AUTHORS NOTE: So Lee is kicking my ass at this game! I'm going to have to get a bloody jog on! Here's my letter 'B' in my alphabet challenge. This is not a chronological story, we will be flashing back like you don't know what – depending on what the word is. Just so you know.
[Bubble]
Lying down on the bed, Stuart and Ronan were mesmerised by the rainbow coloured bubbles that floated from the small machine on his bedside table over them and towards the window. Ronan was curled up against Stuart's chest, a happy smile on her face as she reached out to touch one of the bubbles. The smile was replaced with a squeal of happiness when it popped, the soap sprinkling over the pair of them but neither minded.
The doctor had stated that sensory activities would lull their daughter out of the vulnerable cocoon that she'd found herself in. The two men had tried everything. They'd bought a piano for the large town house and Stuart had taken up playing the odd note or tune with the girl every night. Ronan would be sat on his knee, her hands on his as she felt the way his hands moved over the keys and listening to the sound as well as feeling the vibrations. Eventually, Ronan had started to hum along with the tune and Stuart found himself considering the possibility that a singing voice was hidden inside their quiet little girl.
Each attempt at bringing her out of her shell had been a success and now she was the first one to instigate contact with either of the two men, the first to start a timid conversation and her laughter was always there, and it was a beautiful sound that lit up the entire house.
The doctor had stated that they'd achieved their goal and they no longer needed to participate in the activities. Stuart, however, had decided that he wanted to continue them. The bond that had formed between Ronan and he throughout these activities had intensified and he wasn't prepared to lose it just because the doctor said she no longer needed them.
So that's how they found themselves here, lying on a bed and staring at rainbow coloured bubbles. Ronan, beside him, was humming the rainbow song because they hadn't yet managed to tease her singing voice out but Stuart knew it would arrive eventually. Snuggling up against him, she pressed a kiss to the side of his neck before standing up on the bed, the bubbles wrapping around her as she twirled. Stuart stared at her face, his grin wide as she giggled happily as the bubbles popped against her skin.
"If she was a twenty year old girl, I'd think this was a por...," Stuart glared over at his husband at the door and he just smiled, "a bad movie." He auto-corrected before stepping into the room. Ronan jumped off the bed and into his arms, her head thrown back as she squealed while Ewan spun her round.
Eventually, the two of them collapsed down on the bed with a thud causing Stuart to roll his eyes but didn't chastise them. Slowly, they both moved it up the bed and Ewan leant over their daughter to press a kiss against Stuart's lips.
"Daddy! I can't see the bubbles!" Ewan just made a noise before lying back on the bed, Ronan in the middle and Stuart still in his position.
They were nowhere near a picture perfect family but, in Stuart's opinion, they were pretty damned close. How many other men in their positions, one a detective and the other a supposed gang lord, would be content to lie on their bed, snuggled up with their beautiful daughter and staring at bubbles? Linking his fingers with Ewan above Ronan's head, he settled back on the bed with a content smile on his face.