Lauren Monique
"Elijah get off me" I groan for the fifth time, I've been trying to do some last minute packing but once he woke up he dragged me back to bed and laid flat on top of me. "Papa please get up"
"I don't want you to leave" he mumbles into my neck, tightening his hold on my waist
"I know but I have to, I already said I'd go"
Elijah starts coughing oddly hard, shaking his legs almost child like.
"Babe, I don't feel well you can't leave" he frowns pressing his hand to his forehead "I think I'm coming down with a cold, nurse me back to health"
"There's nothing wrong with you, when I get back we can go on that date you've been telling me about" touching his forehead I chuckle wiggling from under him
"I don't see why you have to help him, I already told you I could have people out there looking for his girlfriend right now so you wouldn't have to leave" he rants laying on his back watching me
"I'll be back in a few days, it's not that deep"
"If it isn't that deep why do you have to go? Why can't someone else help him?" Elijah argues sitting up folding his arms
"Lucas suffers from abandonment anxiety, when we were younger his mom left and never came back two weeks later we found out she was killed in a shoot out between two cops. His dad was never around so he was forced into living with Montana, his cousin. I took an interest in Lucas and wanted to be there for him since I knew first hand how it feels to be alone even when you're surrounded by 'family'. We became closer and whenever someone talked bad about him or his situation I'd be there protecting him and his memories of his mom, he started looking at me as motherly figure after that and I try my best to live up to that title, so going back to New Jersey with him is needed. I want to be there for him" I huff frustrated with him
Checking my bag one last time I zipped it up before going into the bathroom, after washing my face and brushing my teeth I stuffed my toothpaste and toothbrush in my carry on bag.
Glancing at the time I took my bags into the hallway stopping at Lucas' door, knocking a few times I waited before walking in.
"Cody?" I question shaking him a bit as he sleeps soundless in bed
"It's Coly, not Cody" he murmurs turning away from my hand
"I know, you've got thirty minutes before I'm out the door. Your girlfriend isn't going to save herself" pulling his cover down to his waistline I left his room
"Good morning, Lauren I'll take your bags to the truck"
"Goodmorning Benjamin" I grin watching him take my bags down the stairs
Making my way to Delilah's room I opened her door slowly peeking in, Tatum laid over her torso licking his paw.
"Babygirl" I whisper tapping Delilah's shoulder, stirring in her sleep she hums softly
"Tatum" she mumbles flexing her fingers
"Babygirl, wake up" shaking her body gently I sat beside her "please, I want to talk to you before I go"
Tatum gets up stretching meowing loudly, he runs his tail over Delilah's nose causing her to sit up with a frown plastered on her face.
"Thanks T" I chuckle watching him rub his head against Delilah's arm
"Morning Mama" Delilah yawns crawling into my lap
"Hey baby, I'm going to be gone for a few days so you'll be with Elijah and you're new babysitter Tiana"
"No" she shakes her head
"No? What do you mean no?" I question
"Don't go" frowning she shakes her head again
"I have to but I'll be back"
Before she could protest again Elijah comes into the room followed by Benjamin.
"Lucas is waiting for you with his belongings in the truck" Benjamin states before leaving
"No!" Delilah whines hugging me tightly
"I'll call you everyday Dee, be good for your Dad and Tiana okay" I sigh standing up with her wrapped in my arms
"Come back to me?"
"I'll always come back to you, without a doubt" I nod
Nodding to herself she looseness her grip reaching for Elijah as I walked towards him. Taking her with ease he kisses her forehead, walking behind me as I went down stairs to the front door.
"Babe?" he calls
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know how much you two meant to each other"
Sighing I turned around leaning my head against his chest, Delilah runs her tiny fingers through my hair murmuring to herself.
"It's fine, I'll call you when I land" looking up briefly I stood on my top toes kissing Delilah cheek softly "the both of y'all better be on y'all best behavior"
"Where's my kiss?" Elijah ask lifting up my chin with his free hand
"Bend down you giant, I can't reach your lips" I mumble still standing on my top toes, holding onto his shoulder
Normally it's him that kisses me first if we're standing, he'd pick me up or bend down until I was able to reach his lips.
"You need to growth spurt" he chuckles leaning in, claiming my lips as his
"We're wasting time, Hailey doesn't have!" Lucas yells from the SUV in front of us
"I gotta go" hugging both Elijah and Delilah, I move towards the car
"I love you, Babe be safe" Elijah waves
"Me too, bye Mama" Delilah waves leaning against Elijah's chest
***
After washing off my mascara I slid in to bed with a yawn. I have nothing else to do on the plane ride so sleeping is my only option.
I've already tried to hack into the cameras around Hailey's job but it was a dead end, I need to get into it at it's source. Her work place, the cameras around her apartment isn't helpful either. They aren't pointed in the direction I need them to be in.
Heavy breathing and footsteps clog my ears as Lucas stumbles into the room with damp hair and eyes.
"Ma?" Lucas croaks standing in the doorway
"Wassup?" I question, pulling the covers back I gestured for him get in
Slowly he lays beside me on his back, folding his arms while crossing his ankles.
"Do you think she's still alive?"
"Yes I do actually, by the way you've talked about her it seems like she's a fighter. I know she's alive, she has to be"
"It been three weeks almost four, after the first week the police stopped searching for her. They said the chances of her still being alive with slim to nothing. What if we don't find her alive? What if we find her body lifeless?" Lucas rants fisting his hair as tears rolls down his face
"Whatever happens I'm here for you, I'll stay with you as long as you need to me"
"I don't want to lose another person I care about, I don't want to go through that pain again" more tears fell from his eyes as he struggles to control his emotions
"Look at me" I murmur taking his face into my hands, he eyed the headboard above us shaking his head "Lucas, I won't say it again"
Reluctantly his eyes falls into my soft gaze, using my thumbs to wipe his tears away.
"You won't lose her, I swear on my soul. I won't promise that she isn't bruised or injured because I don't know but I'll bring her back to you alive. Just trust me Lu"
". . .alright Ma, I trust you" Lucas nods moving closer, resting his head on my chest he wrapping his arms around me then let's out a deep breath. "can I stay in here with you for a while?"
"Of course" pulling the covers over our bodies, I threw a pillow at the light switch shutting it off. "You can stay as long as you'd like"
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