"He knew he loved her when 'home' went from being a place to being a person."

~E.Leventhal~

voice broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over the two.

Somewhere between suffocating hugs and calming touches, the couple had made it to Freya's bed where Falcon had wrapped himself protectively around the tiny girl. His heart began beating a little faster, a nagging question lying on the edge of his tongue.

In the time it took for Freya to respond, Falcon had backed out of his decision. It was too early, he had to remind himself. Slow and steady wins the race.

It made him agitated just thinking about it. He just wanted her to be his already.

Freya hummed in response, urging him to go on, but Falcon didn't. Her brown eyes cracked open, sleepily gazing up at his structured face. 

"Wha's wrong?" She slurred as her eyes fluttered shut again. She scooted closer to Falcon, letting out a breath as she rubbed her cheek on his chest.

Falcon ran his fingers through her red hair, eliciting content hums from the girl in his arms.

"Nothing, sweetheart," He whispered, pressing a kiss to her head for reassurance. 

Freya let out a muffled noise, somewhere between a whine of protest and a yawn. Falcon's stomach constricted with a short laugh.

"Go to sleep, baby," He said softly. "It's been a long day."

Freya didn't respond again as her breathing levelled out and little whistles began to erupt from her half-closed lips. Falcon couldn't help but leave a feather-light kiss on the tip of her nose, grinning as she subconsciously scrunched up her face.

Soon, He promised himself. She'd be his soon.

The creaking of the bedroom door woke Falcon from his sleep, his heart beat escalating until he remembered where he was. He held Freya tighter to his chest, the noise forgotten until it sounded again, causing Falcon to shoot up in bed.

Freya made a whimper of protest, but continued sleeping as Falcon began to slip out of the bed. With on leg settled on the ground, the bedroom door pushed open fully, and Falcon cursed under his breath.

"Anders," Penn stood at the door, arms crossed over his chest. "What a surprise to see you here."

Falcon rolled his eyes at Penn's sarcastic tone, his pulse calming as realised it wasn't Freya's father.

"What are you doing here, Harris?" Falcon asked gruffly.

A smug smile stretched across Penn's face as he took a step inside the room.

"Her father called me," He said haughtily. "Said the little princess was sick and I should come over with some of Ma's soup."

He wiggled the container in his hand as Falcon let out an amused snort even as his blood began to boil at the nickname.

"Well she's not," Falcon stated. "So, leave."

Penn's grin grew wider as he tsked, taking another step further into the room.

"Ah, but you see, I was actually invited to be here," He chuckled. "You? You're not welcome in this home. All I have to do is go downstairs and alert Mr. Karol to your presence and, well, you'll be fucked."

Falcon let out a laugh, standing up from the bed as he crossed his arms over his chest, rubbing a hand across his mouth before cupping his chin in his palm. He smiled as he tapped a finger on his mouth in thought.

"Do you actually think I'm scared of you?" He let out another breathy chuckle.

Punching the fucker and being done with it was sounding more and more appealing as time went on.

"Ask yourself that again once you've been banned from seeing her," Penn smirked.

Falcon just grinned.

"I already have," He tilted his head to the side, studying Penn's smaller form. "So, do you honestly that would stop me?"

"It will once he calls your little homestay family," Penn smirked as Falcon's face went blank. "Where was it you spent the last five years?"

Falcon's fists balled at his sides as he clenched his jaw, glaring daggers at Penn's smug face.

"A little place called juvie, perhaps?" Penn grinned. "All someone has to do is stage a little scene and then, off you go again, back to where you belong."

Falcon lunged at the boy, shoving him against the wall with his forearm pressed to his neck as he held down one of Penn's hand with his other arm. A gargled laugh made its way out of Penn's mouth as he scratched at Falcon's arm.

"You've got no idea what the fuck you're talking about," Falcon growled.

"Doesn't matter," Penn choked with a smile. "I can still get you sent back."

Falcon released him slightly only to slam him back in the wall. Penn groaned as his head collided with the thick wood.

"Keep going," He coughed as the blood drained from his face. "You're just giving me more shit against you."

Falcon dug his forearm harder into Penn's windpipe, growling as his scratching became desperate. With one last shove, Falcon let him drop to the ground, the silence filled with the sound of Penn's laboured breathing.

"You're fucking crazy," He wheezed.

Falcon shrugged carelessly, picking him up by the collar of his shirt before dragging him towards the window.

"Have fun getting down," Falcon grunted as he pulled up the glass, preparing to throw him outside.

"You're gonna get her hurt," Penn gritted as he struggled in his hold.

Falcon paused for a moment, his grip tightening on Penn's shirt before thrusting him half way out of the window.

"Get the fuck out of my face before I do something I shouldn't," He growled.

Once Penn was hanging from the window sill, Falcon slammed down the glass pane, closing the curtains. He didn't move from his position at the window as he tried to calm his racing heartbeat. His thoughts were in turmoil as he turned back to face Freya's bed and he stopped short at the sight before him.

Freya had woken up, god knows when, and sat with wide eyes, her bottom lip trembling. Falcon took a shaky step forward and his heart clenched when she shuffled back in the bed.

She was scared of him; who wouldn't be?

How much had she heard? Was she going to ask why he was in juvie? Was she going to run screaming to her father?

You're only going to get her hurt.

"Baby," Falcon held out his hands in surrendering gesture, taking another step forward as his hands began to shake. 

Suddenly, Freya whined as tears began escaping down her cheeks and her arms came up in a sign for him to hold her. Falcon had barely let out a sigh of relief before his legs quickly pushed him towards her bed. He pulled her into his lap as he curled himself around her tiny body.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I'm sorry."

He burrowed his face into the crook of her neck, pulling her closer as he let out a shuddering breath. Freya sniffled as she let him hold her, a few tears staining the black of his shirt.

After a few moments, Falcon spoke again.

"How much did you hear?" He asked her softly.

"He to-told you to kee-eep going," She sucked in a panicked breath as she finally wound her arms around Falcon's waist.

Falcon let out an audible sigh of relief. He would have to tell her one day, but today was not that day.

"I'm sorry," He mumbled again as Freya began to calm down.

"It's okay," She whispered. "I still love you."

And even though he was sure she didn't mean it in that way, Falcon's heart squeezed with emotion as a grin appeared on his face.

"I love you too, angel," He said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

And maybe, he did.