The Other Harmon (Benny Watts TQG)

Part 35 : Madaline

I laid looking at the ceiling, pondering, thinking, My brain never turned off. It never had as long as I remember, my life had been a strange one and yet I had found my own happiness

"Uummmm..." I heard beside me looking to the other half of my bed as he turned over his mop of messy long hair matted and out of place more so than usual, his face a picture of peace and relaxation his facial hair sat as perfect as usual, his strong skinny upper body out from our covers a little the rest of him wrapped up warmly his face stiffened and he grimaced "y/n? What are you doing still awake?" He asks with a yawn

"Nothing Benny, I couldn't sleep"

"Alright, come on, come here honeydew... Let's get some rest, got a plane to catch in the morning" he yawns pulling me to his chest like I was his teddy bear. Not that I minded at all. I kissed his bare skin and nuzzled closer to him trying to lose myself in a dream, But I couldn't get back to sleep for too long I don't know how he does it I pushed his hands away getting out of bed and slipping on my nightie and my dressing gown going out to the apartment my eyes being woken more by the bright morning light and the lamp that was on in the living room 

"Madaline? What are you doing up sweetheart?" I asked seeing her sat by the lamp with her book

"Mumma!" she smiled jumping from the sofa into my arms "I was reading"

"Good girl go on back to bed," I told her 

"But Mumma it's not long till up time," she says pointing to the clock on the mantle she was right it was about half an hour before we needed to all be up anyway 

"Well alright, Go on Madaline go wake up daddy," I told her she nodded running off into our bedroom as I went to the kitchen and began making coffee making it very very strong I could hear giggling and complaining where Madaline must have undoubtedly jumped on benny to wake him up as she always does if she's allowed then a squeal

"ahhhh, Mumma! daddy's ticking me!" she complained through her giggles I laughed going to the bedroom door seeing benny laid in bed half asleep ticking Madaline like crazy as she sat on my side of the bed "Mumma help!" 

"Come on you two" I laughed picking Madaline up taking her back to the kitchen with me giving her some apple juice 

"Morning..." benny smiled sounding groggy and tried rubbing his eyes and fixing his hair having slipped some pants on and his usual robe over his shoulders 

"Morning benny" I smiled kissing his cheek as I handed him his coffee going to take my own but 

"Oi, come here" he smirked grabbing my waist and pulling me tight to his chest pulling me into a deep kiss I smirked kissing back putting my coffee down to wrap my arms around his shoulders and his neck as he put his down to pull me tighter I pushed his hips back a little trying to remind him we were in the kitchen and our daughter sat at the table 

"hehehehe! mummy and daddy do kissy kiss" she giggled I pushed him away playfully going to the table with my coffee 

"What time is it?" benny asks

"Almost plane time" she smiled

"You all packed sugar?" 

"All but my teddies," she says

"Good girl"

"Is mummy packed?"

"all packed up Madaline" 

"Is daddy packed?"

"Yes I am sugar" he smiled kissing her head and coming to stand leant against my chair "where's your sister?"

"In bed"

"I will go get Alice, Madaline you finish your juice and go pack your teddies, while daddy goes for a shower," I told them

"Do I need a shower?" benny asks

"yes" I smiled as I got up fixing my nightie but he looked unhappy at the idea "Go shower Benny"

"What do you think Sugar does daddy need a shower?" he asks her

"yes" she giggled 

"Fine" he sighed "I am shaving today"

"I'd rather you did darling" I smiled

"what do you think Madaline?"

"Daddy should" she nods jumping off her chair to go to her room 

"I respectfully disagree and choose not to," he says 

"Whatever benny" I laughed going to the girl's room 

"Bring Alice here I wanna give her a cuddle," he says so I laughed going to the little crib seeing Alice still fast asleep so I picked her gently up and handing her to benny making her instantly wake up and nuzzle on his chest.

once we were all dressed and packed up we headed off on the plane to Austin quickly going to the hotel as soon as we landed, and we headed to the tournament 

"what if I don't do good?" Madaline asks

"Madaline, of course, you'll do good I know you will but if you don't want to you don't have to," I told her fixing her dress  

"I want to, what if I lose?" she asks

"Then we will go for ice cream, whatever happens, we can still go home and everything will be fine," I told her and she nodded running off to her table sitting across from one of the boys more then twice her age I went over to the corner of the room where benny stood watching her with Alice in his arms 

"Don't worry, she'll do fine." he says kissing my head "she beat both of us didn't she"

"I know, I just worry" I smiled as they were getting ready to start and in the quiet, I could hear the talking off the radio presenter 

"And now the first game of the day, Arthur Lewis Against the youngest competitor at this level Miss Madaline Watt's, I'm sure all of us are familiar with her. Miss Watt's is, of course, the daughter of Benny Watt's current raining US Champion and his wife Y/n Watts A chess master in her own right as well as sister to the current world champion Elizabeth Harmon, it seems Miss Madaline Watt's is the new generation in this dynasty of the game and... we have been playing less than five minutes here and he has just now resigned" 

I smiled as I saw her win as I always did, she was so sweet our little girl, it was almost clear in her game as well she was our daughter she thought like me and plaid like benny the little flicks and habits we both have come together in her game in her own way, "That's My girl" I smiled as she moved on to her next game

"Maybe this little one will be good too? when she's a little older" Benny smiled playing with Alice's fingers

"Maybe" I smiled  taking her from him to put her in her stroller for a nap 

"Uummm...lets have another" He smiled cuddling me tightly from behind

"are you serious Benny?" I laughed 

"I want a little boy" he shrugs "Don't you want a little boy too? a little brother for the girls?"

"I'll think about it" I warn him