"There's more to being king than getting your way all the time."

"There's more?"

Mufasa chuckles, turning away, "Simba!"

I giggle, nibbling on my animal cracker happily as I watch The Lion King on my living room couch.

I love this show, all those cute little baby animals-

"You're eating Simba."

Gasping in horror, my head snaps towards my brother who sits beside me with a contented expression. "Hayden!"

He laughs evilly, pointing to the cracker in my fingers, "Look, you just bit his legs off."

Worriedly, I look down at the cracker in my hands, which is, in fact, a lion.

Screaming in horror, I drop the piece of goodness, disliking myself immensely for hurting poor Simba. Tears well in my eyes and my head snaps towards the doorway as River bursts through, looking frantic.

My parents wanted to talk to him alone, so Hayden and I decided to watch a movie while they spoke in the kitchen.

Now his worried eyes land on me and he rushes over. "Angel!"

As soon as he kneels before me, glancing over my body, looking for any damage I might have received in the fifteen minutes he's been gone, I wrap my arms around his neck. "I hurt Simba."

His gaze follows my finger to where a half of Sima lies on the brown carpet. "That's a cracker."

"B -but what if it's like a voodoo doll?! What if I actually bit off Simba's legs?!"

"Who told you this," he asks, holding me to his chest and brushing his fingers soothingly through my hair.

"H -Hayden," I reply shakily, burying my face in his hard chest.

"Hayden!" River sounds mad, addressing my brother who rolls his eyes indifferently.

"Cry baby," he mutters grumpily.

River growls angrily, scooping me up into his strong arms. "You didn't hurt Simba, baby. Hayden's just being a b- meanie."

"Are you sure," I ask, worried, but trusting him.

"Yes. Don't worry about it," he sits on the couch, cradling me in his lap.

Noticing my parents standing in the doorway, I smile at them, no longer concerned. "Hi."

"Hi, honey bunches," Dad smiles slightly, sending a sharp look at River. "Your mother and I have decided to let you continue seeing River."

Squealing excitedly, I bounce on River's lap, who hisses as if in pain. "Yes! River I can still see you! Did you hear?"

River chuckles down at me, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. "Yes, baby, I heard." The releif sparkling in his eyes make me feel releived too.

"Remember our agreement, River," Dad adds threateningly before he and Mom return to the kitchen.

We relax back into the couch and continue watching the movie.

°•°•°•°

"Bye, River," I jump into his arms, hugging him as tight as I can. "Come back soon."

He returns my hug, burying his face in my hair. "Okay, baby. Call me if you need anything."

Earlier, he wrote his phone number on my arm and told me to memorize it.

Smiling, I nod in agreement. "I love you."

He shivers, his voice becoming husky, "I could never get tired of you saying that, Angel."

"Alright! Alright! Break it up," Hayden forces himself into our conversation.

Hesitantly, River places me on my feet, his beautiful eyes holding concern. "If you need anything," he repeats, emphasising his point, "If you're having trouble sleeping. Or if your shoulder hurts, or your stomach. Or even if you just miss me."

"Okay," I agree, beginning to grow anxious of his departure. I don't want him to go. I've become so accustomed to his company, the fact that he won't be there has me frightened.

Glancing behind me, he looks at my family with pleading eyes. "Please take care of her," he practically begs them, his hand twitching, as if to touch me.

"Of course," scoffs Hayden, sounding offended. However, I can't seem to tear my gaze away from River long enough to check.

Reluctantly, he opens the front door, glancing at me worriedly before he leaves, closing it tightly behind him.

My stomach sinks with dread and I nibble nervously on my lip as I stare longingly at the door. I wish he would just come back. Last time he left me, I nearly got kidnapped.

Shaking, I cast a quick glance towards my curious family.

Hayden frowns, worried, "Are you okay, Thia?"

Skittishly, I once again look towards the closed door. "What if he gets hurt? Do you think he'll get shot, too? Hayden, I don't want him hurt!" I start freaking out, instinctively reaching for the brass knob.

"What the hell, Thee?" Hayden storms up to me and pulls me away from the door, turning me to face his confused/angry expression. "What is your problem?!"

Despite knowing that Hayden wouldn't hurt me, I feel my nose tingle with tears. Already, I feel insecure and unsafe, yet he hasn't been gone for two minutes yet. What if I get shot again, but this time he won't be here to save me? What if I'm kidnapped and I never see him again?!

"Can't I just go with him," I ask shakily, sniffing as I look at the ground. For some reason, I feel like I've disappointed them for wanting to go.

Hayden shakes me, sounding frustrated, "Snap out of it! What the f**k has he done to you?! This must be some kind of stockholm syndrome!"

River always messed up the word 'truck' too...

Before my brother can shake me again, Mom takes me from his arms and hugs me tightly. "Don't worry, honey. He'll be fine, and so will you."

Will I?

"Come on, let's go watch a movie," she exclaims excitedly, pulling me towards the living room. 

She successfully distracts me for a few hours and I only miss him every few minutes instead of constantly.

However, when I go to bed, there is nothing to ease the feeling of abandonment. 

Laying there, I stare up at the ceiling as tears fill my eyes and blur my vision. Fearfully, I clutch my duvet in my shaking hands. I can't seem to close my eyes without seeing those two men pointing guns at me.

I miss him so much. I just want him to hold me again, I hate feeling unsafe like this.

Eventually, though, I manage to drift off into a restless sleep.

Cold hands grasp my arms, yanking me out of bed. My feet hit the floor with a thump, waking me up entirely.

Terrified, I look up at the two men that tried to kidnap me before. They simultaneously sneer at me before looking ahead. Following their gaze, I see the empty doorway where River previously ran in and rescued me.

But this time, I realize in horror, I am alone.

My River won't save me because he doesn't know, he doesn't know because he isn't here.

Tears fill my eyes, but suddenly the world shifts and I look around the alley in confusion. "River?!"

I begin walking, in search of some clue as to where I am. Before I get too far, I trip over a large object and land face-first on the pavement.

I sit up, rubbing my forehead as I glance at the object.

A scream tears through my throat and I stare at the dead body, terrified.

"RIVER!"

I sit up, gasping desperately for air as tears run down my cheeks. Immediately, I reach over to the night stand beside my bed where the portable home phone lies. 

Grasping at it desperately, I shakily type in the number that I miraculously memorized despite my lack of memorization skills. Shakily, I hold it up to my ear, praying that he is okay.

After four rings, his voice fills my ear, sounding like music, "Who is it?"

I start sobbing as relief rushes through me, he's okay!

"Angel?!" He sounds worried, why would he be worried? "Baby, are you okay?!"

"I--I miss you," I sob quietly, biting my lip.

"F**k! Sh--sh*t! Shh, don't worry angel," he sounds shaken as well, but nevertheless, his voice soothes me a bit. "Do you want me to come?"

"River, are you okay," I ask weakly, praying that he's not hurt.

His heavy breathing fills my ear, leading me to believe that he is panting. 

What if he's panting because he's in pain?!

Gasping in horror, I stumble out of my bed, nearly tripping and falling to the floor. "River! Oh, no! Keep the doors locked, don't let it come inside! It will hurt you more! Don't worry! I'm coming to protect you! Stay inside and I'll kill it for you! Make Caleb fix you, but try to ignore his cold hands! I'm on my way!"

Frantically, I burst from my bedroom and start sprinting down the hall, towards the staircase. If that creature eats him, I don't know what I'll do!

"Angel? What--no! Stay inside! Don't leave the bloody house, you ridiculous girl!"

Halting at the top of the dark staircase, I frown in confusion, adrenaline pumping through my veins. "But you're hurt..."

"No, I'm not. Don't worry about me, I'm perfectly fine. Now, do you want me to come over?"

"But what about the pterodactyl?"

He heaves a heavy sigh, sounding a bit dreamy, "D*mn, you're so f**king adorable. No, baby, there are no pterodactyls outside. Please just stay inside your bedroom, okay?"

Slowly, I comply, turning and walking towards the bedroom. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sweetheart, very sure. Now, will you answer my question?"

Walking inside my room, I close the door behind me and go sit on the bed. "Yes."

"Why on Earth were you crying when you called me?"

Tears tickle my nose again at the memory of the horrible dream. "I had a--a nightmare," I whisper, my hands already trembling again.

He groans, "Aw, baby. I'm coming over, okay?"

Sniffing tearfully, I reply, "Okay."

"Stay on the phone for me, Angel," he orders gently, making my tummy heat up. "I'm on my way, I'll be there in a few minutes." I hear him closing a car door and excitement bubbles within me, scaring away the tears.

"Everyone else is asleep," I inform him softly, remembering when I ran outside my bedroom and all the lights were off. "Shall I meet you at the front door?"

"No, you stay in your bedroom, I don't want you tripping in the dark and hurting yourself. I'll climb through your window, is that okay?"

"Yes. But please don't fall, okay? You could get ouchies." I don't want him getting hurt either.

"Yes, Miss Thia," she chuckles huskily, making me grin too. After a few minutes of listening to his steady breathing, he whispers softly, "I'm here baby, will you open the window?"

I jump to my feet giddily and run to the window, sliding it open. Outside my window, on the big oaktree branch, sits a grinning River. 

Quickly hanging up the phone, I set it to the side and wait impatiently for him to get inside. When he does, I immediately jump into his big strong arms and wrap my legs around his waist like a monkey. "I missed you!"

Chuckling softly, he hugs me tightly, burying his face in my hair. "I missed you too, Angel. I couldn't sleep without you in my arms, you know."

My face heats up and I giggle into his hard chest. Apparently, we've been having the same problem.

"Are you tired, Sweetheart," he murmurs sweetly into my ear, sending goosebumps across my skin.

Instead of processing his answer, I snuggle closer, a yawn falling from my mouth. My lids feel heavy, but I don't want to sleep. I don't want to miss a second with him, in case he leaves. "I love you," I mew drowsily, fighting off sleep.

His hot breath on my neck is like a lullaby, and his big, warm arms are like a blanket. "I love you more," he sighs contentedly, walking towards my bed. Laying down, he cuddles me close and wraps the duvet around me snugly.

And eventually, my battle with sleep is lost, as I gradually drift off into oblivion.