She wakes him in the dark of the night, shaking his shoulder ever so slightly.
"Preston," she whispers. "Preston."
The sound of his name on her lips alerts him to the waking world, slowly drawing forth his consciousness. Lazily, he spins around, opening his eyes to the dimness of the lamplight in their bedroom.
"Yes, babe?" he says.
"The settlement needs your help."
"It does?" he mutters, almost falling asleep, but then his mind springs to attention. The settlement needs help! Is it the Gunners? The Raiders? A super mutant attack? he wonders swiftly, sitting up on the bed, his hand stretching towards the musket by the bedside. A soft laugh from a woman beside him stops him in an instant.
Only then do his ears pick up another sound—a baby's cry from the neighbouring room, growing more intense with each passing second until it is a wail echoing in the night air of otherwise silent Sanctuary. Soon joined by a low growl of the dog outside.
"See what I meant? It's your turn now, hon." she says.
"All right, I'll go save the settlement from sleeplessness." he says, pressing a quick kiss on her lips before going to mind his new-born son next door.