The night was calm, the bedroom dark and quiet. Your body was pressed against Ash’s one, his arms around you, your legs tangled with his. You guys were fast asleep, until…

A child’s cry.

Ash stirred in his sleep. He had heard, but hoped it would pass. Of course, he felt sorry for his 3 years old daughter. But right now, under the warm blanket with you, it felt too good to stand up.

But Amelia’s cries only grew louder.

Ash sighed and looked down at you. You were still asleep. He slowly untangled him from you, which made you stir a bit. He sat up on the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes.

Amelia’s cries turned into wails now.

And even if Ash wanted to stay with you, his daughter’s wails broke his heart. So he stood up, still only dressed in sweatpants. His bare feet padded down the hallway toward his daughter’s room.

He opened the bedroom and saw her on her bed, wailing, tears streaming down her small cheeks. She didn’t look okay at all and it was tearing Ash apart. “Hey, hey, baby calm down.” he said in his usual strict, but gentler voice. It was rare to see her so upset. She kept crying hard and only help her arms up, silently pleading him.

He walked towards her and easily picked her up. She immediately wrapped her legs around his bare waist and her arms around his neck, pressing her face in its crook. She kept sobbing as her small body shook in her father’s strong and tattooed arms.