A/N: So…..it's been a hot minutes since I've updated this fic, huh? Sorry about that. But you know how hyperfixations are. They kinda just come and go as they please.
Prompt from TamyWhiteRose: I'd like a father and daughter moment. Something like this: One night, Amina wakes up crying, and Aladdin hears her. As Jasmine is deeply asleep, He gets up and cradles his little girl in his arms to calm her down and he starts humming a lullaby his mother used to sing to him.
At first he wasn't sure what had startled him awake. His eyes flew open, his body tense and ready to leap into action if need be. His ears stood alert, trying to catch a hint of whatever sound woke him up. Finally, he heard it. The tiny sobs coming from the connecting chamber of his daughter's room.
Glancing at his wife, he briefly smiled when he saw a tiny spot of drool on the pillow beneath her. She was dead to the world and he couldn't blame her. Their daughter was barely a month old, but the duties of the Sultana never stopped. She was still trying to find a balance between her royal responsibilities and taking care of Amina and it was exhausting her to no end.
Easing himself out of bed, Aladdin didn't bother putting a shirt on as he slipped into his daughter's room, walking over to the crib and peering in.
"Aw, what's the matter, sweetheart?" he whispered, reaching in the crib to pick her up. "What's got you all worked up?"
Recognizing her father, Amina became quieter, but she was still upset, her cries turning to little hiccup-sobs.
"Shh shh, it's okay," Aladdin cooed, rocking her back and forth gently. After a couple minutes of nothing happening, his thoughts became frantic with ways to get her to calm down. Jasmine needed her rest and he really didn't want to have to wake her up because he couldn't get his daughter back to sleep.
A memory popped in his head—one of his mother. Whenever he was scared or upset as a child, she would sing him a lullaby. Shifting Amina in his arms so her cheek was pressed against his heart, he began to hum that very same song.
It wasn't long before the crying slowed and then stopped. He grinned to himself and mentally pumped his fist in triumph. He finished the lullaby and chanced a glance down at Amina. Her eyes were closed, her little mouth parted as he felt tiny puffs of breath hit his chest.
Placing a light kiss on the top of her head, Aladdin decided he didn't want to put her back in her crib just yet. Walking out onto the balcony, he carefully situated himself on a chaise lounge covered with a canopy, reclining back with Amina lying on his chest. Staring out at the beautiful night sky, he sighed wistfully.
"I wish you were here," he whispered, his thoughts straying to his mother. Since she died when he was so young, there wasn't much he remembered about her. But he knew that she was kind and loving. She would have loved Jasmine (it was impossible not to) and doted on her granddaughter in every way possible.
Stroking his fingers along his daughter's back, he started to hum again. He hoped she was proud of him, falling in love, starting a family. He no longer lived on the streets; he'd made something of himself now.
As for his father…well who knew where that man was or even if he was still alive. Aladdin hadn't heard anything from him since the day he'd abandoned him in the marketplace. As fondly as he remembered his mother, memories of his father were tainted. He had been a good man, but what truly good man would just leave his six year-old son and ill wife all alone?
Aladdin never knew what to think of him anymore. Every time he looked at Amina and saw her precious little face staring up at him, he just couldn't imagine ever leaving her. So how could his father do that to him?
"I'll never abandon you," he said to her, brushing his fingers lightly over her cheek. "I'll never let anything hurt you. I'll be better than him. I promise."
