Andy's fingers gently tangled in Sharon's hair, stroking through the dark strands as she slept beside him. Her head rested against his shoulder and he didn't plan on letting her sleep there much longer, worried her neck would ache when she woke up. He wasn't ready to wake her yet, so he continued stroking her hair to help her sleep.
His head started to fall to rest against hers, but he shook himself awake and yawned. She didn't stir beside him and he couldn't help but sigh. The doctor appointment filled with various tests and trials had exhausted her and he felt his heart ache in sympathy, wishing he could wipe away all of her pain. Knowing he couldn't, he settled for taking whatever she would allow him to.
As he started to nod off again, a bird cawed loudly outside. He opened his eyes and shot a glare in the general direction of the noise, but Sharon jerked awake and sat up.
"What was that?" Her voice was heavily coated in sleep and a hint of fear.
"Just a bird. Sounded like a raven or something." He shrugged and rubbed her arm. "Why don't we shower and head to bed, my dear?"
She shook her head and stood up, rubbing at her eyes beneath her glasses. "No, Rusty's going to be hungry when he gets home and I want to know what that sound was." She started toward the door, leaving Andy to sigh and follow.
"Rusty's already home and he already ate, so you don't have to worry about that. And the noise was a bird, so still nothing to worry about." He stepped onto the terrace with her, his hand coming to rest on her back as she looked around. "The bird was probably flying by."
He gave the terrace a quick once-over and didn't see anything, but Sharon was still searching. A softer 'hoot' came from their right and Sharon pulled away from him to inspect the corner. "Andy, look..."
He stepped closer and bent over to see where she was looking, his eyebrow arching in surprise. Nestled up under where the wall met the floor were four birds. Two large ones hovered protectively over two small babies. Sharon knelt down to look closer, gasping softly as one of the babies let out a soft chirp.
"Mockingbirds," she murmured, smiling. "Mimicking a raven and an owl." She looked up at Andy and he couldn't help but smile in return.
"We should leave them alone..." He straightened up and offered his hand to help her up.
She took the offered hand after a moment and stood, pausing to glance back down at the next. "Will they be okay there?"
"I'm sure they will. We can check on them tomorrow, hm?" He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head.
She tilted her head so their lips met, her small smile still lingering. "I love you."
"I love you too, Sharon."
