G is for Gentle!
Patrick couldn't help but smile as he was stood in the doorway to his bedroom one evening and he watched his wife pace slowly back and forth with Teddy settled in her arms, her gentle voice filling the air as she pulled his soft blanket further around his tiny body and continued to sing a soothing Gaelic lullaby whilst she gazed down at her little miracle. Edward had only been a member of the Turner family for two days, but he had already managed to claim his mother's heart. There was no denying that Shelagh was completely besotted with her little boy, considering she couldn't draw her eyes away from him when he would take his milk from her, and Patrick never tired of seeing her eyes light up whenever Edward snuggled against her chest when she attempted to settle him down for a nap. She was an incredible mother.
Shelagh was always so gentle and compassionate with both he and their children, and she managed to make him so immensely proud of her by the little things that she did. She hardly ever scolded Angela or Timothy when they made mistakes, and even when she did, her voice would still hold the softness that Patrick adored so much. Anyone could see that Shelagh would give everything up in a heartbeat to give her children the childhood that she never had, which was probably why she was so respected in the community. She had a way with children, which was one of the reasons why Patrick felt so honoured to call her his wife. Every caress that she left upon her children's cheeks were so light that they could barely be felt, but they still said everything that her words never could. They expressed the love she possessed.
She wasn't only gentle when showing affection to the children that had all managed to bring her so much joy, but to her husband as well whenever they made love. The kisses that she left upon his lips, even when they were hungry and fueled by desire, were still gentle and warm as she tangled her fingers slowly in his dark brown hair. Her hands were smooth and therapeutic as she ran them soothingly along his chest whilst they kissed long into the night, her nimble fingers easily unbuttoning his shirt before she would drop it to the floor and run the tips of them through the dark hair that covered his torso. There was never a time that Shelagh was anything other than gentle and loving, and her family adored that the most about her. 'It's rather rude to stare, you know.' Her beautiful voice brought him back to the present.
A loving smile formed upon his lips as he made his way across their bedroom before placing his hand on the back of her head and drawing her slightly closer, kissing the warmth of her brow lingeringly as she continued to soothe their son. 'You're such an incredible mother.' He murmured against her hairline once he had wrapped his arm around her middle and allowed her to lean into him, Edward nuzzling against his mother as she gazed sleepily down at him. 'It's no wonder that our children love you so much, my love.' Her gentle hum of appreciation broke through the comfortable silence of the room when she rested her head upon his shoulder and nuzzled into his neck, her lips brushing slowly against the soft skin that she discovered there before he kissed her warm brown hair. 'Hmm, I think someone else is sleepy too.'
'I didn't have time to rest today.' She admitted as she sighed lovingly against his neck and felt him brush his thumb against the base of her back through her nightgown. 'Not with Timothy needing me to help him pack for his camping trip and Angela feeling unwell. I've not really had chance to sit down since you left for work this morning, Patrick, and my feet are killing me.' She felt the lingering kiss which his lips left upon the side of her head, a sleepy smile spreading across her face as she allowed her eyes to flutter open and catch Edward staring up at her. She pulled away from her husband's warmth a few seconds later, cradling her son close before dipping her head and kissing his hairline tenderly. 'I can't stop kissing him.' She admitted with a slight giggle as Patrick brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. 'I adore him.'
'I know you do, my beautiful girl.' He smiled as he cupped the side of his wife's neck and brushed his thumb against her sharp jawline before catching her in a long and tender kiss, feeling her sigh gently into his mouth as their tongues touched and she smiled against his lips. 'I'm taking the day off tomorrow and staying home to help you care for the children, Shelagh.' He spoke softly to her as his hand settled on her hip and he brushed his thumb against it through her nightgown, pressing the tip of his finger to her lips when he saw her begin to object. 'No buts.' She kissed the pad of his finger lightly before he began to lead her over to their bed and she allowed him to pull back the covers for her, her heart swelling with love for him as she got onto the bed and settled back against the headboard. 'I love you, Mrs. Turner.'
He pressed a tender kiss to the crown of her head once he had replaced the quilt over her lap and she sank into her pillows, his hand running along the length of her arm before he pulled away and a soft and long yawn escaped her. 'Will you come and cuddle with me whilst I feed him?' Her voice had taken on that gentle tone again as she made to untie the ribbon at her shoulder, nothing but pure love in his eyes as he nodded and made his way around to his own side of the bed. Edward had already latched onto his mother's breast when he settled back against the headboard, his tiny hand cupping the warm skin that he discovered upon the swell of it as he sucked rather eagerly upon her nipple. 'It feels incredible.' She admitted as Patrick slid his arm around her shoulders. 'To be able to watch him take his milk off of me.'
'I'm so proud of you for how far you've come since you agreed to become my wife, you know.' He pressed a warm kiss to her shoulder as she gazed down at their son, her hand resting lovingly upon the back of Edward's head as she smiled. 'We've faced so many troubles together, and you've still stayed so strong through it all when you could have just given up hoping. Every time something has gone wrong, I've realized that we always seem to get something good out of it in the end.' She turned her head to face him, a sweet smile upon her lips. 'We were told that we would never be able to have a baby through our lovemaking, and then we were blessed with Angela less than a year later. Then there was the threatened miscarriage with Edward, but we kept hoping and now he's ours and he's loved.'
'I never could have gotten through all of that if you weren't by my side.' She admitted sleepily as she allowed her head to rest back against his shoulder, his fingertips stroking the warm skin of her arm as their son's sucking had quietened considerably. 'You held my hand through every one of those problems, and I feel so blessed to have you.' He kissed the centre of her forehead slowly. 'I love you, Patrick.'
'I love you too, sweetheart.' He sighed as he nuzzled his nose against her hairline. 'More than anything.'
The kiss that she left to the warm skin of his neck just below his jaw was completely filled with gentility and love.
Just like her.
Author's Note: I know this ended a little abruptly, but I wasn't exactly sure what else to write and I thought it was pretty sweet to end like this, so I hope you don't mind too much! I'd like to thank everyone who has read this story so far, and for all the support that I have received! I love writing for this couple, and this is just one way for me to cope until this year's Christmas special which seems as though it's never going to get here! Only 153 days left, guys! Please review this chapter and tell me what you thought of it, because I'd be so grateful if you did. Next Chapter: H is for Holiday!