Before The Dawn

Prologue

J was the first. She had been with Tessa from the start.

"James?"
Lousia called out into the hallways of the manor, clutching her robe around her shoulders as she cautiously roamed the dimly lit halls of the manor.
The lightning dancing in the night sky had awoken her first.
Realizing that her husband was no longer in bed with her was what snapped her awake and brought panic.

A thought snapped into her mind as another streak of lightning illuminated bits of the carpet in the hallway before her.
Tessa.
Her room was a mere few doors down from the master room she and James shared. If she had been awoken by the storm, her parents would have been able to hear her cries.
And Louisa's heart dropped when she realized that Tessa wasn't crying.

"JAMES! WHERE IN GOD'S NAME ARE Y-"
She stopped just shy of Tessa's bedroom door, focusing on listening to the gentle noise coming from her daughter's room over the fierce winds and rain tapping against the roof and windows.

James was standing in the middle of Tessa's room, cradling the infant, holding her close while he swayed and quietly hummed. She could make out the form of a worker drone, still asleep at the side of Tessa's crib. Tessa, who had been lulled to sleep by her father's voice and rocking, lay snuggled up in his arms, one of her small hands holding on tightly to his shirt sleeve
It took him a moment to notice her silently leaning against the doorframe, a tired, but loving smile greeting him.

"Is she alright?"
Louisa tilted her head to see Tessa better, lowering her voice so as not to wake the child as she moved to be at James' side.
He nodded.
"She just got a little scared."

"You scared me." She crossed her arms, trying to hide her smile- and failing, as he leaned over to kiss her temple.

"I didn't want to wake you."
James carefully re-adjusted the sleeping infant in his arms, keeping her close as he took slow steps towards the crib, making every effort not to re-awaken his sleeping daughter as he lowered her back into her bed, continuing to speak to his wife.
"You've been stressed enough about her lately. You need to rest as well."

"I'm her mother." Louisa countered.
"It's my job to worry about her."

"And I'm your husband." James turned around, placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her into a gentle kiss.
She hummed, laying her head against his chest as he pulled away, reaching down to take her soft hands in his own, both standing quietly for a moment.

"She'll be alright."
He reassured her, allowing Louisa to watch over Tessa for a moment, making sure that she was, indeed, sound asleep again and comfortable.

-
-
J's head raised as she heard the quiet creaking of the door, looking over to see that it had been returned to it's half-closed state as Mr and Mrs. Elliott left to return to their own room.

She took a moment to stretch, feeling her metal joints pop into place as her mind booted up from her earlier slumber, curiously peeking over the side of the crib.
She wondered what the small human had dreams about. She wondered if she was really comfortable laying on her back with her arms swaddled at her sides- if she felt safer that way, or if her tiny limbs being restricted made her feel scared.

This was her human.
James had picked her out specifically to act as a guard for the infant, and that she did.
Wherever they took her in the manor, J followed. Whenever Tessa slept, J stayed awake, watching over her and her surroundings, making sure nothing stood even the slightest chance of hurting her.

And as the thunder continued to shake the manor every few minutes, she decided she needed to be closer- to keep Tessa safe, to keep her comfortable.
The sleeping child winced in her sleep at a particularly loud crack of thunder, reinforcing the worker drone's thoughts.

Physical touch usually brings comfort to humans in distress, right?

She was careful as she crawled into the bed beside her, making sure not to accidentally injure or wake Tessa as she slept, curling herself around the tiny human and laying her head at Tessa's side, happily sighing.
J closed her eyes as Tessa's little hand reached out in her sleep to grab a lock of her synthetic hair, arm relaxing, but keeping a gentle grip.
She didn't mind. J knew she meant no harm.

She didn't exactly plan on going anywhere soon, anyway.