"Carswell, watch out, you're going to -"
Crash into the wall Thorne did, going face-first and causing his and Cress's three year old son, Luca, who was perched on top of his shoulders, to burst into a fit of giggles.
"Again, Daddy!"
"Okay, Luca, but maybe this time don't cover my eyes?"
"Okay, Daddy."
Cress watched, partially amused and partially concerned, as her husband ran around the ship with their little son on his shoulders, before she noticed the time. "Luca, two minutes and then it's bedtime, okay?"
"Aww!"
Cress smiled at Luca's response. He was always so energetic. She looked down at her newborn daughter, Esme, who was sleeping in her lap, and wondered if she'd be like her big brother, too. She supposed it didn't really matter either way. She and Thorne would love her no matter what.
She waited out the full two minutes before calling, "Okay, Luca, bedtime!"
Thorne came into the Rampion living room - a spare bedroom they'd put a couch into - with Luca on his shoulders. "Okay, buddy, time to go down."
Luca sighed, and Thorne lowered him onto the couch next to Cress. Cress smiled and kissed Luca's forehead. "Bath?"
Luca nodded solemnly. "With all the toys in the whole ship."
"You got it."
Thorne scooped Luca up again, making him squeal. "I got this one, Cress."
She smiled gratefully as Thorne whisked Luca away, leaving her with sleeping Esme.
Later, when Cress and Thorne had managed to get both children into bed, telling Luca stories and bringing him drinks and searching for him at one point, feeding Esme and changing her and deliberating over whether or not they should let her cry, they crashed on the couch, exhausted.
Cress's eyes were closing, and she knew good and well she would have to be up in another few hours with Esme again.
"Cress?" Thorne whispered.
"Yeah?"
He reached over and took her hand. "I love you."
She smiled. "I love you, too, Carswell."