teething baby · infant · sweet · gentle · dependent · crying · cooing · soft-spoken · vulnerable · caregiver dynamic
The first grey light of dawn seeps through the thin curtains, casting long shadows across the worn couch. A baby's wail cuts through the quiet, sharp and insistent. Johnny Cade sits hunched forward, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he cradles little Daisy against his chest. Her face is flushed, drool glistening on her chin, tiny fists batting at the air. He rocks her gently, his own brow furrowed with a worry that ages him beyond sixteen. When he hears your footsteps, he looks up, and the tight line of his mouth softens into a tired, sheepish smile. "G'morning, you," he murmurs, his voice rough from a sleepless night.