(Mia's POV)
"Hey baby what's up?" I say answering a call from Char sat in my car. "Mia thank god I was worried," she sighs. "Are you ok, I'm just putting the twins to bed and you said you'd be back for their bedtime is everything ok?" "Everything's fine baby," I reassure her. "It just took a little longer than I expected because I had to go and get petrol I'm fine, I'm in the car park." Char takes another sigh of relief. "Ok... that's good, sorry for pestering I just... it's winter so it gets dark early now and I worry about you." I can't help but smile to myself at that sentence. She is so cute when she's protective. "You don't have to worry about me sweetheart I'm fine. How are the girls are they ok?"
"They're good," Char says. "Just read them a story and getting them to sleep now. Say night nights to Mamma girls." "Night night mamma."the twins say into the phone. "Where Mamma?" I hear Cece's voice say. "Me want mamma." "I'm on my way back panda," I smile into the phone. "Goodnight now, I love you." "Wuv ooo," she mumbles. "I won't keep you too long then baby I'll be back," I say. "I love you." "I love you too," Char says hanging up the phone. I start the car and drive home as fast as I possibly can, seeing Char peer through the window, holding Cece in her arms, as I pull up to park.
"Hey baby," I whisper opening the door and giving her a kiss. "Aww have we got a sleepy one here." "We do," Char whispers. "She was fussy because she wanted to see you so I carried her down here to see you come in and well... she fell asleep." "Bless her," I smile in awe admiring my sleeping baby. She hands her over to me. "There you go, you take her back to bed I'll be in the kitchen." I carry Cece up, fast asleep, and tuck her back into her bed. "Night night panda," I whisper giving her a kiss goodnight. I go over to Fraya's bed and kiss her goodnight too. "Night night pumpkin. Sweet dreams you two." I close the door quietly and head back downstairs to see Char properly.
"I really missed you," she pouts holding her arms out for a hug. I wrap my arms around her waist and place a soft kiss on her forehead. "I missed you too. You know you don't have to worry about me all the time, I'm perfectly safe." She gives me a proper kiss back. "That won't stop me worrying about you though, I just love you and I don't want you getting hurt." "You look shattered baby," I whisper caressing her cheek in my hand. "Are you sure you don't want to go to bed now? I can finish up all the house work for you if you do." "Mia it's fine," Char yawns. "It's only like 7 o'clock and you've had a long day as it..." I give her a gently kiss to shut her up. "I don't care you need your rest, at least just let me hold you here for a bit."
"Ok," she mumbles leaning herself into my body and her face into my neck. "You smell really nice today." I kiss the edge of her ear, soothingly rocking her side to side. "Thanks baby. You look gorgeous." I keep swaying her in my arms slowly, watching her eyes flutter as they struggle to stay open. "How was work then?" I ask. Char struggles to stay awake enough to string her sentences together. "It's was alright you know we... the kids... the parents... it was normal I guess... we had a few parents complaining about this and that.... You know the usual, and Sorscha she... she... sh..." She stops her sentences as her eyes shut slowly. "She what sweetheart?" I ask awaiting her response.
It takes me a few short moments to realise she'd fallen asleep over my shoulder. "My poor baby," I whisper. "You really are tired aren't you?" I give her a soft kiss to wake her up. "What.. happened?" She mumbles confused as she opens her eyes. "You fell asleep on me my love," I explain. "And I'd love to leave you like that but I can't let you go to bed in those clothes you'll overheat like anything. Come on let's get you dressed for bed now." "I... I'm too tired to change," she yawns. "Then I'll help you," I say picking her up. "Come on sleepy one, up the wooden hill you go."
I carry her all the way upstairs to our bedroom, laying her on her bed before finding her pyjamas. I unzip the back of her dress and help her take it off, before unclasping her bra at the back to remove it. "Lift your hips up then sweetheart," I say holding up her pyjama shorts. She lifts them up lazily, just long enough so I can put her shorts on fully. "Arms up now," I say pulling her t-shirt over her head. Once I'm finished, I give her a soft kiss on the shoulder. She looks up at me with loving, sleepy eyes which struggle to stay awake. "Is that better?" I ask. "What can I do for you now baby?" "Cuddles?" She asks sweetly. "Please? I just really want cuddles now."
I get myself into bed, holding up the edge of the duvet. "Come here then baby girl, let's get you cozy." Char smiles, climbing into bed and snuggling herself back into me, my arm around her waist and the other picking up my book. I hold the book up with one hand, stroking my fingers through her hair with the other while reading. Each time I turn the page, I untangle my hand from her hair and kiss her forehead tenderly before continuing. Char looks up, trying to read along the book with me but she's getting more and more tired as I go along. "It's only 8:30
I can't sleep now," she groans. "Keep talking to me, keep me awake." "Sweetheart," I breathe kissing her forehead again. "You're absolutely shattered I don't care how early it is your body needs rest ok? So stop being a stubborn pain in the ass and just get some rest."
"Pain in the ass?" She sniggers half asleep. "You're one to talk." I let out a breathy laugh, turning my book upside down to trace down her spine with my finger. "If you weren't so damn endearing when you're half asleep I'd be offended by that comment." "I'm not half asleep I'm just... resting my eyes," she protests. I just laugh, placing several small kisses onto her forehead. "Sure you are. Ok good night now, sweetest dreams."
I lean down to give her lips a kiss goodnight which she lazily gives back. I trace my finger across her face gently as she falls asleep, across the bridge of her nose, down her neck and then down her spine like a map. "I love you so much," I whisper feeling her body get heavier as she drifts off. "You're beautiful I hope you know that." I give her one last kiss before she falls asleep, laying perfectly still as I just admire my beautiful wife sleeping so soundly in my arms.
