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The knock at the door couldn’t come any sooner.
“Just sit down. I’ve got it.” Flora gets to her feet before Hershel can muster the will to and gets the door. From his spot with Katrielle on the couch, the professor can see their interaction.
He hadn’t seen Phoenix since the man’s disbarment. Even from across the room, he can see that his partner looks a bit worse for wear. Hershel doesn’t imagine he looks much better.
“Hey, Flora.” Phoenix’s demeanor hasn’t changed, at least, Hershel thinks as the taller man leans down a bit to kiss the top of the young lady’s head. “How have you been?”
“Tired. Come on in. Kat’s just gone to sleep so please be quiet.”
Phoenix hums with acknowledgement and fully enters the flat, taking his shoes off by the door before he stops in his tracks at the sight of Hershel on the couch with the baby. Flora goes off to the kitchen.
“Hello, dear.” He’s momentarily enraptured by the sight of his partner. In all of their visits to each other before, Phoenix had been dressed smartly. He’s wearing a dark gray hoodie now, with a teal beanie reading ‘papa’. He has stubble.
By god is he gorgeous, and that isn’t the sleep deprivation talking.
“Hey. So this is her?”
Snapped back to his senses, he replies, “Indeed.” The professor adjusts himself as Phoenix sits beside him. “Phoenix, meet Miss Katrielle Layton.”
“She’s tiny.”
“It’s a miracle that she’s with us at all. We’ll get her up to a healthy weight soon.” Having spent a few weeks in the hospital with a respiratory infection and another few in the Laytons’ care, Katrielle was still fairly small for a baby. “At least she’s started eating well.”
Phoenix holds out his hands, and Hershel gingerly hands him the baby after making sure he’s properly supporting her neck. Unfortunately, it wakes the little one and Kat opens her eyes.
Hershel winces, expecting his daughter to get fussy after being woken from her sleep, but the baby just stares.
“Hi there, little one.” He frees a hand to boop her little nose. “I’m Nick, your dad’s boyfriend. You’re very cute.” Phoenix shakes her little hand.
Katrielle just makes a little coo in response, opening her mouth.
“You know, I didn’t expect her eyes to be blue. They’re stunning.”
“Yes, well it may not last.” Hershel takes Kat back into his arms, having been irrationally anxious without his daughter nestled there. “Melanin develops over time, so her eyes may darken or change color a bit as she ages.”
“That sounds about right.” Phoenix leans over his shoulder, reaching out to poke the baby’s cheek and huffing in amusement when Kat tilts her head to try and suck on his finger. “Is she fussy usually?”
“Very.” Flora responds dryly as she returns to the sitting room with a tray of tea. “She’s a perfect little angel for the professor but up all night for me.” She flops into the armchair on the opposite side of the tea table.
“I wouldn’t consider her a ‘perfect angel.’” Hershel corrects gently, rocking the baby. “She has her fair share of fits when I’m watching her as well.”
Flora has been frustrated with her sister, to say the least. It was natural, considering that most of her care ended up falling onto the young lady’s plate. Not an ideal situation, but it was what had to happen with Hershel getting back to work and Flora doing her studies from home. Combined with switching off on handling her during the night, and both of them were fairly exhausted. Child-rearing certainly isn’t for the weak.
“I just feel like she settles better when you hold her.” Flora gestures at Katrielle. “She would definitely be crying if I was holding her right now, especially ‘cause she just woke up from a nap.”
Phoenix interjects, “I’ll be around for a couple of days, so maybe I can take over the nights? You two could use the rest, I’d imagine.”
“Have you taken care of a baby before, Phoenix?”
Hershel’s partner shrugs, “No, but I’m sure I can pick it up easily. Babies love me.”
Flora snorts. “Mind if I take a nap while you’re trying to figure out how to care for a baby?”
“Not at all, dear.” Flora more than deserves a break from it all. She isn’t meant to be a substitute parent, after all.
There’s a bit of silence after Hershel’s ward takes her leave, and then Phoenix comments, “She’s gotten a lot sassier since I saw her last.”
“I suppose she has. Being tired certainly doesn’t help. I’m terribly sorry if Flora came off as rude.”
“Not at all! It’s nice that she’s come out of her shell, she was pretty timid before. It kinda reminds me of Maya.”
“And how is Miss Fey?”
Phoenix shrugs. “I haven’t heard from her since she went back to Kurain for more training.”
“I hope she’s well.” Hershel shifts Katrielle to one arm in order to interlace his fingers with his lover’s. “And how is your daughter and Mr. Edgeworth?”
“They’re fine. It sucks that Trucy couldn’t come along this time around, ‘cause she was so excited to meet Kat.”
“Is she feeling any better than she was?”
“Yup. A little bug isn’t nearly enough to take my girl down.” Phoenix grins, and it’s bright in a way that takes Hershel’s breath away even after years together. “I thought it was best that she just stay with Miles while I visit you, though. I don't want her getting any of you or Kat sick.”
“That wouldn’t be ideal, I appreciate your foresight. I’ll have to remember to send some puzzles for her back with you.”
Kat seems to have fallen asleep again, so Hershel gently extracts himself from the couch to lay her down in the bassinet in the corner before sitting back beside his partner.
“I know you said Flora’s tired, but you don’t look much better. Do you want to take a nap too?”
“It would be prudent for me to remain awake so as to not ruin my sleep schedule with a nap.” Hershel can hardly get through the sentence without yawning, which immediately disproves his point.
Phoenix chuckles and pulls the professor into a hug. His stubble tickles as it brushes Hershel’s temple.
“I’m so very glad you’re here.” He tucks his face into Phoenix’s collar and leans into the hug, feeling rather as if he’s melting into a puddle.
“I’m happy to be here too. How long have you been up?”
Now feeling rather embarrassed about it, the professor mumbles his answer into the hoodie. “Katrielle woke in the middle of the night, and I haven’t been calm enough to sleep since then.”
“That’s it. Nap time and cuddles are in order.” He pulls Hershel to lay fully down on the couch with him, ignoring the professor’s minor struggles.
“Phoenix, please- what if she wakes up?”
“I’ll take care of it, and you’ll probably wake up if she starts crying. Now settle down.”
After a few more halfhearted protests, Hershel resigns himself to falling asleep in his partner’s embrace. He was fairly tired, after all. It doesn’t take long for his mind to drift away, and the professor isn’t even awake by the time Phoenix takes his hat off to set it aside.