The young girl slowly turned around her bed for the twentieth time now as she tried to get some sleep; she turned the pillow at least five times yet the sleep hadn't overwhelmed her at all. She wanted to go to her parent's room to get some help but she didn't want to disturb them at the same time, the intense battle in her head going on for a full minute before she lifted herself out of the bed.

"It's their job," she grumbled to absolutely no one as she grudgingly went down the hall to see if they were still asleep, but it was 2 am, so it wasn't a surprise to see the 2 women fast asleep. The girl went further into their room and gawked at the two; Maya, although holding the most uncomfortable position, had the goofiest smile on her face. She had her arms embraced around the other woman while talking over 3/4 of the bed at the same time; a feat that most woman wouldn't be able to do at the same time, especially with a smile that big. Franziska, however, had a perfect posture while asleep: perfect hand location, perfect pillow, perfect hair, Maria couldn't believe that her mother could keep such a straight face.

But she wasn't here to mentally grill her...

She hovered over to where Maya was, her back facing her, and she shook her for a few seconds. Maria, half expecting her to jolt awake at such a messy position, stayed dormant. She did it again, yet the same result. She bent down to reach Maya's face (she was still very short) and whispered in her ear "Mummy, I can't sleep", starting to hopelessly repeat the statement as she stayed still. After a full minute, the sense of defeat came as she dragged herself away from the bed, but just as she went to turn her head around to leave...

"What are you doing at such an hour?" The sharp yet non-bitter words of Franziska invaded the room as she tried to lift her body, but the arms of Maya keeping her down; suddenly getting nervous for all a sudden, for no reason at all, Maria whispered loud enough to say "Mother, I am unable to clear my mind but now-".

"Do not think that only fools are foolish enough to find it hard to sleep." There was no bitter tone this time, Maria's eyes lightening once again. "You can sleep here if you can pry her off me."


Franziska heard her Maria trying to stifle her giggles as she started to pry Maya's arms off her body. "She is really sharp," Maria remarked which brought a smile to her face; that was exactly what Miles had said when he saw the scratch marks on her back, but she wouldn't tell her that story. As soon as both arms were off her, she felt her daughter slowly maneuver between her wife and her from the foot of the bed under the covers; another smile crept onto her face as she saw her daughter look up to meet her eyes as she reached closer to the pillows at the top. When she finally reached her level, she did a short hug around her neck, before turning around to hug Maya.

Seeing the two embraced made her heart skip beats, even though Maya was still sound asleep. One thing for sure is that they share the same smile, as she gazed at the two. She still couldn't believe how lucky she was to have a daughter like her, and she promised to never treat her the same way her father had all those years ago; she didn't mind if she got 90% in a spelling test, or care if she didn't walk properly, or any of that nonsense.

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice her Maria turn around and hug her again. Smiling softly, she whispered "Goodnight," expecting her to turn back to Maya to hug her for the rest of the night. What she didn't expect was her to stay hugging her, or to see her sleeping against her body with the same smile. Franziska tensed for a second, before awkwardly hugging her back.

For the very first time since her childhood, she slept imperfectly. But it felt even more perfect to have the second most beautiful girl in her arms, and she made an internal promise never to let her go.