For Dominus, because I was asked so nice...
Snuggling
Maes tiptoed into the bedroom with only the light of a half moon coming in through the open window to guide him. The darkness didn't matter; he could have walked the path blindfolded. He'd had so many late nights of paperwork recently that it was actually a very rare thing for him to go to bed while Gracia still had the lights on.
Maes decided he worked too much.
Tonight the light was just bright enough for him to make out the vague shape of his wife under the comforter. She wasn't asleep; her breathing was a little too rapid for that, but she didn't get up to greet him like she usually did.
Closer inspection told him why. Right next to the graceful curves that outlined Gracia's form was a small lump with an unmistakable crown of soft brown hair.
Now that he was closer, he could see his wife's face beaming at him. They were both smitten, that was sure, helplessly in the thrall of a mere toddler around which both of their worlds revolved.
As endearing as he found Elysia's habit of snuggling with mommy in "the big bed" (she wouldn't go to her own bed unless Daddy tucked her in) it certainly made…other aspects of his life quite difficult.
Before he took care of that little detail, however, Maes couldn't resist but to reach over to the nightstand and grab one of the many cameras he had stashed about the house. The flash didn't even wake his daughter up, so deep were her dreams.
"Maes, I am beginning to believe I have taken second place to another girl in your life," breathed Gracia into her husband's ear as he leaned over to scoop up the little bundle on his bed.
He answered with a boyish grin as he stood to take Elysia to her own room. "Now, now, Gracia, don't get mad. I swear I'm not cheating on either of you!"
She was hard put to hide her sleepy chuckles as the loves of her life went to the adjacent room.
Elysia gave barely a burble as Maes folded the sheets gently around her and kissed her forehead softly. He resisted the urge to make use of the camera hidden in this room; after all, he had other matters to attend to in the other room.
Matters which did not involvethe deeply breathing Gracia he foundsound asleep underneath the covers, exhausted with waiting up until all hours of the night for her husband to come to bed. He sighed. He definitely worked too much. Oh well.
She looked so peaceful. A small smile on her lips spoke of pleasant dreams. Maes' eyes inevitably traveled to the strap of her lacy nightgown that had somehow made its way partly down her arm.
Well, maybe those other matters could wait. Still…
Gracia didn't wake at the flash of the camera, either. Before Maes eased into bed beside her he made a mental note to be absolutely sure he was the one to get that particular role of film developed. The pictures of Elysia would go into his wallet, of course, to be passed around the office, the bar, or wherever he happened to be at the time.
But one picture was not for the office, or the bar, or any of those places.
One would go into that special drawer in his desk that no one ever opened, and that no one ever saw.
And that was the only way he ever got through any late nights of work.
FIN
A/N: This is straight out of my life, by the way. My Dad used to have to tuck me into bed every single night after I fell asleep with Mom.
By the way, I have decided I really like requests. Any more?
Dominus: This is for you! Hope you like.
Kori hime: Okay, I'm just glad I didn't accidentally steal chibi-chan from someone. Heh. Glad you liked. I have no drabbles to request at this moment, but don't think I forgot your promise! (Evil grin…)
Anime Monster: Just so you know, this is like, record update time for me. Am working on it, but some things are harder to write (gives diaries an evil glare).
Muchas gracias to Shale, confusedalchemist, and genkai-chan for reviewing as well.
