Chapter Text
"It's okay, I'm here"
Liv struggled for breath, clawing at the darkness in search of the quiet voice. She started when she felt something touch her wrists, fingers gently closing round to calm her.
"Liv, it's alright, you're okay" the voice soothed, and the girl allowed herself to stop struggling, she relaxed against her pillows and sighed.
"Robert" she stated, recognising the voice of her brother's partner
"I heard you screaming, I just wanted to check you were okay"
Liv sat up and reached across to her bedside lamp, breathing a sigh of relief as she flicked it on and illuminated the room. Robert was sat on the edge of her bed, dressing gown tied round him, blonde hair tousled from sleep....or 'activities' with Aaron. Liv didn't like to think about that.
"Was just a nightmare" she muttered, feeling embarrassed
"Want to talk about it?" Robert offered, stifling a yawn as he blinked sleepily.
"No" Liv insisted, burrowing back down under her covers pointedly.
Robert understood her actions and slowly got to his feet, he leant over and softly ruffled her hair before making his way to the door.
Just as he was pulling it to, Liv called out "Rob?"
His face appeared, eyebrows knitted in concern "Yeah?"
"He was here...Gordon" the girl mumbled, staring down at where her fingers were toying with the covers.
When she next looked up Robert was lowering himself back down onto the bed, he reached out and Liv shied away, relaxing as he simply hooked his little finger round hers, waiting for her to go on.
"I thought I was awake, I sat up and everything seemed normal, but then the door swung open and he was standing there, just staring at me-" at this, she shivered, and Robert brushed the pad of his thumb over her hand in comfort.
"-I asked him what he wanted, why he was here...I told him he was dead, and I know that he is, it seems stupid now but he just looked so...so real."
Robert nodded, giving the teen his full attention as she spoke "It's alright Liv, he is dead, and you're not stupid to be scared by him." Robert decided it unecessary to tell her of the numerous times he'd been woken by Aaron thrashing around in his sleep, whimpering and crying out for help. A sight that made Robert feel both sick and angry.
"I thought he would just stand there, or turn and leave but he didn't. He came closer. He got onto my bed and he was reaching out to me. I had nowhere to run to it was like he had me pinned down. He never spoke, just stared, reached...I thought he was gonna...that he would..." Liv couldn't bring herself to say the words so instead, trailed off with "So I screamed."
By this time tears were silently sliding down her cheeks, the grip she and Robert had on each other's fingers tightened. Deciding to take a risk Robert pulled the girl towards him, into his arms and he was surprised when she didn't pull away.
Liv needed that hug. She felt safe in Robert's arms, the softness of his dressing gown rubbing against her skin as his palms wound calming circles on her back. The man didn't care that a wet patch was forming on his chest as Liv's tears fell, he held her tightly, his chin resting atop her head as he murmured promises of safety into her hair.
Eventually they pulled apart and Liv hurriedly wiped her eyes, head bowed.
Robert chuckled, even after a moment like that she was still stubborn, defiant, pretending not to care.
He took her chin in his thumb and forefinger, tilting it up "You know, whenever Vic had a nightmare, I used to make her a hot chocolate, sent her straight to sleep."
"Really?" Liv frowned, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand...2:06 am "I guess it's worth a try" she shrugged.
Robert flicked the switch on the kettle and rummaged in the cupboards for the chocolate powder and a mug.
He looked round to find Liv settled on the sofa, a cushion pulled to her - the girl's standard pose when sitting there.
Once the kettle had boiled Robert set to work, pouring in the powder and adding a hint of milk to take off the scalding heat that got your tongue every time. He put everything away and carried the mug over to the sofa, handing it to Liv who inspected the brown milky contents suspiciously.
"Is there sugar in it?" she questioned, blowing the steam away
"It doesn't need sugar it's chocolate" Robert snorted
"Everything is better with sugar" the teen told him, taking a tentative sip.
"And that's the attitude that sent you to the dentist for 2 fillings last week" Robert commented dryly "How is it?"
"Pretty good" Liv admitted, frowning as Robert laughed "What?"
"You've got a bit of chocolate-" he tapped his upper lip and then his chin, causing Liv to scowl.
Robert smirked and playfully licked his thumb, leaning towards her.
"Don't you dare!" she scrabbled away from him, holding her mug aloft as she wriggled.
"Careful" Robert whispered, casting a glance towards the hallway "Don't want Chas down here...I used her fancy stuff to make that."
Liv grinned, taking another big gulp. Robert shook his head and stood, moving to make himself a coffee with the leftover contents of the kettle.
When he turned back, stirring his coffee, he paused and smiled.
The mug was sat on the coffee table, and Liv was lying curled up down one end of the sofa, fast asleep.
"Worked faster than I remember" Robert muttered to himself, putting his drink down on the side and walking to his sister-in-law. He let out a sigh, contemplating what to do, before carefully lifting her into his arms and heading back up the stairs.
He placed Liv back into her bed, tucking the covers up under her chin. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, definitely less mischevious Robert thought. He gently stroked her hair as he straightened up "Night kid" he whispered, flicking off her light and creeping out of the door, leaving it slightly ajar so he would hear if she woke up again.
He quietly slipped back into his and Aaron's room, untying his dressing gown before sliding into the bed, letting himself relax under the warm covers.
Aaron was snoring gently and Robert smiled, watching for a few moments, blinking tiredly. He leant over and pecked the man's cheek before settling back against the pillows and drifting off instantly.
The next morning Chas was downstairs when Aaron appeared, dressed for work at the scrapyard.
"Did you make a coffee last night?" she questioned, tipping the contents of Robert's forgotten drink down the drain
"Err no, why?" Aaron frowned, hunting about distractedly for the cereal
"Maybe it was me" Chas mused, leaning back against the worktop as she waited for the toaster to pop up.
The silence was broken by the familiar crashing footsteps of Liv as she came charging downstairs.
"Good morning Olivia, and what, pray tell have the stairs done to offend you today?" Chas drawled, busying herself with buttering her toast
"What?" the teen yawned, smiling slightly at the sofa where she remembered falling asleep
"What time did you get to sleep? Were you up on your phone again?" Aaron chided, shaking his head at her lack of response.
"Where's Robert?" she asked instead, causing Chas and her brother to freeze momentarily.
"Still in bed...He was soundo when I got up, why?" Aaron demanded "What have you done?"
"Nothing!" Liv cried, sliding in front of the man as he went to move past her with a mug of coffee "Can I take that up to him?"
Aaron turned to his Mum who raised an eyebrow and shrugged, going back to her breakfast.
"Alright" he agreed slowly "But then you get to school, okay?"
"Got it" Liv agreed, grabbing the coffee and taking the stairs two at a time.
Robert was sat up in bed when she burst through the door. He lowered his phone, eyebrows raised.
"Morning" he greeted "Ever heard of knocking?" he teased.
"Didn't have enough hands" the girl dismissed, dumping his drink on the bedside table before settling herself on the edge of the mattress.
"What's up then?" Robert questioned, curling his fingers round the mug with a smile
"I fell asleep on the sofa, so how did I wake up in bed?" she demanded
"Magic" Robert offered, taking a sip of drink and blowing on it.
Liv folded her arms and stared at him pointedly until he placed the mug back down and spoke.
"Alright, you passed out after your drink so I carried you back to bed, happy?"
"You carried me?"
"Well...yes, you didn't fly" the man drawled
"You carried me?" Liv repeated.
Robert frowned "Yes...why, what's wrong with that?"
The teen bowed her head "When I was little, Mum never bothered to put me back to bed, I'd fall asleep on the sofa, and wake up there the next morning."
Robert smiled "Aaron told you Liv, we both promised you...things are gonna be different from now on"
"I know I just-"
"-didn't believe it until now?" he finished and she nodded.
"Thanks" Liv mumbled "For last night, I never said..."
"You didn't have to" Robert told her quietly "Now go on, get to school before Aaron starts flapping"
Liv slid to her feet and headed to the door, she stopped and turned "See you later" she smiled
"Most definitely" Robert smiled back, watching her disappear.
Moments later Aaron slipped through the doorway, smirking "That explains the abandoned coffee this morning"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Robert said smoothly, pulling him down onto the bed beside him.
After a heavily heated good morning the pair pulled apart both grinning like idiots.
"So she had a nightmare?" Aaron wondered, watching as Robert got up and started to get ready.
"Yep, I went to check on her, she was alright" he assured the man
"Did she say what it was about?"
"What do you think?"
Aaron sighed "I really hate him"
"I know, so do I" Robert murmured, squeezing his hand "But he's gone now, he can't hurt you or Liv ever again."
There was a pause before Aaron spoke again "She loves you you know"
Robert sat down on the bed, tie hanging round his shoulders waiting to be sorted. The man smiled, leaning in and bumping his nose against Aaron's.
"And I love her"