Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter Eighty-Four

Aislinn awoke before the alarm went off, popping up to squint at the clock. Ten to five. Steve's alarm would be going off at any moment.

But that wasn't what woke her.

Chris didn't cry.

Her heart gave a lurch and she threw back the covers, almost leaping from the bed in a near-panic. He had yet to sleep through the night. Her only thought was of SIDS.

Her toes curled against the carpet as she braced to jam one foot into a slipper. But then, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. She spun about, her panic melting into relief when she saw Steve cradling Chris against his chest and they were both sound asleep.

Probably she should be upset with Steve, because something could have happened to the baby this way. However, judging by the way he held their son, Steve hadn't moved a muscle and she wondered how long he'd been in that position.

Her cell was on her dresser and she couldn't resist capturing the moment on film—so to speak—and she managed to get off half a dozen shots before Steve stirred and groaned softly. "Ash?"

"I'm up. Let me take him. Was he fussy?" She skirted the bed, then leaned to gently scoop Chris from Steve's arms.

"Yeah." With another groan, Steve rubbed the back of his neck. He'd been partially upright, so it didn't surprise her that his neck was sore. "I got up with him around two, I guess. He took a bottle and fell asleep around three, but when I tried to put him down, he started crying." He looked up at her, his eyes heavy-lidded and bloodshot. "I had to get some sleep, baby."

"You should've woken me, Steve. I can nap when he does." She smoothed a hand over Chris's head.

"You're always the one getting up with him. I tried to be nice."

"Which I appreciate, but when you have to work, please wake me."

He nodded, rubbing his face with both hands, then attempted to smother a yawn. He really did look exhausted. "Today is going to suck."

She sighed, leaning over to press a kiss into the top of his head. "Go shower. I'll put him down and fix you a cup of coffee."

"Thanks, baby."

She smiled and winked, then brought Chris back to the nursery. He didn't stir as she set him down, nor did he make a sound as she closed the door by.

Back in their room, she switched on the baby monitor and sighed as she carried the receiver down into the kitchen. The shower ran and ran and she felt more than twinge of sympathy. Today and tomorrow were going to be the longest days of the week for Steve, as he readied for the last regular season match before the state tournament started. He wouldn't be home until almost eight o'clock, so that in ten hours after that, he could go back to school and repeat.

"I'll be glad when this is over," she murmured as she hit the Keurig's power button. At least with football, it was one game, one day a week. With wrestling, there were matches three days a week and that meant Steve put in even longer days.

The rich aroma of Obsidian blend coffee filled the air, which brought Steve sniffing his way into the kitchen. He looked a little more awake, shaved, his hair wet but finger-combed away from his face, dressed in black warmup pants and a white Under Armour Henley. "Thanks, Ash," he said as she pressed the cup into his hand.

With a sigh, he sank into his chair at the kitchen table, while she made herself a cup of coffee as well. As it was brewing, she moved to stand behind him, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders. Without thinking, she began kneading the thick bands of muscle layered across those broad shoulders. There was almost no give beneath her fingers. That's how solid Steve was. She felt the contours of each well-developed band beneath his skin, as solid as rock.