The loud wails of an infant sounded through the once quiet house. Chris Benoit groaned as he opened his eyes. He could feel his wife stirring next to him.
"I'll take this one" he said kissing her temple.
He groaned once again as he got out of the warmth and comfort of his bed. His body still sore from wrestling all week forced itself down the carpeted hall to his favorite room in the whole house. He opened the door and could see the moonlight silhouetting the crib that held his little princess as she dreamed.
"Hey there beautiful" he said scooping the fragile infant into his strong arms. "I know that you aren't hungry and your mother just changed you so I'm guessing you just felt like waking everyone up because you didn't feel like sleeping … well let me tell you my little Ashley Michelle you need your sleep"
Ashley reached her little hand up to touch his cheek. Chris went over to Ashley's dresser and wound up the music box that sat there. The sound of Endless Love could be heard, Chris had a seat in the rocking chair which was situated in the corner of the room by the window.
"Is she ok?" Lily Benoit asked from the door way.
"Yeah, she just got bored and decided she wanted some company" Chris assured his wife "go back to sleep she's fine"
Lily lingered a few seconds longer before she left them alone again.
"You know Ashley you need to cut your mother some slack, she is so afraid you are going to get sick or hurt … you scared us all coming into this world so early and then having to be operated on at 2 days old" Chris kissed the baby's hand "but that is all in the past now you are home and daddy will never let anything happen to you"
Ashley stared up at him. She closed her eyes once but quickly opened them again. Chris could tell by looking at her that she was falling asleep. Her eyelids were getting heavy now and it was only a matter of time before she fell asleep.
"I love you Ashley Michelle" he kissed her forehead. Ashley stirred a little but them she stuck her thumb into her mouth and became still again.
She was so beautiful, her golden brown hair was just starting to come in. She had all of Lily's delicate features except for her big blue eyes which she has obviously inherited from Chris. She was 3 months old now and they were finally allowed to take her home. Although she was still small for her age Chris had no worries about her growing fast.
He placed her back into her crib and wound up the music box again. He glanced at her one more time before leaving the room.
"Are you sure she is ok?" Lily asked worriedly as Chris returned to their bedroom.
"She's fine … she just needed to know that daddy was there to take care of her" Chris said.
"Maybe I should stay in the room with her for a few days" Lily said starting to get up from the bed but Chris grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.
"Lil you can't worry about her all the time she is happy and healthy. The doctors wouldn't have let her leave the hospital if she wasn't healthy"
"I know but I can't help but worry"
"Well stop" Chris remarked.
"I can't it's a mother's job to worry about her child" Lily informed him.
"Well you were my wife before you were Ashley's mother" Chris reminded her.
"I may have been your wife first but I will be Ashley's mother forever" Lily kissed her husband before relaxing into the comfort of his arms.
"I can't believe she is really here with us" Lily said "we've wanted this for so long and now she is here"
"Having Ash here makes everything so much more real … it's not just us anymore everything is about that little baby"
"She is so lucky to have the greatest man in the world as a father" Lily said.
"Believe me if she is lucky for anything it's having the most wonderful woman on earth as her mother … she's going to learn so much from you like how to be a good person"
"I really think I should check on her once more" Lily insisted.
"Give it a rest woman … she's fine now please let's get some sleep because she'll be up again soon so enjoy the quiet"
Lily relented and they both fell back to sleep. Nothing could ruin the happiness both adults felt. They were finally a family in every sense of the word and their little girl was going to have the best life possible if either of them had anything to say about it.
