Michiru felt a hand on her arm, tugging slightly as she turned to face whoever had woken her up.
"Hime-chan? What's wrong?" she yawned, sitting up and switching on the light.
"I had a bad dream." The little girl whispered, flinching slightly as Haruka sat up and yawned.
"You okay brat?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep as she glanced over at her, managing to look concerned.
Haruka didn't even give her time to answer before getting out of bed and going over to the child and kneeling to her height.
"How about you just sleep in here with us? I think it's too early for anyone to function." She suggested, picking up the young girl who instantly wrapped her arms around Haruka's neck.
Hotaru laughed softly as Haruka half crashed back onto the bed, earning a chuckle from Haruka.
"Let's try to get some sleep monkey." Haruka mumbled, kissing her daughter's cheek before moving to make both of them comfortable.
"Goodnight papa." Hotaru stated, earning a chuckle.
"Night runt." Haruka replied, yawning.
"Night Mama."
Michiru felt the little girl cuddle against her, causing her to chuckle.
"Goodnight firefly."
Haruka lay awake for a while that night, just in case Hotaru woke up again. She remembered being that small and really wanting her parents to protect her from the fictional monsters in her head, though she never had the luxury of actually getting more than a lecture….let alone sleeping in the same bed as her parents.
Sighing she closed her eyes as the memories replied through her mind, reminding her of everything she wished that she could forget.
However the thoughts stopped, suddenly as she felt a hand slid into hers
"You're proving yourself wrong all the time Ruka. Hotaru will know that she can come to either of us if she needs to." Michiru's voice whispered in the darkness, reminding the blonde that she didn't have to worry about the pain she had felt before because now she had a fresh start with people that would never hurt her.
"I want her to know that I will protect her too Michiru. You usually are the one who kisses scrapes and all that….I've never so much as cuddled with her. I want her to be able to approach me without thinking that her father will bite her head off." Haruka replied, earning a sigh.
"you never yelled at her if she was upset….If she came to you crying you always were aloof and awkward but you didn't do anything too scaring." Michiru stated.
Haruka sighed and glanced over at the two, glad that Hotaru was sleeping.
"No but I'm sure I made that little girl feel like shit. I wasn't exactly a comfort either." Haruka retorted, but then added "I told you I'd be whatever that little girl needed and I swear I will. I just want you not to expect me to be perfect….I…..I've never had any decent reference to how to be a parent."