~Snapshots of the Royals~
Part 2: "Watching You Sleep"
The moonlight cascaded into the dark room in majestic rays, pouring soft, translucent light onto its occupants. A small bassinet sat beside a large alabaster bed fit for a royal, and indeed it was. Cuddled within lay King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo, new parents to the slumbering child princess only feet away. They looked for all the world to be as peacefully oblivious as their daughter, ensconced in each other's dreams and arms under a halo of pearly luminescence.
Except the two just couldn't sleep.
Rolling, punching her pillow, and huffing irately ceased working hours ago. It was with ornery finality that Serenity sat up at last, touching her husband's shoulder gently.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Are you awake?"
"Obviously," the ebony-haired man chuckled, yawning and stretching. He too joined the blonde, inching up the pillows to sneak a possessive arm around his wife's waist. "What's on your mind? Or just can't sleep?"
"Both," Serenity sighed, laying her disheveled head on Endymion's strong shoulder. Being in his arms always felt so comforting, like nothing in the world could harm her. Time seemed to stop at ephemeral moments such as these, filled with the musky scent of spice and roses wafting off Endymion's body. Shivering, Serenity turned to encircle her arms around him so they were connected in a warm embrace.
Gods, she loved him!
"It's so hard to believe we're parents now," the woman commented dazedly, tugging away from his grip to look Endymion in the eye. "These past few weeks have been surreal."
Endymion traced a finger down Serenity's cheek, smiling with the ghost of similar sentiments. "I feel the same. But it's also exciting and makes me love you even more than I believed possible, *Mama* dear."
Even in the dark, he saw her blush a virulent red at the as yet foreign moniker.
"Well, *Papa*, I think the same can be said of you!"
Their playful banter was cut short by an almost inaudible rustling from below. The two parents exchanged a smile, peeking like curious children themselves over the edge of their decadent bed. Nestled under a thin layer of blankets was Usagi Small Lady Serenity, one month old and already fussing like a pro. Her red-lipped mouth was puckered into a little frown, tiny face scrunched and innocently wanton.
The ear-splitting wails did not take long to follow, seeming to fill the whole palace as the decibels increased. The royal couple were surprised anyone slept through these moments.
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Crystal Tokyo was hungry, and she was hungry *now*.
Serenity cooed as she scooped out the girl with pink fluff for hair, rocking the baby soothingly at her bosom.
"Is my wittle baby hung'y? Yes she is!"
Small Lady's howls pitched, obviously not in the mood for this. Her tiny hands beat wildly at the air, fingers curled and countenance donning a pink tinge. Quickly, Serenity pushed down the top of her nightdress, guiding Small Lady's head to her open breast. The child grabbed on eagerly, a blessed silence descending that was only broken by the occasionally loud and content suckle of infant Small Lady. Serenity rested back against the fluffy pillows, a small quirk to her lips that evoked a welling of paternal gratitude in Endymion. He leaned forward to kiss her cheek, and the two sat wordlessly for a while, basking in the strange but wonderful feeling of familial love.
Eventually, Serenity and Endymion realized their daughter had fallen asleep. Tucking the top of her gown back up, the serene mother wrapped Small Lady into a light pink blanket. She hesitated over the crib, but then a nudge from Endymion had her settled back into him rather than the pillows. Giggling, the blonde monarch switched Small Lady's position so her father could see her better.
And then, the Neo-Queen and King watched the Royal Princess doze, tucked away in her blissful baby dreamscape that only infants can fathom.
Because after all, watching one's child sleep is a far nicer way to spend the night than sleeping yourself.
TBC
