Prompt: can you write fluffy something about one of the kids waking up sam and andy because of a nightmare
Sam would swear that he had just fallen asleep when a sweaty palm came into contact with his cheek. His eyes pop open in alarm, and his hand comes up to catch it, without waking Andy who was still wrapped in his arms.
As his eyes focus in the dark and over his wife's still body, he sees three year old Noah in his lion costume (he insists on wearing it as pyjamas… and to the grocery store and day care…) with big tears in his eyes and traces of a runny nose above his upper lip. He has to be very careful to slide his arms from around Andy to get up and comfort his son, but just as he's about to slide away, Noah pokes Andy in the nose too.
She awakes with more of a startle, legs flailing and sitting upright immediately. He knows the moment she spots Noah's upset tells because she doesn't hesitate to throw the covers off of them, and kneel down on the floor on his level.
"Mamaaaaa." He cries, throwing his arms around her neck. She scoops him up and sits them on the edge of the bed, just rubbing his back until he can talk about whatever it is that brought him there. It's usually a nightmare, but with Noah it could be the fact that they wouldn't let him bring in the cat that was wandering outside two nights ago.
He's a bit of a wildcard. Definitely Andy's son.
As soon as Sam's got the pillows rearranged so that they can lay back and figure it all out so at least they can rest, he hears one of the twins start to fuss over the monitor. He hangs his head, because it's his turn and Andy's dealing with a kid crisis of her own.
Sam turns down the monitor and swings his legs out of bed, walking dead on his feet towards the nursery just two doors down from their room. If only it were ever empty, Bella and Noah could have separate rooms. But they made pretty great kids.
When he pushes the door open, he sees Ruby standing up, holding the railing of the crib, and her face streaked with tears too, and mouth hanging open ready to let out a cry.
"Everybody's having a bad night." Sam sighs, picking his baby girl up and walking over to the rocking chair in the corner before she can walk her sister. "What's the matter, huh? Did Sophie wake you up with that snoring?"
He glances over to his other baby girl, sleeping soundly in her own crib. Ruby calmed down almost the minute he picked her up, but had yet to doze off, and she was not a fan of being put down. So he rocked gently, humming a random tune, wishing she'd go back to sleep so that he could too.
He can hear Noah's sobbing begin to quiet, and thinks they're so close to being in the clear.
And then he hears another door open. Bella.
He hears her light little footsteps in the hallway, and then she pushes open the nursery door, and races toward Sam. He notices Boo standing in the door, up with the rest of the house, begging Sam with his eyes to get his kids under control so he too can go back to sleep.
"I woke up and Noah was gone." She says, eyes wide, obviously worried about her little brother.
"He's in our room with Mommy, he's fine. Go back to bed sweetheart." He urges her, but realizes it'll be futile until she sees for herself that Noah is okay.
She turns to leave him alone with the baby, but turns left out the door, towards the master. He wants to groan but wouldn't tempt fate, because he's sure that Ruby is out for good now.
So he puts her gently back in her crib, covering her body with a small green blanket, and kissing her on the forehead before leaving her and her sister be.
Returning to his room at long last, hoping Andy will have Noah and Bella ready to get own their way to bed, so he can too, he sees that he is wrong. Noah and Bella are piling into the middle of the bed, cozying up next to Andy. As much as Sam wants to be bothered by it, the sight warms his heart. His lion suit clad son, complete with hooded mane, and Bella in her white little night gown, burrowing together while Andy covers them with the comforter.
He smiles and shakes his head in disbelief that this is what their night has become, but he's okay. He's happy.
So he climbs in among the bodies, tickling whatever child is on his side, and finally collapsed, trying to get comfortable to drift off again. Bella turns toward him, using his chest as a pillow, and he glances over to Andy who's stroking Noah's hair and watching him find a restful sleep. Their eyes meet over their eldest children and then he closes his eyes, ready for sleep to come.
And just as he's about to find his dream state again, another whimper comes over the monitor. A fathers work is never done.
