full moon ☾ → n.h.

☾135

[3818 words]

Niall

"Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law bonding, Nialler, huh?"

"What? Who?" I looked up from Mia Grace when I heard Mully, and he just snickered at me, his gaze wandering to the kitchen where mam and Patri disappeared.

"In the kitchen. I don't even know who has bigger hearts in their eyes when looking at Patri. You or your mam."

"Yeah, they're getting along great," I smiled, looking over to the kitchen door.

"Are you kidding? Just great? She literally is the daughter Maura's never had. They have a better relationship than Jordi and my mam have after ten years."

"What can I say? My girlfriend's just amazing," I said extra smugly and got a pillow into my face for that, which made both me and Mia Grace laugh loudly.

"Yeah, my kid, too. She knows when to laugh," Mully praised the little one in front of me, who still looked at me with big eyes and a grin, waiting for it to happen again. I was just so occupied by how beautiful she was I totally didn't see the pillow coming again, and I heard Mia Grace's adorable baby laugh before I realized what was going on.

"What's going on?" Patri showed up in no second, obviously not immune to Gracie's laugh.

"Just entertaining my daughter," Mully answered, and the next pillow hit me, this time the back of my head, which buckled forward, making the little one laugh louder. Gosh, it was the best fucking sound I've ever heard in my life. Then I noticed the look on Patri's face, the pure glow, while she looked at Mia Grace with the biggest smile ever. We were both whipped for her.

The rest of the day was spent exactly like this, gushing over the little baby who wasn't even so little anymore, sharing stories and catching up with each other, enjoying the best meal my mam ever cooked. Soon after Mully and his little family left after dinner, Patri fell asleep on the couch, cuddled to me, but I wasn't surprised at all; she didn't tell, but I could see how exhausted she was from the past few weeks, I could see it right in her captivating, green eyes. She only woke up to walk upstairs and fall into bed, but I wasn't even sure if she was conscious at all. She walked up on her own two feet, but she seemed so drowsy I doubt she'll be able to recall how she got into bed in the first place.

I just pulled her sleeping stature into my arms after I got into bed, too and protected her sleep until my eyes were falling down as well. She was sleeping well into the next day, but if I'm honest with myself, she didn't look more rested when she woke up either. That's how we spent our first full day in Mullingar at home in all cosiness, and only in the late afternoon, after Patri looked somewhat more alert, I had decided that a little walk by the block was necessary for both of us.

"Babylove?" I asked as I jogged down the stairs, in my hands the deep green Moonflower hoodie I was wearing as well.

"Yes?" came her answer as she walked out of the kitchen. She was probably chatting with mam since I disappeared upstairs.