Nikolas's kind actions

Gia had had enough conversation by the time Micah left the room. Nikolas was trying to be helpful and attentive and she knew she was being rude by wanting him to leave, but she was feeling overwhelmed from all the information she had been presented. Her mind was reeling, her body still ached, and she was starting to feel very tired again.

"Would you like for me to call for Gretta and Linette again?" Nikolas asked her after a yawn large enough to make her blush from embarrassment.

"Who?" She asked, confused.

"The elderly women I had asked to care for Braelyn earlier today, I'm sure they would gladly keep an eye on her for you while you got a nap in." He said smiling, the look he gave her was one full of concern and compassion, which she felt certain she hadn't earned yet.

"Oh." She said. He had told her that some women watched her, but she wasn't sure he ever said their names, she was just too tired to remember at this point. "No, I will sleep more soundly knowing she is close by, no offense to your friends, I am truly grateful they took such good care of her earlier but now I think she and I need to be together."

"I understand, of course you would feel calmer without having to worry about her. In that case, I should get something for her to sleep in. We don't usually have bassinets in the Lyceum, but we can work something out." Nikolas smiled at her again, he seemed to be smiling at her a lot and it made her feel excited yet uncomfortable. She didn't know why he would need to smile at her so much unless he was either trying to make her feel safe and secure or trick her into feeling safe and secure. She just didn't know enough about him yet to decide.

"You don't need to go through too much trouble looking for something," Gia said stopping him as he rose from the chair beside her bed, "I had been using a box for apples while we travelled, something like that or even the same box from my wagon would do." She didn't want him to feel obligated to help her or to have to owe him anything.

"Don't worry, Gia, I will have something in here for you soon." He said with yet another kind smile, Gia smiled back at him automatically. Something about him made her want to smile even though this was not the time for such things. Gia had a lot on her mind and needed to think, but she was too tired to think and needed to sleep.

"UGH!" She groaned as the door shut behind him.

Gia stared at Braelyn's face, studying it, checking for anything that might have changed while she had been asleep. She found nothing of course, aside from being a little cleaner than she had been when they had attempted to ride into the village, she was the same beautiful little girl. Gia had watched that little face every day for three weeks and already she could tell she had changed a little, her complexion was clearer, less the pink shade she had right after birth and now the milky pale that was just like the King's. She had grown slightly; she was roughly six and a half pounds when she was born but seemed maybe half a pound more. But it was always the eyes that drew Gia's attention, that was where you truly got to know Braelyn, her eyes showed that she was so special. As Gia stared into those eyes, she started to feel safer.

"I'm sorry for all my mishaps and shortcomings baby girl, but we've finally made it here, we are finally safe, at least I hope we are."

Nikolas came in a few minutes later causing Gia to look up from Braelyn's face. She saw that he carried not a box but a beautiful white wooden bassinet with a soft pink bonnet at the top to shield the baby's eyes from the light.

"Oh my, that is beautiful." Gia said before she could stop herself.

"It is for you and the baby, it's an extra one that was not being put to use just now so it has been donated for your use."

"No, oh Nikolas we cannot accept that, it is too much." Gia protested.

"Nonsense, you must accept it, otherwise I will have to take it home and I assure you I am far too big to be sleeping in it, plus it's not really my color." Gia laughed at his joke despite herself.

"You must tell me who gave it to you, I wish to pay them back as soon as I can." She insisted.

"We will work that out later." He said waving her words away with a few flicks of his wrist. "Look here, it rocks as well, so you can soothe and comfort the baby, though from what I've gathered I don't think you'd have to do too much soothing."

"No, but she does seem to enjoy being rocked from side to side so I am sure she will love it, thank you so much Nikolas, we will appreciate it and make good use of it." Nikolas beamed at her words, when he smiled, he looked much more handsome, and that was saying something because he was already handsome.

Nikolas set the bassinette right next to Gia's bed, close enough so that she could gently rock it back and forth without even moving from her current spot. He offered to lay the baby in the bassinet for her and then covered her with a small, soft, fuzzy, lilac colored blanket. His movements were soft and slow, and seemed to be full of love. How could he care for the baby after such a short time? She wondered to herself. But then she remembered how quickly Ruthie and Agustus had been charmed by her, and it seems the old women that were caring for her earlier were as well. Perhaps that was part of Braelyn's magic, maybe people everywhere would love her and admire her, whether they truly knew her or not. A power like that could be good in terms of magic connections, but it could easily turn someone's head and make them conceited and think that they were owed everything. Gia would have to do her best to make sure that this baby grew up to be the best person she could be strong, fair, loving, loyal, honest, and compassionate. Gia would make sure that the King and Queen would be proud of their daughter.

After getting the baby settled Nikolas put a few bottles of milk on the stand beside the bed and turned back to Gia.

"This should last her most of today, I will be back later to check on you, if you need more I will get some then, if you get hungry just pull the cord behind your bed, it will ring the kitchen."

"Yes, I will, thank you Nikolas." She tried to smile but was suddenly feeling awkward with his eyes on her.

"If you need anything before I return, just have Mary from the kitchen come to fetch me, I will come at once." His eyes were shining and intense as he spoke.

"I'm sure we will be just fine, you have done more than enough for us already, really Nikolas, you don't h-." Her words came to an abrupt stop when he reached up with his right hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear then cup her cheek.

"Shh," he shushed her as he rubbed his thumb over her left cheek bone, "I know I don't have to Gia, but I want to help you, you and Braelyn both." Gia had no response to this, she was too overwhelmed, she had never had a man treat her like this before, mostly because she was usually acting too tough and independent for them to approach her. "You get some rest, and I will be back this evening." And with that he left the room. Gia guessed she had not breathed since he rubbed her face and so she took a big gulp of air to fill her starved lungs. Holy, but I think I might be in trouble here.