Sleepless Nights

"Ugh."

"Hmm, what is it?" He rolled over to look at the clock.

"She's crying again."

"Well, go get her," he groaned and rubbed his eyes.

"I got her the last time!"

"My knee's acting up."

"Your knee is always acting up."

"Because I got shot in the knee, remember!?!"

"With an arrow?"

"I swear to God, you do a joke like that one more time and you're sleeping on the couch."

"Oh right, like you would ever have that happen, my little cuddle bug."

He was silent and snarled when a snicker was heard on the other side of the bed. "FINE, I'll go get her!" He sat up and stretched, grabbing his cane to help himself to his feet. Just to piss off his bedmate, he turned on the lamp by his bed and left the room with a proud grin on his face.  

His knee always acted up when it was raining, and the thunderstorm outside made it throb at every crack of thunder. It also scared the living hell out of their small dog, who was now whimpering and trembling under their bed. He usually comforted the poor thing, but he was still fuming over the dumb argument. The anger quickly faded away when hearing a terrified shriek that followed a sharp crackle of thunder.

"Shit, hang on," he cooed softly once he entered the cozy little nursery, wincing when the baby shrieked as lightning lit up the room. "Aw, come here," he murmured, placing the cane by the side of the bed and scooping her up. She was writing and wailing in his arms, looking pathetic while successfully breaking her father's heart. "Hey, no don't cry," he murmured and sat in the rocking chair, holding her to his chest and trying to whisper soothing words to her. "It's okay, Muriel… I know, thunder's bloody scary, isn't it? I got ya, sweetie." He sighed and closed his eyes. If only his mom was still alive. She was good with kids, she'd know what to do. "Bloody hell, you're worse than the dog."

"How is she worse than the dog?" He looked at the former Spy casually leaning against the doorframe. "They're about the same, both adorable and hate loud noises. Although, she's louder than he is." He smiled and moved to stand next to the former Sniper. "Aw, the poor thing is shaking."

"Yeah, she's really upset," he sighed and rubbed the child's back. "Don't blame her… how does a place like this have storms like this?"

"France is not always quite and calm or whatever Australian fathers told their children at night to scare them," his lover responded with a smirk, then cooed while petting his daughter's hair back. "Poor baby, the storm will soon pass." He sighed and pulled a chair over to sit next to his family. "Such sensitive little ears…"

"I should have made the room soundproof or… shit, I should have read the book better. I can't understand all that bloody French, I must have missed something, there had to have been something in there, bloody hell!" He smacked his forehead and winced when the baby shrieked again, feeling close to tears himself. "S-stop crying… I'm worse than my dad…"

"Now stop it," the Frenchman frowned and touched his cheek. "That is not true and you know it. Your father was a stubborn ass with too much pride and not enough heart… and brains, for that matter. Why do you think your mother left you almost everything in her will? What did she give your father, hmm? The house, television and truck."

"And his chair," the former Sniper murmured, starting to smile when his husband threw back his head and laughed. "Love watching TV all day and reading the newspaper, that's what she gave him." He sighed as the thunder started to drift off outside. "… You think when she grows up, the other kids will make fun of her name?"

"We named her after your mother."

"I-I know but…"

"I think it's a little too late to edit the adoption papers."

"All right, I get it," he groaned. "I-I'm happy we named her after Mum. I just… you know… kids can be mean."

"We have about five years before we should really be concerned about that manner. Besides, they would not want to mess with the daughter of two former assassins." He chuckled and kissed the top of his lover's head. "You worry too much."

"I know," he replied with a soft sigh.

"You're going to be a perfect father."

He raised his head up and blinked in surprise. "You think so?" The Frenchman nodded and he started to smile. Mainly because the storm was softening and their daughter's screams were now little whimpers. "There we go, all better." He struggled to stand without his cane, but the baby was carefully taken from his arms and placed into the crib. "Thanks," he whispered while grabbing his cane.

His lover nodded as he approached the crib, both of them staring at their small, sleepy baby. "I have been thinking…"

"Yeah?" the Australian murmured while wrapping an arm around his waist.

"You will be Daddy, I will be Papa."

The taller man paused, eyes glancing to the side to think it over while scratching his chin. "… I like that," he finally said with a small nod, then chuckled when his husband wrapped his arms around him and kissed him firmly on the cheek. "Heh… I love you too."