Mother is a verb, not a noun. – Proverb
Age: Seven Months – June
"What's the matter with baby girl?" Travis stood in the entrance to the nursery, leaning against the doorjamb.
Violet had been inconsolable practically all night. She'd switched between wailing and sobbing for hours. Her tiny face was red and bathed in tears. "I don't know, Trav," Wes sighed. "I think she's getting teeth. See how she keeps chewing on everything?"
He could see Wes was exhausted. Every time he'd come in here tonight to take his turn, he'd been refused. Wes might balk at being called 'mama' but it was exactly what he was to this child. Travis figured he should give it one more shot. "Let me take her so you can get some rest, baby."
Wes watched Travis reach his arms out making a 'gimme' motion with his fingers. Travis tried to ignore the internal debate as it crossed his partner's face. Just when he expected to be denied again, Wes' posture relaxed and he held Violet out to him.
"I don't know what to do for her, Travis." His voice broke as he said it, exhaustion and frustration overcoming him. "I've tried everything I could find online and nothing works. Next step is binding and gagging her, but I'd really rather not go there tonight."
"We'll figure it out," he promised, taking their daughter into his arms. Travis snuggled Violet against his chest, praying she'd either wear herself out or simply just calm down for a minute. Her sobbing slowly eased into stuttering snuffles. "And see, she's fine. You should have given her to me hours ago."
Wes shook his head. "I don't know how you just did that, but thank you." He came over and kissed Travis' cheek before turning to leave. He hesitated at the door. "You sure you're okay with…"
"You getting some sleep? Hell yes. You're cranky when you're tired. Hell, you're crank when you're not tired."
"And you are a jerk. Goodnight, Travis."
He grinned. "Night, baby."
Wes exited the nursery and was almost to the bedroom when Violet screamed. Not the cries of pain and weariness she'd been sharing all night, but something different. Something about this cry gripped Wes' heart, refusing to let go. She sounded terrified.
It was irrational, he knew, because Travis was the sweetest and gentlest man he knew, even if he was also the most aggravating. But he couldn't help his gut instinct – that maternal instinct he so readily denied – and he raced back to the nursery. Travis bounced Violet on his hip, whispering to her in a consoling way, but Vi wasn't having any of it.
Wes appeared in the nursery's doorway, panic clear on his face. "What the hell?"
Travis looked up, worry in his expression. "I don't – I don't know what happened, man. You left and she started screaming."
"She sounds terrified."
Violet turned to the sound of Wes' voice, eyes wide and tear-filled. Her gaze locked on his as she stretched out her arms and started to sob. Wes' heart melted. He moved to Travis' side and took their daughter from his arms.
"Wes, wait…" He tried to pull the little terror back against his chest.
He shook his head. "It's okay, I can do this for a little longer. I've been doing most of the night after all."
Travis frowned, worried. "I can stay, yanno, for moral support or something?"
Wes shook his head, sitting heavily into the rocking chair. "Go back to bed. There's no reason for us to both be zombies in the morning. One cranky pants in this family is more than enough."
He settled into the rocker, situating his daughter into the crook of his left elbow. Tears still streamed down her delicate little face, but the fist in her mouth stifled the worst of her cries. Travis retrieved the blanket Mrs. Dumont had knitted for her baby shower and covered his lover and his child with its pastel warmth. Placing a gentle kiss first on Violet's forehead and then Wes' cheek, Travis sighed.
"Is there anything I can do," he asked. "I feel so helpless… useless…"
"Travis, don't, please. You are so good with her all the time, there's nothing you can do if all she wants is me."
He stared at the blonde for a moment longer before giving him another chaste kiss. "I know, but it doesn't make me feel like less of a heel for going to bed while you stay up."
"That's because you are a heel, Marks. You're also my own personal Casanova, so I can't say I'm complaining. Now go to bed."
"Okay, but only because you said so."
Wes shook his head and cuddled his now-quiet daughter. The Tylenol must've finally kicked in and he couldn't be more thankful. Maybe, just maybe, he could get an hour or two of rest.
Travis rolled over to wake his lover only to find his side of the bed empty. He rubbed his eyes for a moment considering.
"Wes?" He was afraid to raise his voice above a loud whisper for fear of setting the demon child off again. "Wes where'd you go?"
He passed by the nursery and gave a quick look in before moving away. Travis stopped and did a double take. Wes was sprawled in the rocking chair, Violet securely tucked into one arm, both sound asleep. Unable to stop grinning, he moved quietly back to their bedroom, procured his phone from the end table and crept back. Wes wouldn't ever forgive him for what he was about to do – his mouth was hanging wide open for heaven's sake! – but Travis had to have this memory. Smirking, he snapped a quick picture before stuffing the phone in the pocket of his sweats.
"Hey baby," he whispered, gently shaking Wes' unburdened arm.
"Hmmmm?" Wes stirred and began to stretch before noticing the weight against his body. "Oh, ow, did I sleep here all night?" He straightened with a bit of help from Travis.
"Part of it, but at least you slept. Why don't you take baby girl into our room and climb into bed? Maybe she'll sleep longer with you near her."
"But what about – what time is it?"
"Six-thirty," Travis said. Wes opened his mouth to report the obvious – he needed a shower and food and work – but Travis stopped him before he could start. "No way. You were up until after two, you are not working. Take the kid and go get some sleep. I'll let the cap know."
"But…."
"But nothing. You've not missed a day since coming back, he won't say a word. Do you want me to call Dakota and ask her to stay home?"
Wes shook his head. "No, no actually I think it might be good if she's here. Hopefully Violet will behave long enough for me to get some rest. If nothing else, I can use her to prop myself up."
Travis nodded. "Sounds good, man. Now, go back to bed and I'll let her in, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Thanks, Travis."
"You are so welcome, buttercup. Now, come on."
He gently lifted the sleeping bundle from his lover's arms, holding out a hand to help Wes to his feet. Travis followed him into the bedroom, waited while he got settled, and then nestled their child into the portable crib they kept bedside for emergency sick nights.
"All tucked?" Travis asked with a grin.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Good." He kissed Wes' forehead noisily, eliciting a tired laugh out of the blonde. "I'm going to wash this funk off of me and go wait for Dakota. Sleep well, baby."
Wes tried to respond, but found himself unable as sleep claimed him again.
"But she's sooooo cute," Dakota laughed, watching the little dark-haired baby entertaining herself on the floor. "I don't believe for one minute that she's a demon like Travis said."
"Wait," Wes laughed, "Travis called our delightful little ray of sunshine a demon?"
"He sure did. He said, and I quote, 'that little demon did not stop screaming until two A. M.'"
"Well, he has a point there," Wes reluctantly agreed. "But those are the joys of parenthood, I guess."
Dakota reached out and touched his wrist. "He was laughing as he said it, Wes. I doubt he really thinks she's a demon."
"I hope not," he chuckled, "because he spawned her." Wes watched Violet roll onto her back and put her feet in the air. She scrutinized them there for a moment before bringing one foot to her face and shoving it into her mouth. "VIOLET!" He wasn't sure if he should be horrified or amused by this.
Dakota laughed heartily. "She's not done that for you yet? It's a baby's favorite trick I think."
Wes rubbed his face with his fingers. "No, I can safely say I have not yet seen my daughter try and eat her own toes. I have seen her try and eat Travis', for some unknown reason, but never her own. It is rather cute, isn't it?"
"Adorable," Dakota agreed, reaching forward to tickle the little monster's belly, "just like she is."
Wes and Dakota looked up at the sound of Travis' key in the lock. Violet must've heard too because she released her foot and pulled herself into a sitting position to await her daddy's arrival. At first sight of Travis' dark head, she crawled to Wes' side, hiding behind his leg.
"Aw, whatsa matter with my baby girl," Travis asked, watching her blue eyes widen as he got nearer. "Can a daddy get some loooove?"
Dakota stifled her laughter behind her hand. "I understand more and more every day why you couldn't resist this bozo."
"Heeeeyyy," Travis said, sitting on the arm of the couch beside Wes. "I kinda resemble that remark."
Violet turned her head upwards so she could see her daddy looking down at her. Her mouth fell open and a giggle escaped. Grasping Wes' pant leg, she pulled herself up into a standing position to be closer to Daddy's big smile. One arm stretched out to him in invitation while the other grasped desperately for stability.
"Now there's my girl," he cooed. "No more of that 'I only want my Mama' stuff you pulled last night, I see."
"About that," Wes began, "Dakota said that she's been doing some reading…"
"…so that I can be as much help with Violet as I can…"
"…and she discovered that babies go through a bit of mommy-centered separation anxiety at this age."
"Ahhh," Travis said, relieved. "That would make a lot of sense. She sounded terrified when Wes left the nursery last night and wouldn't settle down until he came back."
"Told you it wasn't your fault," Wes teased. "Although, being left alone with you like that, I'd have screamed, too."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he teased back, "whatever you say, blondie." He picked the light of his life off the floor and brought her onto his lap. "Nice to know you're fine as long as he's in your line of sight. Oh, and you know what this means, Wes?"
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me, aren't you?"
"Of course," he grinned. "It means that, no matter how much you hate it or deny it, you really are this kid's mama."
Wes groaned. "Please can we not start this again? I know I'm her mother. I carried her, I gave birth to her… I just don't want to be called Mama! Do I even look like someone's mother?"
Travis chuckled and Dakota glared at him. "Your man here had a horrible night can you cut him some slack?"
Wes barked a laugh, loud enough to startle Violet next to him. "Sorry Vi," he apologized, still laughing, "but your daddy just got told by big, bad Dakota."
"I hate you both," Travis mock growled.
"Well, you can hate me all you like," Dakota said, standing, "but you've gotta love him." She tossed a wink at Wes and moved to leave.
"Hey, Dakota? Thanks."
"For coming over? Anytime. It's what friends do."
"Not just that," Wes admitted. "But for what you said, you know, earlier."
"About you not being a horrible parent? Wes, it's obvious that you aren't. She's happy, she's healthy, and you two are doing the best you can. Even experienced parents make mistakes." She gave him a quick hug before walking through the door.
"So, you spilled your guts to Dakota of all people?" Travis poked him in the side.
"I'm blaming lack of sleep, but yeah, I did. She said I looked awful, I broke down, we talked, and then she made me go back to bed."
"That's my girl," Travis praised the absent woman. "I hate that you couldn't spill to me, but I'm just glad you managed to get it out. Feel better?"
He nodded. "I do, and I'm sorry Travis. It's that you listen to me all day long and well into the night. Sometimes I worry that you're going to get tired of listening to me complain and leave."
Violet stretched for her mama and Travis let Wes take over. "I couldn't ever, not before when you pulled a gun on me, definitely not now."
"Glad to hear it," he confessed. "I don't think I could do this without you."
"And I'm glad to hear that." He slid an arm around the blonde's shoulders, pulling him and the little one closer. "So, baby girl pick up any bad habits while I was away today?"
Wes laughed. "Just the usual for a terror her age. Watch."
He dangled Violet an inch off the ground until she stopped wriggling and let her toes touch. As soon as her feet hit the carpet, her knees buckled and then straightened quickly. Giggling, she began bouncing rapidly, looking between her two men for approval. With a shriek of joy, she rewarded them both with a big, wet, open mouthed grin.
"Oh my god, Wes? Did you see that?" Travis was beaming, pointing at the dancing baby.
"Yeah, she's been doing it all…"
"No," Travis interrupted, "this is awesome and so so cute, but look! She has a tooth!"
"What?" Wes scooped Violet up in a hiccup of surprise, turning her to face him. Balancing her on a leg, she began to bounce all over again. "Wait… baby… Violet, hold still!" His laughter belied his frustration.
"It's on the bottom, right here." Travis pointed to the center of his bottom lip.
"If she'd only stop struggling… ah, there!" He peered into her mouth the second she reopened it in a belly laugh of epic proportions. Then, like the smitten fool he was, Wes touched the tip of his finger to the sharp sprout of tooth. "Ow!" He laughed and pulled his finger out of her now closed mouth, shaking the pain away.
Travis laughed heartily, amused that the most intelligent man he knew could still, on occasion, be so stupid. But mostly, he was just thankful to have things back to normal. Well, as normal as this could ever be.