Prompt: "just this once" + baby + cobert (from a friend) / AU / one-shot: 603 words.

JUST THIS ONCE

"How did he do that?" Robert inquired, looking in his wife's direction.

"He's clever." she simply stated, not able to think of how their barely one-year-old son could have been able to climb up to their duvet from the cradle at the end of the bed.

"He wants to be rocked to sleep." his voice was condescending.
He knew it was a bad thing; after all, their daughters had never needed that sort of things, they all had had their nanny and their nursery.
Why Cora chose to act different with their blessed one, it was a mystery. He did want him to grow up self-confident and that fondness he showed for Cora worried him no small: he claimed for her hold all the time.
Yet, he couldn't help himself from smiling when he saw his young son crawling quickly to his mother's open arms, nestling to her chest with a big and content smile on his tiny, rosy lips.

They were gorgeous.

"We still don't need a nanny, Robert." she cooed like she was talking to the baby. In fact she was indeed looking down at him, smiling when he smiled back. He knew that the speech was directed to him and he listened, surprised that she'd spoken like she'd read his mind.
He sighed.

"It would be easier for you, darling." he shifted closer to them, caressing the baby's tiny head. It could perfectly fit into his palm.

"I don't want this to be easier." that sweet smile was for him, this time. "I want this to be just like this."

Oh the things she had to give up. Three times she had been a mother, before him, and none of those times she'd felt like a mother. Her heart had ached everytime her baby daughters cried, incapable of console themself without nanny's assistance. She felt like three beautiful daughters had been delivered to her care already grown up, leaving her just the tasks of supporting them or advising them as best as she could.

This time she wanted to raise her baby. From the beginning, like she'd done for the whole year. She'd fed him, lulled him, changed him and now she wanted to teach him how to walk, how to talk, she wanted to teach him everything, to watch Robert doing the same for the riding or the hunting or showing him how to be a proper lord.

That little one was everything she'd always wished for: he was her last chance to be a real mother.

"So be it." Robert's lips brushed on Cora's velvet skin.

After all, he quite enjoyed himself having the boy in their room for the night, he quite liked been there for him when he needed him, even in the middle of the night, hungry or in disconfort. He felt more like a father too.

"Maybe he can sleep here for the night..?" Cora didn't dare to look her husband in the eye. He didn't speak and she could feel and see his reproving glance. "Just for this one night."

"Cora, I-" she shushed him down with a gentle hiss. Robert soon realized their son had fallen asleep.
Oh how much he would have like to be more strong.
But he just didn't have the heart to wake him up, so beautiful and so angelic, so perfect on his mother's breasts, his lips slighty parted.

"Just this once." Cora insisted, shifting smoothly under the covers without disturbing the little one.

Robert sighed, smiling, turning to switch off the light.
"Just this once." he repeated, holding both of his miracles until he fell asleep.