#toddler!reader

⋆.˚ 𓇼𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃ᨒོ 𓆉

After a stormy night, you’re nuzzled against JJ because a loud thunder had jolted you awake at some point and ended up crawling into his bed in search of the safety he always provides you.

Now you get woken up by a ray of light that shines directly on your face, sitting up with your pacifier almost falling out of your mouth as you let out a squeaky yawn, stretching your short arms and prop yourself up on your knees, turning to see your father still deep asleep, laying on his back with his hair all over the place.

You giggle and move to sit on his chest, poking his cheek. "Daddyyyy." You whine, trying to open his eyelids with your fingers, squealing in surprise when his hands shoot up to tickle your sides, your paci falling out from all the laughing.

"Yeah, didn't expect this huh?" He mocks as he continues to wriggle his fingers at your most ticklish spots.

After both of you are a bit more awake, he scoops you up into his arms, carrying you downstairs and right outside when he sees John B already up as well.

As they stand next to each other JJ nods towards the flags, all of them flapping widely from the wind. The boys give each other a knowing look, excitement growing on their faces as they immediately know what it means.

"We're going to the beach!" JJ cheers, throwing you up in the air one time and effortlessly catches you again, going back inside to wake the others. "Wakey, wakey, everybody! You go and put on your swimsuit, kiddo."

Slowly but surely everybody got out of bed to prepare for the beach, not wanting to pass the chance of a good and well deserved surfing time.

Kie is showing you how to wax your small board properly, John B and Sarah are sitting nearby, and JJ is on his phone. "Yeah, baby, now that's a perfect swell. It's probably the best of the year." He says, putting his phone away to grab his own board.

"Come on. Are you guys seriously surfing today?" Pope questions as he walks past you all.

"Oh don't. Don't." John B warns him.

"As opposed to what?" Kie asks and you join in with cheered 'yeah'.

"Well, I don't wanna sell the million dollars I have in my hand for 50k, so I'm gonna look into this." He explains, holding up the shiny amulet your father and Kie got during their recent dangerous dive.

"Wait. Pope, you just heard me, right? I said it's a perfect swell day, and my kid is finally gonna learn to surf." JJ says, reaching to his right to ruffle your hair as you keep focusing on Kie and the way she waxes your board.

"Yeah, and there'll be other swell days." Pope answers determinedly while the others can't believe what their friend is saying right now.

"That's like saying there's other pizza to eat, all right." JJ complains, putting his board back down to go over to you and tie your hair in a small bun. "Like, c'mon. Are you serious?"

"Listen to your Earth Mother, Pope." Kie tells him, handing you the wax and guides your hand over the board. "She's, like, begging you to surf."

"I think, my Earth Mother is telling me to maximize our Intel." He interjects.

"Mine's telling me to maximize the swell." She responds, patting your head at how good you're doing after she showed you the tricks.

As they all continue to say what they want to maximize and Pope deciding to actually not go with you guys, they start to get everything ready for an amazing trip to the beach.

Now you’re all piled up in the Twinkie, with you sitting on Sarah’s lap in the passenger seat and bounce in excitement at seeing the beach getting closer.

"Look at those waves, cupcake." JJ‘s head pops up beside you, tickling your side to hear you giggle. "Papa's gonna show you all the tricks."

"And make big castle?" You ask excitedly, pressing your hands together.

"Hell yeah!" He cheers, pecking your cheek despite your squeal of protest. "Kie made sure to pack your shovel set."

You clap your hands with a adorable 'yay!' while the others smile at your cuteness. Once John B has found a nice spot to park, JJ steps out of the already open door of the Twinkie, stretching his limps as he gazes out at the ocean before he moves to take you from Sarah and twirls you around.

The moment you’re being set down on the sand, you jump happily, watching your father and your aunts and Uncle B set up their space with chairs, an umbrella, the cooler with some beer and apple juice boxes for you, and most importantly your beach toy set.

JJ ruffles your hair as you plop down on the ground, watching you fill a bucket full with sand before announcing. "Let’s get those boards off!"

"Oh boy." John B observe three jeeps coming closer their way, no doubt that inside those are the least people that they want to see today.

Just as the pogues assume, Topper and the rest of the kooks stop their vehicles right beside them with only a few feet of distance separating them.

"Oh, you’re joking. Of course they stop here." Kiara complains, the others just as annoyed at the clear provocation. "Why wouldn’t they? When there’s an entire beach."

You watch the kooks making themselves comfortable, seeing a few of the girls looking at you before laughing to each other and let out a huff, shoveling more sand into your bucket.

"Kie, don’t worry." JJ assures her as he starts to loosen the boards from on top of the Twinkie, specifically talking about Rafe. "He ain’t getting near you. I guarantee that. Hey, y’all. John B. Sunshine’s coming. What do you think he wants?" He nods towards Topper approaching you guys.

As John B shifts to meet him you whine for him in concern, standing up on your knees. "Bee…"

"Be right back, bubba. Don’t worry. Your uncle B got this." He winks at you, turning to walk towards Topper.

JJ then comes to crouch beside you and before you can react, he starts to smear your face with sun-cream as you sputter in surprise, whining again. "Yeah, yeah. I know, I’m mean. The less you squirm the faster I’m done, kiddo." When he’s eventually done tormenting you, he pats your head apologetically. "For disclaimer, Sarah forced me to do this."

"It’s for protection!" Sarah defends herself with a smile, her board tucked under her arm.

Your father chuckles, meeting your cute little glare. "Wipe this look of your face and follow your old man." He says and lets your small board drop in front of you, adding teasingly. "Unless you’re scared?"

You gasp out in outrage, quickly getting up to your feet and pick the board up from the ground with determination. "I surf! Like daddy!"

"That’s what we like to hear. Whoo!" JJ cheers, wrapping the surfboard leash around your ankle before grabbing his own board. "Let’s hit 'em waves!"

You’ve been spending some time in the water now, the pogues taking turns in staying close with you while the others surf, each of them giving you their own advice for your first wave but JJ is definitely gonna be the one to help you with it.

That’s how he finds himself in the more shallow water with you, keeping a hold on you as you try to balance on the board.

"Just like that. Okay, remember, it’s okay if you fall off. Don’t panic if you do. I’m gonna be right there then, okay? Just keep looking at uncle B over there on the beach. He’s gonna be there to catch you." JJ assures you, looking for the perfect wave for you and when it’s finally time he smiles at you. "Alright! There it is, baby. You got this!"

You squeal the second he lets go off you, keeping your arms up in an airplane motion as the wave takes you towards John B.

The distance wasn’t so far obviously and the wave not that high but JJ still cheers loudly with pride behind you. He’s been waiting for this moment ever since you were born and he can feel a single tear sliding down his cheek, blaming it at the saltwater.

John B lifts you off the board once you’re close enough and hoists you onto his shoulders in one smooth motion, taking off the surfboard leash from around your ankle and then holds your hands in his as he dances with you on the beach while the others rush out of the water to you both.

You smile widely as JJ takes you from John B, placing your tiny hands against his wet cheeks and giggle loudly. "Daddy you see me? I surf!"

"Yes! I’m so proud of you!" He tells you honestly, resting his forehead against yours with a laugh. "My tough little cupcake."

Some time later, the sun is getting lower and your once excited self is slowly getting tired, now seated in JJ‘s beach chair with a light sweater covering you as you sip your juice box.

"She’s all tuckered out." Kiara comments with a soft smile, helping JJ lift the last board on the Twinkie.

"You bet she is." He chuckles, taking a glance at you who’s trying to hide a yawn. "10 bucks she’ll conk out the second she’s in the van."

Kiara suddenly gasps. "Guys, there’s a turtle hatch!"

"What?" JJ fastens the board, turning to where she runs off to and smiles when he sees the turtles start to reveal themselves, calling out to you. "Come here. Take a look at those babies."

You quickly toddle over to him, taking his outstretched hand and look to where’s he’s pointing at, gasping at seeing the small turtles. "Ohh, turtles!"

JJ crouches behind you, keeping an arm around your body to keep you from getting to close. "Look at them go."

"Wook. No touchy!" You remember Kiara telling you once when you watched a documentary with her about turtles.

"That’s right, kiddo." Your father rubs your belly and Kiara gives you a proud look. "But we can make them a path to the water! Come on, guys."

"Yeah, yeah! Let’s go." John B agrees, him and Sarah already getting to work.

You help where you can, careful of giving the turtles enough space and don’t touch any with all the restraint you have on yourself even though it’s very tempting, kneeling beside JJ with a big smile on your face.

"Hey, stop! There’s a hatch!" You hear aunt Kie yell out at one point and lift your head from where you’re smoothing out the sand.

One of the kooks jeeps is driving directly towards you and the pogues, all of them starting to scream at them to stop in a desperate attempt to protect the freshly hatched turtles.

As the jeep keeps on picking up speed, JJ realizes that they are not going to stop and quickly snatches you off the ground to jump to the side just as the vehicle rushes past you all.

His hold on you is tight, keeping you pressed against him as the shock runs through his body, murmuring into your ear. "I got you…you’re okay. You’re okay-" He chokes, feeling you tremble in his arms.

He turns to the others, making sure his friends and girlfriend are alright as well. "You guys okay?"

"I’m fine." Kiara mutters furiously.

You feel John B place his hand on the back of your head, giving you and JJ a once-over. "You both alright?"

"We’re good." JJ exhales, trying to get a look of your face but you keep it tucked into his neck, sniffling softly.

They barley have a moment to breath as the jeep turns and barrels towards them a second time, but JJ stays off to the side this time for your protection alone while the others still try to stop the jeep. He sure as hell ain’t gonna let something happen to his kid.

When you hear the loud engine drive past again and eventually become quieter, you finally lift your head, your bottom lip wobbling as JJ approaches Kiara, who’s now covered in some kind of liquid and panting softly.

You can hear the kooks laugh and cheer in the distance, your grip on JJ‘s shirt tightening further as you cry quietly and watch Kie pick up one of turtles with trembling hands.

It’s shell is cracked and you whimper when you don’t see it moving anymore but your father is quick to hush you, turning his body slightly so you can’t see it. "Shh, don’t look, baby. Papa’s got you. It’s okay."

"Stay here." Kiara says firmly, marching off towards the kooks and JJ's eyes widen.

"Kie. Kie, wait- damn. John B, take her for a moment." JJ tries to hand you over to him but you whimper again.

"No! Don' go, daddy!" You cry out, holding onto him with all the strength you’ve still got, not wanting to let him go with how scared you are. "Pwease…no go."

JJ sighs, contemplating with himself on what to do. He obviously wants to make sure his girlfriend is alright when confronting the kooks, but he also can’t just hand you off when you are so distraught.

"I’ll go with Kie." John B then offers, patting his shoulder. "You stay with your kid."

"Thanks man." JJ nods, watching John B walk off to catch up with Kiara before he turns his attention back to you, bouncing you gently. "Hey…dry those tears. I’m not gonna leave you."

You sniffle again, letting him wipe the tears of your cheeks and hiccup as he presses a soft kiss against one of them before nuzzling your face back into the crook of his neck, murmuring sadly. "Wanna go home…"

"We'll go home soon, promise." He assures you, walking over to the Twinkie and takes a seat inside it, taking the pacifier and your shark plushie from Sarah when she holds them out to him after fishing them out of your small bag.

JJ slips the paci into your mouth and tucks the shark under your arm, shifting you in his arms so he’s cradling you like a baby, starting to rock his upper body to soothe you.

"Shh, shh." He hushes you softly, exchanging a somber smile with Sarah as he rubs your back comfortably.

You’re so emotionally exhausted that you don’t even fight the way your eyelids start to flutter shut and JJ clenches his jaw at how this once amazing day turned into this just because of those damn kooks yet again, it’s always them ruining everything.

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

"Where JJ?" You ask once you arrive back home, having stayed with Kiara’s parents for the last days when JJ realized that you being around him and the pogues is too dangerous ever since Groff seemed to be after him, so he decided it’s the best for you to stay at the Carrera's for the time being until everything has settled down.

Now it’s on the pogues to tell you the reason why JJ isn’t here with them. John B shares a glance with the others before kneeling down in front of you, taking a deep breath as he forces himself to keep eye contact with you.

"Listen, Y/N. JJ…he’s not coming back. He- He’s up there now. He’s with the stars." He manages to get out, pointing up at sky, his heart breaking at the confused look on your face.

"Why?" You frown, not understanding the meaning of his words. Why is your brother not coming back? Why is he staying with the stars? "He say he back soon. He promised. He come back."

"Kiddo, I-i know it’s hard to understand but- jesus." He cuts himself off, looking away when he feels his eyes begin to water and Sarah comes to kneel beside him, placing her hand on his arm as her other grabs your tiny one.

"What John B is trying to say is…JJ passed away, sweetie. He won’t- he can’t come back from where he is now." Sarah tries to explain to you softly, a single tear rolling down her face as she watches you process her words.

You pull your hand back from her, looking over at Cleo and Pope who also have solemn expressions on their faces, only now starting to comprehend that JJ really won’t come back to you, and yet you stubbornly shake your head.

"No…" You whimper sadly, your own eyes filling with tears even though you don’t completely know why. "No. He pwomised."

The moment your face scrunches up, John B reaches out to pull you into his arms, holding you against him as your body sags against his in defeat and starts to shake with sobs, murmuring to you. "I know, bubba. Just let it out. We’ve got you."

You cling onto his shirt while the tears keep flowing down your cheeks, your sobs getting louder until you feel all of the pogues gather around you and John B, forming a hug-circle with you in the middle, each of them sharing your pain and desperately wish they could take it away from you.

The coming days have been more than challenging. The pogues trying to figure out how to find Groff, how to keep their shop running, grieving the loss of their beloved friend, while also taking care of you and keep watch on how you’re handling the whole situation.

You have no mother, your father is nowhere to be found, and now your brother is gone as well. There’s no family left. You’re all alone, at least that’s how it feels to you. You’ve got the pogues, yes, but it still doesn’t change the fact that you’re the only maybank left on this island, and the only person who always managed to make you smile with joy or make you feel better when you are sad was JJ.

John B knocks on the door to JJ's room, which you haven’t necessarily left since finding out about his death, sitting on his bed and coloring on blank sheets with your teddy propped up next to you that now wears one of JJ's bead bracelets as a necklace.

"Y/N?" John B calls out before opening the door slowly, finding you in the same position as earlier this day. "Hey, you wanna come join us outside for a bit? We set up a fire and Kie got some marshmallows just for you."

You hesitate for a moment, but then shake your head as you keep on scribbling away on the piece of paper, wiping your nose with a sniff.

"You sure? It might be fun." He tries again to convince you, only receiving another shake of your head, making him sigh. "Okay, we’re downstairs if you need anything."

He closes the door softly, getting back outside where the others are sitting around a small fire, and surprisingly Rafe is there as well since him and Sarah are trying to fix their relationship after what happened in morocco, all of them still getting used to him being around more frequently.

Sarah sits up hopefully when she sees John B coming out again. "And?"

"No chance." He exhales, sitting down beside her and picks up his beer can. "She didn’t even look at me. I’m getting real worried about her. I want to help her but I don’t know how."

Rafe then speaks up. "Give her space. She needs to sort out her feelings on her own pace."

"I’m sorry, but you are the last person to give any kind of therapy advice right now." Pope remarks, making the others chuckle while Rafe clenches his jaw, taking a sip from his beer.

"I’m just saying, don’t crowd her. She’ll come to you when she’s ready. Just give her time." He says just as the screen door opens, making all of them turn their head to see you standing there.

You stand there, unsure what to do and play with the arm of your bear, suddenly feeling shy with all the eyes on you. "Can…can I has some mallows?"

Each of the pogues chest feels lighter the second you mumble out those words, all of them starting to smile while John B beckons you over to him.

"Sure thing, kiddo. Hop on." He pats his lap, lifting you onto it with an exasperated 'whoosh' once you’re close enough and makes sure you’re comfortable before grabbing a carved branch to stick a marshmallow onto it, helping you hold it over the fire.

A small giggle escapes you when the fire makes a rather loud pop. As the others fall back into their conversations, Rafe's gaze keeps drifting back to you, watching the way Sarah talks with you or helps you not to burn yourself on the heated marshmallows.

The way you still resemble JJ in some way is fascinating, even though you’re not actually related by blood as they all found out a while ago, there is no denying that you are JJ Maybank's little sister in the way you talk and represent yourself.

Rafe can imagine the emptiness you are experiencing right now, after losing his mother at a young age he hasn’t been the same anymore, and now he also lost his father a while back, yet he still has his sisters even when his relationship to them isn’t the best at the moment, he’s trying to do better and appreciate the bit of family he has left, which is something you can only dream of now.

It’s then when he remembers that Sarah is only still alive because JJ saved her from drowning on their way to morocco, and no one was able to save your brother from his fate, the person who basically raised you is gone and you’re left not knowing what will happen next whenever you go to sleep.

The following days you’ve started to come out of your shell bit by bit, more often showing signs of your old self again much to everyone’s relief. There are still days where you miss JJ immensely and will cry out for him after having a nightmare, but the pogues and John B in particular are always there to hold you when you need it.

It’s one morning where you are helping the others prepare breakfast, everything feeling alright for once as you’re balanced on John B's hip while he’s finishing up some pancakes, bobbing his head to the music that Kie put on, who’s setting up the table together with Sarah.

"Uh, guys, Shoupe just pulled up in his truck." Cleo observes as she looks out the window, all of them taking a look outside and truth to be told it really is Sheriff Shoupe climbing out of his truck together with two other officers and a lady getting out of a black car parked behind him.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Pope states, each of them sharing a worried look before making their way outside, John B tightening his hold on you as Shoupe and the lady approach you both with serious expressions.

"First off all, I heard what happened and I’m sorry for your loss, really, I am." Shoupe starts, giving you a sad nod before letting out a sigh as if he’s sorry for what he’s about to say next, waving his hand towards the woman next to him. "This is Mrs. Attwell. She’s from the child protection service on the mainland and has something to tell you."

John B and Sarah already look at each other alarmed. They have a real damn problem now. CPS showing up can only mean one thing and that’s what all of them have feared the whole time.

"Hello everyone, I’m sure you can imagine why I’m here today." She starts, professionally friendly but it still has the pogues on edge as she opens a folder. "We’ve come to conclusion that the father of Y/N Maybank is currently on the run and her Mother's location is still unknown, and that her brother who has been taking care of her all this time being also seemed to have lied about their father being present, has now sadly passed away. It means that there’s currently no legal guardian for her who can take of her."

"We are taking care of her. She is just fine with us." John B says defensively, subtly turning his body to shield you as he can already imagine what’s about to happen and he doesn’t know how to prevent it.

"With all due respect, Mr. Routledge. You are all teenagers with no stable income and given your current situation you can’t offer a child that young the correct environment. I’m sorry, but we will have to take Y/N with us for now." Mrs. Attwell explains to them calmly, reaching out to take you from John B's arms.

You instantly tense up, grasping his shirt tightly in your hands as you look at him with wide eyes, practically begging with them to not let the take you. "Bee, no take me!"

"No, ain’t no way this happening. She’s healthy. She’s happy. You will only traumatize her further!" John B holds you protectively, his eyes widening when the two officers step closer.

"I’m afraid we don’t have a choice in this matter." Mrs. Attwell says, grabbing you from under the armpits while one of the officers holds John B back, the other stepping in front of Pope when he tries to intervene.

You writhe in the lady’s hold, screaming out. "No! Bee! Don' wanna go!"

All the pogues protest and try to negotiate with Shoupe but he’s also just doing his job, even when it’s breaking his heart to hear a child cry out like this.

Just as Mrs. Attwell is about to carry you to her car, another vehicle stops abruptly behind hers, a familiar person getting out quickly.

"Hey! Can you explain to me why the hell you are handling the kid and this whole situation like that?" Rafe demands as he strides over to stand in front of her, holding a folder in one hand.

Sarah and the rest are utterly confused on his sudden appearance. "Rafe?"

"And who are you, sir?" Mrs. Attwell questions, trying to keep a good grip on you as you wriggle in her arms.

"Rafe Cameron, legal guardian to the child that you are trying to force into your car and that since…" Rafe states as he looks at his watch. "8am. So, unless you want my lawyer to contact you, I suggest you let the kid down. Now."

"I’m sorry, but I can’t just hand a child over with no-" She protests when Rafe suddenly holds the folder out to her.

"Here’s is everything you need. I’ll happily read it to you out loud if her squirming is too much for you to handle, ma'am." He says with a smug expression on his face as she eventually sets you down to take the papers.

You immediately take the chance to run and hide behind Rafe’s legs, holding onto the fabric of his pants desperately while Mrs. Attwell goes through the folder, her once confident appearance slowly fading as she finishes reading.

Rafe speaks up when she looks up at him again. "You should try communicating with your superiors before going to traumatize children."

"My apologies, Mr. Cameron. I think we’re done here." She mutters, motioning to Shoupe that they can also leave before walking past Rafe towards her car.

Rafe mockingly waves her goodbye, his other hand subconsciously reaching behind him to place it on your head to soothe you, turning his head towards Shoupe when he comes to stand beside him and eyes him warily.

"I’ll keep an eye on you, boy." The sheriff warns him, giving you a apologetic look and motions the officers to follow him, marching back off to the truck.

"Do what you can’t help doing, Shoupe." Rafe calls after him, watching the police truck peel away before turning his attention to you. "You a'ight?"

You sniffle, wiping your face as you nod your head. "Fank you…"

Rafe didn’t even get a chance to respond when all the pogues come running to check on you. You basically barrel into John B's outstretched arms, wrapping your own around his neck as he lifts you up.

Sarah, turns to her brother skeptically. "How in the world did you convince them to let you take in a child? And why did you in the first place?"

He only shrugs nonchalantly. "I have good connections, mind you. I just didn’t want her to end up in several foster families and be taken from where she belongs. It’s not her fault for what happened, and I have the necessities for CPS to stay away for now."

Nobody questions it further, they are just relieved to have you back in their arms, giving Rafe an appreciating nod.

Once back inside and after breakfast, you are now in your room which looks more like a guest room rather one like it belongs to a child, watching from your bed how Sarah and Kie pack a suitcase for you with Rafe leaning against the doorway.

"Why can’t I s'eep here?" You ask sadly at some point.

"I don’t mind you sleeping here from time to time, but the people who the lady earlier works for will keep an eye on how I take care of you for the next weeks and if they make a visit and see you’re not with me, they will take you away for good." Rafe explains the situation to you, knowing that you’re confused on why you have to go with him now.

"But hey…it’s not too bad, sweetheart." Sarah tries to light up your mood. "You’re still near us and can visit us often, or we will come and see you. Rafe has a nice house where you will have lots of space and he even has a swimming pool. You will have it real nice there, I promise."

You purse your lip in thought. It does sound nice, but it still means leaving the pogues who you have been growing up with since you can remember, even if its not far away. "I gonna miss you..."

"Oh Y/N/N, we will miss you too." Sarah coos, pulling you into a hug. "I'll make sure that we come to visit you regularly and you can call us whenever you want! Right Rafe?" She looks at him expectantly.

"Of course. I'll look that we come over as much as possible as well." He says, looking at his watch. "We gotta go soon if you still want to decorate your room."

"Decorate? Make pretty?" Your eyes almost light up at his words. "All colors, like rainbow?"

"Yeah, sure, you can have it however you like, kid." He assures you, grabbing the suitcase when Kie holds it out to him.

Now its time to say goodbye to the pogues, well not exactly but still, you have to leave them for now, giving each of them a nice long hug, especially John B.

"Luv you bee..." You mumble into his neck, hugging him tightly.

"I love you more, bubba. We will see each other again soon enough. Be good for me, yeah?" He smiles at you, ruffling your hair as he helps you on the backseat of Rafe's car, buckling your seatbelt for you.

You give him a small smile back, holding onto his hand for a moment longer before letting it slip away from your grasp, waving him and the others as Rafe closes the car door.

He turns to face John b, both of them looking at each other seriously when John B speaks up again. "If she ever tells me something shady or if anything happens to her, I will come for your ass and bury you alive."

"You really think I would've gone through all those damn papers for a bad intend? I just stopped them from dragging her away. You're welcome by the way." Rafe counters back, walking around the car to get into the drivers seat.

The pogues are left to watch Rafe drive off with you, happy that you aren't dragged away towards the mainland, but also on edge that you are now under the care of Rafe freaking Cameron of all people.

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

Its been over a week now ever since Rafe took you in. It has been fun so far. You have your own room that's twice as big as your old one and decorated to your hearts desire, with rainbow designs, a cloud like looking carpet, a canopy bed that's filled with stuffed animals, every toy one could think off. Lets just say that Rafe really went over the top just for you to feel comfortable in your new environment.

The swimming pool has to be your favorite thing so far. Its always the perfect temperature, the water so clear and clean that you could spend hours just looking at your feet or the design on the bottom of the pool while swimming around in your floaties.

Rafe, for his part, doesn't leave you out of his sight longer than necessary. His only experience with children having been years ago when Whezzie was this small, so all this caring for a tiny human is also a challenge for him because he has to behave differently around as well, given the fact that a child needs lots of assurance and attention —plus you're still grieving JJ.

The pogues keep their promise and visit you randomly or come over when you ask them too, always asking how you're doing and if Rafe is being nice to you, to which you nod enthusiastically before showing them all the drawings you made and beg them to go into the swimming pool with you next so you can show them your 'tricks'.

John B has come to the conclusion that this is exactly what you needed, a nice new place to explore the whole time that you don’t think so much about JJ all the time and this is just the right distraction for you, and Rafe has a big part in it as well.

One evening, after taking your bath and brushing your teeth, you’re now getting tucked into bed by Rafe after another eventful day, snuggling into the sheets as you grip your teddy close.

"All comfy?" He asks rather softly, a completely new side of him that you seemed to have unlocked much to everyone’s surprise.

You nod, fiddling with the bracelet around your bears neck before asking quietly. "Rafey, why you takin' care of me now?"

Rafe freezes for a moment, taking a deep breath as he scratches at his eyebrow. "Uhm, I- you see. When I was on the way to morocco with the pogues, there was a big storm one night and the boat was being swayed from left to right. Sarah…she got swept off deck at some point by a big wave. JJ jumped in after her without hesitation and saved her life and that of her unborn baby that night. Your brother saved my sister and…I think it’s only fair that I save his own from being taken away from her real family."

"I miss him lots…" You murmur sadly, sniffling once as you sit up again on the mattress.

"I know you do. A part of you will always miss him, and that’s okay." He reassures you, reaching out to cradle the back of your head, scratching lightly over your still slightly damp hair. "It’s gonna get easier, believe me. I’ve been through it too."

You nod your head, letting him wipe away a stray tear from under your eye and let out a yawn. "M'kay…nigh' nigh', rafey."

"Goodnight, kid…" Rafe gently pats your head, waiting for you to lay back down and turns on your nightlight before standing up to leave, letting the door open a little bit in case you wake up from a nightmare again.