Sometimes he had nightmares, of being in a dark glass bottomed boat as an evil green light rose from the deep. Waking to a piteous cry from the next room, she sat up and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder to push him back.
"Stay, sleep," she murmured with a small smile. "This sounds like a job for--"
"Mo--mmy!"
Squinting with sleep, she sat on the side of the bed, lightly tracing patterns onto her child's back until the fear slid out of those wiry little muscles. Then she absorbed a moment of stillness, taking a simple, motherly satisfaction from his tranquil sleep and soft breathing. Before she left, she pushed his hair from his forehead with a tired smile. No spit curls as yet. She let herself fall back into bed with an exaggerated flop and sprawling of limbs to wake him. To let him know she had returned for once, as he always gently stirred her just enough to set her at ease. Then she could sleep deeper, knowing that all things in the world were as right as one man could make them and that no harm had come to him in the righting.
But now she had the bed to herself. Allowing herself a quick sigh, she stretched out, plucking discontentedly at the sheet. For a moment, she imagined what emergency had called him away, but extended hours over a thankless bout of fact-checking weighed heavily on her bones. Sleep overtook her swiftly.
The mattress shifted, and she let out a long breath as warmth settled in next to her and an arm slipped around her. A light kiss was tucked just beneath her jaw and she murmured something contently incoherent at him, her hand coming to rest with his.