The only benefit of insomnia is when you have a young child who has sleeping issues as well. Then it becomes a little easier, kneeling by the crib and lightly rocking Andre, Alicia able to sleep comfortably in the next room while Ricardo watches over their son.
"You're growing up so quickly," Ricardo murmurs, lightly tugging on the baby's foot with a small smile. "I can't believe it. It feels like she was just telling me we were going to have you." He thinks about Egypt and how much he would be missing if he'd taken the offer. "I just want you to know. I will always choose you and your mother over anything, and I will never regret it, ok?"
He smiles and watches as Andre slowly calms, soothed by his father's voice, the warmth of his touch, slowly drifting off to sleep. "Lucky guy, if only it was that easy for the rest of us to sleep." Standing, he lets go of the crib and turns to head back through the quiet, dark house. He considers going outside and sitting under the stars for awhile, breathing in the fresh air and watching the moon overhead, but he chooses not to since the door is rather noisy. Instead, he sits on the couch and pulls the drapes, looking out that way.
He's starting to relax into the cushions, eyes drooping slowly, when he hears soft footsteps, and fingers ghost over his jaw before he hears, "What are you doing out here, Ricardo? Hm? Come back to bed."
He looks up at Alicia and smothers a yawn in his sleep before reaching out for her. "No, I"m ok. Come here."
She sighs but tucks in tight against him, smiling as he lightly ghosts his touch down her side, against her legs. "I love you," she murmurs, kissing his cheek.
He hums. "I love you too," he says, fingers stroking along her thighs. "You don't need to stay out here, I'm just... going through some insomnia, I'm ok. I promise."
She shakes her head, links their fingers together, lifts his hand and kisses his knuckles. "I wanna be here," she says softly. "Make sure you're ok. I know you don't want to disrupt my sleep, but the bed is cold and lonely without you. I'm perfectly happy here in your arms."
He sighs, considers arguing further, but lets it go. "Alright," he concedes, kissing her shoulder. "But don't get mad at me if you fall asleep and I walk you to our bed."
"Alright," she murmurs, resting her head back against his shoulder. "I'll try to remember."
When he tilts her face and kisses her, she giggles and smiles, resting her hand on his jaw. "Love you so much."
"Love you too," he breathes, presses their foreheads together.