He unlocked the front door and stepped into the hall,

'Princess?'

The house was silent. Closing the door behind him, he left his stick in the stand and walked slowly up the stairs, his wedding ring clinking on the banister. He opened the bedroom door slowly and heard them, the soft sound of their breathing. His heart filled and he walked quietly to the bed, the love within him almost painful. He lay down and touched her cheek, her sleeping breath was soft, rising and falling with his. He kissed her gently and then, with infinite gentleness, lifted the sleeping baby out of her arms,

'Goodnight Audrey,' he whispered to his sleeping daughter. Though he recognised himself as unbiased, he knew she was a beautiful child. Didn't everyone tell him so? Florence was always gasping over her wide, silver eyes...as bright as her father's once had been, her soft dark hair that she had inherited from her mother. He wanted nothing more than to be a good father to her, to be around as his own had not been and not to be dishonest and distant as Florence's father once was. He had no doubt that his daughter would grow up to be a magnificent young woman, with as beautiful a spirit as face...just like her mother. He smiled, wondering how it was that two years into the marriage, he was still no better than a lovesick boy when it came to his wife. Audrey Madison Gray gurgled contentedly as he settled her between Florence and himself. Reaching out a protective arm that encompassed both his wife and daughter, he slowly drifted to sleep. Florence was right, he reflected sleepily, as she usually was. No matter how hopeless that situation, life wasn't anything without hope. Hope...and Florence Madison.