A/N: What happens when the Carter-Reese family tries to load up for a vacay—with a new addition in tow. Enjoy!
Shot No. 13 : Vacation?
Little Miss Cedillia Reese, who was all of five months old, was having a hard time all through her baby bath. Even her beloved Daddy couldn't seem to get her settled from the fit of fussy she was having. Normally a chipper little miss, on that morning, there was no consoling her. John was heartbroken. While he knew it was all part of the program, hearing his little baby girl in distress induced anxiety within him like no gun play on the streets of New York ever could.
"Oh, sweet pea, I'm sorry. Daddy's so sorry," he cooed to his baby girl. "I woke my princess up, didn't I? And now, you're all wet and soapy at this hour. But Daddy thought he was doing best. It's still so early, I know..."
Cedillia seemed to calm for a few seconds once the warm bath water was poured over her little thighs and belly. After a few more rinses there, and a last one through her hair to get out all the traces of shampoo, John lovingly wrapped the baby up in a towel and got her to the changing table, the dim light of the lamp guiding his way. She was much better then, as she rubbed her little nose into her daddy's shoulder from the comfort of the towel.
"Mmm, how you doin', John?" Joss asked, herself still a bit groggy for the early start, dressed in boy shorts and a tank top. She came into the nursery, a room that Cedillia half shared with her big brother Aaron, who was not awake at that point—since he kicked up a fuss the night before and cried his own lungs out so as to be able to sleep with his parents. He'd been doing that off and on as of late. Usually, John and Joss both insisted that the boy sleep in his own little toddler bed—but that night, in the interests of their early start that morning, they let him have his way. If it meant he'd go to sleep, they did indeed.
"We're just about ready for clothes. Is Taylor up yet?"
"I'll go see," she replied, giving him a light hug and nuzzle before leaving the room. Seconds later, a bellow out of Joss came clear as anything through the doorway, and John chuckled at her voice, as effective as reveille ever was in the Army.
"Taylor! Taylor, you up? Come on, get up, we gotta get going so we can get on the road."
"Yeah...yeah, Ma. I'm up. Anybody in the bathroom, so I can get a shower?"
"What about the bathroom downstairs?"
"What about the one up here?" he retorted through the closed door.
Joss rolled her eyes. "Taylor Carter, don't be fresh. Just come on and get ready. John's dressing your sister and I'm gonna get Aaron up in a bit. Best get in while you can."
"Okay Ma, thank you," he replied from behind the door.
She stood there for a second longer before turning back to her daughter's room to give John another quick kiss, as well as her little girl's forehead.
"Well, you heard," she said.
"Yes, I did," John replied giggling. "That oughta do."
"If you don't hear that door open in the next ten minutes, go in there and kick his butt," she said, with a wink before stepping back into their bedroom to see about Aaron.
##
"John, make sure you're gentle with her curls," Joss said, recalling the last time he'd tried to put her piggy tails in. He had unwittingly pulled Cedillia's hair just so—but it was enough to keep her in wails for several minutes. No, she wasn't the fussiest baby in the world, certainly not as fussy as her brother was at her age, but she had her moments. Any tugging on hair was a no-go. And whenever she did get cross, John always came off as if he'd never get over having made his own daughter cry.
"We're good," he said, pulling out her onesie shorts jumpsuit, a rainbow-colored flower on the front. They would forgo socks and shoes for both of their young children on such a warm day. Cedillia, like Aaron, only managed to get them lost anyway.
"Besides, as you can see, I haven't quite made it to her hair yet. You want to take that on? I'll justgo rustle up little man and getting him his bath next."
"You sure? I can get Aaron ready. Here, I'll take care of CeeCee and Aaron, you go and see if we left anything out of the car. And get us some coffee. It'll help me to stay awake for the drive this time."
"I don't mind if you sleep on the way, Joss. It is earlier than sin when I bug you all to get up, but we know how popular Montauk Beach is. I like to make sure we have as smooth a ride as possible. Yes, little one," he said, returning back to his crying baby angel. "Daddy's got the diaper cream, and you're almost there..."
As John manuevered her into her diaper, and as she saw that her mommy was there with him, little Cedillia's cries had waned, until she had managed to get herself down to just a few whimpers. Soon, little could be heard in the room, save for the tear of diaper tapes and the wiggles of a baby finally getting used to the idea of having been awakened before she was ready to be.
"You are so lucky, CeeCee, to have such a good daddy. Yes! Yes, you are!" Joss cooed to her daughter. Your big brothers will get their washes because we're going to go on our big adventure! Back to the beach! You like that? Huh, baby? Oh, yes, you love the beach."
Cedillia giggled at her mommy's words, and even more so at the funny faces she made while telling her about their trip. They were indeed headed back to Montauk Beach, in honor of the Labor Day weekend, but also as a means to revisit the place that had played such a role in getting their family to where it was at that point. They hadn't finished their weekend the previous year; Joss' sudden collapse—and revelation—had made that impossible. So, they wanted to go back, and make up for the lost time and fun they'd missed out on, as well as to, in their own way, recommit to one another, as a family, as a unit. Corinne, who had not been present the previous summer, was also invited to join them. It was only natural that she be there.
"Mahmee? Mahmee?" a little boy's voice gently cried, before they heard a slight clatter on the wooden floor of their bedroom.
"Well, so much for Aaron still being alseep." John grinned.
##
With knapsacks, baby bags, outdoor gear, sunscreen, and other items ready to go in the back of the Volvo, John and Taylor busied themselves with strapping the kids in their seats, while Joss did a double check of the brownstone one last time. They would be meeting Corinne there at the resort, so a swing by her house wouldn't be needed. Besides, with Taylor and the babies in the back, as well as some of the gear, there would have been little room to fit her anyway.
When everyone was settled in the vehicle, John took a deep breath for the drive ahead, and allowed himself to take a look around at his family. The slow smile was infectious, and pretty soon, they were all in a good way. Cedillia had a bottle of breast milk to keep her occupied, while Aaron took his juice and cereal snack from containers in his car seat. When he had had enough, he busied himself with pulling at one of Taylor's old Constructo blocks that he'd managed to save from his mother's penchant for donations.
"Let's get this AC cranked up here first before we get started," John said from the driver's seat. "Thank goodness it's not so hot just now. These leather seats." He looked over at Joss. "Was the GPS working okay, babe?"
"I have my dress on, I'm good. Yes, it was fine last I drove the truck. Don't you know the way there anyway?"
"Should always keep it in working order, just in case. Detours, that kind of thing. And of course, you are good," he replied with a kiss to her lips, a kiss that lingered a little too long for Taylor's taste.
"Can you two cut that out? I have my stomach to think about."
"Boy, we don't care about your stomach," Joss said, giggling against John's cheek.
"Well, I do!" he exclaimed. "Cut that out. Mushy stuff."
"All right, Taylor," John piped in. "I guess since you aren't feeling so well you won't want your breakfast when we stop on the way at Wally's Diner. Aaron will eat it. Right, Aaron?"
"Yeee-aah," Aaron said, to nothing in particular. Instead, from his car seat on his mother's side, he held up the Constructo toy for his father to see his handywork. "Dahdee, wook! Wookit, Dahdee! I do dis. I do dis, Dahdee!"
Oh, very nice, Aaron."
"Iss air-pwane, Dahdee...go wooom-wooooom..."
Taylor, who was in something of a mischievous mood, suddenly grabbed the Constructo toy from his little brother's hand, which of course got Aaron started in a fit.
"Gimme my toy. That's my toy, Aaron. Nope, it's mine."
"Noooooo! Myyy pwane! Tay-yoo! Noooooo..."
"Taylor!" Joss called from the front. "What are you doing? Give that child that toy back! Now!"
"But it's mine, Ma," he said, playfully.
She turned around in her seat on him, and fixed her best mother warning glare on him. "Boy, if you make him cry this whole ride, you will have to calm him down—and you're grounded when we get home. Now, give it back! I mean it!"
"Okay, Ma, I was just playing. Here, Aaron. Geez.."
"That's not the way you play with a child Aaron's age, Taylor. Please, before we get this car moving, please get it together, okay? Please."
"Okay, Ma! I gave him the toy back! What?"
"Taylor, just be quiet, all right? I'm not having this discussion with you anymore. It's too early in the morning."
"Beee why-et. Bee why-et, Tay-yo," Aaron repeated, adding his two cents. His little forefinger moved to his mouth to make the "shhh" gesture. Taylor looked away, and out the window, his attitude unmistakeable, a touch of mumbling his response, a suck of teeth clearly heard.
John looked up at the ceiling and rolled his eyes. He loved his family more than anything, but sometimes, they were all just too much for words.
Several seconds passed before he spoke.
"Are you guys done now? Or shall I turn off and we unpack everything? Let me know in the next minute, okay? That's as long as I'll give you to decide. Sixty seconds." His sound of voice was not outwardly harsh—but the low tone made no mistake his chagrin with the atmosphere in the the vehicle.
"Yes, John," Joss said quietly, a sweep of her fingers going across her brow. "Sorry, baby. Maybe it is the early hour."
"No, it's okay," he said, his eyes raised in mock indifference. "What else should I expect when all five of us are in this vehicle together? At least Aaron didn't throw up on or hit his brother this time."
He sighed, loudly, loud enough to get both Joss and Taylor to remember exactly where they were. Pretty soon, the drama stopped and they were ready—even if the sulky teen stayed sulky.
"Right. I think the AC has cooled us down well enough. Shall we go? I'd really like for us to go."
"Yes, Pop, we can go. I can go back to sleep when we get to the motel," Taylor said. "Doubt if it'll happen here." He glanced at his brother and sister. And indeed, Aaron had gotten his second wind, the disputed Constructo now forgotten for something else he fussed for, within reach.
"Okay. Guess I can't argue with that," John replied, a slight grit to his teeth, a sardonic grin on his face.
And to think he'd been considering a family trip to Disney. Right. Disney. On a plane.
The Volvo reversed, turned, and headed for the expressway as the first hints of sunrise began to make themselves known. Montauk Beach or bust.
A/N: Yes, even older brothers who should know better can be annoying. Probably serves Aaron right a little bit, though, haha. Poor John. He just wants to get on the road and get them to Montauk Beach for a happy time. But plans have a way of not going to plan. Hopefully, the drive won't be too painful from that point on!
*this one was inspired by a chap or two from The Arrangement, which I'll get back to shortly, as well as other stories.
Thanks for the read. Stay tuned!