Brandon's POV

I sat watching her leaning against Marc. It was like the last six years never happened. She was still that shining light that drew us all in. Hell, even Kaylie wanted her to join our family. She was the first and only woman Kaylie was never jealous of. We had all made the decision on that last mission to talk with her about a poly relationship with our family, but then she met Winston. I know he and Marc had been casual together, but the moment he met Marissa, the world revolved around only her. When they started back to law school and we learned about what the Academy was really doing, we had to get her out, even if it meant losing her. So we did.

"You okay," North asked, coming to sit next to me.

With a half-smile, I answered, "As okay as I can be, brother." He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

"I'm thankful you all were there for her back then," he said honestly. "I can't imagine not having her in our lives now."

"I know exactly how you feel," I said quietly. "It's like no time has passed between us. How does she do that - make you feel so complete with just a silly smile or a touch?"

"Beats me, man, but she does," he chuckled. "She's getting sleepy. Why don't you spend the night with her? I'm sure she could use someone familiar tonight." He nodded towards her drooping form.

"Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to step on anyone's toes," I sputtered, surprised by his suggestion.

He gave a soft laugh, "Do you really think we can't see how you all look at her? Man, it's like looking in a fucking mirror, Brandon." He grinned, "Now don't get me wrong, I'm not walking away from her, but I'm also not asking her to give up the first five men in her life to protect and cherish her. I think we all know that if she hadn't met Winston, things would have gone very differently with all of you."

My face flushed red, but I couldn't deny his observations. Instead, I just nodded and walked over to Marc. Without a word, I held out my arms and took her sleeping form from him. "Pajamas are on her bed along with her favorite stuffies," Gabe said softly with a grin as he played with Luke's hair while he slept. I nodded and headed up the stairs to a soft chorus of goodnights from the others.

I gaped when I entered the bedroom. Sean was right. Gabe had been waiting for her his whole life. The room looked like an enchanted forest with beautiful murals painted on the walls and soft fairy lights along the ceiling. There was a vanity, desk, and sitting area off to the side along with a large bay window filled with pillows and stuffies. The bathroom door stood open a fraction to show a soft night light glowing. Her bed was a four-poster with a soft lilac mesh canopy pulled back at the four corners. I laughed to myself. Big Marissa will love this just as much as little Marissa.

I set her down and gently slipped off her clothes, then put on the nightshirt Gabe had left out. It was a cute oversized purple top with Eeyore on it. Once she was in the bed, I undressed down to my boxers and slipped onto the bed next to her, but on top of the cover sheet with just the top blanket covering me. She mumbled something and I pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Sweet dreams, slugger." Then I drifted off to sleep holding the best thing I'd ever found in this world next to me.

****

I felt something hit me, then again. I sat up realizing it was Marissa. She was flailing in her sleep, punching anything she could. I tried to grab her arms, but missed and caught a wicked right hook to my stomach. I groaned, but quickly recovered, afraid she'd hurt herself. "Marissa, wake up," I barked loudly. She whimpered and slowly began to open her eyes, her fists still clenched. "That's it, baby, open your eyes for me," I pleaded.

"BB?"

"Yeah baby, I'm right here. You're safe, Marissa," I told her and scooted her closer to me. Her body began to relax and she whimpered again. "What's wrong?"

"I had the dream again," she hissed, her body shaking slightly. "Please don't let him take me back." She stared blankly as her body began to shake more, then she fell back against the sheets fully seizing.

Fuck.

"Axel!" I roared at the top of my lungs as I held her down. I could hear the thunder of several feet coming down the hall and the door slammed open.

"What the..." he started, then saw her thrashing on the bed, "Shit, how long?"

"Only a couple of minutes, get Sean," I answered.

"Already here," he said, climbing onto the bed with us. Axel and I held her body down as he tried to take her pulse and checked her eyes. "Roll her on her side in case she starts choking," he said calmly. "How many times has this happened?"

"Twice that we know of," Axel said, still holding her legs. Her movements were beginning to slow. "Docs in Saudi Arabia checked her out and couldn't find a cause. No signs of epilepsy or neurological damage. They chalked it up to a trauma response."

"Was that the first or second time?" Sean asked as he finished taking her blood pressure.

"Second time," I said. "The first was at a club in Germany. She passed it off as exhaustion and dehydration. We didn't have time to reach a medic before we had to get out. The mission went south really quick." I let go of her arms as she went slack and began running my fingers through her hair. "She refused to see anyone when we got back stateside. You know her, you can't make her do a damn thing when she digs her heels in."

Sean chuckled, "Oh yes, our little sweetheart can be quite stubborn when she wants to be." He ran a hand over her forehead. "She seems to be fine now. Am I to assume you thought this might happen considering your warnings earlier, Axel?"

He nodded, "Yeah, this or something worse."

"Worse?" Kota asked from the doorway.

Axel sighed, "Yeah, after the run-in with the man, she..." he choked.

"She tried to overdose," Marc said softly, finishing his statement. "Kaylie found her in the bathroom of our apartment. She was delusional, rambling about how they were going to make her go back."

I growled, "Fucking Academy threatened her all the time that they would send her back to her father if she didn't keep going on missions. I think when she saw the guy, she thought they really were trying to send her back or worse, give her to him."

"When she woke up earlier and talked about the bad people being back, I was afraid that she would hit a break," Axel said, tears running down his face. "I can't lose her again, not her," he whispered to himself.

I pulled him against my chest, "She's safe, and we won't let her out of our sight until she's better. Look at me, Ax," he lifted his eyes. "She's stronger than all of us put together, love. We just have to remind her of that." He nodded and I pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Move, fuckers," Gabe said as he came in with armloads of blankets and pillows.

"What are you doing?" Axel asked.

He scoffed, "As if any of us are leaving her alone tonight. I'm making fucking pallets for all of us, dumbass. You and Brandon take the bed with her. The rest of us lackeys can take the fucking floor." He pointed to the side closest to the bathroom, "Sean, you and Owen take that fucking spot. That way you're right next to the bed in case she needs medical attention."

I chuckled to myself as they all followed his directions and in moments had the floor covered in blankets and pillows. It made me think of the sleepovers we used to have as kids. Axel shrugged and climbed under the covers, pulling her against his chest, then reached out his hand to me. "Thank you," he said quietly.

I kissed his forehead, then hers, "I'm right here, love. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." He grinned then wrapped his fingers around mine as we cuddled her between us.

****

"Ouch," Sean muttered.

"Sorry Seany," Marissa's soft voice whispered, then I heard her quickly close the bathroom door. I have no idea how she'd even managed to sneak out of the bed without waking either of us. Damn little ninja.

I rolled onto my back just in time to see her jump onto the bed, "BB!" she yelled. She giggled as she put her cold toes against my chest making me jump and swear as she continued to laugh.

"Who wakes up that fucking happy, seriously?" Gabe groaned from the floor.

She flopped onto her stomach, head hanging over the bed, "Daddy, why are you on my floor? Did you all get put in time-out?"

Gabe chuckled, "No spitfire, we just missed you so much we wanted to have a sleepover with you."

"Ohhh," she said, then grinned. Faster than lightning, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at his head, cackling.

"Little girl," he growled.

"What Daddy? You're supposed to have pillow fights at sleepovers, silly," she said with an innocent smile. That drew several rounds of laughter from the floor.

Marissa let out a loud squeal as Axel grabbed her stomach and began ticking her. "And tickle fights, angel. Sleepovers require tickle fights." He laughed as she tried to get away, giggling and squealing until she was breathless. Damn, that was the best sound ever - from both of them. I can't remember the last time Axel really laughed.

"Well, now that we're all awake, what's the plan for today," Victor asked sitting up.

"I've got two days left before this house has to fucking transform," Gabe said. "So I'm busy with the designers."

"I'm at the bakery, getting the treats finished for sugar's event. I assume we're still doing the office party to avoid suspicion," Luke added.

"Yes, I think that would be best," Owen said. I glanced over to see Sean curled against him. Owen nodded slightly in response to my expression. Apparently, Sean had slipped after Marissa's seizure.

"Victor and I are still working on the video stuff," Corey said.

"North and I have meetings at noon. We should be done by four at the latest," Silas said as he began to fold blankets. "We'll pick up dinner on the way home for all of us."

"How does french toast sound for breakfast, precious?" Marc asked Marissa.

"Can I have sugar sprinkles?" she said, batting her eyelashes.

He chuckled at her antics, "Just a little, and I'll put some fruit on the side too." She giggled and clapped her hands.

"Alright, out of our area now, you lot!" Gabe said, shooing us out. "Time to work my magic on this little beauty."

"Marc, will you make some french toast for Sean as well?" Owen asked as he carried Sean down the hall, his face buried in the crook of his neck.

"Sure thing," Marc answered with a soft smile.

We all filed out of the room, scattering to our own areas to get dressed and face the day. I smiled when I heard Marissa's giggles and Gabe's groans as he tried to get her dressed. I could tell she was in a bratty mood already today. This should be interesting.

Author's Notes: All fourteen are fitting together nicely so far...should we broach the romance part?

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