June 7th 1904

Sleep had a hard time finding Christian, as it had done ever since his return to Britain. He couldn't remember such bad nights since...

His head turned as his door swung slowly open.

She was there. A tall, graceful figure, fiery hair falling around her shoulders, eyes resting lovingly on him, whispering something,

"Papa?"

He blinked and she was gone. In her place, a tiny silhouette against the moonlight.

Christian was alert at once, propping himself up on his elbows,

"What's wrong?"

Marie, trailing a small, well-loved teddy bear padded softly up to the bed, sniffing with distress,

"I had a bad dream."

He pulled back the bed covers and lifted her up. At once she snuggled closer towards him, her thumb instinctively seeking her mouth, and her fingers curling round her nose as Christian tucked her in,

Leaning back against the bed-head he leant over and pulled open the curtains, so clear deep blue light shone in around the room,

"Better?"

Marie nodded and he watched as she struggled to sleep, taking in deep breaths in the after-math of having obviously cried.

Her eyelids dropped slowly every so often, but whenever they closed fully, they would spring open again and she would sniff,

He smiled, and looked down, starting to sing ever so softly,

**

I would die for you,

Lay down my life for you,

The only thing that means everything,

To me,

Cause when you're in my arms,

You make me prouder,

Than anything I ever could achieve,

And you make everything that used to

Seem so big

Seem to be so small since you arrived,

On angels wings, an

Angelical formation

Angels wings like letters in the sky,

Now I know no matter what

The question,

Love is the answer it's written on

Angel's wings

And I often wonder why someone as

Flawed as I

Deserves to be as happy as you make me

So as the years roll by

I'll be there by your side

I'll follow you wherever your heart

Takes me

Cause you make everything that used to

Be so big,

Seem to be so small since you arrived,

Now anyone who's felt the touch of

Heaven in their lives

Will know the way I'm feeling looking in

My baby's eyes

That's why I can't bear to be too

Far away,

I know that God must love me cause he

Sent you to me on angel's wings.

**

Her eyes finally closed, and she slept contentedly by his side.

He stroked a piece of hair off her face and gazed down. She was his last reminder of her.

The most beautiful women he'd ever known had given him her, the most beautiful little girl he'd ever known.

He slid down slightly in bed and turned to look up at the moon.

She was up there somewhere, looking down on them.

He closed his eyes, and for the first time that night, he slept.