J/C – someone's crying

I wrote this so long ago. But then I found it. Here ya go.

Disclaimer: just making my own fun. I've got nothing.

Crying. Someone's crying.

Crying? Who's crying?

He was instantly alert and his eyes flew open. His wife was facing him, sleeping peacefully. Then her arm swung out and gave him a solid whack in the chest.

"Oof!"

"Sorry," her eye opened a crack, "my arm's gone to sleep." She said sleepily, rotating her arm a little. He started drifting back to sleep. "Well?" Her voice cut right through his sleepy mind.

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going? It's your turn."

"My turn? My turn to what-" but she'd already fallen back asleep. The crying sound came back to him full force, and so did it's meaning. Now he was rushing. He stumbled out of bed, catching his legs in the sheets. "I'm coming, Meredith. Daddy's coming."

He entered the nursery and crossed to see his infant daughter bathed in starlight, wailing. He quickly scooped her up, grabbed a pre-heated bottle and settled into the rocking chair.

"You are so beautiful," he told her little cherubic face," You look just like you're mother. I'm so glad that you're my daughter. I want you to know that I love you very much, and I always will."

She stood in the doorway watching her husband rock their daughter to sleep while singing her a lullaby. First the bottle emptied, then the baby slept, and only after that did the singing stop. He glanced up at his wife.

"It's safe to come in now." He smiled at her through the darkness. She laughed, a small laugh so as not to wake baby Meredith.

"That was a beautiful song." She came up beside him and draped her arm across his shoulders, hugging him. The two watched their sleeping child. "I'm so glad at least one of us can sing."

"Sorry I woke you. I tried to be quiet."

"Oh, it was your exit that woke me, you think I could sleep that?" she stifled a laugh. "Although it was rather impressive, you fairly flew out the door." He laughed.

"Once I'm motivated…" He trailed off as the rumble in his chest disturbed the baby. He glanced at his wife and then carefully placed the baby back in the cradle. They stood watching the baby, holding each other in silence until she yawned. He poked her in the stomach. She jumped back reflexively, holding her side.

"Someone has an early shift in the morning and should be sleeping."

"And someone else should probably be warned to watch out for the future well-being of all his fingers." They made their way back to their bed, him more or less chasing her, waggling his fingers at her.

"Was that a threat I just heard from your mouth, Kathryn Janeway?" as they fell into bed.

"I'd just count them in the morning, if I were you." She giggled into her pillow as he grabbed her side.

"I guess I'll be sleeping with one eye open tonight." At that she flipped over and jammed her fingers into his one ticklish spot. Now she had the upper hand. She used his momentary weakness to her advantage and switched their positions. Unfortunately, this meant he fell off the bed. He collided with the floor with allthe appropriate noises of surprise and alarm; while she buried her face in her pillow to conceal her full out laugh. Eventually, when he still hadn't gotten up, she moved and peeked one eye over the edge of the bed. Her hand went to her mouth to riegn in her laughter. He was lying on the floor, as comfortable as he could get, pretending to sleep. Or at least so she thought . She reached out a hand to poke him. He creaked one eye open, "I'd beware the safety of those fingers." And then his arms flung out and grabbed her, pulling her to the floor.

"Oh, ow…" she said as she landed on him.

"Did I hurt you?" His laughter instantly replaced with concern.

"It's okay, I'm just still a little sore." From the look on his face he definitely needed a little more assurance, "The doctor says it should last another week or two, its normal." He was quiet for a while.

"Can I get you anything?" said the totally serious, totally devoted husband. She laughed.

"How about some sleep." She offered him her hand and they both got up and into the bed. Lying down, he turned to face her.

"I just want to say that I love you, and thank you for our daughter."

"I believe that was a joint effort." They both laughed, and grew silent as they both reminisced. "I love you too."

"And I'm so glad to hear you say that."

"You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"The fact that it took you three months and five years to tell me? I believe the answer to that is 'never'."

She didn't answer, just tickled.