He stepped into the childrens' room and watched as they lay sleeping, blankets twined around them, soft lips parted as they breathed gently and dreamed of school, toys, sunlight and laughter. He reached down and tousled their hair, careful not to wake them.
He watched them in reverent awe, gazing at the quiet perfection of them as their chests rose and fell. He bent to kiss them both on their smooth, unblemished cheeks, and he couldn't resist inhaling as he did so, snuffing up the warm, safe scent of them, the nearly indescribable smell of sleeping children that made him want to pick them up and hold them close. Instead, he gazed at them for a moment more, adjusted the blankets to make sure they were warm, then stepped carefully over the discarded toys and out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
