It's their daughter's first gymnastics class, and Emily was beyond flustered. She's checked her baby's bag five times now, making sure everything that she needs is in there; sweatpants, warm up jacket, leotard, hair pins and grips. She's sure she's forgotten something. Damon has to run his comforting hands up and down Emily's arm, telling her to relax and that everything will be fine.
"How can I relax Damon? She could fall and sprain her ankle or something!"
"But baby," He says. "That's all part of the learning process right?"
She sighs, but curls herself up in his lap. "I guess you're right. It's just," She stops and gnaws at her bottom lip.
"Just what?"
"Gymnastics was my everything as a child. It was the only place where I felt free. You know, I used to stay back after every class at the YMCA to practice my handstands over and over again until my arms were sore." She laughs. "The coach thought I was crazy."
He chuckles along with her and brings his index finger to touch her nose. "You haven't changed that much, have you?"
"Well," She begins. "I used to think that my career would be the single most important thing in my life. But then I found you." She looks up to him, shyly.
"Baby, you know my heart stops beating whenever you say things like that."
"But it's true. Damon Young," She says, moving to hug him tightly. "You are the single most important thing in my life. I would never be anywhere without you."
She gently leans forward; their lips are mere inches apart.
"I love you so much." He breathes; their lips graze each other's at the movement.
She smiles in approval, and brings their lips together
She can't help but sneak into her daughter's gymnastics class. Damon tried to talk her out of it, but to no avail. She just wants to see how her daughter's coping, is that such a crime?
She stands at the doorway and peers into the sea of multi color leotards, before spotting her daughter amongst them in her red and white leotard. She giggles because they're learning handstands. She gives her daughter thumbs up and the latter beams at her mother. Damon comes up from behind her and rests the palms of his hand on either side of her waist.
"See, nothing to worry about."
She rests her head on his chest. "You're right. I was being crazy. I'm sorry."
"No, you were being a mother. And a really good one, I might add."
She looks down and tries to hide her smile behind her hair. Damon always knows what to say. She's blushing so hard, even after 10 years. Damn him.
He puts his arm around her shoulder and asks, "So, do you want to stay here and watch or go do the groceries?"
She takes one more look at her daughter before turning to him, saying, "Let's go do the groceries. Our baby is doing just fine." She smiles. If their daughter is anything like them, she can handle anything the world throws at her.