Author's note: This takes place in the "Sing, Nightingale" universe. If you haven't read that story, I HIGHLY recommend it. This story is posted on my tumblr too ( blog/alisonster) As always, I own nothing:
The sun was just starting to peek through the curtains when little Hope started crying. While not an unexpected behavior from a three month old, it was made worse by the fact that Chell had just finished feeding her less than half an hour ago. As she began to roll out of bed again, a hand rubbed soothingly down her back.
"No, no love," Wheatley said, his voice still a bit rough with sleep. "I'll check on her, you try and get some more shut eye."
Still a bit groggy, Wheatley went down the hall to see what had his daughter so upset.
"What's wrong Darlin'?" He cooed as he lifted her from her crib. He cradled Hope to his chest and started to check her diaper. "You can't be hungry again, you just ate you glutton. Your diaper is all nice and dry. So why all the fuss? Are you lonely? Need a bit of a cuddle?"
He chuckled as he lowered his lanky frame into the nearby upholstered rocking chair and tucked the baby in close. He rocked her slowly.
"I'm afraid that's a bit of your Dad's personality showing through there," he said as he trailed a string of little kisses across the top of her head. "But don't you worry, your Dad always has time to snuggle with you. Your Mum too, but she could really do with some sleep right now, so you've got me."
Calmed by his voice, Hope looked up at her dad with fascination, her sky blue eyes wide with wonder. Wheatley felt a tide of love and affection rise over him as he couldn't keep from nuzzling his little girl. He was still in awe of this amazing tiny person he and Chell had made.
"I really love you, do you know that?" Wheatley said to her. "You and your Mum both….you're the two most important things in the world to me. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you ladies. I mean that. I do."
Settling himself more comfortably into the chair, Wheatley continued his one-sided conversation.
"Did I ever tell you how your Mum and I met? It was like something out of a fairy tale."
Gently patting the baby's back, Wheatley warmed to his story of a princess in an enchanted sleep, a dungeon run by an evil queen and a knight in dented, sparking armor.
"…and then the princess found the knight again. Laying in a field, cold, confused and without his armor. And even though she didn't have to, she took the knight back to her cottage, taught him how to live again and showed him what his real destiny was. And the knight had the opportunity to show her how truly, truly sorry he was for his earlier behavior. And over time, they became true friends, and then they fell in love. So the knight gathered all his courage and asked the princess to marry him. And she said yes! Can you believe it? There are days where I still don't. It was a bloody miracle…..um I forgot I'm not suppose to say "bloody" in front of you….sorry….anyway, so the princess said yes, and they got married, and it was perfect. Then a few years later you came along! The most brilliant princess ever, and your Mum and I have never been happier. The end."
Beaming down at Hope, Wheatley watched as she gave an almighty yawn and then drifted off to sleep. Proud of himself for successfully calming the baby, it took him a moment or two to realize that Chell was leaning against the door frame. Her mouth had a slight smirk, but she was looking at him with affection and tenderness. She hadn't heard him, had she? He didn't think he had been talking that loud. He saw her eyes flick to the top of Hope's dresser. He followed her gaze and that's when he saw it.
The baby monitor.
Crumbs, he had forgotten about it. That meant that Chell had definitely heard every word of his story.
Blushing a little, he looked back at Chell and simply held open his arm, inviting her to come sit with him too. Smiling, Chell crossed the room and cuddled into Wheatley's embrace, her head resting in the crook of his neck as she too gazed at their daughter.
He gave her a gentle squeeze as he kissed her forehead. "I love you," he said softly. She squeezed him back, kissed his neck and said "I love you too." God, she had been speaking for a couple of years now, but hearing her voice still sent shivers down his spine.
Rocking his wife and his daughter, while the sun streamed into the cozy room he and Chell had painstakingly decorated together, Wheatley decided at this moment, there was no one happier on the planet than him.
One more author's note:If you like Wheatley's story, you should check out "The Trial of the Bow" which is fairy tale retelling of Portal 1 &2. The sequel covers Blue Sky. Thanks everyone!
