"Adalind, no" Nick calls out.
Sitting up in the bed, the blonde looks over at her son's father. For a moment she wonders what could have him so distressed while in bed. Then, seeing that he's still laying down and his eyes are closed, she understands, he's talking in his sleep.
"Adalind." He says again, like a warning.
With what he's saying, she worries that he's dreaming of her as a threat. Her heart clenches painfully in her chest. She had hoped Nick was past seeing her as a danger. But, it seemed his subconscious still viewed her as an enemy.
But then, he starts to speak again. "Adalind, no, stay close to me. It's not safe. I need to keep you safe."
Realizing that he's dreaming of her in danger, the pain in Adalind's heart subsides. "It's alright, Nick." She says softly. I'm with you. I'm safe."
"You and Kelly need to be safe. You are my responsibility. I need to keep you both safe." Nick speaks with such conviction, it's hard to believe he is consciously unaware of it.
"Don't worry, Nick. You are keeping us safe." Adalind assures him.
She's heard of this type of thing before. Where some people talk in their sleep. Sometimes, an awake person can carry on a full conversation with a sleeping person. So Adalind decided to not wake Nick, and instead to indulge his sleeping selfs concerns.
"You're a powerful grimm, Nick. No one can stand a chance against you."
Nick relaxes slightly and says, "You need your powers back. Then you'll be safe even when you are away from me."
"You'll hate me when I get my powers back." Adalind responds, sadness clear in her voice.
"Never hated you." Nick denies. "Was angry with you. Hated what you chose to do. But never hated you. Your good now. Your my friend now."
Adalind smiled. "Your my friend too, Nick."
"Yeah, we're friends, now." Nick confirms. "We can be happy together."
Adalind gasps and feels her heart pounding in her chest. She has to remind herself that Nick is still asleep, and is unaware of, and doesn't really mean, anything that he's saying.
"Do I make you happy, now, Nick?" Adalind can't help but aks. Feeling like with him asleep, he would be completely truthful with her.
"You and Kelly, my happiness." Nick smiles in his sleep.
Adalind smiles too. Hearing Nick confirm he was happy with their little family, made her feel alot better about the situation. She couldn't bare it if she was making him miserable.
After a moment of silence, Nick begins to speak again. "I like coming home to you. I'm happy with you. You and Kelly are my whole reason for staying sane. I love my family." He finishes with a sigh, then relaxes further, once again going into a deeps sleep.
Adalind can't help but to stay awake a bit longer. Her head spinning with all the things Nick had said. She couldn't help the glimmer of hope that told her he was speaking the truth.
She hears Kelly begin to fuss. A soft smile spreads on her face as she thinks, "Like father, like son."
Adalind slips out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Nick. Then goes to their son and cradles him in her arms, pressing him to her to give him her milk. Once done, she adjusts her clothes and places his head on her shoulder to burp him.
The love she feels for her baby overwhelms her. She is determined that this baby will know her. Know her face. Know her voice.
Softly, she sings to her restless son.
Nick drifts awake. It doesn't take him long to register that Adalind is singing again. He watches her, unable to stop himself from gazing at this newest rendering of the image, Madonna with child.
Even in cotton pajamas, no woman had ever looked more etheriel, than Adalind does in that moment.
His admiration is put to a halt, when she looks over at the bed and sees that he's awake.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." Adalind settles Kelly back in his crib, than looks at Nick and says, "You talked in your sleep. It sounded like like you were in the middle of something bad." She chooses not to mention the conversation they had while he was asleep.
"There a lot to be worried about right now." Nick replies. "I guess it's starting to take up my sleeping mind too."
"For what it's worth." Adalind says with deep sincerity. "I trust you, completely. I know that you will keep us safe."
Nick doesn't say anything, he doesn't have the words to say how much he likes hearing her say that. All he can to is smile his gratitude at her. Hoping she will understand.
She does, of course, and returns his smile.
Adalind walks back over to the bed and slips under the covers, fully relaxed the moment her head hits the pillow.
Actions speaking louder than words, it's easy for Nick to see how safe Adalind feels with him close by. He gazes at her for a little while longer, committing every detail of her form to memory, then lays back down and closes his eyes, hoping the beautiful woman next to him will fill his dreams.