This was just a random idea I had, I won't tell you too much about it just yet.
Crying. That was all he could hear. Groaning he turned on his side hoping it would stop, but it didn't. Who was that crying? Crying so loudly, and so high pitched - it was more of a scream than a cry. It was highly irritating but something in him didn't mind, part of him felt used to it and compelled to try and do something about it.
The noise wouldn't cease so he regretfully got out of bed, his mind fuzzy from the sleep. The early morning light began to crawl through the curtains, he knew he didn't have to be up yet but once he'd seen to the crying there'd be no use going back to bed.
He left his room, holding onto the door frame to keep him upright, retrieving his dressing gown, the shrill cries continuing. He made his way through the darkness reaching the correct door, fumbling for the door knob and managing to open it slightly before falling into the room.
The crying continued but someone was shushing them, trying to calm them down.
His eyes adjusted to the dim light, it illuminated a figure in the room, a ghostly white figure, material floating around its ankles as it swayed. A female. A slim female with long dark hair that cascaded in waves down her back, contrasting her pale skin and night gown.
Elsie, his wife.
She stood softly shushing their daughter back to sleep, whispering sweet words to the child who eventually fell silent to the music that was her mothers accent, bright eyes still staring at her.
He silently moved behind her, making his presence known by placing his hand on her hip, leaning over her shoulder to watch his daughter.
Turning her head towards him she whispered;
"I'm sorry did she wake you?"
"It's fine, is she alright?" He kissed her cheek and marvelled at how peaceful the babe looked after making such a noise.
"Yes." Elsie gazed at her to, unable to contain her smile for the girl she loved. "She was just upset. I don't think she likes being alone in her own room."
He stroked the child's cheek and she instinctively reached for his finger, clasping it in both her hands and cuddling it to her chest.
"You want to have her back with us?"
She looked guiltily at him as her answer, he tightened his grip on her waist, resting his head against her cheek; they'd moved Catherine into her own room in a hope that she might settle better and sleep through the night, but he knew Elsie missed her, she'd often stand over the crib just watching her bairn sleep, he would just stand and watch her. His beautiful girls.
He watched Catherine gently drift off, watched those bright blue eyes flutter shut. Her mothers eyes.
"Lets put her back then."
He let Elsie leave and take Catherine in her arms whilst he moved the cot. He loved the cot, it was made from pieces of his own childhood cot and Elsie's; their cots, far too old and fragile so while Elsie had been pregnant he'd rebuilt it and they'd painted it together. He didn't think he'd ever loved her more than when he'd watched her sitting crossed legged on the floor, paintbrush in hand, baby bump resting between her legs carefully lining the eyes of the flowers she'd drawn; biting her lip in concentration, a few strands of hair falling from the simple bun on her head.
He put the cot down beside the partially open window so she wouldn't overheat, ready to tuck his daughter in he turned to see a heart wrenching sight - Elsie sat on the bed, holding Catherine tightly against her chest, eyes closed as she bathed in the feeling of her child against her. Catherine wriggled in happiness, sighing in her sleep.
He sat next to he putting his arm around her.
"We need to put her to bed darling."
She turned her head, face begging him not to have to let her daughter go.
"Can't she stay with us?" she held her even closer, her protective side showing.
"No dear she can't." He brushed her hair behind her ear and gave her a sympathetic smile. "It's safer to put her in the cot."
Elsie looked down at her stroking the few strands of hair her daughter had. Sometimes she hated this protective side of her; she would just hold Catherine for hours, refusing to let her go, just wanting to hold her and love her.
He reached between them and took Catherine from her arms, Elsie's whimper not going unnoticed. Taking her to the cot and laid her back down, letting his fingers trace the outline of her tiny face, her whole head able to fit in the palm of his hand. For something so small she was so beautiful, a perfect miniature of Elsie. Bright blue eyes that shone in the sunlight, perfect little cheeks, dimples prominent when she laughed, and that smile. The smile her loved on his wife and adored on his daughter, her giggle could make him smile on the darkest of days and the way she would try to mimic her parents; sitting in the same positions, doing the same hand gestures, she was beginning to crawl as well and loved to follow him around but if she saw Elsie she would reach up to be cuddled.
He thought of the future, when he would teach her to walk, to ride a bicycle, Elsie would teach her to sing and dance and when she wasn't there, he would teach her to play their piano, special songs that Elsie loved so she would be pleasantly surprised.
There was so much ahead for them, so much they had in store for her - they didn't need more children know they had her, maybe they would have more but she was so special and always would be. Their Catherine.
He felt her hand on his arm and turned to see her smiling again, she reached up to brush the stray tears from his cheek.
"She's perfect isn't she?" She whispered, glancing back at the sleeping girl as she cuddled her blanket.
"Everything's perfect" he replied, closing the distance between them and lowering his head so his lips met hers, sliding his arms around her waist as she rested hers on his elbows, sharing a kiss of love and devotion to each other, a hint of passion but not tonight, everything was gentle and simply perfect.
He felt her pull back, but she didn't just break the kiss, it was as if she was falling backwards, he tried to keep hold of her, pull her to his chest but she fell, he called her name as their lips parted but she fell and darkness swallowed her, his empty arms turned to Catherine as he reached her but they fell straight through her as the darkness engulfed her too. Panicking he span in the room, their room, their home together but it was slowly disappearing, every object, every photograph, their lives disappearing as black smoke danced around him taking everything he loved with it. He tried to shout, yelling. "No, stop!" Trying to make his way through the smoke grabbing at nothing, trying to find something. He shouted again but nothing, there was nothing left.
He could hear his name being called, a woman, a woman was calling his name, it was her, she was there somewhere. "Elsie?"
But something was wrong, she wasn't there, he couldn't see her, yet he could hear her, her frantic calls of his name increasing in volume until she gripped his arm and he turned his head, his eyes opened. She was stood over his bed, dressing gown pulled tightly around her, her hair laying over her shoulder in a loose plait.
"Mr Carson? You were shouting, is everything alright?" Her voice was filled with worry but there was something different about her eyes - the warmth he'd seen had gone.
"Yes Mrs Hughes, I apologise."
She smiled softly and bid him goodnight, not hearing Charles' words as she closed the door.
"I miss you."
Okay don't hate me too much ;) please review! Free cake for all those that do.