Secrets

🚓18🚓

Alia

For a few hours after Drake, Connor and Jordan woke up, we all found ourselves chilling around the kitchen island watching my dad attempt to make pancakes of different shapes or figures. It was our idea of testing the former army ranger at his artistic and pop culture expertise, though it started out simple that didn't last long and was going downhill rapidly. Only causing all of us to laugh at his poor attempts of creating a brilliant Captain America shield. Hailey just leaned against the one wall doing her best to remain supportive of dad but she too was starting to laugh at him.

As the final result was placed on a plate and set down in front of us to judge, I did my best to bite my lip to not start laughing hysterically at the lopsided pancake that by no means looked like Steve Roger's shield, it was more of a deranged bird met with the zombie apocalypse. Catching my father's eyes I knew the man was just waiting for me to crack under pressure but I remained stoic not wanting to break first out of the group. Thankfully Jordan laughed first almost falling off the chair at the poor pancakes misery. "Are you sure that's a pancake Mr. Halstead?"

That alone set everyone else off causing my father to jokingly throw off the apron and hand the spatula to Hailey. "It's your turn Goldie, I am not being the only one to be judged so harshly on my artistic pancake skills."

So by the end of the pancake challenge, a perfectly made Winter Soldier pancake was placed on the plate alongside the black widow symbol and a pancake shaped Mjolnir. To say we were all in shock would be an understatement before it led to more laughter at the look of disbelief and shock on my father's face at the pancake masterpieces. Watching as the two adults lock eyes I could see the love growing between them and a hidden emotion I had an inkling on what it was but would rather not think about.

Deciding to make my father happy but eating his lopsided Captain America pancake, a light kissed was placed on my head in return.

A little while later Drake, Connor and Jordan left the Halstead residence leaving me to cuddle with Hailey on the couch. It was a simple feeling of contentment that surrounded me as the woman gently ran her fingers through my hair in a soothing motion. A part of me just wants to close my eyes and fall asleep with the sense of security I felt being in Hailey's embrace but a tiny apart of me knew that I shouldn't.

I was only proven right by the sound of dad and Hailey's phone chiming at the same time only causing myself to sit up quickly with a soft expression of disappointment. It wasn't that I was upset of them having to go to work or solve a crime that absolutely needed to bring the perpetrator to justice, I was kind of disappointed that they had to go in on their day off. Sitting on the couch I watched as both adults looked at their phones before letting out disappointed sighs at what they read. "Do you have to go in?"

Taking a glance at my figure on the couch, the both nodded softly. "Yeah we do Kiddo but I will let Will know that you both can still go out tonight. It can be a nice uncle niece bonding time.". In mere minutes the two were dressed and ready to leave the apartment but dad bent down in front of my sitting figure on the couch. "Uncle Will is going to be here in about 20 minutes and I am going to lock the door behind me when I leave. Do not open the door for anyone unless you hear your Uncle on the other side of the door"

Giving him a confirming nod, a kiss was placed on my forehead before he stood up walking towards Hailey. Both making sure they had everything they needed and sending me last look to make sure I was ok then left the apartment, my gaze following their figures until the door shut and was locked by my dad.

A soft sigh echoed out into the now empty apartment as I was left in practical silence the second I droned out the tv. This definitely wasn't how I pictured the rest of my night going. Not wanting to wallow in the self-pity that was trying to start deep within me I ventured into my room to get ready for dinner with Uncle Will. While I haven't been able to spend much time with my Uncle due to his work schedule at the hospital and just everyday life, I still have a strong bond with him. He seems to understand what I was thinking without me saying anything or just knows that answers to some of my questions with me asking. My dad likes to say that it drives him nuts that Uncle Will and I have some telepathic communication.

Simply clad in a nice sundress and white converse, I couldn't help the soft smile that grew at the sound of knocking at the door. Not wasting more time on appearances I walked towards the door to stepping on my tippy toes to look through the peep hole instantly catching sight of my Uncle's infamous ginger hair. Swiftly unlocking the door and opening it with a little excitement I found myself pulled into a tight hug from the older man, light giggles falling past my lips at my Uncles excitement. "If it isn't my favorite girl in the whole world"

"Hi Uncle Will!". Grabbing my phone and set apartment keys I left the apartment locking the door on the way out. Light conversation bouncing between the two of us, him occasionally asking about school and me wanting to know some of the crazy and cool cases he has seen as a doctor. From time to time we would get distracted by other topics or talk about something serious but for the most part it was light and happy.

Though the energetic and laughing moments were temporarily put aside as I noticed my Uncle's doctor side start to come out, he was concerned. I knew he was, just like my dad and Hailey. A part of me wants to do the stereotypical teenage thing where we close ourselves off and deny that there isn't a problem but I just couldn't. Relief was the only thing I really felt since I was no longer keeping it to myself, maybe that has to do with the fact that I had a great support system who would do anything to help me. My dad was everything to me and to simply know that he was going do whatever he could to help me was heartwarming, and it was more heartfelt that Uncle Will wanted to help me out too.

"Alright Kiddo, let's talk about what's been going on. Your dad told me a little bit but I want to hear it from you"

So for a few minutes talked about everything, the anxiety and the inability to sleep. How sometimes both seemed to be correlated as I definitely wasn't able to sleep if I had pent up anxiety. I know I push myself a little much with school assignments by leaving them at the last minute but the lack of sleep was exhausting. Maybe there was something more traumatic that happened when I was younger that I didn't remember or a sense that something was bound to happen.

"I will talk to your dad about this too but Alia It sounds like you have insomnia. Now there are several ways to treat it if you do have it but we will go down the medical route if this at home technique doesn't work. We can try to set up a more routine sleep habit to see if things change and maybe try to see if music can help. If that doesn't work we can try light therapy and cognitive behavior therapy and last case scenario is medications but that is last resort"

Giving him a nod I sent him a light smile. "I really appreciate this Uncle Will"

"Anything for family"

Author Note:

Hey Guys! So there is going to be one more sweet and simple chapter before the next plot happens and I am so excited for it to happen. What I have planned has been on my mind for months but I needed to put in filler chapters to break up the angst and trauma a little bit before I add more. There will be a time jump when the next plot starts but I will indicate how much time passes in the next chapter or the one after.

Hopefully you liked this chapter and the cute family moment between Jay, Hailey and Alia. I think they have a great family dynamic. Hope you guys have a great day and please let me know your thoughts and opinions. Even try to make guesses on what you think I have planned because I want to see your creativity for you never know if I won't use your idea in the future!