~~~~~

An hour or so passed. Emerson was wrapped up in his blanket, staring up at the night sky, listening to the scratching of the pencil as Frankie wrote. His eyes drank in all the visible stars, wishing he could see them all. But, thanks to light pollution, he would have to wait to go somewhere that was less polluted.

“Hey,” Sebastian poked his head outside. “It’s freezing guys, come inside.”

Frankie jolted, his head snapping to the elder. “Oh my god. Emmy, I am so sorry I lost track of time. I didn’t even realize we were still outside.”

Emerson stared at the saddened male, confused as to why he felt terrible. “Um… it’s okay. I didn’t mind. It was… comforting.”

Frankie’s cheeks darkened. Emerson didn’t know if this was due to his mind realising it was cold or if it was something else. Not wanting to rack his brain about it, Emerson stood up and went back inside. Immediately his body was surrounded by the warm air.

Inside, Ash and Kit were now playing Mario Kart. The two were bumping against each other, trying to distract the other one from winning. Felix was drinking something from a mug, smiling at the two younger males. Cameron was sitting on the couch, laughing at the two.

“You guys are idiots.” Cameron chuckled before his warm gaze fell onto Emerson and Frankie. “Hey you two. Come here and get warm. Seb’s mom brought hot cocoa for everyone.”

Frankie squealed in joy as he dropped his bag on top of the pool table as he ran to the couch. He jumped over the back of the couch and landed beside Cameron.

“Woah.” Cameron laughed as he gently grabbed the younger, making sure he didn’t fall onto the coffee table. “Careful, Frankie.” The elder had a soft smile as Frankie rolled his eyes, a playful smile of his own.

“Come on, Emmy.” Sebastian led the male wrapped in his cocoa colored blanket to the couch.

As Emerson sat on the edge of the couch, far from the others, Cameron had other ideas. Cameron shook his head as picked up Emerson and placed him in the corner of the sectional couch.

“No way you are getting away from us now, Emmy.” Cameron’s gentle, yet cautious, smile made Emerson relax from his shock. Emerson realised that Cameron was only trying to include the quiet male. He nodded to show that he was comfortable in the middle of everyone.

After a while, everyone was sitting on the couch. Sebastian and Felix were now playing the game.

Sebastian groaned in annoyance as his character fell off the map for the hundredth time. “I can’t play this stupid game.”

Felix laughed gently as the game soon ended. “Come on, babe, you just gotta practice.”

Kit chuckled, looking at Ash as he joked. “Yeah, prez, practice makes perfect right?”

Ash caught onto the underlying joke as he struggled to hold in his own laughter. “Gotta just keep trying, Seb.”

Sebastian’s cheeks were already red from Felix’s comment and became even more red as he glared at the two children. “I swear to god.”

“Can I play next?” Frankie broke the tension between the two elders and two youngest.

“Sure.” Felix smiled, handing him the controller. “Emmy, you should play too.”

Emerson’s sleepy gaze landed on Sebastian, who was handing Felix the second controller. “Uh… I don’t… I don’t know how to play.”

“I’ll show you. Mind sitting in my lap? It’ll be easier.” Cameron asked, his voice gentle and soft. He was trying not to scare the sleepy male.

Emerson nodded, too tired to think too heavily on the predicament he was about to be in.

Cameron smiled as he sat beside Frankie and helped Emerson settle in his lap. Emerson was still wrapped in the soft blanket, realising he would miss this blanket when the weekend came to an end. His thoughts of taking the blanket dissipated as he felt Cameron’s arms around his waist. Emerson was now awake and aware that he was leaning against Cameron’s torso. He was aware that his face felt hot and his body felt nauseous, but he didn’t feel like he had to throw up. Then his thoughts focused on the dancer’s lean hands holding his own hands around the controller. Emeron stared at the blue controller, focusing on how Cameron’s hands were bigger than his own. How his fingers were thin and his skin was pale against the tanned fingers wrapped around his.

“Ready?” Emerson’s mind focused on the whisper from Cameron. His ear felt hot and he could feel his heart beat faster. He was so into his thoughts he barely registered Frankie standing in front of him. His grey colored eyes were full of worry.

“Emmy?” Frankie’s voice dripped with concern as he waved his hand in front of the male cocooned in the cocoa colored blanket.

Emerson blinked a few times, signifying to Frankie that he was returning his focus back to reality. “S-Sorry. I … I don’t know what happened.” Lies. Emerson knew his mind was focusing on a million things to register what was in front him.

“Hey, it’s okay. If you don’t want to play, Cameron can just play instead.” Frankie smiled, relief crashing against his worry.

“No.” Emerson shook his head, subconsciously leaning back more into Cameron. “I want to learn…. Please.”

Frankie smiled brightly. “Of course.” He did not miss or mention anything about Cameron’s blushing cheeks.

Emerson sighed, a slight smile on his features as he focused on holding the controller correctly. The game began with Frankie beside him and Cameron assisting his fingers, making sure he pressed the correct buttons. Cameron whispered in Emerson’s ear, explaining the rules of the game and what each item did.

Emerson played a few maps with Frankie, losing all of them. This did not affect his mood. He felt warmth in his body for the first time in a long time. After a while, they switched players. Kit and Felix were playing now. Cameron had shifted to the corner of the sectional with Emmy still in his lap. Emerson didn’t want to leave the comfort the other male gave him. He needed the comfort after not receiving comfort for as long as he could remember. Before long, Emerson fell asleep.

Only an hour or so later, Sebastian yawned. “Alright guys, I think it’s time to settle in for the night.”

Kit, though exhausted, groaned. “But, mom,” he moaned, staring at the elder with pleading eyes. “Five more minutes?”

“No.” Sebastian was stern. “Emmy is asleep and Cameron is close as well. We should all sleep. Tomorrow we can go for a walk around downtown.”

Kit smiled sleepily. “Okay, fine.” He set the controller down before heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

After a while, everyone finished their nightly routine (minus Cameron and Emerson) and settled across the mountain of blankets and pillows. Sebastian tried to wake up Cameron so the two could move, but gave up after failing. He shrugged and turned the lights off before laying beside Felix and Kit, snuggling a pillow and wrapping himself like a burrito in his favourite baby blue blanket.

~~~~~

Emerson moaned as his eyes slowly opened. He was exhausted but warm. He couldn’t really see as it was dark. This made his heart quicken before he felt something tighten around him. He felt like he was suffocating, the walls felt like they were closing in on him. His breathing became short and quick, he couldn’t move because of the tight hold and he felt like the blanket was wrapping tighter around him. He could tell he was whimpering as he started to thrash around.

Suffocating.

Surrounded by darkness.

“Emmy?” A rough voice cut through the tsunami of thoughts in Emerson’s mind. “Emmy. Hey. Woah, it’s okay.”

Cameron.

The name of the other boy immediately calmed the storm in Emerson’s mind. He slowly stopped trying to force his way out of the blanket.

“Hey, Emmy. Breathe. In and out. Follow me okay?” Cameron’s furrowed brow came into view as Emerson’s mind finally focused on the male. Despite the darkness, he was still able to make out most of Cameron’s features. Emerson’s breathing slowly returned to normal as he focused on Cameron’s breathing.

“Good.” Cameron smiled gently. “Let’s get the blanket unwrapped okay?”

Emerson nodded and watched as Cameron picked him up and set him on the couch beside where the two had fallen asleep. He began to slowly unwrap the blanket. Emerson could tell he had wrapped himself in the blanket very well. It made sense why he felt like he was suffocating.

“Okay.” Cameron set the blanket beside them. His gaze met Emerson’s downcasted eyes. “Hey. Emmy? It’s okay. Do you want to sleep on the couch or join the others on the pile?”

Emerson glanced in the direction of the pile, not able to see it from his spot on the couch. “I…” Emerson stopped as his voice cracked. He shook his head and patted the couch.

“Okay.” Cameron understood the gesture. “Do you want me here? Or do you want to be al-“

Emerson interrupted immediately. “No.” His eyes wide and his breathing picking up again.

Cameron reacted just as quickly as Emerson’s outburst. He picked the boy up and held him gently. “Okay. It’s okay. I’ll stay. Focus on my breathing.”

Emerson nodded as Cameron gently laid the both of them down on the couch, placing the blanket over them slightly. He was following the slow breathings of the elder male. Emerson could feel Cameron’s arms wrapping around him, but loosely. His mind was okay with this, not making Emerson feel like the walls were closing in.

“Thank you.” Emerson whispered against the male’s chest, snuggling closer to the warmth his body gave.

Cameron’s arms pulled him closer. “It’s okay. I’ll always be here if you need anything.”

Emerson felt the feeling of love and warmth hug his soul. He missed the feeling of friends, of a family. He needed this and he wasn’t even aware of that until now.

Sighing softly, he decided to try and go back to sleep. It did not take long as the warmth from Cameron and his gentle hold easily relaxed Emerson to sleep.