Routine. It was the thing that kept their heads on straight and allowed them to get through the rough first few weeks. They were teenage parents adjusting to having a baby after all. Add that onto the fact that they were adjusting to living together. Even though Madeline never slept through the night, the baby had settled into a fairly comfortable predictable pattern of waking for feedings and changings. Neither were something that Filip picked up on all that easily, quietly having to go to Gemma for some pointers. After all, he didn’t want to seem incapable in front of Wendy. She was already dealing with enough and stressing over everything. She didn’t need to add on his blundering attempts into that.
Before the crying began, Filip found himself being pulled out of bed. Wendy sleeping peacefully beside him. Which prompted him to pull his tired body from bed, so she wouldn’t have to this time around. Wincing softly at several creaks of the tired floor boards beneath his feet, he crept along the hall towards the tiny room that they used as a nursery. There was a soft coo that came from the crib just as he was entering the room, signaling that the little girl was indeed awake. A soft smile worked over his lips as he leaned over the railing that kept the baby safe, steadier hands than what had first picked her up, lifted her into his arms.
“Hey there darling.” Big, wide eyes looked back up at him. The house was quiet around them, the wind gently blowing, barely making a small creaking with the old tree that sat outside her window. At near 3 am, there wasn’t much in the world that was awake and around to make noise. Bouncing the tiny body, he made his way to the kitchen to warm up a bottle for her. In these moments, alone with Madeline, Filip found himself less worried, more relaxed. No one was watching him, no one scrutinizing his every movement with his daughter. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her head as he grabbed the bottle from the microwave. Wendy was still asleep as he made his way back to the nursery, thankfully.
The teenager found the small rocking chair that again, had come from the Morrows, sitting down and rearranging the baby in his arms.
“Alright Maddy, let’s get you feed. Your Da needs his sleep too.” A yawn escaped his mouth just as the bottle was set against hers. He couldn’t help the chuckle as she eagerly ate, though he was also more than thrilled that she wasn’t fussing. She didn’t seem too fussy a bad so far. No, little Madeline seemed content and happy, as much so as a baby could be. Slipping down into the chair a bit more, his head rested against the wood of the rocker. Without thinking about it much, his lips parted and a soft lullaby that sat deep in the recesses of his mind. He could remember his mother singing it to him when he was a small lad.
“The birdeens sing a fluting song. They sing to thee the whole day long. Wee fairies dance o’er hill and dale. For very love of thee.” His voice remained soft, not wanting to startle the baby or risk being loud enough that it woke Wendy. Her eyes remained locked on his face even as she finished the bottle. She was relaxed in his arms, not tensing or running the risk of thrashing about. He wasn’t anywhere near as talented as his mother was when he sang. In fact, it seemed a bit grating to his own ears but Madeline seemed happy with it, her eyes slowly moving to close. His brogue came out a bit stronger, a bit thicker as he continued. “Twilight and shadows fall. Peace to His children all Angels are guarding and they watch o’er thee as you sleep. May Angels watch over and May the guard o’er thee.” The sound of another moving caught his attention and he looked up, trying not to startle too much seeing as Madeline was now asleep in his arms. Wendy was standing in the door way, a soft smile on his face. There didn’t need to be anything said between them in that minute. With careful movements as if the baby girl in is arms would break if he made the wrong motion, he settled her back in her crib and covered her with the blanket.
“Hey love.” He greeted her with a soft kiss, hands coming to rest on her hips. “What are you doing up?” She gave him a look as if he was an idiot, the question wasn’t entirely necessary. They were both up when it came time for Madeline to need something.
“Do you need to ask?” He gave her that. “What were you singing to her?” He could feel himself blush, not having expected to have an audience beyond his daughter. Urging her back towards their bed, he cleared his throat a bit to try and shove away some embarrassment.
“It’s uhh, something my Ma used to sing to me when I was a lad.” He wasn’t sure what she would think of it. Sure things were different here and he had gotten fairly accustomed to it. But that didn’t mean that a lot of the ingrained concerns vanished immediately. It wouldn’t be looked upon fondly in Ireland, at least within the group that he had been attempting to run with. She turned around before they got to the bedroom and leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek.
“I think it’s sweet.” She was comforting him, trying to assure him that the embarrassment wasn’t needed. The blush only increased. Thank God it was dark and she wasn’t able to see it in its entirety. It wouldn’t be the last time he sang to his daughter that was for sure. And given the fact that she was bound to walk in on it again, he would have to get over it.
