#baddydaddy

The suns rays filtering through the curtains were what stirred Adar from his sleep. The light danced across his eyelids, beckoning him to wake. But he grumbled his protest and forced his eyes closed.

He reached out, greedy fingers searching the covers only to find the bed was empty. Now he just groaned because he knew that he had to get up. For where was his wife?

Feet hit the wooden floor as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, stretching his arms out to warm up his body.

“Calinya?”

He called but was greeted with only silence. As he moved for the door, he reached for a simple tunic from the wardrobe, slipping it over his head before leaving the room.

The upstairs was the newest edition to their cabin, as humble as it still was. It was a long, overdue expansion that she well deserved. They now had a proper bedroom, which he worried would not be good enough for her, but she had decorated it in silks and lace that contrasted the simplicity of the structure.

He had also built a small room for her to write to her hearts content in privacy. It was also a selfish moment on his part, as he wanted her to finish her next poetry book sooner rather than later. That way, she could read it to him before they slept each night. Or rather, until he fell asleep to the lullaby that was her voice.

“Calinya?”

He tried once more as he descended the stairs, the wood creaking beneath his feet. His eyes scanned through the living room and into the kitchen, but there was no movement aside from him. But he could hear her sweet laughter in the distance.

He was not surprised, for she loved spending time outdoors.

It would be easy to assume that he had the best views because he was far up a mountain. Because the panoramic scenery of Middle Earth could be seen as far as his eyes could see. Because the lake glistened in the sunlight and danced in the wind. Or the fact that their cabin was nestled against a series of small waterfalls. Even the couple of horses they had in a field. Trees long chopped to fence them in, giving them room to gallop and enjoy the sun. A small barn to shelter from bad weather when necessary.

Oronir was even bigger now. They had gotten another horse within the first year of settling, having needed one more Laisidhiel’s size.

But really the best view was when Adar stepped out onto his porch, and he could see her.

This time she was sitting against a tree on the edge of the lake. Her smile could still knock the air from his lungs, he supposed it always would. But it was joined now by something else just as deadly. A chubby-cheeked, slobbery grin from the babe in her lap.

Their daughter.

His child.

The babe was giggling relentlessly as her mother tickled her face with a flower, only to pull it away before her tiny hands could grab it.

Thankfully, he thought, she did not look like him. Just as he had once thought Laisidhiel to be the spitting image of her mother, the babe was hers. And oh, how he loved having two sets of golden eyes working him to get whatever they wanted. Stopping his heart every time he met their gaze.

“You should have woken me.”

If she was smiling before, she was beaming now, and it always stunned him that she was still so happy just to see him. Their girl had inherited the trait, squealing in delight, and kicking her mother in the stomach as she wiggled. And suddenly his early concerns that a baby would cry at the sight of him seemed so far away.

“You would not have woken me.”

Her quick-witted counter had him chuckling as he settled on the ground beside her. Carefully, she shifted the babe into his arms where he bounced her lightly against his chest. She was far from talking but made a continuous string of high-pitched sounds as she patted at his face.

“So happy, Melmenya.”

He whispered affectionately, for his voice was tight with emotion every time that  he had her.

“She loves you.”

Laisidhiel said softly, moving closer to rest against his side. She reached out and brushed her fingers over the girl’s cheek, earning another sound of excitement.

“I love you.”

He turned his head until he could lean down and rest their foreheads together. 

"And I love you. Both of you. More than my shattered soul should have been capable."

"lómë."

His lips found hers before she could say any more. She would always protest anytime he said something negative of himself, and he knew she always would. But he was still healing. He believed there was a part of him that would always be healing.

The kiss seemed to satisfy her, as her gaze turned back to their daughter when they parted.

"I have been thinking..."

She spoke as quiet and uncertain as she had when they first met. Curious.

"About another. Perhaps not now, but when she is older. After she learns to walk and talk."

Another baby. She was thinking about having another baby. With him.

His brain fried. He had loved everything about the pregnancy.

He remembered how they would lay together in a pile of pillows and blankets before the fire. Their hands on the swell of her belly feeling the baby kick and move. How she would sew little clothes as she rocked in a chair on the porch. Or they would lay out and watch the stars while discussing baby names.

Taking care of her while she created life was a blessing in itself. Watching her fall asleep after stuffing herself full of a meal, having to carry her to bed. Helping her dress when she could no longer bend to reach her feet. Rubbing the soreness from her tired muscles.

Brushing away her tears and soothing her worries when she began to think herself unattractive. When the changes of her body took a toll on her.

He could still see her in his memories. She had never been more beautiful. With her skin glowing more than usual, a belly that was barely a bump to start. He had ravished her more times than he could count. Would have felt guilty about it now if she had not enjoyed it so much herself.

And he got the cutest bundle of joy after it all?

And she wanted to do it all again?

"You test me needlessly, Calinya."

He was not sure whether it was a warning or a plea. But he sounded desperate and needy nonetheless.

She knew what she was doing to him, he had not missed the corners of her mouth twitch.

"I will take that as a yes."

"You know it is a yes."

His voice was a husky rumble now. And he wished that it was not morning so that he could put their daughter down for a nap.

After all the torture he had been through, he would never have considered it a possibility that he could become a physical lover. Not that he thought he would ever be someone's partner in any sense. But touching and being with her felt like she could purify what was left of him.

He could not get enough of her. She had fulfilled every dream he had ever had, even those he did not have until her. Both before and after his corruption. And he would have as many children as she would allow, and that they could handle.

"What of you, Melmenya? Would you cherish being a big sister?"

He gently brushed his thumb over the baby's cheeks and she open her mouth to try and catch it.

"Ah. She was not very hungry when we first woke."

He chuckled and pressed a small kiss to her little head before holding her securely against his chest. 

"Let us go inside. I will prepare a meal for us while you feed her."

He placed his hand on the back of the baby's head as he stood, then effortlessly helped Laisidhiel to her feet with his free arm. 

They met naturally in another kiss, the kind that took his breath away. His fingers splayed across her lower back to pull her closer.

"I love you."

Thank you.

"I love you."

He exhaled softly as their foreheads touched once more. And they stayed that way for a moment before they turned to their home. Slow steps as they walked hand in hand to the door.