I woke up at 5:00 in the morning, sweating and shaking, I was tangled in my blankets, most of my pillows on the ground. I tried to get out of bed, then stumbled and fell face down on the floor. I picked myself up, wrapped my arms around my shivering body, and walked into the kitchen, I grabbed a glass of water, then went back into my room, where I saw my mom sitting on my bed.

"Mija?" She asked, concerned. "You okay sweetie?"

"Mmhm." I nodded, taking a sip of water, "I'm sorry I woke you up." I whispered.

"No, sweet pea, it's totally fine, come here." She motioned, I set my drink down and went over to my mom, she gave me a hug, "okay, do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

"No. it's, it's so so stupid." I sighed.

"It can't be stupid."

"Yes it can be. It's not logical, it's pathetic." I groaned.

"You don't have to tell me, but just know it's not stupid." She gently brushed my hair.

"It was, it was about Lin." I admitted.

"What?" Vanessa asked, looking at me oddly.

"I told you it was stupid." I groaned.

"Okay, uh, Mija, what about your dad?"

"He... uh, he, he hit me." I mumbled.

"In your dream?" She asked, immediately concerned, and confused.

"Yeah." I bit my lip nervously.

"Oh. Oh honey, he'd never, he would never hit you okay? Ever." She pulled me close, hugging me to her, "do you understand that?" She asked, gently rubbing my arm.

"Yeah." I sighed.

"Do you realize why though? He's so overprotective of all three of us, he's protective of me, and definitely of Sebastian, and of course of you. There's a reason he holds our hands when we leave the house." She looked at me seriously, and I looked back confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"He's afraid someone's going to hurt us to get at him." She sighed. "That someone's going to take you for ransom, or for fame, or even to meet him."

"Oh." I breathed.

"Mmhm. Darling, every time you get hurt he blames himself."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"He, well, he doesn't want who he is to affect us. He wants our family to be as normal as possible. That's why we only show the back of Sebastian's head on social media. That's why I don't participate in his interviews. Baby he still beats himself up over the fact that it's affected you." She looked at me sadly, "it's why he got so angry over the cyber bullying with you, he blamed himself."

"But, that's not his fault, it's mine, I let it go too far." I sighed.

"No, baby, it's no ones fault but the people who did it." She gently stroked my hair.

"I know." I sighed.

•••

"Abigail?" My dad asked, later in the day, I looked up from my book to see him on the phone, making eye contact with me, "can you watch Sebastian today?" He asked.

"Oh, sure." I shrugged a bit.

"Yes, thank God, you're a lifesaver." He said something into the mouthpiece of the phone, then hung up. "The day care center had minor flooding. It's closed today."

"Oh, yeah it's very very fine." I smiled.

"Awesome, because your mom has court, and I have recording today, I'd love for you to come." He sighed a bit, "anyways, I have to go, don't open the door, just stay safe, stay inside, if Tobi needs to go out, uh, take her out, but, just be careful okay?" He kissed my forehead, "I love you Peanut." He ran a hand down my hair, smiled a bit, then left the apartment.

"Love you too dad." I whispered, watching the door close. Seb was in his room, so I turned the TV on and snuggled into the couch.

A couple hours later, I saw my little brother toddle into the living room.

"Hi bud!" I smiled at him, "mama and dada left so you're stuck with me." I shrugged.

"Sissy, tummy hurts." I heard him whimper and then I noticed he was shaking.

"Oh gosh, Sebbie, are you okay?" I asked, rushing over to him, I knelt down in front of him, and pulled him onto my lap. I gently kissed the top of head when he threw up all over both of us.

"Sowee sissy." He whimpered, and I gently rubbed his back.

"It's fine, you're just sick."

Lin's POV

We were running Love Make The World Go Round for what seemed like the hundredth time, we hadn't even recorded it yet, it was just constant run throughs. Eventually I heard one of the tech guys yell.

"Lin! Phone!" I looked up to see him holding my phone, someone was evidently calling me, but my ringer was off.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Uh, Miga?" He asked, I was confused then realized he mispronounced Mija.

"That's my kid, I need to take that, I'm so sorry." I ran over to him, and grabbed my phone, answering it. "Hey Peanut, what's up?" I asked, well aware everyone could hear me.

"Uh, please don't be upset with me, I'm really sorry," she started, but I cut her off.

"Honey I won't be upset, what happened? You and Seb are okay right?"

"Sorta." I heard her sigh, "he's sick, I got him sick." She groaned a little, "he threw up, and he has a fever."

"Okay, uh, what you need to do darling, just get like four blankets." I took my hat off and ran a hand through my hair, "try and break his fever." I said, then heard someone throw up. "Was that you?" I asked.

"Mmhm." She whimpered, and I couldn't help but smile a little, she was precious.

"Okay little one, um," I sighed, "should I come home?" I asked.

"No!" She rushed to say, and I looked back at everyone waiting for me, "we'll be fine." She reassured me.

"Okay, just try and break the fever." I finished, "I love you sweetheart, see you in a few hours."

"Bye, I love you too." She said, and I hung up.

"I'm sorry about that." I sighed, setting my phone down, "both of my kids are sick today."

"Oh," this time it was Jennifer Lopez who seemed surprised. "I'm sorry, they're home alone?" She asked.

"Yeah, I thought Abigail got better yesterday, and she's watching Seb, but, nope, she's still sick, they're both sick." I sighed.

"Are you sure you don't want to go home?" She asked.

"Yeah, well, I'd love to, but, this is important, and A can take care of herself and Seb."

"Okay." She smiled, and we ran the song another time.

•••

A couple hours later I was on the subway, going home. I was reading the parenting book Abi kept making fun of me for, when I finally got off with the mass of people. I hurried back to my apartment, and opened the door.

"Abi? Seb?" I asked, dropping my bag by the door. I heard no response, so I checked Abi's room, I was sort of hit in the face with the heat of their fevers. I saw Abi curled up in bed, hugging my son to her. I noticed both of them sweating, and they were both under Abi's three or so blankets. I brushed a bit of Abis hair aside and kissed her temple. "Feel better Peanut." I tousled Sebastian's dirty blond hair and sighed softly, looking at the two of them.

•••

I'm bad at doing things on time.

I'm so so so swamped with homework

I had over 100 pages of notes in my textbook this weekend.

APUSH WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME I SWEAR IT

We start the revolution unit tomorrow though!! I'm excited!

Thanks for putting up with me!

- Abi