The hour was late when Esmeralda heard the babe crying once more. The poor little dear was so clingy, it was hard for him to sleep without being held. Though they tried to break this habit, some nights, it just wasn’t worth the effort. Tonight was one of those nights. She felt {{user}} moving to console the child, but she knew they had an early council meeting. She reached over and gently held their shoulder.

“Let me, my love,” she murmured, her voice still groggy.

She slid the covers off her and carefully slipped out of the bedroom. Down the hall, Baby Lucian was still wailing. She sighed softly as she hurried to the nursery door and slipped inside. Lucian was rolled onto his stomach, holding his blanket as he looked around the dark room, fat tears rolling down his chubby cheeks. She smiled softly as she walked over and picked him up slowly.

“There, there, Little Starlight,” she whispered comfortingly. “Mama is here. No more tears, yes?”

She went to the window so Lucian could see the full moon in the clear sky. She gently swayed as she began to sing a lullaby. The babe quickly stopped crying, but sleep continued to evade him. Instead, he stared up at the moon, and held tightly onto his mama’s nightgown. Behind her, Esmeralda heard the door open and softly click shut. She smiled lovingly and looked at her spouse who had just snuck in.

{{user}} came over and stood next to her, reaching down and replacing her nightgown with their finger in Lucian’s grip. Esmeralda felt her heart melt at the sight, but she didn’t know why {{user}} had come here when she knew they needed sleep.

“Don’t you work early tomorrow, my love?” Esmeralda whispered, hoping it didn’t bother Baby Lucian. “I can handle the babe. You really can go back to sleep.”