@Rainy_is_back
"Mm… I think for an hour? Maybe longer…" Laura hummed, holding onto his hand.
"I don't really know." She shrugged a little. Smiling softly, she rocked on her heels with another yawn.
"Mm… I think for an hour? Maybe longer…" Laura hummed, holding onto his hand.
"I don't really know." She shrugged a little. Smiling softly, she rocked on her heels with another yawn.
Ash raised a single eyebrow. That was a pretty long time for her.
"Are you sure you got enough sleep last night?" He asked, voice gentle as he reached over his second hand to rest on her head.
Laura shrugged in response, rubbing at her eyes a little.
"Mm… well, I didn't get out of bed until about an hour ago… I think I was awake longer." She mumbled, glancing at the clock. "I dunno what time I woke up."
Ash held back a frown.
"Well, then, it seems you didn't get quite enough sleep. We can take a nap later, then." He offered a smile.
"But for now, are you hungry?"
"Mm, a little bit, sir…" Laura nodded, tiredly smiling up at him. She kept close to him, tucking loose hair back out of her face.
"What are we making for breakfast?"
"Well, we could have most anything. How do eggs sound?" Ash smiled softly, not minding the girl being close to him.
"Mm, they sound yummy." Laura chirped, yawning again as she followed besides him.
"Do you have to work today, sir?" She asked softly. She looked up at him as she wiped the tears from her yawning.
"I do," Ash said after a moment.
"I'm going to have to wait tables today." Ash offered a small smile. "What would you like to do?"
“Umm… I don’t know, sir. I… I don’t think I can go to school.” Laura mumbled, playing with her hair a little.
“I don’t have my things…”
Ash nodded, thinking to himself.
"Ah… We'll have to buy you some supplies later, then. School is important." Ash lightly put his hand on Laura's shoulder again.
"But I don't want to go to school… I like it here, better." Laura mumbled, kicking at the ground.
"I feel safe here…"
Ash was quiet.
"Well, then we could look into home schooling," he said. "Or online school. How does that sound?" Ash wanted Laura to be able to cope at her own speed with this.
Laura looked up at him, a little bit of surprise on her face. She chewed on her lower lip, looking down to the floor.
"You- but… but what about your job? And… I- I didn't mean to complain, sir… You- I'll be fine." She whispered, feeling bad she had even said anything.
"I can still work, Laura. I don't even have to- I just do it to help out around here. I would much rather help you then serve in the diner." Ash stopped walking for a moment, kneeling down.
Laura stopped, hugging her arms. She rubbed them just slightly, looking down at him.
“Y-you’re sure?” She asked softly, fiddling with her hair. “I- I should be fine… you shouldn’t have to.”
"I'm sure. There's a very, very big difference between having to do something and wanting to. I want to do that, Laura." Ash reached over, gently putting his hand on Laura.
Laura looked up at him with tired eyes, rubbing at one of them just a little.
"You're… you're sure? I- I don't want to make things difficult…" She whispered, dropping her hands down to her sides.
"I'm sure. You're not making things harder with this. If anything, it'll help make things easier." Ash offered a smile, holding his arms out some to offer Laura a hug.
Laura hesitated before going in, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. She continually whispered her gratitude towards him, holding on tightly.
"Thank you so much…" She continued to repeat, holding on tightly.
Ash wrapped his arms securely around Laura, holding the child close.
"You're welcome, baby girl," he said, voice soft. The man picked Laura up, holding her right up next to his chest.
((Okay, but that's just too cute…))
Laura kept holding on to him, hugging him pretty tightly. She kept her face hidden in his shoulder. It felt so good to be in his welcoming embrace.
"Thank you…" She repeated again, pulling back a little. Her face was a light flushed pink.
Ash was gently running his fingers through Laura's hair.
"You're welcome," Ash said softly once more. "I'm glad I can do this for you." Ash wanted to give Laura a home, not just a place to live.
Laura nuzzled up against him, sighing softly. She didn't have anything else to say, just holding on tightly to him. Slowly she started to loosen her hold on him, relaxing in his arms.
With a smile, Ash stood, Laura still in his arms.
"Feeling better?" He asked. "Why don't we go get our breakfast." He hummed softly, patting Laura's back.
Laura nodded a little, resting her chin on his shoulder. She yawned again, rubbing at her eyes as he carried her.
"Yes, thank you, sir…" She whispered again, sitting up in his arms. Studying his face, she hesitantly reached up to touch the ears coming from the top of his head.
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