Lemony Dreams
Phil sighed tiredly and paced the kitchen with Madelyn in his arms. “Sweetheart, calm down.” He mumbled as the four-month-old continued to cry. “I know we agreed to let Mommy sleep but I thought that maybe we could sleep a bit too.” He rubbed her back trying to calm her as she rested against his chest. “I changed you and gave you a bottle and you burped.” He kept pacing bouncing her a bit as he tried humming to relax her. He closed his eyes and just held her close.
He was so exhausted that he didn't even notice Deke walk into the room. He jumped though when there was a crash. He turned around quickly. “Deke.” He said and looked at Madelyn trying to hush her as her cries loudened.
“Sorry, I just wanted to get a drink and I dropped my cup,” Deke said and looked over at Phil and Madelyn. “I didn’t want to disturb you.” He picked up the glass and set it down. “You look exhausted.”
“It's okay. Not like she was asleep.” Phil told him and nodded. “I don’t even think you can call it exhausted anymore.”
“May I?” Deke stepped closer to them. “Take her, I mean.” He reached out for the girl. “Maybe I could calm her.” He said hesitantly.
Phil was too tired to say no and he let Deke take his daughter. “Good luck. She's been up for hours.”
Deke took the baby girl and smiled. “Hello, Madelyn May.” He cooed and looked down at her. “What's got you so upset?” He asked and looked at Coulson. “Go get some sleep. I've got her for now. Even if she doesn’t go to sleep you could at least rest.”
Phil sighed and looked at Deke then Madelyn. “Thank you.” He leaned forward and kissed the baby's head. He was surprised at how quickly she had calmed. She was still sniffling but she was calmer. “Get me if you need anything. Don’t wake Melinda.”
Deke nodded. “I will.” He said and watched him leave. He smiled down at Madelyn. “I have the perfect way to calm you down.” He said gently and walked to the elevator with her. He hummed quietly and babbled to her as they went along.
He stepped out of the elevator when the doors opened and smiled. He opened the hangar doors and opened the top so they could see the sky. “It relaxes me to watch the stars.” He explained and shifted her. “It makes me think of home. I mean this is my home but it was different where I’m from. You remember I told you I’m from the future?”
He looked down at the baby and grinned when he saw her staring up at him. “In my future, which isn’t the future anymore this is in space. It’s hard to explain.” He sighed. “I don’t even know how I’m here still but I’m glad I am.” He looked back up at the stars.
“In case you don’t know I really care about you. You’re a good listener and nice to sit with. You let me babble on about my problems even if I sound dumb.” He rubbed her back as she started to relax and her eyes closed. “My point is that I’m really happy that I’m here because all of us, we’re family and I have never had so many people that have cared for me like they have.”
He continued talking for a while telling her stories about his life before and about what he’d experienced in this new world. After a while, he heard her sigh and he looked down. He smiled widely when he saw that she had fallen asleep. He waited to make sure she was fast asleep before he carried her to her nursery. He laid her down and smiled. “There. Lemony dreams, Madelyn May.”