucas moved around the kitchen with quiet efficiency, sleeves rolled up, focused on preparing dinner. But he wasn't alone.

Bella stood right behind him, barely making a sound, her fingers gently clutching the edge of his sleeve. She hadn't said much since waking up from her nap, her silence speaking volumes. Lucas could feel her presence—quiet, anxious, and very much needing comfort.

He glanced over his shoulder with a soft smile. "If you keep holding on to me like this, how am I supposed to cook, Bella?"

Bella blinked, not realizing how tightly she was holding his sleeve until he pointed it out. She didn't let go though. Her voice was low when she finally spoke. "Whatever that was… prank or not… it scared me, Lucas."

His hands stilled over the cutting board.

"I—I know you said it might be just a Halloween thing or some stupid joke, but…" she hesitated, voice trembling slightly, "I felt like someone was watching me again. But not now. Not when you're with me. I don't feel it when you're around."

Lucas slowly turned off the stove and turned just slightly to look at her—not fully, just enough to catch her gaze. He knew she was being stalked but he chose not to address this issue right now. He calmly spoke to her. There was no teasing in his voice this time, only gentle reassurance. "If you want you can hug my back."

Bella didn't say anything. She just loosened her grip on his sleeve and, after a beat of hesitation, stepped closer and clutched both sides of his shirt from behind. She wasn't hugging him exactly—just holding on, grounding herself.

Lucas didn't move. He let her hold on, continuing to prepare dinner with one hand while the other rest over hers, just for a moment. A silent reminder—I'm here.

They didn't say much after that. The kitchen filled with the soothing sound of simmering food, the scent of garlic and tomatoes drifting into the air. Outside, the world remained uncertain—but in that small pocket of time and space, with Bella holding on and Lucas cooking just like it was any other evening, things felt a little safer.

After dinner, the house fell into a quieter rhythm. Rachel, full and sleepy, curled up beside Bella as she read her a bedtime story. Lucas was already seated on the edge of the bed, his laptop resting on his legs, fingers dancing across the keyboard with silent focus.

But Bella wasn't focused. Even with Rachel's tiny hand loosely gripping her shirt and the storybook open in front of her, her mind kept drifting back—to the parcel, to the box, to that hand. Every time she blinked, it flashed again. The fear. The helplessness. The chill crawling up her spine.

Rachel finally drifted off to sleep. Bella gently closed the book and pulled the blanket up to her daughter's shoulders.

Lucas sat on the bed, laptop open but long forgotten. His eyes flicked toward Bella as she tucked Rachel in, her hands moving on autopilot, her mind clearly somewhere else.

She hadn't said a word in the last fifteen minutes. But she didn't have to—her body spoke volumes. The way she sat stiffly, how her gaze kept drifting to nothing. He'd seen that look before. Trauma, held in silence. And he hated it.

He closed his laptop with a soft snap and set it aside. "If you keep thinking about it, you won't be able to sleep tonight," he said softly.

She didn't argue. Just gave a tired, shaken sigh. "I'll wake up the moment I close my eyes… because that's all I'll see. That hand."

His heart twisted. He hated this version of her—scared, small, like someone had stripped her peace away. And all he wanted was to wrap her in something stronger than safety. He wanted to give her peace again.

Lucas sighed under his breath. He leaned forward, brushing his knuckles lightly over her arm. "Alright," he murmured. "I have an idea."

She looked at him, puzzled, as he gently shifted Rachel to one side of the bed, carefully enough that the little one didn't stir. Then, he looked at her and patted the middle spot beside him. "Come here. Sleep in the middle tonight."

Bella blinked. "You're going to sleep next to me?"

"For tonight," he said simply, like it wasn't a big deal. "I'll hug you while you sleep. It'll help."

Her heart skipped. His tone was soft, practical—but the offer wrapped around her like a warm blanket. She didn't even try to hide the way her cheeks flushed. She nodded.

Lucas lifted the blanket, waiting patiently as she lay down next to Rachel. Then he climbed in beside her, the closest they'd ever been. No teasing smirks. No awkwardness. Just closeness—natural and needed.

As he wrapped an arm gently around her waist, pulling her close, Bella let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. His warmth, his scent, his chest pressed against her back, the steady rhythm of his breathing—it was calming in a way nothing else could be.

Her thoughts didn't go to the hand anymore. Instead, they lingered on the feeling of his hand resting lightly on her side. On how he didn't hesitate to offer comfort. On how he always knew exactly what to say—or not say.

'The first time was that night ', her mind whispered, ' the second time he hugged me was during the wedding night. But I wasn't even in my senses then. This… this is different.'

Even the smallest things—like the way his fingers grazed her arm accidentally, or the gentle pressure of his palm—made her blush under the dim light. But it worked. Her fear slowly melted, replaced with a quiet warmth she couldn't explain.

Lucas didn't speak again. He didn't need to. He just held her—protectively, quietly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

He felt her shift closer, like her body was naturally seeking his warmth. Her breath evened out a little—but he didn't miss the way she holds his hand, which was resting on her waist. Holding on. Just like earlier. He didn't move. He didn't tease her. He just stayed.

And for a moment, the world outside didn't matter. Not the threats. Not the hand. Not even the person who sent it. Just her, lying beside him, letting herself feel safe with him.

He would kill for her. Protect her. But more than that… he just wanted her to sleep without fear. And for the first time that day, Bella closed her eyes… and slept calmly.