The Baby
Chapter 1:
It was the 4th of July, and Hope and Aiden were hosting a party in their backyard. They had closed the deal only two weeks earlier, and weren't even fully moved into it, but they figured a 4th of July party was just the thing they would like to have to welcome everyone to their new home. It would also serve as a housewarming party.
"You've spend all this time setting up for the dinner tonight, why don't we take a break and go get some lunch?" Aiden asked, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms tightly around her.
She smiled. "Just let me put the balloons and banner up, then we can go get something."
Aiden turned her around and they kissed.
"So, are you still happy with our decision to buy this one?" Aiden asked her.
Hope nodded. They had been torn between the smaller house that was closer to the school, and the bigger house where the kids would have to take the bus.
They had decided upon the bigger house. It not only had a fifth bedroom, but it had a huge back yard with in ground pool. It still had lots of room for the kids to play even with the pool in the backyard.
Hope nodded. "I love it! I just know the kids will love the pool. They won't mind taking the bus, and if they hate it that much, we can just drive them. They just won't be able to walk to school anymore."
"I like having two extra bedrooms as well. That way, if Shawn and Belle come with Claire, Claire doesn't have to share with them or sleep on the couch," Aiden quipped.
Hope nodded. "Very true."
They kissed again.
"I'll help you hang those decorations then we can get outta here. I don't know about you, but I am starved," Aiden said, heading over to the banner.
Hope headed over with him and helped him hang it over their sliding glass doors. "I'm hungry too. I'm in the mood for sushi."
Aiden made a face. "Yuck! I don't know how you can eat that crap."
Hope raised an eyebrow at him. "Have you ever tried it?"
Aiden shook his head. "I don't need to try it to know that it is nasty."
Hope rolled her eyes. "You're as bad as Ciara."
They finished with the banner, then went to blow up the remaining red, white, and blue balloons that had silver stars all over them.
Aiden blew his up easily, but, Hope was having trouble. "I never did have the lung capacity to blow these things up! I should have bought a machine to do it for me," she said.
"I'll get it for you. Anyway, you need to save those beautiful lips for what they do best," Aiden said, kissing her for emphasis. "I love your kisses," he murmured.
Hope smiled at him, and went to sit on his lap. "In that case, have some more."
He moaned as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him some more.
They stayed kissing for a moment, then Hope broke the kiss. "All right, get the remainder of the balloons blown up if you would. I'm going to go in and make sure there's nothing we need to get while we're out."
Aiden kissed her once more. "You do that, but hurry. I miss you when you're gone."
Hope kissed him again. "I miss you too." She knew it might sound silly. After all, she would only be away from him for five minutes at best. Even so, five minutes without the man she loved felt like an eternity. She kissed him once more, then quickly headed into the house to get her checklist.
As Aiden finished blowing up the last of the balloons, he couldn't help but smile as he thought of the look on Hope's face when they had first seen this house. Her eyes had practically lit up when she had seen the pool, and the size of the backyard. Immediately, she had gone into talking about all the parties they could have back here, and how much the kids would love it. She talked about maybe adding a hot tub, or a trampoline for the kids. She talked about getting a gazebo put in, and maybe putting up a tent for the kids to have sleep overs in during the summers.
It had made him laugh to himself. Their yard was huge, yes, but he didn't know if there was room for a hot tub, gazebo, trampoline, and tent—not with the in ground pool already there. Still, seeing her so happy and excited over it had made his decision on which house he wanted. Whatever made Hope happiest is what made him happiest, and this was it. And heck, if she wanted all of those things, he'd make sure they found room for it all. It would be worth it just to make his baby happy.
He had carried her over the threshold the day they moved in, and then they had made love in every room. It made him even happier that they had chosen the house with two extra bedrooms.
Hope came out a moment later, and wrapped her arms around him. "Did you miss me?"
"Like crazy, Baby," he murmured, his eyes lowered with love for her.
They kissed.
"We forgot the hot dogs! We have the hamburger patties but what about the ones who prefer hot dogs?" Hope asked.
"I got one for ya," Aiden teased, pulling her closer to him.
She laughed, and slapped his chest. "Oh, stop!"
"All right, no big deal. Do we have the sodas for those who don't drink alcohol?" Aiden asked.
Hope sighed. "How do I keep forgetting the most important things?"
"Don't worry, Baby! We'll go pick up something to eat for lunch and we'll get those along the way." Aiden kissed her neck.
Hope closed her eyes and smiled, enjoying his kisses. "Or, we can just eat at the grocery store's eatery. That way, I can get my sushi that they have and you can get pizza or a sandwich. Then we can head right into the grocery section and get what we need."
"Sounds like a plan," Aiden said, still distracted by Hope's neck. "But how about we have dessert at home first?"
"Your mind is always in the gutter," Hope said, rolling her eyes, and shaking her head.
"Look in the mirror and you won't be able to blame me. Seriously, Baby, have you seen how hot you are?" Aiden asked.
Hope grinned. "As are you. But we have no time. We have a party to get ready for." She ran her hands slowly up his chest. "Now, if you're a good boy, and help me plan and turn this party into a success, the fireworks won't have to stop after everyone's gone home," she purred into his ear.
He licked his lips. "Speaking of which, I guess we had better stop by the fireworks store on the way back, huh?"
Hope sighed. "I swear I don't know where my mind is lately."
Aiden kissed her. "Don't worry about it. The mind starts going when you get old."
Hope gasped, and Aiden laughed, and ran off ahead of her before she could smack him.
"I'll get you for that, Mr. Jennings!" She tried to sound stern, but her smile gave her away. She shook her head, and chased after him, silently cursing her inability to get mad at him for long.
"They seemed to have made sushi even more disgusting than it already is. Lord knows how long that's been setting in there," Aiden said to Hope, looking at the lone box of sushi that was sitting in the sushi section of the grocery store's café. "It doesn't even look like they refrigerated it all that well. It's barely cold!" Aiden said, feeling the box.
"It's fine. I get sushi here all the time," Hope said grabbing the box. "I'm lucky I got it before this one was gone too. Everyone else must like sushi too."
"Not me," Aiden said.
Hope smirked. "So you've said."
Aiden got his pizza and then they both got their drinks, and sat down at one of the tables.
"So, who all is coming to this party again?" Aiden asked as they had their lunch.
Hope took a drink before responding. "Jennifer, Lucas, Adrien, Sonny, Will, Abigail, JJ, Maggie, possibly Victor if he can finish his business calls early, Brady, John, Marlena, and Kayla. And of course, Dad and Julie said they might drop by if they can get back into town on time."
"Sounds like a good crowd," Aiden said. "The kids would have loved it. I wonder if they're having a good time."
"I'm sure Bo is spoiling Ciara until her heart's content, which means she's happy," Hope said.
Aiden smirked. "Is her heart ever truly content though?"
Hope smirked as well. "Good point."
Aiden sighed. "Chase must be loving baseball camp. He hasn't called me in two days. I was going to call him, but I didn't want to be one of those parents who worry too much."
"We're parents. It's our job to worry," Hope said, placing her hand over his from across the table. "Give him a call. I'm sure he just got busy."
"It's kind of sad that he's growing up. There was a time not that long ago that he ever would have wanted to leave me for this long. Outside of school, we were never apart since his mother's death. Now he's off to camp for the summer, and he can't even find time to call me. He must not miss me too much," Aiden said sadly.
Hope rubbed his hand. "Darling, give him a call. I'm sure he's just having fun. You know how kids are. Even Ciara likes her time away from me. Believe me."
Aiden finished his pizza. "Maybe I will. Do you mind doing the shopping while I call him?"
Hope shook her head then wiped her mouth, having just finished her lunch as well. She got up and kissed his cheek. "Not at all. I'll meet you back here when I'm done."
Aiden kissed her lips. "Thank you."
Hope kissed him in return. "Thank you. Now call your son." She kissed him again, then went off to shop.
Aiden smiled as he watched her retreat. "Man I love that woman!" he said to himself before dialing up his son.
"So, how did it go?" Hope asked when she came back with the groceries.
"It was just as you said. He got busy. He said he misses me, but is having so much fun. He also said he made me something that he can hardly wait to give me." Aiden kissed her. "You were right, Baby. I have nothing to worry about."
Hope kissed him. "See? He loves you. He's just excited to be at baseball camp."
"In a few days, Jeter is supposed to come for a baseball lesson. Chase said he nearly peed his pants when he found out!" Aiden said, laughing at the memory.
Hope laughed too. "That definitely would not have been good to do at camp. His fellow campers would never let him live that down."
"I know, right?" Aiden took the bags from her. "Let's get these back to the car, and then finish getting our party set up."
Hope nodded her agreement, and they headed to the car.
They drove the short drive to the house, then finished preparing for the party.
Two hours later, the guests arrived. Hope had called and asked Lucas if he would mind stopping by to get the fireworks, and he had been more than happy to oblige.
Maggie arrived first. "Victor will be here later tonight, but he's still working. I told him we have enough money so that he doesn't need to work anymore; that he should just give Brady the company, but you know him. He'll be running Titan till the day he dies."
Hope smiled. "That sounds like Victor all right. It's a shame Daniel couldn't make it."
"He has a surgery to perform. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to schedule a surgery on the Fourth of July," Maggie said. "Then again, I guess people can't help when they need surgery."
Jennifer, Abigail, and JJ arrived then, and Hope greeted them all with hugs.
John and Marlena were next, and Aiden greeted them, then went over to greet Jennifer and the kids while Hope greeted John and Marlena.
Next was Kayla, and Brady, then finally Lucas, Sonny, and Will all arrived.
"Here are fireworks. We picked out some really cool ones!" Lucas said, handing Aiden the box.
"Great! Thanks." Aiden took the box from him. "I'll give you the money before you leave tonight."
"Don't worry about it. They weren't that much," Lucas said.
"No, no. It's Hope's and my party. I insist," Aiden replied.
"We're here! The party can start now," Julie said loudly as she arrived with Doug.
"Hey!" Aiden said, hugging Julie, and then shaking Doug's hand.
"Julie, Dad, you made it! I'm so glad!" Hope ran over to them and hugged them tightly. "I was hoping you'd make it!"
"We wouldn't miss the chance to see your beautiful new home!" Julie said.
"Or my beautiful daughter and handsome new son-in-law," Doug added.
Julie nodded her agreement.
Hope smiled, and hugged them both again.
It warmed Aiden's heart to see his wife so happy. He loved her so much, and he could never get enough of her beautiful smile. He walked over to her and placed an arm around her, then kissed her.
Hope smiled even bigger, her hand gently placed on his cheek as she lovingly kissed him back.
Julie and Doug grinned at each other, and then at Hope and Aiden.
"You truly do make my daughter the happiest I've ever seen her," Doug said.
"Well, she makes me the happiest I've ever been, so I figured why not return the favor?" Aiden asked, smiling at Hope.
Hope smiled too, and they kissed again.
Hours later, when it got dark, Daniel arrived.
"Daniel, you made it!" Maggie said, holding her arms out.
"Hey, Mom. I finished the surgery early, and another doctor took over." Daniel hugged her. "I didn't come alone."
Victor appeared, and Maggie squealed with happiness, ran over to him, and kissed him. "You came."
"I couldn't let you watch the fireworks without me now, could I?" Victor asked with a smile.
Maggie grinned, and they kissed.
"Here, let me get you guys some dinner," Hope said, leading them over to the hot dog and hamburger section. Aiden was at the grill.
Lucas and Brady were up on the roof, getting ready to set off the fireworks.
Once Daniel and Victor had gotten their food, it was time for the fireworks to begin.
Aiden took his place beside Hope as they watched the fireworks. Lucas, Will, and Sonny had picked out some really good ones. There were ones that shot out like shooting stars, ones that swiveled, and even some that shot out red, white, and blue stars.
"They're so beautiful," Hope said, her back against Aiden's chest now as his arms wrapped around her.
"They are, but you're still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Aiden said to her.
Hope titled her head toward him and they kissed softly on the lips.
Suddenly, Hope broke the kiss. "I think I'm going to throw up."
"Well that was harsh. I only had one onion on my burger," Aiden said.
Hope shook her head. "No, it's not that it's…. I gotta get to the toilet." She quickly ran into the house.
Aiden ran after her, instantly concerned. He followed her into the bathroom and held her hair for her while she threw up.
"Are you okay, Baby?" Aiden rubbed her back with his free hand.
Hope threw up a couple more times, then breathed heavily. "It just came upon me all the sudden."
"That doesn't make me feel too good. You kissed me and it made you throw up!" Aiden joked.
Hope shook her head. "I think it was something I ate."
"I told you you shouldn't have had that sushi! It was bad!" Aiden replied.
Hope nodded. "Next time I'll listen to you." She threw up again, then relaxed. "I think I'm done. I feel a little better now." She took some toilet paper and wiped her mouth, then slowly stood up.
"Do you need to go lie down? I can tell our guests goodnight for you," Aiden said, already leading her to the bedroom.
"Maybe I better," Hope said.
Aiden picked her up and carried her to bed. He gently lie her down and pulled off her sandals. "You relax. I'll tell everyone goodnight for you. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Thank you," Hope said.
"Do you need your nightgown?" Aiden asked, heading to her dresser.
Hope nodded. "Please."
Aiden selected her purple one, which was right on top. "Do you need me to help you get dressed?" he asked.
Hope took it from him. "I'm fine, but thank you. I'd kiss you, but I'm sure I have barf breath."
"Like I care." Aiden kissed her. "I'll be back as soon as everyone leaves. All right? Can I get you anything else?"
"Some water maybe?" Hope asked.
Aiden nodded, and quickly went to get her a cup of water. He then brought it back to her.
"Thank you," she said, taking it from him and drinking it. "Much better," she said before setting it down on the nightstand.
"I'll be back soon." Aiden kissed her lips, then went to get rid of the company.
Everyone had been concerned. Julie and Doug had wanted to see Hope, but Aiden had talked them into waiting until the next day to see her since he was sure she was probably trying to get some sleep.
A half hour later, everyone was gone, and he headed back into the bedroom. Hope was indeed sleeping.
He went into the bathroom and got ready for bed, then he climbed into bed next to her, leaving only the bathroom nightlight on.
Hope stirred when he entered the bed, and she wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you for taking such good care of me. I love you."
"I love you too." Aiden kissed her. "You're my world, Baby!"
"And your mine. I'm sorry I don't feel good enough to reward you for all your help," she murmured.
"Baby, don't even worry about that." He kissed her. "We have the rest of our lives to make love. Right now, all that matters is that you feel better."
"How did I get so lucky to marry you?" Hope asked sleepily.
"It's funny, I ask myself the same thing every day only in reverse," Aiden replied, his eyes lowered with love for her.
He kissed the top of her head, then fell asleep watching her sleep.