Helen hummed in content, snuggling down into the bed as the storm raged on outside. She'd always enjoyed storms, the raw power of them excited her and the rain sluicing against the windows made her sleepy. It was the kind of night she knew she was assured of deep, restful sleep.
In fact, she'd been dreaming on and off for a little while now, drifting on the precipice of sleep and consciousness. She supposed that it made them more memories than dreams but she was so content that she couldn't bring herself to distinguish between the two.
She was dreaming about picnics on river banks, summer sun warming her skin as she pulled a cherry from her bodice. Nikola was across the rug laughing at her, vest unbuttoned as homage to the warmer temperatures. He looked so young and naive to her eye. It was back when things had been simple and uncomplicated. Back before he died both metaphorically and, it seemed, physically. Almost 60 years and no contact? Dead was the only word she could come up with to describe it.
Helen sighed, brow knitting together though she refused to open her eyes.
She'd not allow herself to dwell on the past. It was all so long ago it hardly mattered. What did matter was the happiness she'd felt that day. Taking that and only that, Helen let herself drift off into sleep, a small smile tickling her lips.
Only when a small whimper reached her ears did she wake again. It was still dark and the storm still raged but she was alert instantly.
The whimper came again and she sat up, twisting in the sheets to look at her bedroom door.
"Ashley?"
The whimper came again and she watched as the door slowly inched open, a tiny sliver of light peeking through.
"Mommy?" she asked softly, her voice small and pitiful as she stepped through.
"What is it darling?" Helen asked, all thoughts of returning to sleep gone. The five year old sniffled, rubbing a fist across her face. Her little blonde plaits were in disarray, half unwound and her light blue pyjamas were misbuttoned with all the stubbornness of a child who insisted on doing everything herself.
She sniffed again and walked slowly towards the bed, bottom lip trembling.
She said nothing as she pulled back the covers, struggling to haul herself up onto the bed before crawling across to Helen, curling into her open arms.
"Mommy, I'm scared," she whispered before a tiny sob wracked her body.
Helen gathered her daughter in her arms, sliding back beneath the covers as she pressed a kiss into the soft blonde hair.
"Remember what I said?" she whispered in response, rubbing circles on the girl's back. "If it doesn't scare Henry,-"
"It shouldn't scare me. I know," Ashley said softly. "But... but..."
"I know," Helen said, cutting her off. She pulled the girl closer to her chest as she felt sleep once again creep up on her.
"Mommy?" Ashley asked, her voice thick with exhaustion.
"Yes, darling?"
"When you were little, what were you scared of?"
Helen had to smile at that.
"Of bees and cuts and elocution lessons."
"Electrocution?"
"Much worse," Helen assure the girl. "I'll tell you all about it in the morning. For now, sleep."
Ashley fell silent for a minute though Helen was under no pretence that the girl was yet asleep.
"Can I stay?"
"Always," Helen answered instantly, pressing a kiss to her daughter's head once more.
That was another thing she loved about thunderstorms.
Ashley in her arms.
Day one and doing well! No prodding yet :P
Also, I like this one because I'm getting my Ashley face on at the moment.
xx
