~ One-shot of Rowan and Aelin's first child ~
ROWAN P.O.V
Rowan awoke groggy and considerably dismayed to hear the cries of his infant child. Groaning, he rolled over and reached out into the darkness to nudge Aelin awake, signaling that it was her turn to hush the little one. Aelin only nudged back harder and thus locking them in a sleepy, silent showdown about who would have to get up this time. Of course, Rowan lost when Aelin suddenly kicked back her foot and nailed him in the groin. Rowan groaned louder and growled at the back of Aelin's head before ripping the blanket off of himself.
He silently padded out of their quarters and across the hall, relieving the night guard of his position in front of Nehemia's door. Rowan slowly opened the heavy oak door and silently stepped into the moonlit room, approaching the cradle that held his daughter.
As he peered into the cradle and at the infant, astonishingly, her howls and cries were almost instantly quieted. Rowan's heart ached with joy and love as little Nehemia reached out her pale little hands and grabbed at the air the way babies do when they long for something. He reached down and lifted Nehemia to his chest, cradling her in his arms. Her silver tufts of hair shining in the moonlight as rowan rocked her into a soundless sleep, but he did not place her back into the cradle.
No, instead he walked out of the nursery with a sleeping baby in his arms and silently re-entered his sleeping quarters. Aelin was asleep when he slipped into the room and on the bed beside her with little Nehemia in between them. And as Rowan looked between his old love and his new love, in that moment, he was heartbreakingly happy.