*Throws some shittily written gay polyamorous at you* There you go children. I love you all!
Alex pulled Philip close to his chest as thunder rumbled across the sky. Darkness had consumed them half an hour ago. Alex was too scared to use his phone because the battery would run out.
As Philip whimpered, he dismissed his fears and grabbed his phone from the couch arm.
He stared at the bright phone screen, in awe of its light. Philip whining snapped him out of the trance. He quickly dialled a number.
After one ring, a voice crackled through the speaker. "Hello?"
"John!" Alex gasped, "Can you please come home?"
"Sure thing love. I'm on my way home now." John responded. "Thomas' shift is finished, so he's with me."
"Hi Tommy." Alex mumbled.
"Hey darlin'." Thomas' southern drawl answered. "Where's Phil?"
"With me." Alex looked at the small boy, whose teeth were chattering, eyes wide with fear.
"Alright. We love you and we'll be home in a minute." John announced. He hung up.
Alex pulled Philip closer, kneading his fingers through the boy's soft hair. The boy curled his legs into a fetal position. They stayed like that for what seemed to be hours as they waited for John and Thomas.
Alex sighed in relief when he heard the front door being unlocked. John's curly hair appeared through the door first, then the rest of his freckled face. He gave Alex a sympathetic smile. With a grunt, he lugged a few green grocery bags through the door. Thomas followed after, carrying a few bags.
Alex heard thudding as John placed the bags down in the kitchen, then another set of thuds as Thomas did the same. John came running back into the room, a bundle of blankets in his arms.
He wrapped one around Alex and Philip, then one around him and Thomas, who had just walked in. Alex wedged himself in between John's legs, Philip leaving Alex's arms and sitting in Thomas' lap. Thomas gently played with the young boy's hair, running his fingers gently over the dark curls.
John kissed Alex's cheek. When he pulled away, his lips tasted salty.
"Don't cry love." He whispered in Alex's ear, rocking him back and forth.
A loud crack of thunder raked through the air. Alex startled, his hands grabbing John's leg and arm. He squeezed. John gently caressed Alex's arm, causing the other man to let go.
"Squeeze my hands." He held each of Alex's hands, kissing his shoulder. A nod and an unintelligible answer was his response.
Every time thunder rumbled, whimpers filled the room.
Philip had Thomas' shirt gripped tight in his hands. The shirt was soaked, from both the rain outside and Philip's tears. Thomas wrapped his arm protectively around the child, then wrapped his spare one around John's waist. He stroked Alex's ribs.
Alex's body was still tense, though his eyes weren't spiked with fear anymore. His breath rattled in his lungs.
The family sat like that for another half hour until the storm ceased.
* * *
John peppered Alex's face with kisses. "You did well this time, love."
Philip was still cradled in Thomas' arms, having passed out minutes ago.
"Go take a shower." John stood from the couch, taking the blanket with him. Alex yelped as the cold hit his skin. Muttering curses, Alex stood and left the room, causing John to chuckle. He sat back down next to Thomas.
