"Daddy. Mummy," is what Lee heard faintly coming from his and Lucy's bedroom doorway. There was a faint sound of snuffling as well to be heard.
Opening an eye he lifted his head from his pillow and peered over Lucy's form. His sleepy gaze immediately found his daughter, clutching her teddy in her left hand and her right hand wiping her face.
"What is it,sweetheart?" He whispered his question over to her as he tried to let Lucy sleep. Lee watched as his daughter crept the length ofthe room to reach his side.
"I had a nightmare," was the sniffly reply to Lee's question. So that's what was upsetting his little girl.
"Do you want to tell me what about?" He asked as he sat himself up more in bed and switching his lamp on the dimmest setting.
"No," came her answer as she stared at him with fear in her eyes.
"Do you want to stay here?" He questioned as he lifted the duvet up slightly. Receiving a nod from his daughter he lifted her up and into the middle of the bed between him and Lucy.
Switching the lamp off he went back to lying down. His daughter was to his side, still with her eyes wide open,
underneath the duvet and her back facing Lucy as she watched him.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me?" He asked again softly as he brought her over to his side, her little hand clutching at his shirt. He didn't receive a reply. Lee looked down to find her fast asleep. Putting his head back down on the pillow Lee drifted off as well.
Lucy awoke the next morning to find an extra person had invaded her bed. Rubbing her eyes she sat up to see her daughter sleeping next to Lee who was now half off the bed and half in.
Smiling softly she reached a hand over to remove a piece of blonde hair from her eyes before tracing her daughters cheek. Five years had gone quick and soon it would be her sixth birthday.
"Morning," Lee whispered to Lucy who was unaware that he was even awake. He had begun trying to shuffle back into the bed.
"Morning," she whispered back as he grabbed hold of her hand.
"What time did she come in?" Lucy questioned as she motioned to her daughter, sleeping soundly beside them.
"About two. She had a nightmare," he said as an explanation. As Lucy brought her free hand and brushed it through Ellie's hair.
"Did she tell you what it was about?"
"No she didn't want to speak about it," he whispered as Lucy nodded her head against the pillow.
"We'll have to warn mum and dad about it," Lucy whispered to Lee as he agreed. Ellie was having a day out with Wendy and Geoffrey today.
Soon Ellie had awoken and was peering at Lee and Lucy.
"Can't you keep quiet?" She asked sleepily as Lucy and Lee's mouths dropped open.
"Cheeky," Lucy said fondly as she tickled her daughter side causing Ellie to giggle,"aha I got you now," she teased as she got on her knees and continued to tickle Ellie.
"D-hadhyyy! Hhhhelp!" Ellie shouted in between giggles as policy continued her onslaught.
And with that Lee lunged across and tackled Lucy to the bed as he tickled her, Ellie getting up to help her father near the side.
"Do you think mummy has had enough?" Lee questioned Ellie as Lucy laughed and wriggled underneath him.
"Yeah you can let her go," and with that Lee stopped tickling Lucy and bent down to give her a kiss receiving a,"eww," from Ellie.
"C'mon then let's get breakfast," Lucy said as she pushed Lee's chest to get him off of her with no success.
"Can we have pancakes?" He questioned down at Lucy as Ellie giggled.
"Yes if you get off me," she said pushing at his chest but still getting no success.
"With chocolate chips?" He said acting more like Ellie's age than his own.
"With chocolate chips now will you get off of me so I can make them?" She said arching an eyebrow as Lee gave her another kiss before getting off of her and grabbing Ellie.
"To breakfast!" He shouted as he carried Ellie and rushed towards the kitchen, Lucy laughing as she followed them.
"Will you stop throwing flower?" Lucy questioned as she turned from placing another pancake on the plate to face Ellie who was sitting on the island and Lee standing next to her them both covered in flower.
"Nope," and with that Lee threw some flower at Lucy. Switching off the hob she turned to face the both of them, hands on hips and flower on her cheek.
"Right this is war," and with that she grabbed a handful and threw some at Lee, him grabbing Ellie as a shield.
"Daddy put me down!" Ellie shouted as Lee reluctantly put her on the floor and watched her scurry off.
"GO AND GET WASHED!" Lee and Lucy shouted in unison as they turned back to face each other.
"Truce?" Lee questioned Lucy as she nodded her head and walked towards him, secretly grabbing the bag of flour.
"Truce," she agreed as Lee brought her closer to him, only to have the bag of flour tipped over his head.
"That was unfair Miss Adams," he said with a pout as Lucy giggled, ruffling his hair so it got rid of some of the flour.
"Was it really? Because now I'll have to help you get the flour out of your hair. In the shower," she said with a smile as Lee smiled back in return.
"Well, you better drop Ellie off in your parents pronto," he said seriously as Lucy ran out of the room calling for Ellie to get ready quickly.