Aurora was screaming.
That was all Aiden processed before reaching for the gun on his nightstand. His movements were swift, automatic—the years of training, of survival, kicking in before his mind could even process the fear clawing at his chest.
Across the mansion, doors were flung open. Heavy footsteps pounded against the hardwood, a chorus of safeties clicking off as his brothers followed suit, weapons in hand.
They moved as one, no words needed. Because if someone was in Aurora's room—if someone had dared to touch their baby sister—
They wouldn't be leaving alive.
Aiden reached her first, slamming the door open, gun raised—
Only to freeze.
There was no intruder. No threat.
Just Aurora.
Huddled in the middle of her bed, tangled in blankets, sobbing into her hands as her small body shook.
Alec, right behind him, cursed under his breath, lowering his gun immediately. "Oh, sweetheart..." His voice softened instantly, the doctor in him taking over.
Elias was the first to move, shoving his own gun into the back of his waistband before climbing onto the bed. "Aurora, baby," he whispered, pressing a hand against her back, feeling the tremors wracking through her. "It's okay. It's just us."
One by one, the others entered—quickly, quietly. Atlas, Roman, Marcus, Antonio.
Their sharp, predatory eyes scanned the room one last time before they tucked their weapons away—Aiden discreetly slipping his into the bedside drawer, Alec tucking his into the waistband of his sweats. Roman and Marcus turned their backs briefly, subtly sliding theirs under their hoodies.
Aurora had no idea. She didn't need to know.
All she needed to see was them.
But then she curled up even smaller, and that's when they noticed—
The damp spot on the sheets.
Her breath hitched, hands gripping the blankets as if she could somehow make it disappear. "I—I'm sorry," she choked out, voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to—"
"Shh, baby, it's okay," Elias was the first to hush her, sitting on the edge of her bed, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead.
Her lip wobbled. "I made a mess..."
Marcus, normally stiff and awkward, scoffed. "And? Who cares?"
Antonio crossed his arms. "Tch. It's just sheets."
"You're our baby sister," Roman added, firm but quiet. "Nothing you do could ever make us mad at you."
Atlas, sitting on the bed, pulled her into his chest without a second thought, damp pajamas and all. "We were just scared, Rory."
Aurora hiccupped, pressing her face into his shoulder. "I—I had a nightmare..."
Aiden, still crouched beside the bed, finally spoke.
"There's nothing to fear anymore." His voice was steady, unshakable. "Not in this house. Not with us."
Aurora sniffled. "But the bed—"
Alec, ever the doctor, hushed her immediately. "That's nothing, lovebug. We'll get you fresh sheets, and you can take a warm bath, okay?" He gently rubbed circles into her back. "Would that feel better?"
She nodded against Atlas's shoulder.
"See?" Elias gave her a soft smile. "Easy fix."
"I'll get the bath ready," Roman murmured, already heading toward the bathroom.
"I'll change the sheets," Marcus grumbled, already yanking the blankets away.
"I'll grab some fresh clothes," Antonio muttered, disappearing out the door.
Atlas sighed, holding her a little tighter before finally shifting, letting Alec scoop her into his arms. "Come on, darling," Alec murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Let's get you cleaned up, and then we'll cuddle, yeah?"
Aurora peeked up at him, hesitating. "...All of you?"
That was all it took.
"We're not going anywhere, baby," Elias reassured, ruffling her hair.
"Obviously," Antonio huffed from the doorway, holding a set of fluffy pajamas.
"You're stuck with us," Marcus grumbled.
Atlas poked her nose, making her giggle. "For life, love."
The warm bath that Roman set up helped. Alec sat by the tub, gently washing her hair with soothing lavender shampoo. "You're safe, sweetheart," he murmured, massaging her scalp. "I promise."
Roman waited outside, fresh towel in hand, ready to wrap her up like a burrito.
Marcus and Antonio had already finished replacing the sheets. "See? This took, like, five minutes," Antonio muttered. "Nothing to be embarrassed about."
Elias dried her hair with gentle hands, then helped her into her fresh pajamas. "There's my baby girl," he hummed. "Good as new."
Atlas took her hand. "Movie night?"
A soft smile finally broke through. "And cuddles."
The siblings were sprawled out in the living room, tangled in blankets and pillows, the remnants of their late-night snack—popcorn bowls, half-empty mugs of hot chocolate, and a few cookie crumbs—scattered across the coffee table.
They had just finished forcing Aiden to watch Finding Nemo, though, in reality, it hadn't taken much convincing. All it had really taken was Aurora looking up at him with those wide, pleading eyes and softly whispering, "Please, Aiden?"
That was it.
The great Aiden Valenti, feared by most and respected by all, had sighed in defeat, sat back on the couch, and endured the entire movie with his siblings grinning at him the whole time.
Marcus had snickered when he saw Aiden's unimpressed face during the opening scene. Antonio nudged him every time something remotely emotional happened, smirking when Aiden scowled. Elias, always the observant one, had caught the way Aiden's gaze lingered on Marlin when he was desperately searching for his child.
Overprotective dad energy, Elias had mused internally. Fitting.
Roman had been quietly enjoying the movie, and Alec had been chuckling at Aurora's reactions more than anything else. Atlas, ever the dramatic one, had been quoting some of the lines under his breath before they were even spoken.
But none of them had been as engrossed as Aurora.
She had been curled up between Elias and Alec, clutching Thumper tightly to her chest, eyes shining with wonder as she watched the story unfold. Her little gasps and giggles were enough to make Aiden ignore the ridiculousness of the movie entirely.
By the time the credits rolled, Aurora had dozed off, her head resting against Elias's shoulder.
Atlas stretched with a yawn, cracking his back. "That wasn't so bad, huh, boss?"
Aiden gave him a flat look. "I tolerated it."
Marcus scoffed. "You were watching it, don't even lie."
Antonio smirked. "He definitely related to the overprotective dad fish."
Aiden rolled his eyes, but the lack of a retort was enough of an answer.
Elias chuckled. "Aurora liked it, so that's all that matters."
Said little girl was now curled up in the middle of the giant sectional couch, tucked against Elias's chest, Atlas resting his head on her shoulder. Roman sat by her feet, rubbing gentle circles into her ankle, while Antonio and Marcus leaned against the armrests.
Aiden—ever the observer—took the armchair nearby, watching over them with quiet authority.
Elias pressed a kiss to Aurora's forehead. "How about a story, baby?"
She nodded sleepily.
"Alright," he hummed. "Once upon a time, there was a little girl who had seven overprotective big brothers..."
Aurora giggled, eyes fluttering shut.
Elias smirked. "And these brothers? Oh, they were scary. They ran the city. No one dared to mess with them, because they could make problems disappear overnight."
Atlas chuckled. "But their baby sister? She had them wrapped around her tiny little finger."
Antonio scoffed. "Damn right she did."
Alec grinned. "And they would do anything for her."
Aurora, warm and safe, snuggled deeper into Elias's hold. "I like this story..."
Roman chuckled. "It's a true one."
But just as her eyes were about to close, Atlas suddenly lifted her stuffed bunny, Thumper, and made his voice high-pitched and dramatic.
"Princess Aurora," he announced, shaking Thumper's little paw. "I have come to request a bedtime dance."
Aurora let out a sleepy giggle as Atlas wiggled Thumper's ears.
"A dance?" Atlas gasped in Thumper's 'voice.' "How rude! I shall tell the King—" He turned the bunny toward Aiden, who merely raised an unimpressed brow. "—that his precious baby refuses my request!"
Marcus rolled his eyes. "You're ridiculous."
Antonio smirked. "But she's laughing."
Atlas grinned, tapping Thumper's little paw against her nose. "That's all that matters."
Aurora yawned, finally resting her head against Elias's chest. "Thumper's silly..."
Aiden smirked slightly, standing up to drape another blanket over all of them. "He's a reflection of the person holding him."
Atlas gasped dramatically, while the others chuckled.
But Aurora, warm, safe, and surrounded by her family, finally let her eyes close.
And this time, when she dreamed, there were no nightmares—
Only laughter, warmth, and the soft sound of her brothers' voices.
author's note - thought i should update now cause i might be a bit busy during the weekend :)
enjoyy and tell me what u think so far :)
love u guys <3