A/N: Hi guys. Here's a little one shot that popped into my head. All typos and mistakes are mine.

I'm dedicating this to Helen; she helped to inspire this fic. I love her. A lot.

I hope you enjoy.

The room was dark and silent apart from the small spots of light dancing on the ceiling from a nightlight and the gentle gurgling of the eight month old girl who occupied the cot in the corner.

Her father was sitting in an armchair watching her sleep. It was a ritual he'd begun from the day she had been born. A smile crept onto his face as he watched his daughter fidget in her sleep. He contemplated crossing the room and lifting her out; he liked her to be close to his heart. The gentle thub-thub seemed to help her sleep. Giving in after he saw her eyes open, he gathered up the baby in his arms and returned to his chair. She grabbed onto the one of the cords on his hoody with one hand and held his finger with the other. His thumb stroked over the tiny fingers. She was a miracle. And she was his. He'd never seen anything so perfect, except for maybe his wife but his baby had all of her best features – her eyes, her smile and he had a feeling the attitude would start to show very soon.

"We've got to be quiet, we don't want to disturb Mummy," he whispered, "She's been rushed off her feet today so she needs her rest."

The tiny girl squeezed his finger in response. She knew his voice. It had echoed through too her while she was still in her mother's womb and so now it was one of the things that soothed her.

It didn't take long for her to return to sleep nestled to her father's chest. He would have kept her there all night but she'd get too used to not sleeping alone if he did. Content that she was unlikely to wake up again for a while, he placed her back in the cot.


He'd been sat in the armchair for a good while just watching again when he heard the door open. He turned his head to see his wife leaning in the doorway. She smiled warmly at him although her eyes gave away the tiredness. He moved slightly and extended his arm to her. She approached him and sat on his lap. Somehow, she managed to find a way of curling up; knees butted against the arm of the chair and her head resting on his shoulder His arms folded around her waist and held her close to him.

Kissing the top of her head he whispered, "I love you," into her hair. He felt her smile against his neck. Knowing she would soon be in the land of nod he shifted a little to make sure he was comfortable and wouldn't have to move again and wake her. As soon as her breathing was even and her body was relaxed he began to whisper into the shadows.

"You know, looking back, I never would have guessed that I'd end up like this, not in a million years. I wasn't a good person, not really. I was selfish; I'd have stepped on anyone's toes on the way to getting what I wanted. Then I met your mum, Flo, and things began to change. The things I wanted began to change.

You'd hardly believe we used to loathe each other, would you? We used to fight all the time at work but then there was one shift, just one, and it changed the way I looked at her. We still fought, of course we did, you know what we're like, but it was different.

I can't imagine my life without her; the times between our first failed attempts at a relationship were hell. She completes me and you, petal, are the cherry on the cake. I know I don't always show it but I love you both more than you could ever know."

He took a deep, steadying breath before continuing.

"I have to tell you, Flo, the reason I sit with you nearly every night. Daddy's living on borrowed time. I have a tumour in my brain that's hell set on killing me. I probably won't get to see you grow up into the amazing woman I know you'll become, I won't get to see you get married nor have kids of your own. Who knows, maybe some new procedure might come out of the blue and give me a little more precious time but I think I've already played that hand.

I want you to grow up knowing that your Daddy loved you more and more every day. I want you to remember me sitting here. Even if you remember feeling like you were never alone, that'll be good enough for me. You won't ever be alone; I'll always be with you just like I'll always be with your mum."

He stopped when he felt a tear on his skin. It wasn't his.

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough," she replied softly.

"Come on, let's go to bed."

They both moved from the chair to the cot and placed kissed on their daughter's head. Florence's eyes opened for a second and held her father's gaze. Her tiny eyes sparkled in the light.

"I love you, Florence."

She gurgled happily before her eyes closed and a small smile played at the corner of her mouth.


They lay tangled together in the darkness, neither one wanting to let go.

"I'll always love you Nick, always. Every time I see our daughter I'll be reminded of how much you love me too."

He kissed her, "Forever Zoe, forever."