Tony stares at the freshly bathed toddler. She lies in a freshly made bed, with freshly washed, newly purchased linens. She wears purple, and blue pajamas. Her hair is wet, and still smells of baby shampoo. Tony sits next to her bed. He sits on the floor, yawning.
"One more," she chirps.
"No more stories. Zafirah, it's time for bed."
"No, bed."
He pulls the covers up farther, until they're tucked under her chin. He kisses her forehead.
"Time for bed."
"No."
"Close your eyes. It's time for you to go to sleep."
"No."
He gets up off the floor, and turns off the lamp. He walks away. He stops in the doorway.
"Goodnight," he tells her. He leaves the door open, and heads into his room. He makes a beeline for the shower. Ten minutes later he comes out of the bathroom, in a pair of pajama bottoms, and a white t-shirt.
"Daddy?" A little voice calls out.
He turns on the lamp, next to his bed. He finds a little girl sitting on his bed.
"What are you doing in here?"
"No sleep."
He reaches down for her, "Come on. Back to your bed."
"No," she shakes her head.
"Zafirah, come on," he begs.
"No, daddy," she whines.
"No? Why not?"
"Sleep here."
"You can't sleep in here. Daddy sleeps in here."
"Sleep with you."
"No, you need to sleep in your bed. In your big girl bed. It has princesses on it. And it has your pretty purple blanket. Don't you want to sleep in your own room? In your own bed?"
She shakes her head, "No."
"Why? Are you afraid?"
"No."
"Why do you want to sleep in here?"
"You, here."
"I'm here? You don't want to sleep in there, by yourself?"
"No."
"Ok, just this once. Just tonight."
"Mommy?"
"Mommy is at home."
"I want mommy."
"Mommy is asleep."
"Mommy no sleep."
"Zafirah, you need to go to sleep. You can see mommy tomorrow."
"No!"
"If we call her, will you go to sleep?"
"No."
"You need to go to sleep, you're tired, and whiny, and you're driving me nuts," he tells her as he climbs in bed, and flips off the light.
She crawls under the covers, next to him.
"Daddy?"
He sighs, "What?"
"Cold."
"You're cold?"
"Yes."
He scoots her towards him, until she is right next to him. He feels her grip on her doll tighten.
"Night, daddy."
"Goodnight."
When he wakes up he feels a heaviness in his chest. He opens his eyes, and finds Zafirah laying on his chest. She lays on her stomach, with the side of her head against his chest. Her ear is pressed against his heart. He feels her drool, through his t-shirt. He hears his phone vibrate, on his bedside stand. He carefully reaches for it, trying not to wake Zafirah. He pulls it to his ear.
"Hello?" he says in a hushed tone.
"Did I wake you up?"
"No."
"I didn't? It's only five thirty," she points out.
"I just woke up."
"Why?"
"I was having a hard time breathing."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is wrong. I just have a toddler sleeping on my chest."
"Oh. Is she ok?"
"Ziva, she's fine. She's still asleep."
"Ok."
"Do you want me to wake her up? So you can talk to her, before you go to work?"
"No..."
"Hold on," he tells her. "Zafirah, your mommy's on the phone," he says softly. She opens her eyes. He offers her the phone. She puts it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Mommy," Zafirah answers.
"Hi. Are you ok?"
"Sleepy."
"You can go back to sleep."
"Love you, mommy."
"Love you, too," the words slip from her tongue effortlessly, for the first time, in her life. "I'll see you later," she promises.
"Bye," Zafirah responds, handing the phone back to Tony.
"I guess she's done talking," he informs her.
"That's ok. It's early."
"I hope that you have better luck, keeping her in her own bed. When I came out of the shower last night, she was in my bed. I got up around one, and put her back in her bed. But here she is, in bed, with me, again."
"I'll be by after work."
"Ok."
"You should talk to E.J."
"I..."
"Go back to sleep. Obviously Zafirah takes after you."
"Because she's not an early riser? I think it has more to do with the time difference."
"I've got to go."
"Ok. I'll see you later."
She hangs up.