Thanks to everyone who has been reading, reviewing, favoriting, and folowing! You guys rock! Here's the next chapter!
Beca had taken twelve weeks off after Allie Claire's birth to spend time with her little girl as they adjusted to being a family. She loved being able to snuggle in bed with her after her eight am feeding, getting to play with her in the late morning and just be there for every new thing Allie Claire did from lifting her head to smiling.
Beca loved being home with the little girl, but she knew she needed to go back to work not because they needed the money, but because it was her company, and she had worked very hard to get it off the ground.
Jesse also was continuing to work, though they were going to try to work opposite each other so Allie Claire was rarely alone with the sitter.
They had spent two months interviewing different sitters and finally decided on a woman named Maggie who seemed to be a lot like them. She had been a sitter for years and was very good with Allie Claire. She ran a nannying service from her home and had two other kids enrolled, but she could take Allie Claire with her on the days Jesse and Beca needed her.
The second week of November came too fast, and before Beca knew it, it was the morning she had to return to work.
Jesse had the day off because he was in between movies, which made it a little easier for Beca, but she was still having a hard time. Allie Claire had slept very well the night before and only woke up once at one to eat and be changed.
Beca got up at six to shower and by the time she got out of the shower, she heard Jesse over the baby monitor talking to Allie Claire who no doubt was awake and hungry. Beca pulled on some comfortable clothes and went down the hall to the nursery.
"There's Mommy," Jesse said to Allie Claire, "I bet she has food for you."
Allie Claire smiled when Beca took her from Jesse's arms.
"Good morning Peanut," Beca said, kissing her head, "Want some milk?"
Beca did the sign for milk because she and Jesse had decided that sign language would be a good thing to teach Allie Claire. Beca sat down in the rocking chair, positioning Allie Claire as the little girl began eating.
"Morning," Jesse said, coming over to her and kissing her.
"Morning," she said, kissing him back.
"Are you ready for today?" he asked, knowing she was not looking forward to leaving the baby that was in her arms.
"No," Beca said, shaking her head, "But I need to go back. Em's album drops in less than two months, and we need to get it done. I'm not looking forward to leaving this little peanut though."
"She gets to have fun with Daddy today though," Jesse said, smiling as Beca gently rubbed the little girl's back.
"I know," Beca said, "I just don't want to miss anything."
"You aren't going to be gone forever Becs," Jesse said, kissing her temple, "You aren't even working every day this week. She'll be fine. Remember, you're not your parents."
Beca nodded, knowing he was right. They had had many discussions about how Beca was feeling because her parents both worked a lot and left Beca with a nanny all the time, which made Beca feel worthless and unloved.
However, she realized that she wanted to be a part of Allie Claire's life and would make the effort to make her feel loved. Jesse had held her on more than one night as she cried, assuring that she was not going to be her parents and that she was an amazing mother.
Beca was brought back to her current situation by Allie Claire shifting. Beca picked her up, burping her before finishing nursing her.
Once Allie Claire finished eating Beca changed her diaper and dressed her in a long sleeved monkey onesie and some long pants. Allie Claire was tiny for her age and still wore 0-3 month clothes. She was very smart for her age and happy all the time.
Beca picked her up, cradling her close to her chest as she went down to the kitchen where Jesse was making French toast for breakfast.
"Food's ready," Jesse said as Beca sat down at the table, still holding Allie Claire.
"Want me to take her so you can eat?" he asked, setting a plate of French toast in front of her.
"I got her," Beca said, picking up her fork. He nodded, going to make himself some breakfast.
All too soon for Beca's liking, she had to go get ready. She handed Allie Claire to Jesse before going to get ready. She pulled on her black suit pants, a dress shirt, and her blazer after finishing her hair and makeup. She had scaled back a little on the eyeliner since college, but she still had a fierce and slightly mysterious look about her.
Once she was dressed, she grabbed her computer bag and headed downstairs to say goodbye to her family.
"You look good," Jesse said as she came down the stairs.
"Thanks," she said, offering a small smile, "I'm heading out. I love you."
"Love you too," he said, kissing her before she reached for Allie Claire.
"Bye Peanut," she said, kissing the little girl's downy head, stroking her hair gently, "Mommy will be home soon."
"Do you have everything you need?" Jesse asked as Beca struggled to say goodbye to Allie Claire.
"I have my laptop, pumping equipment, and lunch," Beca said, nodding as she kept her eyes on Allie Claire.
Beca was going to pump every few hours while she was working so Jesse or Maggie would have food for Allie Claire while she worked.
"It's time to go Becs," Jesse said, taking Allie Claire from her arms, "We will both be here when you get home." Beca nodded, trying not to cry.
"It's gonna be alright Becs," Jesse said, rubbing her back as she headed to work.
"Alright," Beca said, blinking the tears away, "I've got this."
"You got this," he said, kissing her one more time, "Go get 'em."
Beca smiled as she headed out to her car, getting in and driving away as Jesse and Allie Claire waved from the driveway.
Once she made it to work, Beca was already missing her little girl, but she decided to keep herself busy. She had a meeting with Emily at 9 and by the time she settled into her office, it was 8:30. She got out her laptop and started it up, looking at the emails she had received over the weekend.
By the time she ready all of them and responded to a few, Emily was knocking at her door.
"Come in," Beca called, finishing her last email.
"Hey Beca," Emily called, coming in, "How's the first day back?"
"Hard," Beca said, sighing as she looked at the picture of Allie Claire she had added to her desk that morning, "I miss Allie Claire a lot."
Emily nodded, looking at the picture of the baby.
"Anyway," Beca said, "Are you ready to get this album finished?"
"Absolutely," Emily said and the two got to work.
They recorded two more songs that day and worked on polishing up one of the songs Emily had been working on for the past few weeks. By four, they were winding down and Beca was able to get out of the office a little after 4:30.
The second she stopped her car at home, she was running inside, finding Jesse and Allie Claire on the couch. She quickly washed her hands before taking the little girl.
"Welcome home," Jesse said, kissing her as she held Allie Claire close, "How was work?"
"Fine," she said, smiling at him as she held her little girl, "But nowhere near as good as being home with you two."
So there it was. Hope you liked it! I leave for college today so this might be the updates might be more sporadic for a while until I get into a routine there. Again, thanks for reading! Suggestions for chapters always welcome!
