11. First Night Back

Emma turned around in bed, expecting to be welcomed into the embrace of her husband. It only took a few moments to realize that he was not in bed with her.

Her eyes popped open. Then, taking in her surroundings, she noticed nothing seemed to be that out of place. Accept the covers of his side of the bed had obviously been pushed aside. Probably why Emma woke – it seemed colder not to have his presence by her.

She then looked across the room at the empty bassinette.

Wait! Empty? That's not right. Emma leaped out of bed without even thinking about. She knew that, logically, Will might have just taken Cassie into the nursery but Emma was having an anxiety attack just thinking about what else might have happened – Will always said she was a heavy sleeper.

Taking one of Will's plaid shirts that was hanging on the banister, (it was really cold) Emma padded out as quickly as she could - without causing her anymore pain - to the nursery. She had just given birth a little over 72 hours ago.

She stood still as she looked into the nursery. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart slowed down – she may have only been a mother for little over three days, but she loved Cassie even more than Will, which - as a concept - seemed impossible just nine short months ago. Just the image of Will singing quietly to Cassie in the rocking chair, which was by the window, set down her fears that the two most important things in her life had disappeared.

Hello world
How've you been?
Good to see you, my old friend
Sometimes I feel cold as steel
Broken like I'm never gonna heal
I see a light, a little hope
In a little girl
Hello world

Sometimes I forget what living's for
And I hear my life through my front door
And I'll be there
Oh I'm home again
I see my wife, little boy, little girl
Hello world
Hello world

All the empty disappears
I remember why I'm here
Just surrender and believe
I fall down on my knees
Oh hello world
Hello world
Hello world

Will continued to sing softly to their daughter, causing Emma just to lean against the doorframe at look at the picture before her.

She always knew Will had wanted to be a dad – she just didn't know how much until the day she told him his dream was coming true. She smiled at the memory - these past nine months had just been bizarre, to be honest. She never thought of herself as a mother because, obviously, babies were just too messy. But then she met Will Schuester and things had started to change.

And then, three days ago, when Emma was given her (clean – give her credit, she had just been in labour for what felt like nine weeks when really it was only nine hours) daughter for the first time, all of her fears were just washed away – how could she be afraid of anything this angel did?

Granted it had only been three days and she hadn't had deal with anything that messy yet, but Emma was confident - all she had to do was remember how it felt to hold her daughter for the first time, and everything would be washed away.

And if that failed... just remember the look on Will's face when Cassie was first handed over to him.

"You do know your suppose to be sleeping?" Will quietly asked, causing Emma to jump from her thoughts.

"Will." Emma placed a hand over her heart.

"Sorry." Will looked slightly sheepish, but it was overshadowed with the look of adoration for both herself and Cassie. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Don't worry about it," Emma murmured, walking into the room.

Will got up without a second thought, offering her the rocking chair.

"Will, you don't have to do that."

"You've just given birth Emma," Will argued

"Over 72 hours ago - I'm fine," Emma reassured. "The doctors wouldn't have let me go if I wasn't."

"I know," Will nodded his agreement, doing his best not to disturb Cassie. "You still need to rest."

"And I have!" Emma smiled. "You haven't let me do anything"

"I'm allowed to look after my wife. So please," Will gestured to the now vacant rocking chair, sensing that it would do no good to argue with him Emma sat down.

"Do you think?" Emma asked holding her hands out, so she could hold Cassie.

"Of course," Will agreed even though he did seem a little upset to give their daughter up.

He softly kissed her on the forehead as he placed Cassie gently in her mother's arms. He sighed as he sat down in front of Emma and Cassie, running a hand gently through Cassie's soft red curls.

"You alright?" Emma whispered as both parents gazed down lovingly at the perfect picture of Cassie sleeping.

"Of course, why?" Will replied smiling, looking up at Emma.

"I turned around in bed, and you weren't there," Emma replied.

"Sorry," Will apologized "Cassie was whimpering – I think she needed some attention. I didn't want her to wake you up."

Emma smiled at him, then turned her gaze back to Cassie "It's not like she hasn't had enough attention the past couple of days! And more to come later today." It was true, since both Will and Emma's parents were coming to visit them later on in the day.

"It's going to be interesting."

"Why?"

"I think this is, like, the third time both of our parents have been in the same room together – I'm still not sure if they like each other you know?" Will laughed quietly.

Emma shrugged slightly. "I think they do - they haven't said anything bad about each other."

"Well, yeah, but I think that's because both my parents were on their best behavior." They both knew what he meant – he's parents weren't drunk.

"I thought you father had kicked the habit?"

"Well, he has - it's more so my mother that I'm concerned about," Will replied truthfully "Do you know that, apparently, Josh Groban came on to her?"

Emma laughed. "Seriously?"

"That's what she says - I don't know if I believe her though."

"She won't be...?"

"She's not coming into the house if she is drunk," Will reassured, looking down at Cassie. "They are my parents, so I love them, but they're not going to hurt Cassie - I didn't really have the most ideal childhood – you know, with dad burning down the house..."

"We're a 'right pair', aren't we?" Emma smiled.

"Yeah, but that's what makes us special!" Will chuckled.

"At least that's something." Emma laughed back, becoming silent when Cassie yawned and burrowed deeper into her mother's arms.

"Do you ever feel like this isn't real?" Will asked, looking straight at his wife.

"All the time," Emma agreed. Knowing it meant something slightly different to her husband - the amount of times he would have to touch her stomach to make sure that Cassie was actually there... Emma didn't take it personally - she knew he trusted her - it was just… He was having trouble believing that this was actually happening to them. Emma hoped that once Cassie was born it would be better... but saying that, she was only three days old.

"She's real," Emma whispered.

"I know she is," Will agreed, kneeling so he could kiss her softly on the lips "Thank you – for giving me her."

"You helped," Emma yawned.

"And that's your cue to go back to bed," Will gently stated, groaning slightly as he stood up.

"O.K," Emma replied. "Only if you go to bed as well."

"Hmm, O.K then, how am I suppose to refuse that?" Will smiled "My wife asking me to go to bed with her," he raised his eyebrows slightly.

"To sleep," Emma laughed, silently clarifying the point as she stood up with Cassie still in her arms and walked to her and Will's bedroom.

Will tutted playfully before saying "Your no fun."

"Not after I just gave birth to your child three days ago."

Will laughed and slipped an arm around her waist as they made the journey back to their bedroom.

Both of them walked over to the bassinette, which was taking residence in their room for a while - until they were both comfortable for Cassie to sleep in the nursery. Will pulled the blanket out, and waited for Emma to place their daughter back into her bassinette, before covering her in her baby blanket.

Cassie whimpered slightly but settled back down after Will kissed her on the forehead.

Both parents just watched their daughter sleep peacefully before turning to go back to their bed.

As Will gathered Emma back into his arms, and she rested her head on his chest – he closed his eyes.

"I know it's strange but I miss her," Emma quietly admitted.

"She's just in her bassinette, Em - she can't sleep in our bed we could crush her," Will answered, running a comforting hand up and down her shoulder. He realized that she had his plaid shirt on – he loved it when she wore his clothes because it was a sexy as hell.

"I know that, Will," Emma smiled "It just feels weird that after nine months. I don't have her in stomach, it's flat-ish instead – it's going to take some getting used to. I think I secretly liked it when she was still inside me." He felt her shrug before continuing, "Because I knew she was safe and I have to admit I liked it that I could feel things you couldn't – I know it's very selfish of me."

"It's not," Will whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Em, you're her mother – you're going to have a different bond with her then I am and if it really bothers you that your stomach is flat – I know of a way for there to be another life in there." She didn't have to look up to see that Will had a certain gleam in his eye.

"Will," Emma scolded slightly.

"I can feel you rolling your eyes, Emma," Will teased.

"We haven't even had Cassie home for a full day and you already wanting a second child."

"You don't?" Will knew he shouldn't have sounded so hurt, he couldn't help it though.

h"I never said that," Emma moved her head so she could look up at him. "Not yet, though – I was thinking in like 3-5 years time, not 3-5 days time –you know, I can't even... let's just enjoy Cassie at the moment – I'm sure she will give us enough to do in the meantime." She smiled.

A smile Will just couldn't get enough of settled on his face.

"You're right… I love you."

"I love you, too," Emma whispered back, kissing him softly on the lips - not letting it get any more heated then that – she was still recovering after all.

PLEASE REVIEW! (NO FLAMES!)

A HUGE THANK YOU to QueenOfTheButterflies - who has helped inspire me with chapter with her desire for 'wemma babies!' and has just put up with me for the past couple of days - This chapter is dedicated to YOU!

The song Will sings is 3 verses from the beautiful song 'Hello World' by Lady Antebellum - link to the song - you must listen to it!

http: / www . youtube . com / watch?v=GJp2XXaAhiQ (without the spaces)

PLEASE REVIEW! (NO FLAMES!)