Narrative: We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow Date: June 4, Early hours of the morning, around 4AM (BACKDATED) Characters: Jaime and Rory(NPC) Location: The Ishii household Summary: Jaime can't sleep and neither can his daughter.
Jaime watched Rachel quietly, his eyes tracing over her sleeping features over and over again as if he were trying to imprint the vision into his brain permanently. He'd spent the last hour or so simply studying her relaxed expression, intentionally trying to keep his mind blank. He didn't sleep much anymore and often found himself in this position, always awed by how beautiful his wife was. Even now, when she was completely lost to the conscious word, she still had the ability to make his heart skip beats.
They had fallen asleep together like they naturally did when they went to bed at the same time; they always did. But at some point during the night Rachel pulled away from him and shortly after that Jaime awoke with a small jolt. The first few times it had happened, Jaime would wake up panicked and disoriented, afraid that he'd lost Rachel, or worse hurt her (he'd never quite gotten over the nightmare he'd woken up to during that storm senior year), until he saw her sleeping next to him, safe and sound. But her pulling away in her sleep had been happening for months now and while he still woke up in a mild panic, he normally just ended up watching her sleep, reassuring himself that she was fine. That they were fine. But some nights, like tonight, he couldn't help thinking about how things were now.
There used to be a time when they couldn't go more than a few hours without seeing one another or hearing the other's voice. When they couldn't keep their hands to themselves when they were in the same room together. There used to be a time when they talked all night and slept wrapped up in each other so tightly they had to take a few extra minutes each morning to untangle themselves from the sheets and each other. There was a time when she needed him. But now it seemed like he was no more than a co-star in the play that was Rachel's life, playing the role of supportive husband and loving father.
Jaime sighed. He knew he was being unfair as much as he knew that Rachel loved him. She never missed a chance to tell him so as well as anyone who would listen. He even understood that she had a full plate right now between their kids getting ready for kindergarten and the Tony's quickly approaching. It was just that sometimes he needed more from her, and no matter how hard he tried, he only seemed to be getting less as time went on.
Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, Jaime rolled over to the edge of their bed and sat up. Pulling on a light cotton shirt and a pair of pajama pants he looked over at Rachel again. His immediate instinct was to kiss her but she had another busy day ahead of her and he didn't want to risk waking her. Instead he padded out of their room quietly, making sure to look in on their sleeping children before making his way to the living room. Tucked in the corner is where he and Rachel kept their musical instruments for impromptu performances and that's where he headed. Grabbing the keyboard that was a gift from Rachel, and a set of headphones, he moved to sit on the couch.
Not long after he'd chosen a song and played through it once, getting ready to play it again, he caught movement out of the corner of his eyes. Smiling softly to himself, he took his headphones off and sat up, stretching his back in the process.
"Is that a mouse I hear? It must be since no child of mine should be up at such a late hour." He commented idly as he stared straight ahead. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a tiny head poke around the edge of the couch before quickly ducking behind it again. It was enough for Jaime to decipher which of his twins was awake.
"Aurora." Jaime called softly his tone firm. If Luka had been the one that was awake he wouldn't have bothered with hiding. His son was very blunt and to the point, very much like his mother. Rory on the other hand liked to hold back. Play it close to the chest until she could decipher how people would react to her.
However, at her father's call, Rory stepped out from behind the couch. Toppy, her green stuffed triceratops was cradled close to her small frame while she held onto her winter coat with her other hand. Jaime couldn't help his gentle laugh at the sight. It would seem Rory didn't trust leaving her coat unguarded for one second, even if her mother was fast asleep. Setting the piano down, Jaime beckoned his daughter to him, sitting her on his lap when she was close enough.
"What's the matter? Did something wake you? Did you have a nightmare? Are you hurting?" He asked softly already looking over her for any sign of why she was awake so late but Rory just shook her head.
"Can't sleep." She mumbled even as she rubbed her eyes tiredly. She looked like she was on the verge of falling back to sleep right there on his lap, and if there was any doubt in his mind, the large yawn that followed was enough to make Jaime arch his eyebrow.
"Are you sure you can't sleep?" He asked lightly. Rory nodded again, this time leaning heavily against him.
"My head is buzzing." She murmured softly causing Jaime to frown. This was the forth night in the last week and a half that Rory had woken up after him with the same complaint and it was starting to worry him. He might have taken her to the doctor already if it wasn't for that fact that Rory was just fine any other time of the day. It only seemed to happen late at night when he was wandering around the house.
"Do you want me to sing the sleepy song?" He asked softly, making a mental note to keep an close eye on her.
"Uh uh." Rory gave a slow shake of her head causing Jaime to look at her with a bemused expression. Rory was right on the verge of sleep and the lullaby he and Rachel normally sang for their children would be more than enough to push her back into dreamland so he couldn't understand why she wouldn't want him to sing it.
"Why not Hime?"
"Want to stay up with you."
"Ohh no. Your mother would be very cross with the both of us if I let you stay up. Besides little hatchlings need their rest if they're going to grow up to be big, strong dinosaurs like your uncle Puck right?" He asked using his trump card. Ever since Rory heard Puck refer to himself as the Puckasaurus, Rory had become obsessed with dinosaurs and it was normally the way to get her to cooperate most times. Now was no different as he felt more than saw her sleepy nod.
"So the sleepy song then?" He tried again only to frown when she shook her head again. That was until she pointed to the keyboard he'd put aside. He didn't have to ask her what she meant, knowing she wanted him to sing whatever he'd been playing when she came in. Sighing he nodded his head. "Okay, but if I sing you have to promise to try and go back to sleep alright?" Another slow nod but Jaime wanted something a little more solid.
"Rory, promise?"
"Promise Daddy." She whispered and he nodded again before situating her on the couch so that she was laying comfortably. Pulling the keyboard onto his lap again, he unplugged the headphones and adjusted the volume so as not to wake Luka or Rachel before he began playing softly, his eyes on his daughter who was already drifting off.
I know it's late, I know you're weary I know your plans don't include me Still here we are, both of us lonely Longing for shelter from all that we see Why should we worry, no one will care girl Look at the stars so far away We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow? We've got tonight babe Why don't you stay?
Spotting that Rory was fast asleep, Jaime chose not to finish the song. That was until he leaned down to pick her up and take her to bed. Rory's eyes popped open before her heavy lids drooped again. Still she fought against sleep.
"Daddyyy, finish." She whimpered and he smiled fondly, lifting her into his arms anyway, grabbing her jacket along the way. Instead of taking her to her room though, he moved towards the patio doors as he continued to sing softly to her.
He thought about Rachel as he sang, his heart aching for her but he didn't let his sorrow enter his voice, not wanting to alert Rory that something might be wrong. He carried her outside, sinking into a lounge chair and reclining so that she could rest comfortably against his chest as he draped her coat over her to keep her warm. Almost instantly she curled up, pulling Toppy close as he continued to sing into the night.
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow? Let's make it last, let's find a way Turn out the light, come take my hand now We've got tonight babe Why don't you stay? Oh, Why don't you stay?
He stayed outside for the rest of the night, holding his daughter close until the first rays of the sun began to creep across the sky.