A/N: Prompt given by Yes. Thank you:)

Happy Father's Day everyone^_^

12

Remember

It's about nine o'clock at night when they decide to go to bed.

Thomas sets away his book and shifts in his chair loudly, stretching stiff limbs. Rio shushes him, but is grinning as she does so. His wife stands and is about to click off the lamp so they can leave to their room when-

"Mama, Papa...I can't sleep..."

Thomas's back is turned to the little girl, so he doesn't bother to hide the extremely sour facial expression and Rio tries her hardest not to laugh. Instead, the mother strolls past her husband and smacks him lightly on the shoulder before kneeling down in front of her daughter.

"What's wrong, Aimi-chan?" she asks softly, patting the child's dark hair.

With a wide, maroon gaze, their kid looks up guiltily with a tiny smile. "Nothing... I just can't sleep right."

Rio is about to speak when she hears the man standing, making his way over to his two favorite women. Thomas rests his hands on his hips and beams down at them. "We can fix that."

Aimi closes her eyes and seems to glow as she thanks them. Her father reaches down and picks her up with ease. She's so small, just four years old, and he only uses one arm, the other outstretched to pull Rio to her feet. He leans forward and whispers in the fellow adult's ear, "You go get ready, I'll handle this."

She nods gratefully and kisses him on the lips, then Aimi on her cute forehead. Rio bids her goodnight and leaves down the hall towards the master bedroom. Thomas is left alone with his baby girl in the living room. He beams over at her, mouth curled upward happily. "Let's go!"

"Yeah!" Aimi agrees enthusiastically.

He can hear the soft undertone in her tiny voice, though - she's tired, that's obvious - and it's his job to assist her in drifting off into unconsciousness. He's done it before; usually sitting by her and stroking her hair is enough. Sometimes he brings her milk, sometimes Rio has to take over because he has no idea what he's trying to do. But tonight, he has a new idea.

So Thomas brings his 'baby' to her quarters and places her on her mattress and wraps her up comfortably in soft, clean sheets and blankets. He grabs her favorite stuffed animal toy from off the floor (must have dropped it coming for her mom and dad) and gives it to her to hug. She lays down and blinks up expectantly - (his heart melts when she does that).

"Yosh, Aimi-chan," he breathes loudly, sitting on the edge of the pillow-top. He fingers the fabric of his tan pants as not to lose his train of thought (he's tired, too). "I have a plan!"

She giggles, high-pitched and adorable-like, and squeaks, "Really, Papa?"

"Yes," Thomas laughs, poking the tip of her nose. "Wanna hear it?"

Aimi nods, excited. "Uh-huh!"

He lets his weight fall downward, touches his forehead to hers, and whispers, "We're going to count rabbits."

His daughter giggles.

"You can count, neh?" Thomas chuckles, pressing his lips in between her eyes and sitting up straight once more. "You're a big girl!"

Aimi exclaims that she is, that she's one of the grownup kids at her school and he tells her that he is so proud. Then he continues on with his declaration.

"Ready?" He holds out his left fist, right hand busy petting her thick, soft hair in what he hopes is a soothing fashion. In a quiet tone, he murmurs, "Zero rabbits..." And he extends his index finger. "One rabbit." Aimi snuggles into the cushion deeper as he adds his middle finger. "Two rabbits." His ring finger. "Three rabbits." His pinkie-

"Four rabbits," Aimi yawns, barely audible.

His thumb. "...Five rabbits..." He simpers gently. "...Six rabbits..." He slowly gets to his feet. "...Seven rabbits..." He's at the door now. "...Eight rabbits..." He closes it, and for good measure, adds in a silent sigh, "...Nine rabbits..."

"Ten rabbits," someone hums past his ear, and Thomas spins on his heel to snake his arms around his spouse's waist. Rio mumbles, "You still remember that, huh...?"

"I always will. The fact that you remember it is the surprising part."

"Alright Mr. Cottontail, I'm sleepy," she drones, tugging him by his shirt collar. "You did good tonight."

Thomas smirks. "It's your turn next time."

Half an hour later, when Aimi comes into their room complaining about having woken up again, Rio slaps her 'soul mate's' arm and walks their child back to bed. Thomas pretends not to have roused from his slumber.

~Finish~