More Than Words (a Pesy story)

Oh, you save me in ways that I can't explain (part 2)

I wake up much like I fell asleep, wrapped up between pale arms and with a stubbly leg tucked between my own.

Soft cries echo sporadically, and I know that means that Parker is hungry.

I try to wiggle my way out of Perrie's arms without waking her up, but she's having none of it.

"Noooooo," she whines, wrapping her arms tighter around me. "Don't go."

"The baby needs me, Pezza," I say softly, trying to move again.

"But I need you too," she says, holding her grip.

"Perrie," I say with a little laugh.

She finally releases her hold, but not without a pout. "Come back."

"I will, I promise," I say, and then get up to feed Parker.

She eats just fine, but then afterwards, she wants to play. I know it's my own fault 'cos I let her sleep so much during the day, but it's 4:30am, and I just want to go back to sleep.

She whines when I put her in her crib, so I quickly lift her back out, and start to rock her.

Still, she's not happy, so I bounce her around a bit, humming gentle "shhs" here and there.

It works for a minute, but she's angry again soon enough.

So, I try and sing her a lullaby. My voice isn't really suited for a lullaby, but the baby doesn't mind, quieting once I begin to sing.

I'm not sure how long I sing, or how many songs we get through, but after what seems like hours, the baby is finally back to sleep. I lay her in her crib with a soft kiss on the cheek, and then turn to return to my own bed, my body heavy with sleep.

"Motherf-" I start when I notice the shadow in the doorway. Once I notice the shadow's glassy blue eyes, I relax. "Pezza, you scared me," I say.

She doesn't answer at first, just lazily wraps her arms around me, letting me lean against her.

"I'm sorry I scared you. I heard you singing to the baby and... I just had to come in here. Can't explain it," she says softly. "I forgot how pretty your voice is, even when you're not tryin'. It's been too long since I heard it."

I hum in response, too tired to properly get out a sentence, and just revel in our closeness.

We stay like this for a minute, until I'm so far gone that I'm nearly asleep on my feet. Perrie leads me back to our room slowly, tucking me in on my side of the bed before quickly hopping onto her own.

I reach for her as soon as she's laid down, and she embraces me eagerly, kissing dangerously close to the corner of my mouth.

I hum my approval, too tired to even really tell what's going on, and allow myself to drift off, utterly content in Perrie's arms.

She's gone when I wake the next time.

But, she's not gone far. I can smell something delicious wafting up from the kitchen, along with happy baby babbles.

"Good morning," I say sweetly after I descend the stairs, my eyes landing on the baby.

"M-mm," she grunts at me, a smile on her face. "Mm."

"Is that so?" I ask, giving her little round head a kiss and pretending to be scandalized by what she's just told me, before making my way over to Perrie, wrapping my arms loosely around her while she fiddles with something is a saucepan.