(Mia's POV)
Char and I are woken up to Cece coming in our room crying "Mummy! Mamma! Cece see monster!" "It's ok panda," I yawn sitting myself up to give her a cuddle. "There's no monsters, you're ok." She babbles to herself as her tears dry up. "Monster scary." I hug her into me tightly. "I know little one, I know. The monsters won't get to you ok I'll protect you and Mummy will protect you alright?" "Otay Mamma," she sniffs. "Cece what's wrong darling?" Char whispers sitting up in the bed. "Monster," Cece cries. "Are you having nightmares?" She asks rubbing her back. "Yeah," she mumbles. "Cece have nightmares."
"There's only one little monster in your bedroom panda," I smile. "And she goes by the name of Cece Louise." I tickle her lightly, turning her tears into cute little giggles. "Pandasauras?" She asks through her laughter. "Mamma read pandasauras?" "You want the pandasauras story again?" I ask. Cece nods enthusiastically, Char admiring both of us with a small tired smile on her face. "Did you not just read that to her before bed?" Char whispers to me. "Yup," I nod. "Three times in fact." Cece cuddles herself between us as I wrap my arm around both her hand Char holding the book in my other hand.
I clear my throat dramatically before starting. "Once upon a time there was a little panda and in the day she was a panda but at night... she was a pandasauras!" I tickle Cece at the end of my sentence, which makes her laugh hysterically as she taps her little feet. I try my best to keep my eyes open to read the entire book to her, doing my best to add all the voices which makes her laugh even more. "The end," I conclude finally closing the book. "Right darling I think it's sleepy time for you now," Char yawns picking Cece up into her lap. "No," she protests. "No bed bed. Cece cuddle Mummy!" She wraps her arms around Char tightly, adamant that she is not going anywhere.
"Come on now panda," I intervene. "Time for bed now we can have cuddles in the morning." Cece sulks. "You've got nursery school tomorrow how exciting is that? You need lots and lots of energy if you want to play with your friends all day." "Cece no need sleep," she insists. "Cece want cuddles." I look over at Char who just sighs and gives me a nod. "Look you can have cuddles tonight if you promise you'll go night nights." She smiles happily. "Cece promise." "Alright poppet goodnight," she whispers laying a small kiss on her forehead before tucking her into the bed and watching until she falls back asleep.
"I'll go and get her panda for her," I whisper slowly stepping out of bed. "She won't sleep long without it." Char nods, keeping one arm around Cece as I tip toe out the room and into the twins' room next door. I creep over to her bed, picking up the panda when I hear noises coming from Fraya's bed. As I go to investigate, I see her lying down wide awake and clutching her duck looking around confused with small tears in her eyes. "Fraya?" I whisper softly. "Fray-Fray are you awake sweetie what's up?" It takes her a few seconds to see me before she responds, bursting into sudden tears. "Cece... Cece not here." She points over to the empty bed next to her in distress. "Where Cece go? Me want Cece!"
I pick her up over my shoulder, gently patting her back as I shush her gently. "It's ok Fray it's ok. Cece's fine she's just in Mamma's bed for now, it's ok.. she's not gone anywhere." I keep holding her and patting her back until she starts to calm down. "Cece here?" She mumbles. "Yes she's just next door," I whisper. "Come on let's go and see her." I carry Fraya back into the bed where Char is still watching a sleeping Cece. "I found the other one awake," I whisper. "Hi Cece," Char smiles. "Was she having nightmares too?" "No she just wanted her sister," I explain putting her down on the bed. "Cece," she mumbles happily snuggling herself into her sister waking her back up. "Fray-Fray wuv Cece!"
"Night night Fray-Fray," Cece whispers closing her eyes again and starting to drift back to sleep. "Me wuv ooo." She falls asleep completely, clutching her panda in her arms while Fraya stays wide awake. "Goodnight darling," Char whispers kissing Fraya on the head to try and get her to sleep too. I can see her struggling to keep awake to soothe Fraya. "Sweetheart go to sleep it's fine," I whisper. "I'll take care of the girls and get them back to bed you get your rest." "But... don't you have a meeting with the board tomorrow morning?" she mumbles. "I do," I yawn. "But you've got work even earlier and to be honest dealing with that rat with the personality of a doorframe is all the more fun when I'm sleep deprived." Chat giggles a little. "Amelia you really do concern me sometimes."
"Goodnight," I laugh giving her a quick kiss before she drifts off to sleep. I rock Fraya in my arms, humming a short lullaby under my breath to get her to fall asleep. "Me... and... my panda bear... we've got no worries and we've got no cares. I.. love.. my panda bear.. we play and play all day. Every night she's with me, as I climb up the stairs and every night she listens... until I say my prayers, oh. Me and my panda bear, we've got no worries and we've got no cares. I love my panda bear, we play and play all day." By the end of the song, she's fast asleep in my arms. I carry her back to her bedroom carefully, tucking her into her bed before doing the same with her sister.
Once they're both safety tucked in bed I find the old night light I used to have as a child and place it between their beds for extra comfort. It makes me slightly emotional thinking I'm now passing it on to my daughters. "Goodnight girls," I whisper under my breath. "See you in the morning, I love you. Sweet dreams." I close the door sheepishly as I leave before climbing back into bed next to Char, who I soon notice has kept one eye open. "Charlotte why are you still awake baby?" "I just wanted to make sure," she whispers. "Sorry I just, I had to be sure everything was alright. By the way, your singing to Fraya was so adorable." "Thanks," I smile kissing her forehead gently.
"Now goodnight sweetheart, get some rest now." "I will," Char whispers closing her eyes. "I love you." "I love you too baby," I mumble giving her a quick kiss goodnight before I close my eyes too. She rolls over with her eyes shut so her head's rested on my chest, her arms wrapped around my stomach loosely. I play with her hair, listening to and feeling the soft patterns of her breathing onto my chest, until we both fall asleep finally.
