(no subject)

[trueloveskid]

It's been six weeks since Henry was born, and sometimes it feels like it's been longer than that, and sometimes like it was only yesterday. Mostly it depends on what kind of day it is, and how much trouble she has getting Henry to sleep, because if he's not sleeping, she's not sleeping.

Today is one of the days where it feels like they've made no progress at all, despite the fact that they just saw the doctor today and were both cleared. Henry's growing like he should, and she can resume life as it was before Henry was born. Including going back to work, which she will do on Monday.

She's just finishing up feeding Henry when she hears Neal come into the apartment. She sets Henry down in his crib to nap...hopefully to nap...and there, he seems to be asleep, so she backs away slowly and quietly so he won't wake up again, because she needs a few minutes to herself. She closes the door most of the way and sinks down onto the couch in the living room.

"I can't take another six weeks of this. I haven't slept more than two hours at a time since we brought him home."

Comments

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal had worked from home for the first three weeks with the plan to help Emma out with the baby but he had to go back into the office after that. He had fallen horribly behind in his work and now that he was back in the office he was frantically trying to catch up. He was happy that his job had been willing to work with him though he wished that there were more hours in the day.

He pushed open the door, tossing his keys into the bowl that they had placed beneath the light switches. When he watched Emma walk into the family room he grew quieter, setting down his bag silently before moving over to sit next to Emma.

"Hey." He whispered, gently moving his hands to rub her shoulders. "I'm home. I'll get him now. You get some sleep." He kissed her cheek, hoping that he might be able to help her relax.

Neal was tired but he wasn't going to show Emma how tired she was.

[trueloveskid]

"He's asleep. Leave him that way." Or he won't just have an upset baby to deal with. She'll only be able to get some sleep if Henry's asleep too.

"How are we going to manage when I go back to work on Monday?" They'll have to pay for someone to watch him, and she's already running on not enough sleep.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal nodded his head in a silent agreement as he gathered Emma into his arms. She looked tired and he wished that they had the money or time to take a break from everything. Then again, parenthood wasn’t supposed to be that easy. He gently pressed his lips against her temple, smiling at the sweet smell of her hair. No matter what they went through, every single day, he was reminded how much he loved Emma.

"There is a day care next to my office. I stopped by there on the way home. I have everything set up and I’ll be able to pick him up on any of the days you can’t."

He knew that separating from Henry will be as difficult as much as it’ll be a relief. "Let’s not worry about that okay? He’s asleep. Why don’t you get some sleep while I get something together for dinner? I’ll wake you both up in a few hours."

[trueloveskid]

She's almost asleep by the time she's back in the bedroom, and gives him only a noncommittal noise as an answer. Just something to indicate that she heard him. Maybe. She knows he said something, anyway.

She would love a couple of days away from this, but she also knows that they can't afford it right now. If only she got paid more at work, but as the receptionist, she doesn't get tips.

How does someone who doesn't even eat food yet cost so much?

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal made sure that Emma was curled safely into bed before ducking out of the bed room to clean up. He was just as tired as she was though he tried his best not to show it. He was quiet and quick to be at Henry's side when he woke, quieting the baby so that Emma could sleep a little bit longer.

His voice was deep and it didn't seem to matter what he was saying as long as he kept talking. Henry looked at him with large brown eyes and if Neal had to guess, he seemed confused, thinking something along the lines of; You aren't mom but I like you too.

Neal was surprisingly comfortable with that look. It was cute and reminded him a little bit of Emma.

Another hour passed before he looked down at Henry with a boyish grin. "What do you say about waking up mom? I'll tell you both a story then." Of course, Henry didn't answer.

Neal stepped into the bed room, sitting on the edge of the bed with Henry in his arms. "Hey. You awake?"

[trueloveskid]

She had been asleep, wonderfully asleep, for a couple of hours, but then since she's so used to being woken up by Henry, that sleep had turned a bit more restless, waiting to hear the sound of a baby that didn't come because Neal had taken care of it.

Still, that few hours of sleep had been wonderful.

She turns over to look up at Neal. "I am now."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal smiled at her, leaning forward briefly to press his lips against her forehead. Henry was grabbing at her, clearly wanting to be held my his mother over his father. Neal didn't really blame him. He'd rather Emma be holding him too.

"Did you sleep well?" His voice was low and affectionate as he looked down at her. In his mind, there was no one more beautiful than Emma.

"I have some soup on the stove." It totally came from a can.

[trueloveskid]

Soup from a can is still more than she can manage, with her inability to boil water without setting the kitchen on fire.

She pulls herself up to a sitting position and reaches for Henry. "I think he's a little bit hungry." She doesn't blame him. He's been doing a lot of growing lately.

"I slept very well."

[alandwithoutmagic]

He kissed Emma again, brushing her hair affectionately from her face.

"I'm happy to hear it." She deserved some solid rest, more so with the fact that she'll be returning to work soon.

"I think there is a bottle in the fridge if you want me to toss that in the microwave." He'd do the wrist test and sake it up so that it wouldn't hurt Henry at all. Neal's gotten pretty good at this baby stuff over the past few weeks.

[trueloveskid]

"You know I can do that myself, right?" One more thing that biology took care of. "Then we can save the bottle for later." Maybe when she's sleeping again, or back at work. "I think he likes it better this way anyway."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "You're going back to work soon. He needs to get used to the bottle." There was a slight nervousness in his voice before relenting and once more kissing Emma on the head.

"But I'll do whatever you think is best."

[trueloveskid]

"He will have plenty of chances to use the bottle. I want this time with him." She takes Henry so she can feed him. "You can do it next time."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal flashed her a smile. "I'll let you handle it."

[trueloveskid]

Emma looks down at Henry while she feeds him. "I think daddy's feeling a little left out." She smiles over at Neal while running her fingers through his hair. "It's okay, we'll find something for him to do."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal laughed softly, pressing his lips affectionately against Emma's cheek. "That's for when Henry is asleep." He whispered against her ear before gently nipping at her earlobe. It was wildly inappropriate with a baby in Emma's arms but Neal didn't care. He thought she was the most beautiful person in the world and he wanted her.

It had been a while since they could do anything with just the two of them. Henry took priority and then work. There wasn't enough hours or time in the day for anything else. Neal felt a noticeable tightness in his pants at the thought, he didn't care of Emma saw, but it was in the way.

"I think it's time for daddy to cool off. I'll run to the store to grab what's on the list. Need anything?" The corner drug store had milk, eggs and everything that they needed when it came to small grocery products. Neal only went to the full store about once a month and it was usually an ordeal, involving the car and its small storage space.

[trueloveskid]

She smiles at him when he does that. She knows exactly what's on his mind, and she'd be lying if she said it wasn't on hers too. She's missed being with him in that way, and the doctor did tell her just today that she could go back to doing that kind of thing now.

She takes hold of the front of his shirt and leans in to give him a soft kiss. Yes, she's holding Henry, but it's not like he's going to know what they're doing. Or that they're going to do it with him in the bed with them.

"If you want to pick up something to make sure that Henry's not going to be a big brother, that would be okay." She hadn't been too concerned about having them around for awhile now; with them both being each other's first and her already being pregnant, it hadn't seemed necessary. But it's not something she wants to go through again so soon.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal growled softly against Emma's lips. It really has been to long though he had tried his best not to think about it. As tired as he was, there was always energy for sex, but Emma had to recover and they had a baby to think about now.

They might need to find a bigger place...

"Yeah." He spoke against her lips before leaning down to kiss Henry's forehead. "I'll be back soon. Something for him and some milk and eggs." It'd be obvious to Emma that he was trying not to call attention to the tightness of his pants.

"Be back soon."

[trueloveskid]

He might be trying not to call attention to it, but she knows it's there. She can't help but smile a little at the idea. She could use a chance to relax.

"We'll be waiting." She watches him leave the room and then, while he's gone, she finishes feeding Henry and goes out to the kitchen to get herself some soup from the pan on the stove. When he comes back, she's sitting at the table eating dinner, with Henry asleep in her arms.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal didn't take that long and when he returned he had two small bags of groceries. His erection had safely vanished though that didn't last when he stepped into the kitchen. He couldn't help it, Emma was very sexy, even while eating soup.

"Knocked out?" He nodded to Henry before putting the groceries away.

[trueloveskid]

"Sound asleep." Safe and warm in his mother's arms, with a full stomach. It hadn't taken Henry long to fall asleep. "Do you want to put him in his crib while I finish eating?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

"Yeah."

Neal whispered despite the fact that Henry will wake up whether someone was speaking or not. He kissed the top of Emma's head while gathering Henry in his arms. As always Neal was overly gentle with the boy, holding him as if he was made of glass.

It didn't take long to put him to bed and return to the kitchen. When he did return he just stood at the door way, watching Emma with a smile.

"You're so beautiful, you know that don't you?"

[trueloveskid]

By the time he gets back, she's standing at the sink, rinsing out her bowl. She looks down at herself -- still tired, wearing stained clothes, and she hadn't gotten a shower yet today, not to mention that she hasn't lost the baby weight yet. She ducks her head.

"No I'm not."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal chuckled softly. "Yes, you are." Amusement danced in his gaze as he stepped towards his love. His fingers brushed along her arms, pulling her close to his chest. His erection was back in full force now that it was just the two of them and Neal did nothing to hide it but instead pressed his hip tightly against Emma's backside.

"Feel that?" His whispered in her ear before nibbling affectionately at her earlobe. "That thinks you are."

Neal smiled against her neck before pressing his lips against the smooth warmth of her skin. "You are perfect for me." He paused, before continuing. "Emma I have a question." His voice caressed the curve of her neck as he spoke in a soft whisper. "Will you marry me? Formally." They had been living together, had a child together but Neal had never gotten around to asking her to marry him.

Henry had been a bit of a surprise after all.

[trueloveskid]

Her heart starts racing when he presses up behind her, and her breath catches in her throat. Even with everything that has happened between them, with the fact that he stuck around after finding out about Henry, even the fact that Henry exists in the first place, she still has a hard time believing that anyone can feel that way about her. That anyone wants her around, or will stick around themselves instead of abandoning her yet again.

She turns around to face him and puts her arms around his neck. "You really want that?" She takes a moment to study his face, to consider what's now pressing against her thigh. She still has a hard time believing that this is happening, but she knows what her answer is, "Yes. I will."

She leans in to kiss him while one arm untangles itself from his neck and her hand slides down his chest and into his pants to wrap itself around his erection.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal's heart leaps into his throat at her answer. He was the happiest guy in the world. Then her fingers circled his cock and that affection gaze turned into a mixure of love, surprise and desire. He moaned against her lips, pulling her against him as they kissed. He was the happiest and now horniest guy in the world.

His hands traveled down her back and then around her rear. "Hold on tight." He growled the words as he swept her off her feet, keeping her close to him and his cock within reach, while walking over to the kitchen table to sit her down.

With Emma seated on the sturdy table his hands traveled up, pulling Emma's shirt over her head.