A/N: Hiya, I'm back. I was inspired while listening to Peter Combe's "Lullaby" (which, unfortunately, I couldn't use as I couldn't find the lyrics) to write another family story, this time looking at Michael and the kids. So there's not really that much Jackie in this one. Hope you don't mind!
The song in this Chapter is "Little Cowboy" by Harry Nilsson. Hope you enjoy!
Bedtime Duty:
Little Cowboy
There was no denying that motherhood was a blessing, but there were times when Jackie could almost wish it was a blessing she didn't have.
This was one of those times.
No matter what she did she couldn't get Jimmy to go to sleep. And she had tried everything: she'd fed him, she'd changed him and she'd sung to him. Nothing seemed to be working.
She jumped as a dishevelled Michael came to join her.
"Give him to me," he suggested.
Jackie looked doubtful, "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, you have work tomorrow and..."
"Jackie," Michael cut her off, "you're tired, give him to me," he added firmly.
Still looking doubtful Jackie did so, "Now go to bed," Michael ordered as he made his way to a nearby chair.
"You haven't been this bossy since we worked together," Jackie teased.
Michael laughed, "You never did what I told you to then either."
Jackie stuck her tongue out at him before stifling a yawn. She rolled her eyes at Michael's look and, without another word, left the room.
Michael looked down at the squalling infant, "Now, my boy, you really need to get some sleep," Michael informed him as he sat down.
Jimmy paused for a few moments in his fussing before he started up again. Sighing Michael shifted his hold on him and began to sing a lullaby in low tones:
"Little cowboy, put your saddle in the barn
Tie your horse up tight, so he'll know no harm
Put your hat and your gun
Beside you on the chair
Don't forget, you've got to say a little prayer
Little cowboy, you'd better hit the sandman trail
Or you'll be late for roundup time you know
If you wanna be a cowboy, you'd better rest a while
Little cowboy baby of the old corral
Little cowboy baby of the old corral"
He had to sing it through twice more before Jimmy finally quietened down and a further one and a half times before Jimmy finally drifted off to sleep.
Gently, so as not to wake him, Michael put him back into the cradle before he snuck out of the room.
"From now on, you're on bedtime duty," Jackie mumbled as he climbed into the bed beside her.
"Whatever makes you happy," Michael told her as he pulled her close.
