Fleeting Hope

Chapter 9

Raven's POV:

I finished my shower and was drying off my hair when I walked out of the bathroom to see my daughter and husband peacefully sleeping. Damian has been exhausted ever since Emma went missing, and now that Emma is with us, he can sleep.

But sleeping on the floor isn't going to happen.

"Darling," I knelt beside him. "Wake up."

"Huh?" Damian's eyes fluttered open. "What's wrong? Is it Emma?"

"She is fine," I smiled and cupped his face. "You are exhausted. Get into bed."

"I am fine right here," Damian shook his head, being stubborn.

"You are going to be sore and you won't be able to sleep properly," I shake my head. "Please, darling. Get into bed."

"Alright," he nods. "For you." He gently kisses me and stands up, climbing into bed. I slid under the covers next to him and gently lay my hand on Emma's bassinet. I gently rock her as I silently put a protection spell over her (if she wakes, I will wake as well).

"Night," I whisper as I wrap my hand over his.

"Night, beloved." He kisses my forehead and drapes a hand over my stomach.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of Emma's cries. I instantly sit up and grab her, looking her over for any signs of danger. But as it turns out, she was just needing a diaper change. I gently rose from the bed, carrying Emma into the baby room and changing her.

I just finished putting on her new diaper when Damian came into the room, looking groggy as ever. "What's the matter?"

"Emma needed a diaper change," I gestured to the dirty diaper on the changing table. "Here, take her while I clean this up." Damian grabs Emma and starts to rock her in his arms as I wipe down the table and throw away the dirty items.

"She seems fussy still," Damian said as I turned around. "She might be hungry."

"Of course," I nod. "Hand her back to me."

I grab Emma from Damian's hands and go sit on the rocker in the corner of the room. "Do you need anything?" Damian asks as he stands awkwardly at the door.

"Some water would be nice," I smile as I undo the top of my nightgown to give Emma access to her food. "And maybe a light breakfast."

"I will grab it for you," he nodded and left the room, leaving me to breastfeed my daughter.

I rocked on the chair, slowly soothing my daughter until she was sipping on her milk with her eyes closed. I studied her face, slowly going over every detail of my daughter, hating the fact that she had already grown so much since she had been kidnapped.

Emma grasped my finger with her tight grip as she ate. I smiled down at her, surprised by how much she reminded me of her father.

"Raven?" Damian's voice called from the other room.

"Yes," I looked up, waiting for him to enter.

"Is it alright if I come in?" He asked, and I could tell he was standing just outside the door.

"Of course," I nod. "You have seen my breast countless times already. It's nothing new."

"I just want to make sure you don't feel uncomfortable," Damian explains as he enters with a tray of food. "How is Emma?"

"Hungry," I smiled down at my daughter. "But she seems happy."

"Good," Damian comes over and kisses my forehead. "Here is your water," he gently puts it beside me on the end table. "And I got your pancakes with a fruit bowl." He shows the plate. "But you can wait until you are done."

"I am starving," I groan. "Feed me."

Damian chuckles and starts to cut up the food. "Anything for the mother of my child," he smirks and puts the fork in front of me. "Open wide."

I open my mouth and take a bite, tasting the delicious flavor of strawberry pancakes. "Oh, my god. These are so good!"

"I am glad you like them," he smirked. "I made them myself."

"No, you didn't," I shake my head, not believing it. My husband is many things, but I can't believe he had time to learn to cook with all the other lessons he had.

"I really did," he nods, looking smug. "If you don't believe me, you should go see the kitchen for yourself." He grabbed another bite and wouldn't let me speak as he forced me to have another bite.

"When did you ever learn?" I asked as I swallowed.

"I learned a few weeks ago," Damian picked another piece up with the fork and held it out for me. "I wake early and felt I should use my time to learn to cook for my family."

"How charming," I smiled before taking another bite.

I ate half the pancake before Emma got fussy and had to be burped. Damian gladly took her and started to pat her back as I fastened my dress once more.

"What is the plan?" I asked as I stood up, looking at the lovely sight before me.

"My mother has valid proof of the danger you and Emma are in. I am not saying I trust her, but we need to gather more information before we move." Damian was stern, showing his protective side.

"I can have my contacts do research, but can we even trust we are safe here?" I brushed my hand over my daughter's thin hair.

"We don't have much of a choice," Damian gave a frustrated sign. "But we can not leave Emma. One of us must be with her at all times."

"That is obvious," I kissed Emma's forehead.

"And I want you to stay close to me as well," Damian turned his attention fully to me. "I know you can protect yourself, but I can't take that risk. I can't lose you."

"You will never lose me," I cup his face. "We are a family. Nothing will separate us ever again."