Bunk Bed (ChipFic)

>Bed made her way through the house ventilation, she was just small enough to be able to walk through upright with only a slight tilt in her head
>She stopped at a grate and peered through, Lincoln was working at his desk.  Her new father, she thought to herself, and the only one she had ever known
>He was perfect, he gave big hugs, was nice and gentle, he cooked the tastiest food, and he somehow always had the time for her, even in a house full of children
>Lincoln had tucked her end just minutes prior, and had read her a story, Bed held her hand up the grate and smiled
>He was busy however, and she didn't want to disturb him while he sneaked in some work, plus she had a house full of family now that she could count on
>She had the perfect person in mind

>Lyle sat at his mirror, combing his hair idly.  Normally his mother would be doing this for him, a nightly bonding ritual that he always looked forward to
>But he had to fend for himself tonight, and for the next few nights.  Leni was out of town on business
>He smiled as he thought back to earlier when she was getting ready to leave, she was a blubbering mess as she planted kisses over her children and held them in bone crushing hugs
>"Mommy will be back in three days, I promise" she had especially reassured her newest daughter, it would be the first time they would separated since she was brought into their home
>Lyle frowned to himself as his thoughts drifted to his little sister, he worried about her
>Bed would follow their mother around like a duckling, a trait extended to Liena and himself, and recently their father
>She was clingy, and Lyle could guess why, he'd never seen her cry before, and her tears were that of such heartbreak that their mother was ready to cancel her trip
>Bed was afraid of being abandoned
>Again
>Lyle sighed and set down his comb, he should check on her, their father spent most of the day comforting her and calming her down, and he tucked her in a little while ago
>Still Lyle felt he should, and he sat up and made for his door, only to freeze in place as he turned around
>Bed was standing right there, staring up at him with big eyes

>Normally the boy would have flinched and cried out at the shock, but months of Bed's ninja antics tempered that somewhat, and so he only widened his eyes
>They stood like that, staring at each other for nearly a minute, as Bed fidgeted in place and kept lowering her eyes, too shy to meet his gaze for long
>"Are you ok?" he finally asked, his instincts as a big brother taking over as he walked over and pulled her into a hug
>She stiffened up, before melting into his embrace, nodding in his chest, Bed wasn't very good at talking to people, as if she had a lifetime of conditioning against it
>He felt his shirt damping and felt her tiny shudders, she was crying again, softer this time and Lyle felt his heart squeeze
>"Do you want to bunk with me tonight?" again, he felt her nod into him and Lyle led her over to his mattress, holding the covers up so she could climb in first
>As hey lay next to her he pulled her back into a hug "Mom will be back soon, I promise" Lyle started to stroke his sisters hair "She would never leave you, no one will, you're family now"
>He looked down to see her smile and close her eyes as she snuggled close, Bed seemed afraid to ask for affection but she returned it wholeheartedly
>The small girl's breathing was steady and rhythmic, and Lyle began to drift off himself
>Had the house not settled down for the night, Lyle might have missed it, just barely audible over his own breathing
>"....love you"