What happened at night (Thiam)(Rewriting)

Chapter 26 (Merry Christmas)

Previously on What happened at night

Theo's Pov

It didn't take long for the shots to be finished, and soon Dr. Simmons was cleaning up, her voice cheerful as she spoke to us. "She's all done, and you did a great job, Parker. You're growing so strong."

Liam kissed the top of her head, holding her close as I watched, my heart still tender from the moment. "You were so brave, baby," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "We're so proud of you."

Parker was already settling down, her little face still red from the brief pain, but I could see the resilience in her eyes. She was okay. She was always okay. We'd made it through together—both of us, as a family.

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Theo's Pov

The drive home from the doctor's office was quieter than usual. Parker had cried herself to sleep in Liam's arms while we were still in the waiting room, and now she was snuggled in her car seat, her tiny body looking even smaller than usual. Her little cheeks were still flushed, her breaths soft but uneven. My heart ached every time I glanced back at her through the rearview mirror. She'd been so brave, but it didn't make it any easier to see her upset.

Liam sat in the passenger seat, his head resting against the window, staring out at the passing scenery. His usual calm was tinged with an unmistakable sadness, the same one I felt. I reached over and rested a hand on his knee, squeezing it gently to reassure him.

"She's okay," I said softly, though I was mostly saying it to myself. "She just needs to rest."

Liam turned his head to look at me, his eyes soft and full of that same protectiveness I had seen at the doctor's office. "I know. I just hate seeing her like that," he said quietly. "It's so hard not to fix everything for her."

I nodded, understanding exactly how he felt. "I know. But this was for her, for her health. And she's strong, Liam. She handled it better than we expected."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but when she cried... it was like everything in me was screaming to stop it. I wanted to take the pain for her."

"We both did," I said, glancing at him briefly before returning my eyes to the road. "That's what makes us good parents. We care so much it hurts, but sometimes we have to let her face these small pains for her own good. She'll never remember this, but we will. And we'll be stronger for it."

Liam smiled faintly, his hand reaching over to rest on mine. "How do you always know exactly what to say?"

"I don't," I said with a small laugh. "I'm just winging it, like you are."

"Yeah, well," he said, leaning back in his seat, "you're pretty good at winging it."

When we pulled into the driveway, Parker stirred slightly in her car seat but didn't wake. Her little face was scrunched in a way that tugged at my heart, and I could tell she was still feeling the effects of the shots. I unbuckled her carefully, trying not to wake her as I lifted her into my arms. She let out a soft whimper but quickly settled against my chest, her tiny hand clutching the fabric of my shirt.

Liam unlocked the door and held it open for us, his gaze fixed on Parker the entire time. "Let's just keep things quiet today," he suggested as we stepped inside. "She needs rest, and honestly, so do we."

"Agreed," I said, carrying Parker into the living room. I gently lowered her onto the couch, propping her up with some pillows so she'd be comfortable. She stirred again, her eyelids fluttering open for just a moment before closing again.