ALEX's  POV 💜

      It's warm..... Dark.... not bright like usual, and something heavy is on my body....

It can't be???

Please!! I don't want to be back there! No don't touch me....

Please!!! Someone save me!!!!

Dan??? Please.... I don't wanna go back...
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"Alex!"

"Alex!!! Shhhh.... I'm right here, it's okay.... I won't let anyone touch you... I'm here Baby" Dan's soothing voice falls on my ears in between my wild sobbing rackets and reality hits me...

I'm all drenched in sweat while Dan is holding me tightly while I'm facing his warm chest, he keeps drawing circles on my back and kissing my head now and then...

My breathing starts to even and I realize that I have been tearing up all along... His t-shirt is soaked with a mixture of my sweat and tears.
I try to squirm away not wanting to destroy the piece of clothing any further...But it only results in him gripping me tighter, holding me so close that I can hear his heartbeat crystal clear my ears zone in on it's beautiful rhythm making me feel safe and somehow calming me down...

"Just stay close for a while longer," he says in a groggy deep voice and places his head in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent deeply.

'That whiff must have destroyed his nostrils, he's gonna throw you in the trash-can after this' my Devil snickers... 

God! Not now....I sigh to myself

"You smell temptingly sweet," Dan says softly but the silent room is just working as an amplifier right now and I blush heavily getting even more heated, I can feel his mouth forming a grin...

All my brain cells order around and all the blood floods into my cheeks followed by my entire face and neck....my body feels like it's about to catch fire!

This guy is weirder than me! What exactly does he find so interesting about me and who in their right mind would say that to a person soaked in sweat???

In the beginning, I thought he just wanted to mess with me, but that doesn't seem to be the reason since he hasn't touched me (well in a wrong way that is) till now... Who knows what is going on within that big head of his?

Well back to the present situation, I don't know when it happened but I'm seated in Dan's lap with my knees folded up to my chest and for some reason like a 5-year-old, I'm clutching his t-shirt tightly and have snuggled into his firm chest.

I'm in a daze thinking about so many things yet nothing at the same time...

I have long forgotten about my nightmare... I mean the fake one, however, how do I delete these memories that keep playing in the back of my mind day in and out like a record without a stop button?

Dan rests his sleepy head above my own as his back is rested on the headboard of his huge king-sized bed while he still manages to keep his grip firm on me.

His soft snores make me realize how tired he must have been.... but why do I feel a smile tugging on my lips finding the entire ordeal effortlessly cute?

I thought about how Dan might have brought me to his room since this room is super plain with textures of grey and white in contrast to my Honeybun's room which exploded with bright colors...

My cheeks flush at my own thoughts but I'm also relieved that I wasn't in my baby's room, I might have ended up scaring him so much and that's the last thing I want to happen, I just wish that beautiful smile never disappears from his cute lil face.

Rushing my mind back to the giant sleepy head resting on me, I struggle my way out and this time I manage to break his hold, I cover Dan with sheets but his hands wander around as if searching for me which has my Angel rolling around with a giddy feeling in my head.

'Can't we just hold that delicious arm of his and suck on his fingers already???' my inner Devil whines which brings a blush to my face and I quickly dump any further thoughts in a corner and watch Dan still searching for me...

After failing to find his lost treasure, Dan manages to open his eyes still half asleep. He pulls out a fresh t-shirt and hands it over to me without a word while he pulls his own shirt off his steamy hot body... As soon as I'm changed the next thing I know is that I'm held like a body pillow by this giant baby boy.

Sighing in defeat I plaster a tape across my inner Devil's mouth, to stop him from dumping any funny ideas in my head.

Dan's bare chest is sending shivers down my spine and at the same time his soft breath is calming my nerves down causing my own eyes to close and drift into sound sleep.
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...💤😪😴💤....🌤️......🌞

"Hey there... It's time to rise and shine Babe" A deep morning voice whispers in my ears, making my eyes jolt awake....

Soft chuckles followed by a forehead kiss is what I get as a gift for waking up from the Dead!

"Let's get you washed up babe, I'll fill in the bath for you and get you a change of clothes," he says tilting his face to meet my eyes as if a giant Siberian husky is waiting for his master to say yes!

I nod, eagerly wanting to get rid of the stench as soon as possible... Since I might still be drooling at a certain Daddy's tan and well-defined wide-ass back...

"What time do you start work? I'll drop both of you babies on my way to work" he says with a bright smile that is enough to get me jumping out of the bed.

"Umm... I start by 10 but I'll leave early since Jan's begins by 9...."

"I can help Emily if I go earlier... " I say trying to answer all his future questions that seem to be forming in his head. 

Satisfied with the lil question answer session, Dan leaves in some closet-like thingy after shooting a last glance towards me... As if I were a month-old baby who might start crying as soon as his mother leaves his sight!

I get off the bed and make my way towards the said bathroom lazily but with little butterflies around myself making me feel like I'm already on cloud nine!

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The bathroom is another heavenly structure, I could have literally spent my entire life in!

It's so beautiful with the bathtub where at least 2-3 people could soak together... it's so white that I'm worried that I might stain something by touching it. I decide to hurry up and step in the shower and grab the first bottle of body wash that I can reach and it smells exactly like Dan! 

I blush because of my stupid thoughts and go back to washing myself.

I use it and clean myself thoroughly since it has been more than a decade since I had a proper bath! 

(Well not literally, but washing in a public toilet technically doesn't equal a bath/ shower so...)

After having rubbed my skin into a shiny flamy red colour, I hopped out of the shower and dried myself with what felt like a cotton towel I had no idea as to why there were so many kept for me when I required only one.

I wear the black hoodie that Dan has laid out for me, the sweatpants seem to be of smaller size for Dan but still are slipping down even after tying 2-3 knots, so I gave up on them and just went out with the top on...

'Someone, hand me a pair of boots, coz I am ready to rock the ramp right now!' 

Yeah, the shirt is hanging down till just above my knees...

After doing the short one-man show in front of the mirror, I quickly put on my own trousers and went in search of my Honeybun since Dan had told me he'd be going for a shower in some other room and we'd be meeting at the dining after.

*****

( Present ) :

I miss Jan already! 

I find my way down to the dining hall but my ears where catch sweet laughter resonating and I meet with a beautiful sight where Dan is holding his Pup in the air and rubbing his own head in Jan's stomach making him red with all the bouts full of laughter!

'What a great way to start the day', I think as a smile creeps on my lips without effort.

"Lexieee! Good morninggg!" My Chocopie beams brightly stretching his tiny arms out...I go ahead to get him from Dan who is boring holes in me with amusement plastered across his face.

As soon as I have Chocopie in my arms, I turn around with a swift turn and rush towards the dining, however, before I can even step out of the living room I end up getting pulled into a firm chest.

Jan just giggles, finding it funny while a blush coats my cheeks as all the memories of him holding me close in bed last night floods my mind... I jump at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Should I get coffee with breakfast or later Danielle?" Arthur asks without paying much attention to our little moment.

I try hard, struggling my way out of Dan's hold, who to my surprise is giving me puppy eyes with a pout. 

"Later is fine Arthur" Dan says with a flat tone as we I break free from his hold and rush to the dining. However the distance between us doesn't last long since as soon as I take my seat, my chair is pulled closer to Dan's.

As usual, my Chubbybutt decides to stick to my lap... In total everything looks like what a dream family would look like!

'Yeppp, dream family!' 'And this dreamy Daddy all to ourselves...' my Angel says the first half while the Devil as usual remarks the later half with his stupid smirk.

I just shake my head to shoo the little rats away and concentrate on the plate full of a variety of food these people called breakfast!

'The plate could fill all the three meals we received at the center' the thought causes past events try to creep into my mind... But I get distracted by sweet laughter and focus on the things in hand or rather on my lap for that matter.

We have our breakfast between giggles and arguments between the son-father duo, which is purely adorable to watch... The cold father however lets his Pup win since the 5-year-old makes more sense than any 70-year-old I have ever met! 

Looking at the huge round clock, it's already time for us to head out. 

'Let's trip and break a bone, that way this hot Daddy might just make us stay another couple of days!' my Devil comes up with the sloppiest plan...

'Just mute yourself for a hundred years please' I bicker with him this time.

'The breakfast was so wholesome' My Angel sighs sadly.

'Guys we can come back here remember?' I try to convince the good-for-nothing creatures in my head. 

Actually, it does feel special staying here, having someone to say goodbye and someone to take me to work for the first time too...

Oh! That reminds me of the kid bullying my Honeybun... Well, Dan has taken care of him. It turns out that the boy just wanted to get along with my Chocipie, but his parents had been telling him otherwise, since Dan is a single father with some kinda ""shady business"".

Anyway, Dan had dealt with it, their sorry excuse for a teacher was fired and Leo's parents had apologized formally. So hopefully it will be peaceful for my cutie!

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We arrive at the kindergarten and the site immediately makes my Honeybun tear up...my heart breaks at the site of his teary face.

"Lexie's going to stay with Jan from today. So Pup don't worry, Lexie will be back after finishing his work"  Dan says out of nowhere and winks at me.

I'm sitting there confused, still comprehending what just happened... While Dan walks out of the car proud of the lil stunt he just pulled and carries Jan safely to his teacher.

'Whatttt?? And... you can just start playing the siren thingy now' For the first time I initiated a conversation with my Devil...

And being the super supportive one, he only laughs at my misery!

'You're already into deepshit' he sings pleased with the idea of spending time with the Daddy!

'We'll find a way out...' my Angel tries to convince me otherwise.

I was still in my thoughts when I heard my name being called softly....

"Alex...." 

A worried Dan stands beside me, with the car's door fully open. He leans down to meet my eyes. 

"Why don't you come stay with us? You know that Pup really likes you a lot...." His face lights up at the mention of his son, easing the creases on his temples.

"It might seem too soon for you, it is equally surprising for me but I want you to stay close to me all the time," Dan says switching his intense stare from my eyes to my lips, which makes me lose the eye contact I was barely holding!

"Lex...I really like you, so much..... And I know it might feel weird since we just met, but...." 

Loud exhale~

"Alex....would you like to go out with me??" he says staring back into the depths of my soul...

 At this moment it seems like he could look right through me... like any attempt to escape will be a total failure. Since, although he might be asking me out, he has already planned things far ahead already.

And although the entire thing might have looked a bit scary it's right for a person like me who lacks all sorts of social or any kind of decision-making skills whatsoever.

The sirens in my head are replaced by violins, however, I might be displaying the stupidest, utterly dumbfounded expression on my face with tears and snot running down my face.

What the hell? Even I won't date my own damn self! This guy has lost it completely! 

Although I do like Dan and well I get to be around my Chocopie so it's a win-win situation for me... The living together thing might be a bad idea at present but it's also what I need right now. I might seem to be taking advantage of his kindness...

Knowing that I'm thinking about unnecessary things again I push all my thoughts to one corner and manage to whisper a "Yes" nodding vigorously.

 He lets out a relieved breath and his sweet chuckles fill the silence between us.

 The next thing I know is the feeling of warm, soft, and wet lips on my own, though a brief one, the kiss felt full of love. 

He pulls away cupping my face with both of his giant hands and wiping away the last of my tears with his thumb. 

He leans in further to place his forehead against mine, "I really don't want to let you go right now" he says huskily moving away with a grin.

 I smile awkwardly with all the blood pooling in my cheeks while fidgeting with the sleeves of my shirt. 

He then fastens my seat belt for me, jogs to the driver's seat, and settles in. We drive in silence to the cafe which is hardly 2 minutes drive from Jan's school.

"I'll pick you up from work, later" He says pulling over at the entrance and reaching for something in the backseat purposely leaning on my side, wriggling his eyebrows, causing me to giggle at his antiques.

 "Here, this is for you...I didn't know how to get your number so I simply bought a model similar to mine and punched my number in. I was told that it's a thing for couples these days" he says while his ears turn red.

Cute!

"I'll let you know when I get off work... thank you Dan" I peck his cheeks blushing hard, and run out of the car at top speed.

 I stop on my trail and turn back to check if he had left, only to find him smiling ear to ear leaning against his car.

'Dammnnn! He's hot! Anddd I'm the one going out with him!!!' I scream internally but manage to play cool and wave a quick goodbye to him, to which I receive a playful wink in reply.

'I guess I can buy something for my Cocopie with my first paycheck after all, since cellphones and a place to stay are already crossed off my list' I think to myself while heading into Emily's Cafe...

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