"Corn! I need your magic after all."

Kyoko had tried to be quiet as she'd left the room, which Kuon appreciated since he had actually fallen back asleep. She must have turned the volume off on the monitor, or taken it with her, or he wouldn't have.

It was the fourth time they awoke to their son's cry that night, and though it was Kyoko's turn to soothe him, or feed him, or help with whatever it is 3-month-olds need, when she came back whispering as loudly as she could for him, he got up without complaint. It had not been an easy night, so why would this round go any more smoothly?

Kuon walked into the nursery just as their little bundle of joy was winding up his cry. Did he know Otou-san was on his way and wanted to greet him?

Possibly it was a cry of challenge, but that seemed like Kuon's sleep deprived imagination putting impossible thoughts in his head.

"I've checked his diaper," Kyoko started softly. "He's not hungry. I tried burping him, colic-holding him, rocking, bouncing, swaying. Please give it a try?"

Kuon simply nodded and went to work, picking up their son from where his wife had been letting him grab a finger for comfort.

Less than a minute later they were watching him fall fast asleep after Kuon placed him back down in his crib.

Kyoko sighed in relief and they made their way back to their own room, Kuon grabbing the forgotten monitor on the way out.

"You really do seem to have the magic touch," Kyoko marveled once in bed.

Kuon, detecting a little sadness, kissed her forehead and tried to soothe her as well.

"You know it is often easier for the parent who doesn't feed them to do the other things. He went down easily every other time you went to him. It's later in the night, and harder for him to go back to sleep."

The new mom smiled and fell easily into her dreamworld of fairies and an emperor with magical pheromones.

Before drifting off himself, Kuon thought about their last couple of nights.

"These sleep regressions really are no joke."

Written mostly while my own kiddo napped on me after a very similar night.

Pretty much unedited, or I'd never it uploaded.

Sweet dreams!