John was awoken by the surprising coldness of the sheets next to him. Helen should have been by his side as she was every night. As his eyes adjusted to the slivers of moonlight barely piercing the room, he noticed a light coming from the adjoining room. With a smile he slid out of bed and went to join his wife.
Helen was in the nursery, looking down at her beautiful child when she felt her husband press against her back. "John," she greeted softly, "I didn't mean to wake you."
John buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent. "I was wondering why my wife decided to leave our warm bed," he murmured.
"I wanted to check on Ashley," she explained. She reached out to stroke the girl's cheek. "I still can't believe that two days ago she had never seen the world before."
"The miracle that is childbirth," John agreed. "Did she wake you with her crying?"
"She's been silent all night," Helen corrected. "I just wanted to look in on her."
"Beautiful, isn't she?" John smiled. "Just like her mother."
"She's got her father's eyes," Helen murmured drowsily. Sleep was beginning to tug at her again. She gave herself a little shake to wake up. "Father wants to visit tomorrow to see his grandchild."
"And our friends won't be far behind," John said. "James has even managed to convince Nikola to come along. Though I doubt very much he'll enjoy it."
"Let him not enjoy it then," Helen stated, "I certainly intend to."
"As do I," her husband agreed. Ashley began to whimper a little. "Just wait a moment," he murmured, kissing Helen's cheek. He moved from her to a shelf that held a doll Gregory had presented to them when Helen announced she was pregnant. John plucked the doll from it's place and brought it back to the crib. He leaned down to place it in little Ashley's arms. The girl clutched it tightly and settled again. John bent to kiss her forehead. "My beautiful little angel," he whispered.
"She looks so peaceful in sleep," Helen sighed.
"Her mother should be sleeping as well," John whispered. "Both my angels have a big day tomorrow."
"That we do," she agreed. She allowed John to tug her back to bed where they curled up together. "I love you John," she murmured as she fell back asleep.
John pulled her tighter to his body. "I love you too," he whispered.