"Shh...Kanne, please don't cry," Nandini pleaded with her daughter who was bawling her eyes out. Nandini gently patted her back and cradled the baby in her arms, but nothing seemed to calm her down.

"Nila, shhh," Nandini kissed her forehead. Nila buried her tiny face in Nandini's chest and fisted her saree in her little hands. She touched the baby's forehead to see if she was sick. But no, she was just crying for the sake of crying, Nandini though was quite enjoying the trouble her daughter was giving her.

Nandini hummed gently while rocking the baby in her arms.

'Aazhi Mazhai Kannaa
Ondru Nee Kai Karavel
Aazhiyul Puku
Muganthu Kodaarththeri'

No one knew what magic Nandini's voice held. A voice that could even calm a raging storm down. What was a mere child in front of it? As soon as she started singing, the baby slightly calmed down in her arms. Though she whimpered sadly.

'Oozhi Mudhalvan Uruvampol
Meikaruthu
Paaliyanth Tholudaip
Padpanaban Kaiyyil

'Aazhipol Minni
Aazhipol Minni
Valampuripol Nindrathirnthu
Thaazhaathey Saarngam
Uthaitha Saramazhaipol'

"You'll sing for our daughter but not for me?"

Nandini looked back and smiled at Karikalan who was leaning on the door frame. Nila peered over Nandini's shoulders and giggled merrily upon seeing her father. She held out her chubby hands for him to lift her up.

"What to do? Your daughter refuses to calm down," Nandini laughed holding Nila in her hands, who was trying to leap over to Adithan.

"Achoo, did you trouble Amma a lot?" Karikalan asked, Nila kicked her legs and giggled in return. He took Nila in his arms and showered his daughter with kisses, Nila clapped her hands excitedly, happy with all the attention she was getting.

Nandini nodded and sighed mockingly. "She's your daughter after all," Karikalan pouted at her words and looked back at Nila.

"Did you miss Appa?" Karikalan asked pressing his forehead against Nila's. She giggled and wrapped her hands around his neck. "Appa missed you," He said kissing her head. Nila feebly pulled his head closer with her tiny hands and planted a wet kiss on his cheek.

"See how calm she is with you," Nandini said, gently patting Nila's back. "I guess she is Appa's chellam,"

Nila babbled something to him and laughed.

"Mhm! She's my chellam indeed," Karikalan propped her over his chest, Nandini mock frowned.

"Then what about me?" Nandini whined, Nila turned her back to her mother and touched her face sweetly, trying to console her 'hurt' mother. Nandini smiled softly at her daughter's actions. Nila's eyes sparkled, her mother's blue, as she grinned back at her mother.

"You're the one who gave me this blessing, Nandini, Of course I love you!" Karikalan leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"I was just teasing you." She said though smiling at his words. Nila looked up at them and feebly kicked her legs, making her anklets jingle, Nila laid back and laughed at the sound.

"I'm really glad we ran away," Nandini said, gently caressing Nila's forehead. Karikalan fixed his gaze on Nandini, a small smile played at the edge of his lips.

"What are you staring at Aditha?" Nandini asked. Karikalan shook his head, without taking his eyes off her.

"You are staring!" Nandini said, turning away her face from him.

Karikalan placed his finger on her chin and turned her head gently toward him. "Do I need someone's permission to stare at my wife?"

Nandini inhaled sharply at the proximity. She shook her head shyly and looked down. Hoping that he would break his stare. But Karikalan had no plans of taking his eyes off her.

"Karikalare. Stop." Nandini laughed. "Oh god, how did you even manage to survive without me?" She asked, leaning on his shoulders.

"It was really hard you know?" Karikalan shuddered as he recollected his past memories. Nandini placed her hand on his chest, trying to comfort him.

"I'm here now aren't I?" She asked, gently running her hands through his scars.

Nila started stirring in his lap, sleepily. She fisted his clothes and look up at him with a toothless smile.

"Mhm," Adithan hummed absent-mindedly distracted by his daughter's cuteness. Nila clenched his finger and played with his ring, constantly blabbering something to him. Nandini looked up at him admiring their daughter.

She smiled in satisfaction. The peaceful life which Nandini had always wished for now became a reality, she still wondered if it was all a mere dream, but when she held little Nila in her hands, her doubts disappeared. All this was indeed real.

********

A/N

Finally a happy Nandy and Ak. Take this as an apology for all the angst imma write. Hope y'all won't kill me for the angst I'm going to write over in my main book.