Layla Tov - goodnight
Jonathan levy x Jewish! Israeli! GN! Reader
Genre: fluff
Summary: you're helping Jonathan put Ava to sleep after a "nightmare". She might have a bit of a plan for the two of you.
Warnings: none, really. Very self indulgent though.
Song featured - לילה טוב, הכבש השישה עשר
Word count: 1032
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"Daddy."
Jonathan awoke with a gasp. A little figure was looming over, mere inches from his face, looking at him with her big eyes.
"Daddy are you awake?"
He blinked.
"Yes, yes Ava, I'm awake. Are you okay, sweetheart?" He whispered to his daughter, turning on his side to face her.
"Can l sleep here tonight?" She mumbled, looking down at the pink blankie she was holding.
"Of course, just get in here carefully, we don't want to wake-"
"I'm up," you said, groggily, as you moved towards them. "I'm up."
Ava grinned and climbed into the bed, getting nice and snug between the two of you.
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Jonathan and you were best friends since university. He was in the process of questioning - the Jewish process of distancing from the religious community, becoming secular, and you welcomed him to your different Judaism with open arms.
You met in a psychology course, then again in the Jewish group in your campus. You were an Israeli, secular, queer Jewish person. He was naturally drawn to your worldview. You gave him a home - a bridge between the conservative community he grew up in and the new world he jumped into.
You navigated life together. Helped each other through your struggles. He guided you through American life, which you sometimes found loud and overwhelming. In turn, you showed him a different way to live. Took him to his first party, first concert, taught him it's not a sin to touch himself and held him as he sobbed in your arms, when his father told him not to bother coming home for passover.
Things changed since then, of course. The both of you found balance in your lives, rebuilt your connections with religion, family, community and yourselves. He went on to marry Mira, but it wasn't a problem. You felt like it wasn't the right time anyway, and you couldn't provide each other with what you needed in a relationship to each other. But Mira is gone now. You're both older. Different needs and wants. Jonathan was utterly broken over the divorce and the end of his life as he knew them, and you were there for him every step of the way. Things have changed.
You spent quite a lot of time together, now. The emotional support ice cream and wine turned into long evenings in an embrace. Dropping off your goddaughter, Ava, in school and getting take away dinners progressed into cooking together and staying the night. Of course Jonathan wouldn't let you sleep on that awfully uncomfortable green couch Mira liked. You seemed to sleep in his bed more often than in your own. Not that you were complaining.
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"So what happened, kiddo?" Jonathan asked in a sleep rasped voice.
"I had a bad dream," Ava replied, burying herself into the mattress.
He layed a hand on her back. "Do you want to tell us about it?"
"No," she mumbled in her little voice, sending you a cheeky smile.
You raised an eyebrow at her. "How can we help you, sweetheart?"
"Ummm," she turned to face her dad. "Could you get me a glass of water, please?"
All puppy eyed, how could he say no?
"Sure thing." He left the bed, and you rose onto your elbow, watching him go. He was wearing only a T shirt and his boxers. Why were you staring at him again?
A tug on your shirt pulled you back from your mind.
"Now that he's gone," a small, mischievous voice said. "Are you gonna be my new parent?"
"What?"
"Are you going to be my new parent?" Ava inquired.
"Excuse me, you little munchkin, aren't l your parent already?"
"Not like thattttt", she drawled. "A parent like mommy is."
"Uhh," you struggled. "What makes you think that?"
"I can see you looking at each other. Kids are not stupid, you know." She preached. "So are you, or not?"
What's taking him so long???
You took a deep breath.
"I don't know, metuka. I don't know. But what l do know, is that I'll be here for you no matter what. I'll always be your godparent, Ava, no matter what happens. And I'm always on your side."
Clearly dissatisfied with your answer, she frowned, scrunching her little nose, which you booped in return.
"I love you, ktana sheli."
"I love you too." She wrapped her arms around you and you around her.
Jonathan walked back in. Thank god.
Ava jumped up, rocking the bed. She took the glass from him and took a sip. "Thank you!" She grinned.
"Not so upset about your nightmare anymore, l see?" He said and set her glass on the bedside table.
"Nope!" She popped the P.
"I'm very glad." He sat on the bed, putting a hand through his graying curls. "Well then, do you want me to tuck you in again?"
"Actually," she said, "could l stay here tonight? Please?"
You chuckled, and he hung a pair of tired eyes at you. "I'm honestly too exhausted to argue. Do you mind?"
"Not at all." You replied, sending him a smile.
"Great."
He got settled, and you tucked Ava under the covers.
"You know what?" Her little voice piped up when she threw the blanket off of herself and Jonathan groaned.
"I'm still a little bit scared."
"Nu be'emet." He chuckled, exhausted.
"How about a lullaby?" You offered softly.
"Yes please!" Ava looked at you, hopeful, and you sighed.
"Short one."
She looked satisfied, and Jon shot you a thankful, smiling glance. Your presence really calmed him down, he noticed. He felt so safe, so wanted. And he wanted you too.
You hummed, and started singing:
"Tov, layl menucha va'chalom, kvar me'uchar u'machar nakum ve'nir'eh,"
Jonathan joined in a deep, soft voice, with his funny American accent: "Eich shemegi'ah hayom besof kol layla,"
"Ooo, tov, choshech nafal al harchov, rak ha'yare'ach mash'eer et oro hatzahov,"
"Tzartzar metzartzer tzirturo sham," Ava attempted the tongue twister, and you tickled her little tummy.
"I see Poli taught you well," you smiled at her. She giggled and grabbed your hand, keeping it on herself.
"Layla Tov." Jonathan concluded the song.
You continued humming and softly singing, seeing Ava calming down and Jonathan's eyes drooping closed too.
Ava took his hand, and in his sleepiness he didn't resist.
Suddenly his warm hand was on top of yours. Sneaky little bastard, that girl is.
"Layla tov, yafim sheli."
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MASTERLIST
Translations from Hebrew:
Metuka - sweet girl
Ktana sheli - (my) little one
Nu be'emet - oh, come on!
The lullaby, Layla Tov by Yehonatan Gefen:
"Good,
A good night of rest and dreams
It's already late and tomorrow we'll wake and see
How morning arrived at the end of every night
Ooo, good
Darkness fell on the street
Only the moon leaves it's yellow light
A cricket chirps it's chirping away, there
Good night."
Layla tov, yafim sheli - goodnight my beautifuls
@romanarose