Fate || BENNIFER

Sleepless Night

Jennifer's P.O.V

The moon cast a soft glow through the curtains as we found ourselves in the midst of a sleepless night. Grace, usually a peaceful sleeper, was crying inconsolably. We exchanged worried glances, our brows furrowed with confusion and exhaustion. We had tried everything we knew to calm her, but her cries persisted, echoing through the nursery.

As the minutes turned into hours, a sense of helplessness settled over us. We took turns cradling our daughter, rocking her gently in our arms, and singing soothing lullabies. But nothing seemed to ease her distress. Our hearts ached as we watched our little one struggle, her tiny face flushed with discomfort.

In the dim light of the room, we began to question what could be causing her relentless crying. We wondered if it was an ear infection or a stomachache, desperately searching for answers. We exchanged whispered concerns, our voices tinged with worry and frustration.

And then, in a moment of clarity, I noticed something we had overlooked before. She was drooling and gnawing on her fingers with an intensity we had never seen in her before. Suddenly, it dawned on me.

"She's teething." I said.

Guilt washed over me as I realized I had missed the signs. We had mistaken her teething symptoms for mere fussiness, unaware of the pain she was experiencing.

"Do we have any teething toys?" Ben asked.

"First drawer." I said signaling behind him.

I watched him frantically rummaging through the drawer, desperately searching for a teething toy to soothe Grace. The pressure of her cries weighed heavily on him, evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead and the slight tremor in his hands.

My attention was abruptly diverted by a tiny, sleepy voice at the threshold of the nursery. It was Emme, standing there with her eyes half-closed, rubbing the sleep from them.

"Mommy." She murmured, her voice barely audible amidst her sister's cries.

That made me realize that she had been hearing her sister's crying from her room downstairs. With a sigh, I gently stepped away from the scene unfolding in the nursery and knelt down to Emme's level. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and smiled softly.

"Hey, sweetheart." I whispered. "What are you doing up so late?"

She blinked sleepily, her eyes struggling to focus.

"I couldn't sleep." She said, her voice tinged with confusion.

I felt guilt for not being able to be in two places at once, for not being able to comfort both of my daughters simultaneously.

"I'm sorry, baby." I said with regret.

"Come down and tuck me back into bed." Her brows furrowed, her tired eyes searching my face for answers.

"Found it!" Ben said as he held up the toy.

"Let's go to bed." I said as I lifted Emme into my arms.

Feeling the weight of her body against my chest, I made my way down to her room. I carefully placed her on her bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin, tucking her in with a tender touch. Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting my eyes.

"Is Grace okay?" She asked.

"Yes, sweetheart." I sat down on the edge of the bed. "Your sister is growing up, and sometimes that can be a little painful for her. But she's okay."

She nodded, and I kissed her forehead.

"Good night, baby." I whispered.

I tiptoed out of the room, careful not to disturb the peaceful slumber that had finally settled over her.

Pushing open the door to the nursery, I found Grace peacefully biting on a teething toy. Her tiny face was calm, her eyes closed, and her tiny fingers clutching the toy with determination. The sight brought a smile to my face, but that wasn't the only surprise. As I stepped further into the room, I saw Ben, fast asleep in the rocking chair by the crib. His head was tilted slightly to the side, his hands resting gently on the armrests, and his breathing steady and rhythmic. The sight warmed my heart, knowing that he had taken it upon himself to comfort our baby while I tended to my other baby.

I approached the rocking chair with quiet steps, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber. I brushed his hair, marveling at the tenderness that radiated from him even in his sleep. It was moments like these that reminded me why I had said yes to spending my life with him.