[Milliways] OOM: Smith-Bond Residence, March 2007

[his_sarah_jane]

Two weeks have passed since Sarah and Valerie had returned from the hospital. It had been a lovely two week, really. James would go to work in the morning, kissing his girls goodbye as they slept. Sarah, after finagling a deal with her boss, would do her work at home. Restlessness would get to her quickly though and she'd often wind up in Milliways for breaks.

It really had been a lovely two weeks. Valerie and James went on their first father-daughter outing. Sarah had appointed John godfather to her daughter. Really, the past two weeks had been lovely. A perfect start to their little family.

That is, until five nights ago.

Five nights ago, Valerie had discovered a new game. She was generally a quiet and wide-eyed child. She'd cry mostly for food or for a diaper change. Occasionally, it was for attention. But for the first four days, she had kept to crying during the day.

Five nights ago, it all changed.

The hallway clock chimes loudly, but not nearly as loud as the cries echoing through the baby monitor. Sarah Jane stirs in her sleep, snuggling up against the man beside her. An arm flings outward as she tries to ignore the cries. Maybe if she hid her head, they'd go away.

Comments

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"Mmmsharahishinkebebscry," mumbles James in his half-sleep. Somebody else doesn't want to wake up, either.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm?"

Sarah Jane tries to blink but her eyes won't open. Instead, she continues to snuggle her head against James' chest. But the crying continues.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

James stretches.

"Isinkebabysky," he repeats.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She yawns and stretches herself. That noise in the background does sound an awful lot like a baby crying. Didn't Valerie just go to bed though?

Sarah Jane accidentally kicks James' leg as she tries to sit up. She grabs the alarm clock and frowns. One a.m. Far too early.

"James," she murmurs, blinking sleep away. "'ames, Valerie's cryin'"

And she can't remember who's turn it was to deal with it.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

James emits a sleepy groan. Rather than rise, he twists in the bed, still asleep.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah sighs, elbowing him in the side as she gets up from bed. "'ames. Valerie's crying."

Next step is to look for a robe. She flicks on the lamp next to the bed and blinks in the annoying brightness. It's too early to be awake. Far too early.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

He squirms, frowning. "Then stop her."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane rolls her eyes, elbowing him again before finally crawling out of the bed.

"Men," she murmurs as she grabs the robe off her bed. Baby's are not just a woman's responsibility. "I'll be right back, darling."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

James is all too chauvinistic happy to think that they are. Rather than respond, he rolls over to his side, still dozing.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She watches him for a moment. He's such a man, sleeping and leaving her to the work. Next time - later tonight if she starts crying again, Sarah's going to make sure that he's the one to wake. She'll have her own job to worry about soon enough. He needs to share in responsibility.

"Sleep tight," she mutters condescendingly as she slips out the room. It's a quick walk upstairs to their daughter's nursery.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

James' only response is a muffled, tired mmph.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Which she doesn't hear as she slowly climbs the stairs. Sarah yawns as she walks into the room. The light switch is to her right. Her eyes hurt again when the room brightens.

There is no mistaking the sound of her crying baby now that she's in the room. Valerie is red faced. Her fists are scrunched as she wails and squirms in the bed. Immediately, all of Sarah's frustrations are lost to worry and heartache. she picks the baby up, cooing and murmuring gently.

"Valerie, darling, what's wrong?" It doesn't quite seem to be a diaper issue. But the crying persists, even as Sarah Jane holds Valerie in her arms. "Darling, are you hungry?"

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

There's only so many loud noises one can endure before one must acknowledge hearing them and wake up. Groaning, James opens his eyes, rubs them, and sits up. Moving out of the bed will happen...eventually.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Valerie," Sarah murmurs. "Valerie darling."

She's given up standing by now. Her rocking chair movies back and forth in what she considers a soothing rhythm. No matter how many times she holds Valerie to her breast, the baby girl refuses to eat. She isn't crying over hunger. She isn't crying due to a soiled diaper.

Sarah Jane just can't figure out what it is that Valerie wants.

"Please? Love, don't cry."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

A few moments later, James arrives at the scene, still groggy and rubbing his eyes. "What's the matter?" he asks, stopping behind Sarah Jane and placing an arm on her shoulder.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Ask your daughter," Sarah Jane murmurs as she vainly attempts to rock the girl in her arms. The crying persists, perhaps now louder than ever. There are a couple of grabbing motions that remain undecipherable to Sarah.

"I can't get her to stop crying, James." By now, she's wide awake and worried. "I'm a complete and utter failure as a mum. I can't figure out what she wants."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"Give her to me," he replies, moving to stand in front of her.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah sighs as she stands from the chair. Reluctantly, she hands Valerie over to her father. She then leans her head against his shoulder as she looks at the bundle in James' arms.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

As if by a miracle, Valerie begins quiet. James Bond always has a way with women. Makes sense he would have a way with infant girls, too. Or maybe Valerie just wanted her daddy.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane snorts before she finally begins to smile. That twinge of jealousy that sneaks up on her is mostly ignored. Instead she slips her arm around James' waist.

"You certainly have a way with women, darling."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

James grins.

"Yes, I know."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She chuckles and kisses his arm. "Not fair."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"Actually, darling, what's not fair is that I have such an effect on women that one chose to wake us up early just to be close to me. I do hate missing sleep."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you're not alone with that one." As if to prove it, Sarah Jane yawns. "She'll have to grow out of this stage eventually."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"How long is eventually?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Months," Sarah sighs. Teasingly, "All because she can't get enough of her father."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"I think I've become a bad influence."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Yet, we still love you." Sarah runs a hand over Valerie's blonde hair before she smiles up at James, stifling a yawn. "Even if it means less sleep."

Or even if it means sleep in uncomfortable positions. When Sarah Jane wakes up the next morning, back still pressed to James' chest and a sleeping baby cradled in both their arms, she smiles. Did they really last the whole night sitting against the wall in Valerie's nursery? Her yawn becomes a giggle. Yet, her family remains fast asleep.

Sarah closes her eyes again. Let them sleep. The day can wait.