Never Not You

Sleepy

A/N: here's a  cute scene for you guys as an apology for drama and all that

When Leah and Aurora finally emerged from the bathroom, it was clear that the showering had taken a backseat to their passionate embrace. Mateo remained peacefully asleep in his cot, undisturbed by the noise from the adjoining room.

Leah, still wrapped in the warmth of their earlier moments, climbed into bed beside Aurora. She held her close, her arms encircling Aurora with a tender, almost desperate grip. Leah clung to her as though the physical touch was a lifeline, her fear of losing Aurora making her reluctant to let go. Aurora, sensing Leah's need for reassurance, responded with a soft smile and a comforting embrace, allowing Leah to rest her head on her shoulder. They nestled together, the comfort of their closeness enveloping them in a cocoon of warmth and love.

As they lay there, Leah's breathing began to even out, her body relaxing into Aurora's. Aurora, too, settled into the moment, her hand resting gently on Leah's back. They both found solace in their shared silence, the earlier tension replaced by a serene sense of togetherness.

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Aurora woke up three times in the night to the restless cries of Mateo. Each time, she stirred from a deep sleep, her instinctively maternal side taking over. The first two times were manageable; she gently rocked Mateo in her arms and whispered soothing words until he drifted back to sleep. The quiet moments were filled with the soft, rhythmic lullaby of her breathing mingling with his.

But the third time, Mateo's cries were more insistent, and despite Aurora's best efforts, he seemed unable to settle. She tried everything she could think of—soft humming, gentle shushing, and rocking him back and forth. Yet, the comfort she usually provided seemed to slip through her fingers like sand.

Exhausted and almost numb from the repeated wake-ups, Aurora found herself growing increasingly frustrated and fatigued. Eventually, the world around her became a blur, and she couldn't clearly recall how or when either of them finally fell back to sleep. She lay in bed, Mateo nestled against her, both of them enveloped in a restless slumber that left Aurora feeling disoriented and drained.

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Leah woke up feeling the absence of Aurora's warmth next to her. As she turned, her hand instinctively reached out to pull Aurora closer, only to land on something much smaller and unexpectedly warm. Her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the sight of Mateo, nestled between them in bed—a sight she definitely wasn't expecting. The crib, she remembered, was where he was supposed to be.

Confusion washed over her as she tried to piece together how Mateo had ended up in their bed. Her mind was groggy, struggling to make sense of the small, warm body she had just touched, rather than Aurora's familiar form. Mateo began to stir, shifting and whimpering as he rolled into Aurora's body, seeking comfort.

Leah quickly moved him away from Aurora, careful not to disturb her partner, and shifted Mateo onto her own body. She whispered softly, "Morning, bubba," as Mateo's sleepy eyes blinked open. He looked every bit as adorably half-asleep as Aurora, with his scrunched nose and a sleepy frown mirroring his mother's.

Leah couldn't help but smile at the sight. Mateo and Aurora both had the same half-open eyes, their expressions a mirror of distaste at being awake. It was a look Leah had seen countless times on Aurora's face, and now, seeing it on their son, it only made her heart swell with affection. The tiny family, even in their sleepy confusion, was the most precious sight Leah could imagine.

Leah gently traced her finger down Mateo's tiny nose, coaxing his eyes to close once more as she held him close. She remembered the many times she had seen that same sleepy, scrunched-up face on Aurora and had learned that when they looked like this, they weren't quite ready to wake up. It seemed Mateo shared that same sentiment, as his eyes fluttered shut again, sinking back into a peaceful slumber.

With Mateo now settled comfortably against her chest, Leah lay there, taking in the warmth and contentment of her little family. Aurora, still sleeping soundly beside her, was a comforting presence, and Leah's heart swelled with gratitude. The scene before her—a sleeping son in her arms and her beloved partner next to her—was everything she had ever wanted.

Leah smiled softly to herself, feeling a deep sense of happiness and fulfillment. In this quiet moment, with the early morning light filtering gently through the curtains, she felt incredibly fortunate to have both Mateo and Aurora in her life.

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Leah felt her own eyes growing heavy again, the comfort of Mateo's small body nestled against her chest making it hard to stay fully awake. Just as she was on the verge of drifting off, Aurora abruptly sat up in bed, her movements frantic and panicked.

Half-asleep and disoriented, Aurora looked around, her gaze searching frantically for Mateo. Her heart raced as she realized the baby wasn't where she had expected him to be. Her mind, still in the fog of sleep, couldn't immediately register that Mateo was actually safe and sound.

Leah, sensing Aurora's distress, gently called out to her, her voice soothing yet firm. "Rory, he's fine. He's asleep on me," she said, hoping to calm Aurora's sudden alarm.

Aurora's eyes quickly focused, and she finally noticed Mateo nestled peacefully against Leah's chest. A wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a deep sigh, her body visibly relaxing. "Oh God, Leah, you scared me," she murmured, her voice laced with lingering worry.

Leah reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Aurora's arm. "He's got that same 'I don't want to wake up' face as you do," Leah said with a smile.

Aurora blinked sleepily, her own eyes half-opened. "I know, it's so funny," she replied, a sleepy grin spreading across her face.

Leah chuckled softly and teased, "It's cute. You're doing it right now, you know."

Aurora responded by sinking back into her pillow with a groan, her voice muffled as she snuggled deeper into the bed. "I don't wanna be awake," she complained, her words barely audible through her exhaustion.

Leah couldn't help but laugh quietly, watching Aurora's adorable display of reluctance to face the day. The warmth of their little family, the sleepy moments they shared, and the love that surrounded them made Leah's heart swell with contentment.

Leah stretched out her arm toward Aurora, her voice soft and inviting. "Come on, beautiful, why don't you go back to sleep?" she said gently.

Aurora, still groggy and in need of comfort, moved closer and cuddled into Leah's side. She rested a hand on Mateo's tiny back, finding solace in the warmth of her family. Aurora's lips brushed against Leah's collarbone in a tender kiss. "When do you have to go?" she murmured, her voice laced with sleep.

Leah nuzzled closer to her, her voice soothing. "Not until late afternoon."

Aurora, her eyes already heavy, asked sleepily, "What time is it now?"

"Early morning," Leah replied with a smile.

Aurora groaned softly, her words barely coherent. "Too early. You should go back to sleep with us."

Leah nodded, her smile widening. "Okay, baby. Let's all sleep, yeah?"

Aurora managed a soft "Yeah" before her eyes fluttered shut. Within minutes, she was fast asleep, mirroring Mateo's serene slumber.

Leah held both her son and her girlfriend close, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she marveled at how Mateo had inherited so many of Aurora's traits. The sight of them both, so peaceful and content, filled Leah with a profound sense of joy. She leaned into the warmth of her family, her heart swelling with love, and soon drifted back to sleep herself, wrapped in the tender embrace of her little family.