Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 75

Forty-nine hours and six minutes since I had seen... no not seen... I got a glimpse of that brown hair when I went to the garden.

Uncle Fred had hired security and he had given stern orders that my Big Baby was not welcome inside. But the old man's heat was thawing when Little Lia asked him where her daddy was.

We missed him so much that I ached inside out.

I was not eating well, not sleeping at all and... everyone was worried. But what could I do?

Lia shifted in her sleep and I fixed her blanket once again.

'Ting'.

Huh?

'Ting'.

"Pssttt... Angel... open this shit."

What the!

'TIng'.

"Psssst.... Angel... Where the fuck is the lock... shh... dammit."

'Ting'.

Please don't tell me that Bastard was on the other side of the balcony. It was dangerous. Unlike the normal balconies, Uncle Fred had glass panels covering the whole place. It would not open from the outside.

Dangerous was an understatement. What would I do if he fell and injured himself.

He would give me a fucking heart attack!

Why was he climbing up all these places like a teenage boyfriend!

We had a baby together for christ's sake.

I could not find him anywhere. Did he fall?

Then I saw his brown hair peeking through one of the glass panels and I sighed in relief before cursing.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Uncle Fred would tan my butt before killing Robbie.

I opened the glass panel next to him and warily watched as he leaned across the barely-there projection. I put both my hand across his torso and he used that as the leverage and kicked off.

One slip he would have fallen down and...

We both fell inside with him on top of me.

Damn! Bastard was heavy and he looked comfortable and not willing to get up.

"Hey, Pretty Angel." He leaned back on his hands and smiled cutely.

I slapped his cheek. "What the fuck is wrong..."

He covered my mouth hard and whispered. "Your son of a bitch uncle has security everywhere. They will kick me out."

I licked his hand and he only smiled.

This pervert!

He was supposed to take his hand away, but... well.

I finally patted his shoulder and he let me up. We silently closed the glass panel and I pinched his elbow hard.

"You are fucking insane. Do you know how deep the fall is?"

"Well, I had to see you. Where is our baby?"

"Sleeping. I am serious Robbie; you are so reckless."

I shook my head to clear the image of him lying on the ground. I did not like him hurt and the fall would have been not lethal but what if he breaks his back...

"I am fine." He held my hand and kissed its back.

I pushed him away and went to the bedroom, already done with his antics.

"Hey, baby... come on."

"You could not wait till morning to come here?" I was annoyed and... still frightened. The teeny tiny ledge was not safe for a person big like him to stand and do circus on.

Yes, he was a martial artist.

Yes, he had better balance of his body because of that.

Yes, he knew how to fall, minimizing the damage.

But did the garden bed know that? Did the gravity care that?

No, if he fell and broke his back, that was that.

Fucking idiot of mine!

He pulled me back to his chest and pressed me to the door the bedroom.

"Stop ignoring me already. Let me at least see you properly." Like we had not seen each other of half a million years. "I missed you so much. Stop squirming, Love. It is doing things to me."

Perverted Asshole.

He dropped kisses on my forehead, hugging me and it might have melted my heart, tiny bit. Just tiny.

"Come home now, Angel." I pushed away another finger that had found its way up to my nipple under my shirt.

"Which home? What home?" I was on my full on passive aggressive bitch mode and I was not giving the love of my life an inch to set his foot.

"Wherever I go. That is your home, right?"

I thumped his chest and tried to get out of his hug without success. His left hand was wound around my waist while his other hand was rubbing my chest under my shirt. He kissed my cheek and I tsk'ed in annoyance.

"Let go now or I am gonna call out for Uncle Fred." He had some nerve to climb up this balcony, this late at night. I peeked inside and checked on my baby girl who was sleeping with her bum up.

"No, you won't." Robbie twisted my face to him after taking his hand inside my shirt.

"Don't be so sure about that." I pushed him again.

"I am. You never did and you never will. You are mine."

"Did you overdose on smoothness pills?"

He chuckled. "So, you admit, you are falling hard on my smoothness."

I rolled my eyes but Daddy dipped his head and brushed a kiss on my lips.

Then another one.

And a small one.

Oh, this one was deep.

Before long we both were kissing like we had not seen in a very long time. From our perspective we hadn't.

Physically we might have had some days where we could not be together, especially when Daddy went on business trips but then we would call and text, so the distance wouldn't be daunting.

"Let us go home now." He whispered again when I took a breather and hid my lips under his chin.

"This late? Lia is sleeping."

"And you are not. She is fine, Baby."

Said the father who I had seen hovering over her like a hawk ever since that episode. He pretended to be okay and happy in front of me; but I knew my Demon well and he was frightened.

I pulled him to the bedroom and opened my suitcase before taking his sweat pants and shirt which I had sneaked in when Uncle Fred was not looking. I knew he would come for me.

Robbie had the audacity to smile cheekily at me.

Fine! I wanted him to come for me... not in the middle of the night through a dangerous balcony but...

"Promise me you will not climb up the balconies anymore. You are a father, now. Behave like one."

"Well, if you don't get angry at me and leave, I would not have to, would I?"

"Tsk. I am serious. What if you fall?"

"Then we can play doctor and patient." He purred and bit my ear, making me blush.

"Yeah, well, if you break your back, patient cannot fuck the doctor, now, can he?" I purred back.

"Fine. No climbing balconies ever again."

Figures! Robbie thinks with his wrong head half the time.

He handed me his clothes before slipping on the sweat pants. I snatched back the sweat shirt he was going to sling across the room, with a glare. I rolled it and placed it back in suitcase with a huff.

"Are you from Tennessee?" Robbie whispered to my ear while rubbing my butt to his crotch.

"What? No..." He, of all people should know. Why was he asking me that?

"Because you're the only ten I see!"

What in the holy world?

Did he just use a pick up line on me?

"Robbie you just didn't."

He rubbed his lips on my neck, making me ticklish and giggly.

"I wish I were cross-eyed so I can see you twice."

I snorted and laughed. "Stop..." That was so bad... so so bad. He twirled me around like we were dancing. "What has gotten into you?"

"More like what is getting into you." He lewdly made a thrusting motion and I cringed before giggling and hugging his neck.

"Please, Robbie, I beg you... just stop."

I could not stop laughing but I was worried we would wake Lia up.

"Do you like Star-Wars? Because Yoda only one for me!"

I punched his shoulders and hid my giggles into his chest. "Wh... where the hell... oh my god. Where the hell did you find all these... terrible lines?"

"Internet, baby, internet."

At least he was truthful.

"You are so not going to get laid tonight, Daddy." Those were really bad enough to turn off anyone.

"Hey! So I did have a chance? Dammit!"

"Well, now we will never know." I rubbed my forefinger over his cheek and sashayed away from him and lied next to my baby girl.

I chuckled again, remembering his lines. 'Yoda only one for me.'

Cringe!

I shook my head.

"Anything to see my Angel smile." He lied next to me and pecked my cheeks.

"I am laughing because I am already in love with you. Otherwise I would have cried at these sad excuses of pickup lines before running away."

He bit my neck in retribution. I held back my moan because Lia was literally next to me.

"Why does she sleep like that?" He tried to poke Lia's bum and I took his hand away.

"Because she is a baby and babies sleep like that. Leave her alone, Daddy." He was going to push her to the side but I was not letting him.

Robbie finally sat up and took Lia to his lap.

Why did he always have this look of wonder in eyes when he held her?

"She is sleeping, Angel."

I dropped my head to his shoulder staring down at our baby... my baby.

"Yes, Daddy. She asked for you, you know?"

"Really?"

"Yup. So, you can stay the whole night. Uncle Fred might not kill you right away."

"He hates me Angel." Robbie whined and I chuckled.

"Whose fault is that?"

Robbie huffed.

Robbie and I had a huge fight after that court incident.

He should have come to me or to my mom instead of making the stupidest of his life by marrying Janice. The fight was not necessarily because of that but he said 'It is my life, Angel, not yours' again and I... completely lost it.

He had no right to tell me that.

How dare he?

If it was his life, why did he barge into mine and turn me upside down? Why did he touch me that day? Why did he keep me in the sides like a fucking idiot?

Where was 'his' life when he pushed and twisted me until 'my' life was braided along with his?

Yes, it was my fault that I never asked.

Yes, I understand there were so many signs that he needed me and something was wrong but I ignored them.

Yes, I pushed him and Lia to Janice because I was so busy trying to fit myself in morally-right pedestal.

But that did not mean he can throw the 'It is my life, Angel, not yours' to me.

And I might have accidently spilled the incident of him telling me that when I talked to Uncle Jack and of course he might have told Uncle Fred. I had a feeling this taking me away from Robbie was his way of punishing Robbie for the insensitive words.

Robbie lied back to the bed with Lia on his chest and hugged me close.

"You are all I need." He pecked Lia's head and then squeezed my waist before sighing.

"We too, Daddy. Don't forget that." I pecked his cheek before placing my head on his shoulder and stared at my baby.

"Please sleep, my love."

"No." I said adamantly. I had to watch Lia sleeping. I had to know when she had nightmares and I had to see her breathing.

"Baby..."

"You sleep, Daddy."

He sighed but thankfully he did not pick up a fight.

I did not know if our talking woke our baby up. But she scrunched her face and frowned seeing Daddy holding her.

She pouted before looking for me and saw me lying just next to her.

"Mmm... daey..." She slithered away from Robbie, still pouting, kissed my cheek, squished herself into my chest and promptly fell back asleep.

Robbie chuckled before turning to my side. He stretched his arm as my pillow and hugged me tighter.

I did not mean to fall asleep but how could I not when I was in the warmest, safest cocoon in this world.

Uncle Fred found us sleeping like that in the morning but thankfully Uncle Jack was also with him. I pretended to be asleep because he would scold me for letting Robbie inside my bedroom.

"They are a family. What do you expect?"

"Respect me and... where the hell are the body guards? I gave specific..."

"Teddy, I am done with your attitude." Uncle Jack sounded the same too. "Now, get back to our bed and sleep some more. Lia will not wake up yet."

"I told you I heard voices last night."

"Stop talking. The kid barely sleeps. Now he is asleep, I am going to be so mad if you wake him up. Come, let us go. Teddy, I am serious. Stop glaring at them like a creepy pervert."

"Hey, that kid is my godson."

"... who is sleeping with his lover. Give them their privacy, you annoying thing in my life."

"... I don't understand how he got past my security, Ken. I gave strict instructions..."

Their voices faded away and I poked my man's cheek. "Possum, open your eyes."

"Phew. I thought he would never leave." I cuddled closer; Lia still sleeping between us.

"I am thinking we can leave after breakfast. Okay, Daddy?"

"Do we have to, Angel? Please come on... We can just leave right now. The bloody bodyguards will tase me."

"Speaking of which, how did you get past them?" I threaded my hand through his thick hair.

"Teddy's Ken took me in when he saw me crouching behind the bushes. He said I am one of his new guitarists and those idiots believed it."

Uncle Jack was one of a kind. Why didn't he just let Robbie in through the door then? Oh, Uncle Fred would just kick him out again.

"DADA..."

A raspy squeaky voice rose between us and the little bunny jumped from my hold to his chest. Lia kissed Robbie's cheeks like she hadn't seen him in years.

"Hey, Baby Kitten. Missed Daddy?"

"Lub you, Dada. Davey missie Daddy."

I blushed.

"He did?"

"Uhuh. Davey say no eating coz Daddy no eating an may sandiches an Gampa Kenken took em way."

"Oh, yes. I ate the sandwiches Davey made last night, Baby. So, Davey did not eat?"

She shook her head. "Nuu." She plopped her head down on his chest innocently as if she did not just throw me under the bus.

"Ace."

I winced at the edge in his voice.

I did not eat, not because he did not eat. I just said it that way to guilt trip Uncle Fred. I was genuinely not hungry. I was always a picky eater, and these days, no food looked appetizing to me.

"We will leave after breakfast."

I was not hungry but I knew when not to pick up a fight with Robbie. He was a walking land mine and when he became like this, it would only add up his stress. Stressed-Robbie was difficult to manage than Horny-Robbie and that was telling something.

Lia refused to be away from her Daddy and Uncle Fred had to admit defeat. He was not happy with us going with him but we would manage just fine.

But Lia did not want to leave her grandpas too, making everyone cry when she cried begging them to follow her.

Uncle Fred picked her up and kissed her forehead. "We will come this Sunday. Now be a good girl to your dads and stop crying."

She did not stop crying but we managed to get her in the baby seat and we drove away.

She was happy and giggly after a nap, though she occasionally asked if grandpas were coming.

My baby is the sweetest baby ever.

I was still not over the emotions, especially sadness. I tried very hard to elevate my mood but I just could not.

Dr. Adams did come to our home twice already, to check on Lia but he was more worried about me. Once or twice he jokingly said I took the hit of the incident than Lia, but soon he was asking me to open up to either him or Robbie.

Honestly, there was nothing to open up.

I was just sad.

It would fade.

Lia was as happy as she had ever been with occasional tantrums, frequent boo-boos and owies.

Look at her, now. Would anyone believe me if I said she was crying on my shoulders for not letting her go to sea alone?

She wanted me to stand by the fence and she would go alone to play with the waves.

We fought.

She cried... and cried... and cried again.

That was one of the reasons I did not like this beach house. It was safe with a fence bigger than me with fingerprint activation and manual locks... but they limited my girl's freedom and movement.

She could not go anywhere alone, could not explore her own home and could not play hide and seek with me outside. The people in the beach were strangers who did not live here, that made making new friendships impossible and honestly... the father in me did not like it.

At this age Lia was easier to handle as a child, but in coming years, I could not just pick her up and go to our room while she forgets what had happened. She would want more growing up space.

"Davey!" She jumped to me for no reason whatsoever but to kiss my cheek before walking around holding her toy monkey by its tail.

I sometimes forgot how young she was. She was very articulate and would understand well above her age. We were best friends and we did everything together. But when we went to her playschool and interacted with her classmates, I would always wonder how really advanced she was.

Of course, Lia needed smaller words and sometimes I had to repeat a sentence few times or call her name frequently so her attention would not waver. But when we talked I never felt as if there was something she would not understand because of her age. Yes, I concealed some information from her because she was my daughter and she had no business knowing it... but the thought of her not understanding what I say, did not cross my mind often.

I stood up after pecking both of her chubby cheeks. "I think Daddy is home, Little Baby. Davey is going downstairs. You play."

"Okey." She kissed my knee while hugging my leg before throwing the monkey on the floor for not sitting up properly. Well, she was Robbie's kid, alright. If I did not closely watch and guide her, I had a feeling she would end up hurting everyone and then herself.

I checked my watch connected to the camera in her room, to make sure it was working. She would call out for me but still I would not be at peace if I could not check on her frequently.

I walked down the stairs lost in thoughts but when I saw the guests with him, my anger returned tenfold and I wanted to get back to Lia's room.

The lawyers.

I had banned them from our home. So why were they there?

I glared at Daddy and he winced.

"Angel, they wanted to talk to you for a second."

Did I look like I wanted to hear them talk? They only cared about the case not my kid... or my family... or my...

"We... are sorry." Weston said without looking at me.

Oh he was sorry? He was fucking sorry?

The anger and betrayal I felt might have slipped through my eyes because all of them started squirming.

"We meant no harm to her, Mr. Truscott. If Brantley was adamant about anything that was about her custody and keeping your name clean. We honestly had no idea that..." Isaac waved his around before wiping his face.

Well, I had no idea too but... I was angry, okay? I was angry at them because... because...

I WAS ANGRY!

Simon was silent with his hands crossed behind his back. I did not know I was staring at him until Weston talked.

"It is not his fault either. We were told that the questioning of child would be in private. But then that yucky idiot Marshall claimed that Amelia is coached and would change her answers... so... sigh! We did not want it to happen. I know you don't believe us, because lawyers have the reputation of vultures and we are... most of the times... but with the kid... we are not that cruel... Simon... come on man, apologize."

Simon opened his mouth but he ended up gulping frequently and then turned his face away. Were his eyes wet?

Why was I punishing them for my shortcoming?

It was my fault, okay, I admit.

"It was not me that you have wronged. Apologize to my baby and if she is okay... then I have no problem with you guys... well, that is not true. I have problem with you but if you don't let that happen one more time then we can move past this. After all, none of us knew."

I pinched the bridge of my nose to keep my tears in bay.

I missed my mom so much. If she was here...

She is not! Pull yourself together.

"We would very much love to talk to her and apologize. But Brantley said if you are not okay then we can't. We got her something too. If... if you are okay with it, that is. My wife said, if we make a kid cry we should also be able to make them laugh... or we have no right to make them cry in the first place... We did not make her purposely sad but... if you allow us..." Weston was practically begging me.

I sighed but nodded.

"Little Baby... Lia..." I hollered. "Come here, baby, some people are here to see you."

"Commeee Davey."

... pitter-patter... pitter-patter...

I loved how she came running when Robbie or I called for her.

She held the rail tightly before asking for my permission with her cute big eyes and I nodded, stretching my hand towards her.

She took one step at a time. Then stood with both feet on one step, then wiggled her butt, then repeated the same, until she could reach me.

I was not the only one who melted.

She hugged my leg before looking shyly at the adults hovering over.

"Uhh... hello." I thought Weston was the one who got picked up for this stunt or may be himself being a dad might have made them think that he would be able to talk to a toddler.

Unlike me, my kid was truly an angel. She would forgive you in a blink, if she felt you were sincere or then she was all Daddy's girl.

"Llo."

They were surprised by her response.

"Yeah. Hello." Weston tried again. "We... uh... Do you know us?"

I shook my head. I had a feeling the speech he had prepared had flown out of his head when he saw my baby.

I could not believe he was the same hard-core lawyer Robbie had hired.

"Daddy's fens."

Surprised again.

"Daddy's lawyers, Baby Angel." Robbie helpfully corrected.

"Oh. Daddy's la ves. Wa is la ves, Davey?"

Isaac cleared his throat. "Yeah we are."

Weston sighed before crouching down to her level. He extended his hand for a handshake and Lia took it timidly, still hiding half her body behind me.

"Ummm... we... I don't know how to start... but your father has been telling us that... you were scared when... you came to our office... you may not understand what we are saying but... we are sorry." Weston rubbed her tiny hand in his, with his thumb. "We are really sorry that you got scared."

"Okey now. Crocky hep. No mo scareey."

"Crocky?"

"Uhhuh... Judy Hop give Lillil Baby Crocky. No scareey now."

"That... that's good." Weston stood up after clearing his throat. "We also got something for you... to be not scared anymore."

Lia was curious which was good.

Weston and Isaac pushed Simon to Lia and the poor man was sweating bullets. He was the youngest among them and he looked so timid.

"Gift for you... I am really really sorry. I should have..." He did not complete his sentence.

Lia took the package from him after my prompting.

When I noticed all of them waiting patiently, including Lia. So, I kneeled down on the floor with Lia impatiently leaning on me, and I opened the package and took out a... make-it-yourself- toy castle?

"Faeeyy casil!!! uh!!! Faaeeyyeee... Davey... Faeeyyee casil. DADA!!! FAEEYYYEEE CASIL." Lia jumped around and squealed.

All the lawyers sighed in relief at her happy dance.

"Glad you like the Princess Castle."

"No.. no pincess. Faeeyyeee. Faeeyyeee."

"We agreed on princess." Isaac glared at Weston.

"How the h I know! Missus is cross with me. I am sleeping on couch for hurting this baby."

Lia jumped again and hugged all of their legs, thanking them wholeheartedly. If Simon was not feeling guilty before, now he looked ready to die.

"FAEEYYYEEE CASIL. YYYYAAAAAAYYYY. Davey... faeeyyeess homiiii now."

"Yes, Lia. Fairies have a home now."

"YYYYYAAAAYYYYY."

I shook my head.

"Wan see ma Crocky?" She asked the lawyers with hearts in her eyes and how could they refuse?

So, in went the hard-ass lawyers to her room and ooooh'd and aaaaah'd at her toys and Princess Castle she already had and of course her Crocky.

I thought I heard Isaac calling that toy 'hideous'.

They played with her then, not-so-kindly asked them to help her to set up the 'Faeeyyee casil' for her fairies.

I did not bother to help them while I sat on her bed while they sat on the floor and glued fairies one by one.

But finally I took pity and reminded Lia to give her new friends cake and tea which she gladly agreed after a few pouts.

Weston and Isaac were running down the stairs before she could finish her nodding.

But Simon... he remained on the floor still gluing and sticking toys to the castles. He was apparently fine and this was the least he could do for Lia.

I knew why he was doing it but... I felt bad now.

It was not really any of their fault.

"Let us talk." I ordered and he followed me to the beach.

When I thought he would never open his mouth, he started talking. "I am... so... sorry. I truly am. I... wanted to make a change to people's life, especially kids and give them a proper home and... Especially LGBTQ kids who are abused in their home for being normal. That is why I chose Family to practice. I... instead became the evil I was fighting... I did not know but that won't change a thing..."

"It is not your fault."

"It is. I should have closely observed. I am supposed to know..."

"How could you know, when I... her own..."

"Father." Simon kindly added.

"Am I? Then what kind of a..." Tears fell and I did not bother to wipe them away.

We fell in silence.

"I am not supposed to say this... but... the psychologist was impressed by your upbringing. If you are doubting your parenting, don't be. She is normally not a gushing person but she told her whole office that... you two made her day... so... don't think you are not a good father. You are."

We heard Robbie calling for me and we went inside.

Simon and I did not talk after but he invited us to his boyfriend's bakery, so Lia could have some sweets someday.

That night I was far more depressed than I usually was and of course Daddy noticed.

When he ambushed me after dinner, I fought him with tooth and nail but...

He opened my shirt buttons and ties of my night-shorts... then pushed me to our bed. His hands roamed all over my body and his hard torso on top of me started to constrict my breathing.

In a few seconds I was bawling my eyes out.

"Shhh... I am here.... Let it all out... Shhh... Angel... My Pretty Baby... Lia is fine... you are fine... Shhh... why do you hide from me?"

I thrashed again but he was not having it and finally I let him cradle and caress me.

"What is it sweetheart?"

I started crying again.

Dammit! Stupid Robbie... leave me alone.

"I did not know Robbie... that she was scared of that bitch... and what am I then... I did not know... my Little Baby was terrified of her and I... d... d... did not even know... all... all those times... Oh my god!!! I am... I can't bear it... she is... Robbie what do I do, Daddy... My baby... Lia... I want my mom..."

He kept on kissing my forehead and I kept on crying.

"I am so sorry." I hiccupped and mumbled.

"Why are you sorry, Angel?"

"For not protecting her. For not being with her. For not being with you. I was so busy being right and... I did not bother to look after you..."

"For a very intelligent person you can be so stupid sometimes, my baby. You are here. You were always there and you always will be, for us... Look at me Angel."

He kissed my pouty lips before explaining how I was the perfect one for him and for Lia... but was I?

"You go out every day trusting me with her, Daddy and I failed... I am so sorry... I don't know..."

"I don't trust you with her." Robbie told me before squeezing my whole body with his.

If he was not kissing my forehead with love, I would have died on spot.

He did not trust me with her? But... but...

"I trust a lot of people with my child. Jason, Gabe, Frank... Ferrar... your uncles... even with your mom, I had trust... But you? No... Every time I leave her with them I would always wonder; would they be able to protect her like I could? Would she be fine? Would they leave her alone? But with you, that question never comes. Even now I find that notion absurd. Like how can I 'trust' you with her. She is yours as much as she is mine. Maybe even more. She is all yours. Trust is not even there... Do I trust me? Then maybe I 'trust' you too. But that makes no sense. Does it?"

I was dumbfounded.

What was the answer for that?

"Do you get what I am saying, baby?"

I did but...

"Do you trust me when I take Lia out?"

I shook my head, no. Of course I trusted him but... I did not have to... or I did not think of it.

"Well, whatever your answer is, that is mine too. Whatever happens to her in your arms would happen to her even if she was in mine. There would absolutely be nothing that you would not do for her that I would not do. So... why would I 'trust' you with her? That is just absurd."

I was crying again and he let me be.

Not even once did he loosen his hold and I was eternally grateful.

"I... have to... get to my baby." I managed to sit up even with Robbie struggling to keep me in hold. I fixed my shirt and then tied my shorts; missing his hands on my naked body already.

"I will get her... Please Angel... Sleep next to me. I want to be with you."

I nibbled my lips and watched when he left the room to bring our kid.

When he placed Lia on my lap, I could breathe again. I lied down, with her on my side.

Was I warm enough? Was she comfortable? She scrunched her nose and slowly turned to my chest. Then her tiny fist curled on my shirt and she pressed her face to my neck. Her whole body relaxed and she fell asleep just like that.

My baby.

I kissed her forehead savouring the rise of her chest on mine.

I would never go through 'that' incident ever again.

I felt a blanket covering me and Princess, and Robbie placed his head on my shoulder watching his daughter sleep.

He sighed and tried to turn around but I stop him by taking his hand and looping it on my waist.

"I am going to sleep. Watch us."

He kissed my lips lovingly. "Sleep."

I hugged her gently and let the overdue sleep take me.

Robbie would take care of us. He would watch if she was breathing or having a nightmare.

He was right after all.

What would he not do that I would not do for my baby?