Promise

Dissolved, he buried his little head in the hollow between Lily's neck and shoulder. His chubby arms snaked helplessly around her neck while his tiny little hands clung to Lily's clothes in desperation.

He whispered her name over and over again, like a desperate prayer.

To see him like that, hurt and lost, tore her heart apart.

Lily leaned over the upset toddler anxiously and wraped his little body even more gently against her body. Lovingly, she stroked his hazel-brown hair and gently whispered his name.

The little guy hesitantly raised his head and looked at her with watery, big, round eyes. Fear and mourning had settled like fog over his azure eyes.

Tears were still rolling about his round cheeks while he clung to Lily desperately. "Do not leave me!" Adrien shouted, before burying his face in Lily's neck bow.

The girl did not know what she was doing, but she was sure she could never leave him. Carefully, she stroked his dark curls. "I'll always stay with you" She whispered softly.

Lily could feel every single tear of the toddler. She could feel every single tear dripping down on her shoulder and rolling slowly over her skin.

She heard his soft sobbing. She felt his small body stiffen in her arms before cautiously saying again in a shaky voice. "Do not you leave me."

Lily felt his little heart flutter excitedly, like a butterfly fiercely fighting for his life. And she felt her heart break into a thousand pieces. Like a stinging pain piercing her chest.

The girl did not know what it was like to be a mother. But at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to hold him in her arms. Protect him and never letting him go.

She felt as strong as a lioness defending her cub against cruel vultures.

She would not let anything happen to him.

"Yes. Promised."

Soon his tears flooded his round face with relief.

He knew Lily would always keep her promise before falling asleep from fatigue in the girl's arms.