The dark night was well lit with the blue and red lights from the police cars and paramedic's van. The loud noise of the sirens drowned out the voices of several people passing by, trying to get a look at the two injured people, coming up with their own stories about what happened.

Blake sat beside me as Chris cried hysterically in his arms. He had his arms wrapped tightly around Chris's waist, desperately trying to hold back his tears. Both Chris and my face wet with tears as Blake tried to comfort us, while Officer Clay handcuffed the lady and the man, making them enter a police car. The lady looked at Chris before looking at me, giving me a smile before getting in the car. Her tear glistened in the light.

"You're safe now. I'm never letting you go" Blake mumbled on top of Chris's head, kissing his head, comforting him as one of the paramedics tended to my cuts. Chris's cut already taken care of. One look at Blake and I could tell he would break any moment, yet he tried his hardest to hold it in. Trying to be strong for both Chris and me. I reached my hand free hand out, brushing Blake's hair back as both of the boys continued to hold on tight to each other.

"You guys did a great job today!" Officer Clay walks over to us, offering us a small comforting smile. "You called us at just the right time. We also got your emergency call, Jackie. The dispatcher heard everything" He tried hard to comfort us with words that didn't just seem like a formality. "I'm super proud of you kids"

"What's going to happen now?" I asked, my voice cracking as Blake and Chris look up.

"Both you and Chris were stabbed, so you could take them to court if you wanted to. But we also have clear evidence through his little statement he gave and the evidence from the dispatcher thanks to your emergency call. So, I'm sure they'll be locked up for at least 14 years." Officer Clay's eyes wandered to Chris. "You doing ok, buddy?"

"I don't want to go to the bad mommy and daddy. They hit me and they hurt mommy!" Chris cried out to him; I found my fists clenching at his statement.

As my right palm and arm are now bandaged, I smile a thank you to the paramedic as we get out of the van. Blake grabbing my left hand, still holding onto Chris. "Since I know you two, and you have been taking care of Chris. I'll let you take him home. But keep in mind, we'll be having to come up with a permanent place for him, you know now that his birth parents won't be able to care for him" He patted Blake lightly on his shoulder and offered me a small smile, ruffling Chris's hair before walking away to deal with the man and the woman.

"Are you going to leave me again?" Chris asks us. My hand reached to his back, lightly patting it "Of course not" I answer, knowing there was no way I would ever let him go again.

--

Chris had fallen asleep on our ride back to my house. I had called my dad, updating him quickly, letting him know Chris was with us. I could only imagine how Auntie would have reacted if I had called her instead. I received a message from my dad soon after saying he had called Blake's parents. With Lottie and Caden updated too, they were over at Blake's house, watching over Lucas.

"Chris, baby!" Aunty ran up to him with tears, taking the sleeping Chris from Blake's arms and engulfing him in a hug as soon as we entered the house. My dad, also in tears, walked up to Blake, hugging him tightly as I constantly heard him repeat "thank you" to him.

Blake's mom made an appearance as she hovered her son, crying as she tried to make sure he wasn't hurt, his dad in tow. My dad engulfing me in a hug as he whispered "I'm so glad you're ok. Don't ever do something like that again."

As the parents finally let us in, Blake took the tired and exhausted Chris up to my room with his parents in tow. I sat between Dad and Auntie on the couch, Auntie inspecting my wounds. "Jackie, I'm so glad you're ok." She kissed my head, desperately trying to convince herself more than me, her voice cracking. "Hold up, I'll be right back" She gets up and runs to the kitchen, leaving me with my dad.

I cuddle up to him tightly, letting the tears fall out, unsure of why I was crying. Because of the state, I found Chris in? Because I was scared? Because Chris was hurt? Because I was hurt? Because Chris must have gone through so much in the last month? Or was it because I didn't know what the future had in store for us? I didn't know, but I cried. My dad, unsure of what to say, kept kissing my head, holding me tight, taking deep breaths as he held in his tears.

Auntie rushes back with a mug in her hand, handing it to me. "Drink all of it" I looked at her blurry figure, confused "A friend of mine told me it's supposed to help with wounds and pain. I don't want to hear anything, just drink this turmeric milk"

I looked at the yellow milk in front of me and downed the warm milk in one go before any of the flavours would kick in. She grabbed the mug from my hand and placed it on the table before cuddling into me.

"You had us so scared" I loosen my grip from my dad and hug Auntie as she stroked my hair. "I'm so glad you're ok, please don't ever do something like that again. I don't want to think of the possibilities of what could have happened" I felt her tears on my head as she smothered me, a few tears of my own escaping.

Feeling exhausted from today's events, I made my way up to my room, but not yet entering.

"They got hurt and I couldn't do anything, Mom!" I heard Blake softly cry through the closed door. "They both have cuts on their arms and hands, and I couldn't do anything! I couldn't get there in time to stop them! They must have been so scared. Those two asses put my girlfriend and child through so much pain. I should have never let Chris go with them in the first place. God knows what else they put him through" You and me both, Blake. I lightly knocked on the door.

Mr. Archer opened the door, letting me in. Blake was sitting on the ground crying in his mother's lap, not yet aware that I was here. My heart tore in two at the sight and his words. Mr. Archer patted my head like my dad would, giving me a small smile "You did a good job today, Jackie." I smiled back at him. Thank you didn't seem like a word to say.

Mrs. Archer gestured me to come to her, and I did. Taking a seat beside Blake, lightly brushing my fingers through his hair. His head snapping up at me, looking away as soon as he saw me, wiping his tears.

"I'm extremely proud of both of you. What you did takes a lot of courage, strength, and selfishness" She kissed the top of Blake's head. I looked up at her in surprise as she did to mine as well. "I want you both to get a good night's sleep. Talking about this right now would just be a mess. We'll talk again tomorrow, ok?"

She slowly gets up, Blake and I made way for her in between us. "Blake, Jackie's dad and I talked. I know you both want to be with Chris tonight, so just stay here, ok? But please, update us if anything happens?" Mr. Archer comforts his son before they both walk out.

After a few moments pass, I scoot closer to Blake, wrapping my arms around him. His arms wrapped tightly around me, as I would disappear. "Let's get some sleep, ok?" He whispers when I lean my head against his chest. I hum in agreement.

"I'd give you my clothes, but I don't think they would fit" I try to cheer him up, which fortunately works as he lets out a chuckle.

"Chris in the middle at all times, got it?" Dad walks in as if on cue, handing Blake a pair of sweats. Blake nods to my dad, yet a chuckle escapes his lips as if he remembered something at my dad's words

Having changed our clothes, we were both soon in bed on either side of Chris. Snuggling into him, like he would disappear when we woke up. A shower would have been nice, but I had absolutely no energy.

"Does it hurt?" Blake reaches a handover, tracing his finger lightly over the bandage on my arm.

"It's not that bad" I croak out.

"I'm sorry I didn't get there earlier," He bit his lip, looking down at himself, looking ashamed of himself.

"You got there at the perfect time. You got us out of there. You ensured our safety and got us out of there" I reached my hand over Chris, stroking my thumb on his cheek. "Blake," I make him look up at me "I'm glad it's you"

As one hand laid on top of Chris, his other head extended over, running his fingers through my hair, almost lightly massaging it as he forced a smile. "I'm glad Chris made you his dad. You really are the best"

"I guess I learned from his mom" He chuckles out, thankfully his mood lightening, before staring at me intently "I'm glad Chris made you his mom, I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you, Jackie. I mean it with all my heart"

"I love you, Blake" he took my hand, kissing over the bandage on my hand.

"I love you Mama and Daddy" Chris mumbled in his sleep, bringing a smile to both our faces. We squished closer together before falling asleep.

We. Blake, Chris, and Jackie. Us three.