Cry in the Night: One Shot
Laying his stomach, feeling the coolness of he sheets against his arms as he moved to get more comfortable. A cry sounded out bringing his hazy mind into slow wakefulness. The cry kept sounding out of the monitor. Lifting himself up into a sitting position, his long legs going onto the floor. Looking at the clock it read 3 am.
Inhaling and then exhaling on a tired sigh, he got up and headed towards the closed bedroom door. Opening into the hall, he turned to close the door leaving a crack as he glanced into the room towards the end of the bed. Slowly an elongated lump formed under the sheets could be seen from the low light in the hall. Turning he continued down the hall; entering the first door on the left.
The soft glow of the night light brought the wooden crib into view. Walking over and reaching in, he picked up his 3 week old son. Cradling his crying son's frame into his arms. The baby immediately lowered his cries to whimpers as he felt the warmth and movement holding him. Looking up into his father's eyes he quieted completely. Smiling down at his son's antics he sat in the cushioned rocking chair.
"Hey little guy I see its time for out nightly bonding, huh?" He was still amazed at how small his son was. He could fit his son into his hands, wide and callused from practicing/working hard at his tennis career. His son didn't seem to mind the rough calluses as they rubbed his back in a soothing motion. Love filled very part of his being as his son looked up at him, staring blankly at his father, in a way only babies can do and still look cute. The familiar features of his father's voice and face seemed to completely calm him and make him happy.
This bonding ritual had become a nightly think since bringing the baby home. At 8 pm mommy nursed the baby to sleep, then both would go to bed. Later he would place the baby in his crib at 10, when he went to bed. At 3 am the baby would whine/cry until his he got up to be with him, and feed him a bottle. They would 'hang out' until 4 or 5, and then daddy would put his son back into his crib as he slept. This way mommy could get her sleep before she and the baby went to work together. He didn't have to get up until 9 while she got up at 7.
He began playing with the small green curl atop his son's head. The baby had surprisingly been born with a head of this dark hair. The baby's eyes began to close as his father rocked him, his father continuing to play with his hair as his mind wondered. It wondered quickly from the baby, to their income, to tennis, to his own childhood, his wife and then back to the baby. After another 10 minutes the baby was sound asleep again. Putting him in bed, he patted his back, covered him and headed back to his own bed and the partner who he shared it with.
"Ryoma? Is the baby okay?" Asked his wife in a sleepy voice. Ryoma climbed into bed, pulling her towards him.
"Ryouharu is fine." Pulling the covers over her shoulders he kissed her head. "Go back to sleep Sakuno." She nodded snuggling into his chest. And as Ryoma closed his eyes he was content, ready to face the question of tomorrow's future problems. Thinking he was truly content.