Forgetting that I was even tired in the first place, I hop off the couch and hurry over to where Addison has set down Judah.
"You're right on time," Mom calls from the kitchen. "Just makin' some lunch."
I bend down and smile at Judah as he looks around, his big blue eyes opened wide.
"He looks bigger," I say, standing back up.
"So do you," Addison teases, giving me a hug. "How was your trip?"
"Great," I reply. "Amelia's doing really good. She looks great, she's happy..."
I shrug, smiling.
"Oh, good," Addison replies, relief on her face. "I'm so glad."
"She asked about Judah," I say, as Addison unstraps him from his car seat.
"Oh," Addison replies, standing up with the baby and giving me a look of surprise.
"She just wanted to know how he was doing," I shrug. "She wasn't upset or anything. But she didn't bring him up again."
Addison looks down at Judah, and Mom comes around the corner from the kitchen.
"It's just gonna take some time," she says to Addison. "That's all."
"Yeah," Addison says, then smiles. "I know. I just miss her."
"Me too," Mom smiles. "Look at this little man. He's just about the cutest little boy ever, isn't he."
We all look down at Judah as he looks around.
"Do you wanna hold him, Kati?" Addison offers.
"Sure," I reply, and she passes him to me.
At first, I didn't want to hold him at all. I was scared I'd drop him or break him. But after a month, I gave it a go, and we've decided that we're okay with each other.
"Hey buddy," I say softly, looking down at him.
His soft dark hair is curling a bit, and his eyelashes are what girls strive for with extensions. They make his royal blue eyes pop. He doesn't really resemble Amelia, but Addison said he doesn't look like Ryan, either.
"Maybe he's just one of those kids who grabbed a bunch of genes from each parent but still looks like he's adopted," I had said. "Which, I mean, I know he is. But still. At least it won't upset Amelia to see Ryan or herself in Judah's face."
Addison follows Mom into the kitchen for some tea, so I wander back to the couch with Judah as Nigel eagerly follows, jealous that my attention is on someone besides him.
"Alright, J," I say, leaning back against the couch and sitting him up so he's facing the TV, his tiny body leaning against my chest. "This is your first lesson in music. This is Across the Universe. It's amazing and it's a bunch of Beatles' songs made into a musical. We love the Beatles. Always remember that."
He grips my fingers with his little fists, looking around and then realizing that Nigel is right beside us, sitting there and staring at Judah.
"And you've met Nigel," I tell him. "He's extremely jealous but also extremely adorable, and we love him."
Nigel reaches his head forward and sniffs closer. He's met Judah before, but every time he comes over now, Nigel has to get right in there and sniff him out again. He sniffs near Judah's face and then licks his entire cheek with one swipe of his tongue.
"He's also very affectionate," I laugh, gently holding Nigel away to see how Judah's going to react. The first time, he was not a fan of Nigel. Now, he just stares at him, and isn't bothered by him. It actually looks like he's got a bit of a smile.
"What are you filling my child's head with?" Addison asks, coming into the room and sitting across from us in an arm chair.
"Beatles," I reply.
"Oh, okay," she says, waving a hand. "Just as long as it's not Inglourious Basterds."
"Okay, that was one time," I roll my eyes. "And he was sleeping."
"Babies take in everything," Addison says. "They don't even realize it."
"Well," I say, shifting Judah so he's facing me. "Then at least he's getting an early start on world history."
"That movie is fiction," Addison laughs.
"Based on true events. And it's what should have happened. One day Judah will appreciate the joy of Tarantino and hating Hitler."
"Oh, god," Addison rolls her eyes, leaning back and sipping her tea. "I can't wait to see the kinds of things he learns from you."
After lunch, as Mom and Addison sit out on the patio and I play with Judah, the front door opens and Dad and Axel walk in.
"Hey," I smile. "Were you traveling in a pack?"
"No," Axel laughs. "Just happened to reach the driveway at the same time."
He smiles happily, coming to the couch, and Dad comes over and kisses my forehead.
"How was your trip?" he asks, setting down his briefcase and unbuttoning the top button on his dress shirt; his habitual just-got-home routine.
"Great," I reply, as Axel sits next to me.
He leans in and kisses me.
"Missed you," he says quietly.
"Missed you," I smile.
"Amelia's good?" Dad asks, coming in from the kitchen with a bottle of water.
"Yeah, she's really good. She said to say hi to everyone, and that she misses you."
"Good," Dad nods. "I'm glad she's doing okay. So what did you guys do?"
I shrug. "Just hung out, went shopping, went for sushi."
"Watched a surgery, illegally," Axel adds, grinning as I give him a look.
"Really?" Dad asks, intrigued but clearly wondering if this got either me or Amelia into trouble.
"Yeah," I exhale. "Mark Sloan snuck me in. Amelia was clipping a brain bleed."
Dad laughs. "Mark Sloan. How is that guy?"
"Good," I shrug. "There's definitely nothing wrong with his self-esteem."
"Yeah, sounds like him," Dad laughs. "You met everyone then?"
I nod. "They're really nice. Even Alex Karev, when he's not being a bit douchey."
Dad laughs, getting up from the chair he was sitting in.
"Your mom outside?"
I nod. He comes and kisses my forehead again.
"I missed you," he grins. "I'm glad you're home."
"I missed you, too," I smile.
He heads outside and Axel gently takes my cheek in his hand and turns my head, so he can kiss me.
"I'm glad you're home, too," he smiles.
"What did you do all week?" I ask, settling Judah in a different position as my arm gets tired.
Axel shrugs. "Ah, not much. Bit of paintball with Chase, hung around the house. Tryin' to get as much sleep in as possible while I still can."
I laugh. "Come on. Your first class isn't until 9:30. Every single day."
"Well," he defends. "That's really early when you're used to getting up at noon!"
I shake my head.
"Is your mama makin' chicken?" he looks around.
"She did," I laugh. "Awhile ago. There's some in the fridge."
"Oh I'm all over that," he says, getting up and going to the kitchen.
He comes back with the plate and opens the patio doors.
"Mrs. Freedman," he calls. "You mind if I eat this chicken."
"Of course not, honey. You go right ahead," Mom replies.
"Doc, you want in on this?" Axel calls to Dad.
"Yes! Yes I do," Dad says, using his Hungry Voice.
It's this desperate tone he gets whenever he hasn't eaten for an hour. Axel does the same thing. I'm not sure they realize they can survive without eating every hour.
Axel grins at me and heads back to the kitchen, and I hear him getting another plate. Dad comes in and goes right to the kitchen.
"You take that thigh and I'll hide my daughter from you for another week," I hear him tell Axel.
"Whoa, it's all yours, man," comes the reply.
I smile and look down at Judah, who's sound asleep after his recent bottle.
"We'll go over fried chicken and the male preoccupation with their stomachs another time," I tell him, and the corner of his mouth turns up as he sleeps, looking like a smile. You can say it's gas all you want, but I'm going to go ahead and tell myself that Judah just thinks I'm that funny.