OUTTAKE #1: 2 AM Feeding

Two weeks into life with a baby and Fenrys was tired. More than tired; he was pooped.

He couldn't remember what it felt like to sleep through the night anymore. Or the day. He knew sleep was still something that one could attain in theory. He knew because he watched the tiny infant do it often enough. Sleep that is. Deeply. But it was like the newborn had some kind of sense that told him exactly when Fenrys had closed his eyes and that it was then the perfect time to wail. Like now.

Not having the energy to even complain, the drained male just stared. Stared across the room at the crib the noise rang from with bleary, bloodshot eyes.

The moon shone steadily on the scene as Fenrys was somehow able to drag himself once more from the still-made-bed to the crib. Habitually, he checked the fresh diaper, picked him up and gently swayed, but he wasn't calming. No fever. Food it was then. Of course.

More asleep than awake, Fenrys shuffled in his slippers out of his bedroom...

Down the hall...

Across the courtyard...

Down the stairs...

Through the kitchen...

Up the stairs...

Paused...

Back down the stairs...

Around the kitchen...

Down more stairs... and more stairs...

And into the dungeons.

Knowing the routine, the guards on duty opened the cell and coffin doors fluidly at their approach.

Aelin took her still shrieking baby from Fenrys carefully as he blindly laid him down and mumbled to her, "Baby's hungry or somethin', I don't know what now. I checked his pockets... but his socks were there so... I dunno..."

Aelin helped her hungry son to drink and laughed asking, "You checked his pockets? What pockets?"

But Fenrys was beyond reaching as he stumbled over to the closest wall, slid down, and promptly passed out.

Stroking the back of her quieted child's head, she crooned in mock sympathy, "Poor nanny Fenrys."

And for the first time in weeks, Fenrys didn't wake up until many gloriously-uninterrupted hours later.

A/N: Hey hey! Here's the first of many outtakes for my lovely readers that supported the idea. Thank you thank you for your continued interest and input, I couldn't do it without all of you! Hope this was enjoyable, I have plenty more where this came from. Just to let you know, I'm half way through the next chapter for "Burn Brighter Together" so keep an eye out! Until then ~V