Rick Grimes (thericktator) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-04-30 22:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | rick grimes |
Who: Rick Grimes and Judith (NPC)
What: Rick being a dad
When: Late Wednesday night/Early Thursday morning
Where: His house
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Rick had been just about ready to climb into his bed when he heard the sounds coming through the baby monitor. It was going to be another late night with his daughter. He loved her more than anything in this world, her and her brother both, but there were times like right now when he wished that she wasn't quite so young. She hadn't been sleeping well the last few months, three out of four nights found him walking with her and trying to get her to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. And it was those nights that found him realizing just how amazing and strong his wife had been. He'd always known it but raising their kids by himself had made him understand it, and her, in a different way.
He stepped into Judith's room and bent over her toddler bed to pick her up. "Hey baby girl. It's okay. Daddy's here. Daddy's right here," he said, rubbing her back as he walked with her into the loving room, bouncing her gently in the way he'd learned soothed her most. It was going to be another long night but that was what was parenting was supposed to be about right? Putting your kids before yourself no matter what. Even if that meant nights spent walking the living room trying to keep his two year old from crying instead of sleeping in his bed. And days spent with a coffee mug within easy reach no matter where he was. He was glad that he’d gone to work for a family company because his boss understood when he was just worn out. And so did the other men who worked security for them.
“What do you say we see what’s on Food Network? See if daddy can’t learn how to cook something new for you and your big brother,” he said, turning the tv on low so that it wouldn’t wake Carl up. “You’re going to spend time with a friend of daddy’s tonight while I take Carl to the movies. His name’s Gale. He was in the military so I know you’ll be in safe hands with him,” he said, shifting her to the other side as he started walking again. He’d only talked with Gale a few times but there was something about the younger man that made Rick trust him. And with Rick that actually said a lot because he didn’t trust anyone with his kids outside of his brother-in-law. But Rick had decided that he couldn’t keep interfering with Daryl’s life, expecting him to step in all the time to help Rick take care of his kids. Not that Daryl had said anything about it but Rick knew it wasn’t fair to him.
He glanced at the TV, realizing that it wasn’t one of the cooking programs he’d been watching lately but what looked to be some sort of restaurant makeover program. Maybe nothing he could learn to cook from but it was still noise and that was the important thing. That and the bouncing while he walked her always seemed to help get Judith back to sleep faster. And sure enough within an hour she was sound asleep again and he took her back to her room, tucking her in and kissing her gently on the forehead as he whispered. “Goodnight Judith. I love you.” The same thing he’d whispered to her every night as he tucked her in. He poked his head in Carl’s room, making sure his son was sleeping peacefully - their dog on the foot of his bed - before heading back to his room to finally crawl into his bed.