[Title: Bedtime] [Kira/Lacus] [One-shot]
Title: Bedtime
Pairing(s): Kira/Lacus
Genre: Romance/General
Rating: K+
Spoilers: none
Summary: A quiet moment in the lives of Kira and Lacus.
Author's Notes: Many years post-Destiny. Birthday fic for lacus and also answer to "interview" question #2 by her as well. Happy birthday, sweetie. ♥
Disclaimer: The characters used in this fic - except for Cassie - are not mine in any way, shape, or form. They belong to Sunrise, Bandai, and whatever other company has a say in their fate. No profit is being made from this.
Treat others as you would treat yourself.
-unknown
Lacus ran the tips of her fingers gently over the thin strands of dark hair that covered the small head which rested against her shoulder. The city was quiet beneath her feet, the street lights dim, the pavement littered with the odd homeless person or stray cat. A light breeze blew through her hair and over the balcony. The infant in her arms stirred, fisting the fabric of her robe in one tiny hand. Lacus glanced down, placed a kiss against the warm crown of her baby’s head, and turned around to rest her hips against the railing.
She still ached, even three months after the labor and delivery. It had been difficult, to sum it up in one word. Nearly impossible, from what Lacus remembered of it. Pain, the threat of losing her child, darkness, silence, and finally the screams of her newborn daughter. Labor didn’t get much worse than her’s, Lacus thought. And now, three months later, her precious baby was sick.
Just a fever, Kira had told her, nothing to worry about. She wished she didn’t worry, that she could fall asleep with the sound of her daughter fussing over the baby monitor, uncomfortable and sweaty, then cold. She’d cry, and Kira would say “Wait and see, sweetie, cuddling her is only going to make it worse. Soon, she’ll only be able to sleep with you around.”
But it didn’t. Cassandra “Cassie" Yamato quieted the moment Lacus lifted her into her arms, fussing only momentarily to let her mother know how horrible she felt. Lacus had carried her onto the balcony of their house tonight, hoping the warm night air might soothe the child better than the chilly air conditioning inside.
It seemed to work for awhile, but Cassie didn’t sleep, merely nuzzling her mother’s neck, indulging in the familiar scent and feel that a child familiarizes themselves with. Lacus ran her fingers gently up the infant’s back, attempting to soothe away the uncomfortable heat emanating from her body. She closed her eyes, willing away the tiredness that came with a 4 a.m. wake-up call. Cassie stirred, made a noise, and Lacus began to sing in attempts to calm and soothe her.
Her voice was known to bring peace, calm, and contentment and this time was no different, and her daughter seemed to find it particularly soothing. She relaxed instantly, made a noise of content. A mother’s voice was a mother’s voice, no matter what it sounded like. She continued with the same tune, caressing Cassie’s damp neck. She rocked slowly, side to side, closing her tired eyes and hoping the infant would fall asleep soon. She could feel the fatigue everything catch up with her and felt her mind betray her body as she slowly closed her eyes.
Lacus opened her eyes when the balcony door slid open. Kira leaned against the door frame, dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts, short hair tussled from tossing and turning. He held one of Cassie’s blankets in his hand-the pink one she loved so much. She was pretty sure he was giving her a stern glare more out of concern than chastising at her. Lacus lowered her voice to a murmur and brought her lips to Cassie’s ear. The infant snuggled closer to her mother.
“She’ll never fall asleep without you if you keep this up,” Kira said quietly, still watching from the doorway. Lacus shot him a glance that said I really don’t care and went back to comforting Cassie. She ran her fingers gently up and down her baby’s back, held one hand out to Kira when she shivered once. Instead of handing her the blanket, Kira stepped forward and put his hands around Cassie’s torso. She made a noise of protest as Kira lifted her away from her mother, but she quieted the moment she laid eyes on her father.
Kira tucked the blanket around Cassie and supported her small form with one hand. Lacus reveled in the way he dwarfed the already small infant. They stared at each other for a moment, neither saying a word. Then Kira reached out with his free hand, slid his warm palm under the shoulder of her bathrobe. She was unable to stifle a moan as his fingers probed the knotted muscles in her shoulders and neck. The feeling made her weak in the knees and the gentle pressure being applied allowed her weariness to temporarily overtake her body.
“You’re exhausted,” he said, and Lacus caught the hint of irritation in his voice. “Go to bed.” He wasn’t asking.
Lacus forced herself to open her eyes as his fingers worked their magic against the nape of her neck. “I can’t sleep with her sick, Kira,” she managed to say, but her voice was weak and tired. She could sleep if she chose to, she just didn’t want to. And Kira knew it.
He sighed. “You’re gonna make yourself sick and burn yourself out if you keep this up. It’s only a fever, Lacus, she’ll be fine in a few days. You’re getting worked up over nothing.”
“I’m not worked up.” She was all but pouting which brought gentle look from Kira.
Kira smiled, leaned in and kissed her lips softly. He brought his fingers up to caress her cheek, run his thumb over the dark circles under clear blue eyes that were starting to get dull from fatigue and stress.
“I’m not going to stand here and pretend I know what it was like to give birth to Cassie. I know it was painful, and I know I almost lost the both of you,” he swallowed hard. “But she’s strong, Lacus, and so are you, but you’re still a bit weak from the labour. If you don’t get some rest you’re going to end up back in the hospital.” He closed his eyes for a moment as he continued speaking. “As much as you want to concern yourself over her remember there are people worrying about you, too. Me, Athrun, Cagalli, everyone was worried about you and having you not resting up and getting better for our sakes makes you…” Kira closed his mouth and resumed coddling Cassie with tiny murmurs and strokes to her smooth cheeks.
Selfish. He didn’t have to say it; she could read between the lines (she wasn’t a politician for nothing) and knew that he didn’t want to finish his sentence for fear of upsetting or angering her. Despite the light chastisement from Kira, Lacus could see the truth in his words. While public support was expected considering her position within the political circle, those she considered true friends were always there during her time of need. Not only Cagalli and Athrun came when support was needed but Yzak, Dearka, Mirrillia, Meyrin, Luna, Murrue, Mwu, they all came and held up while she was in and out of ICU. She could not express enough gratitude for what they did and mentally noted in the future to truly thank them for that.
Meanwhile Kira’s hand dropped to her flattened stomach. He could feel the sharp outline of her ribs which was physical proof of her weakened state, stifled his anger both at her and himself, and caressed the place where her large belly and his daughter once were. Cassie fidgeted and expressed her discomfort with a distressed cry. Kira turned his attention on his daughter and untucked a corner of the blanket from around her. He rocked slowly from side to side until she quieted once more.
He looked back at his wife, who was leaning against the railing of the balcony, barely able to stand. Enough was enough. She was going back to bed whether she liked it or not. But for all the anger that burned within him, he couldn’t shout at her, couldn’t even manage to speak sternly. “Come back to bed,” he said quietly, tugging on the knot of her bathrobe. She didn’t object and allowed him to lead her inside, a steadying hand on the small of her back.
Kira shut and locked the door with one hand and watched carefully as Lacus shed her bathrobe, only rocking unsteadily once before crawling into bed. She didn’t lie down like he had hoped, but sat back against the headboard, staring at him. With a sigh Kira approached the bed and slid under the covers, propping himself up next to Lacus. He placed a kiss on the crown of Cassie’s head as Lacus slid up next to him.
She ran the back of her hand over Cassie’s forehead, smiled as the infant looked at her with sad eyes. “Go to sleep, baby,” she murmured, placing a kiss near her temple and caressing the thin spattering of hair until the baby closed her eyes.
“You go to sleep too,” Kira whispered, slanting a look at her. Lacus gave him a tired, half-smile, before she leaned over to kiss him. It was slow and lazy, and just sexy enough to make him stir.
“I love you,” she murmured, before shifting her lips to Cassie’s head. “And I love you,” she said, checking to see if her daughter’s eyes remained closed.
“We know,” Kira said, reaching over and pulling Lacus back for another kiss, this one chaste. “Now get some sleep.”
Smiling at him, Lacus lay down and closed her eyes, one hand sliding over Kira’ abdomen; the intimate contact she always seemed to need to go to sleep. It seemed his daughter needed the same thing.
Kira smiled, and as he lay awake in bed, comforting his feverish child, he watched the city lights blink off one by one, and the sun begin to rise in a red line on the horizon.
end
Pairing(s): Kira/Lacus
Genre: Romance/General
Rating: K+
Spoilers: none
Summary: A quiet moment in the lives of Kira and Lacus.
Author's Notes: Many years post-Destiny. Birthday fic for lacus and also answer to "interview" question #2 by her as well. Happy birthday, sweetie. ♥
Disclaimer: The characters used in this fic - except for Cassie - are not mine in any way, shape, or form. They belong to Sunrise, Bandai, and whatever other company has a say in their fate. No profit is being made from this.
Treat others as you would treat yourself.
-unknown
Lacus ran the tips of her fingers gently over the thin strands of dark hair that covered the small head which rested against her shoulder. The city was quiet beneath her feet, the street lights dim, the pavement littered with the odd homeless person or stray cat. A light breeze blew through her hair and over the balcony. The infant in her arms stirred, fisting the fabric of her robe in one tiny hand. Lacus glanced down, placed a kiss against the warm crown of her baby’s head, and turned around to rest her hips against the railing.
She still ached, even three months after the labor and delivery. It had been difficult, to sum it up in one word. Nearly impossible, from what Lacus remembered of it. Pain, the threat of losing her child, darkness, silence, and finally the screams of her newborn daughter. Labor didn’t get much worse than her’s, Lacus thought. And now, three months later, her precious baby was sick.
Just a fever, Kira had told her, nothing to worry about. She wished she didn’t worry, that she could fall asleep with the sound of her daughter fussing over the baby monitor, uncomfortable and sweaty, then cold. She’d cry, and Kira would say “Wait and see, sweetie, cuddling her is only going to make it worse. Soon, she’ll only be able to sleep with you around.”
But it didn’t. Cassandra “Cassie" Yamato quieted the moment Lacus lifted her into her arms, fussing only momentarily to let her mother know how horrible she felt. Lacus had carried her onto the balcony of their house tonight, hoping the warm night air might soothe the child better than the chilly air conditioning inside.
It seemed to work for awhile, but Cassie didn’t sleep, merely nuzzling her mother’s neck, indulging in the familiar scent and feel that a child familiarizes themselves with. Lacus ran her fingers gently up the infant’s back, attempting to soothe away the uncomfortable heat emanating from her body. She closed her eyes, willing away the tiredness that came with a 4 a.m. wake-up call. Cassie stirred, made a noise, and Lacus began to sing in attempts to calm and soothe her.
Her voice was known to bring peace, calm, and contentment and this time was no different, and her daughter seemed to find it particularly soothing. She relaxed instantly, made a noise of content. A mother’s voice was a mother’s voice, no matter what it sounded like. She continued with the same tune, caressing Cassie’s damp neck. She rocked slowly, side to side, closing her tired eyes and hoping the infant would fall asleep soon. She could feel the fatigue everything catch up with her and felt her mind betray her body as she slowly closed her eyes.
Lacus opened her eyes when the balcony door slid open. Kira leaned against the door frame, dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts, short hair tussled from tossing and turning. He held one of Cassie’s blankets in his hand-the pink one she loved so much. She was pretty sure he was giving her a stern glare more out of concern than chastising at her. Lacus lowered her voice to a murmur and brought her lips to Cassie’s ear. The infant snuggled closer to her mother.
“She’ll never fall asleep without you if you keep this up,” Kira said quietly, still watching from the doorway. Lacus shot him a glance that said I really don’t care and went back to comforting Cassie. She ran her fingers gently up and down her baby’s back, held one hand out to Kira when she shivered once. Instead of handing her the blanket, Kira stepped forward and put his hands around Cassie’s torso. She made a noise of protest as Kira lifted her away from her mother, but she quieted the moment she laid eyes on her father.
Kira tucked the blanket around Cassie and supported her small form with one hand. Lacus reveled in the way he dwarfed the already small infant. They stared at each other for a moment, neither saying a word. Then Kira reached out with his free hand, slid his warm palm under the shoulder of her bathrobe. She was unable to stifle a moan as his fingers probed the knotted muscles in her shoulders and neck. The feeling made her weak in the knees and the gentle pressure being applied allowed her weariness to temporarily overtake her body.
“You’re exhausted,” he said, and Lacus caught the hint of irritation in his voice. “Go to bed.” He wasn’t asking.
Lacus forced herself to open her eyes as his fingers worked their magic against the nape of her neck. “I can’t sleep with her sick, Kira,” she managed to say, but her voice was weak and tired. She could sleep if she chose to, she just didn’t want to. And Kira knew it.
He sighed. “You’re gonna make yourself sick and burn yourself out if you keep this up. It’s only a fever, Lacus, she’ll be fine in a few days. You’re getting worked up over nothing.”
“I’m not worked up.” She was all but pouting which brought gentle look from Kira.
Kira smiled, leaned in and kissed her lips softly. He brought his fingers up to caress her cheek, run his thumb over the dark circles under clear blue eyes that were starting to get dull from fatigue and stress.
“I’m not going to stand here and pretend I know what it was like to give birth to Cassie. I know it was painful, and I know I almost lost the both of you,” he swallowed hard. “But she’s strong, Lacus, and so are you, but you’re still a bit weak from the labour. If you don’t get some rest you’re going to end up back in the hospital.” He closed his eyes for a moment as he continued speaking. “As much as you want to concern yourself over her remember there are people worrying about you, too. Me, Athrun, Cagalli, everyone was worried about you and having you not resting up and getting better for our sakes makes you…” Kira closed his mouth and resumed coddling Cassie with tiny murmurs and strokes to her smooth cheeks.
Selfish. He didn’t have to say it; she could read between the lines (she wasn’t a politician for nothing) and knew that he didn’t want to finish his sentence for fear of upsetting or angering her. Despite the light chastisement from Kira, Lacus could see the truth in his words. While public support was expected considering her position within the political circle, those she considered true friends were always there during her time of need. Not only Cagalli and Athrun came when support was needed but Yzak, Dearka, Mirrillia, Meyrin, Luna, Murrue, Mwu, they all came and held up while she was in and out of ICU. She could not express enough gratitude for what they did and mentally noted in the future to truly thank them for that.
Meanwhile Kira’s hand dropped to her flattened stomach. He could feel the sharp outline of her ribs which was physical proof of her weakened state, stifled his anger both at her and himself, and caressed the place where her large belly and his daughter once were. Cassie fidgeted and expressed her discomfort with a distressed cry. Kira turned his attention on his daughter and untucked a corner of the blanket from around her. He rocked slowly from side to side until she quieted once more.
He looked back at his wife, who was leaning against the railing of the balcony, barely able to stand. Enough was enough. She was going back to bed whether she liked it or not. But for all the anger that burned within him, he couldn’t shout at her, couldn’t even manage to speak sternly. “Come back to bed,” he said quietly, tugging on the knot of her bathrobe. She didn’t object and allowed him to lead her inside, a steadying hand on the small of her back.
Kira shut and locked the door with one hand and watched carefully as Lacus shed her bathrobe, only rocking unsteadily once before crawling into bed. She didn’t lie down like he had hoped, but sat back against the headboard, staring at him. With a sigh Kira approached the bed and slid under the covers, propping himself up next to Lacus. He placed a kiss on the crown of Cassie’s head as Lacus slid up next to him.
She ran the back of her hand over Cassie’s forehead, smiled as the infant looked at her with sad eyes. “Go to sleep, baby,” she murmured, placing a kiss near her temple and caressing the thin spattering of hair until the baby closed her eyes.
“You go to sleep too,” Kira whispered, slanting a look at her. Lacus gave him a tired, half-smile, before she leaned over to kiss him. It was slow and lazy, and just sexy enough to make him stir.
“I love you,” she murmured, before shifting her lips to Cassie’s head. “And I love you,” she said, checking to see if her daughter’s eyes remained closed.
“We know,” Kira said, reaching over and pulling Lacus back for another kiss, this one chaste. “Now get some sleep.”
Smiling at him, Lacus lay down and closed her eyes, one hand sliding over Kira’ abdomen; the intimate contact she always seemed to need to go to sleep. It seemed his daughter needed the same thing.
Kira smiled, and as he lay awake in bed, comforting his feverish child, he watched the city lights blink off one by one, and the sun begin to rise in a red line on the horizon.
end