Author's Note: Guys, why are Olivia and Jake not a power couple on this show at this point? Because I saw clips on Tumblr, and they LOOKED like a power couple. Also, what is with Jake calling Olivia 'boss?' Stop it, Jake. Stop it right now. It's not cute if you look that angry, okay? Anyway, enjoy this fluff as my apology for what you all had to go through with last night's episode (because I also read that Fitz came back, and that can't be good for your hearts. Go watch the island episode. Just for the beach scene. Or the bed scene. Or the hug scene. Or the hand-holding-on-the-way-to-Harrison's-funeral scene. Take your pick; they're all adorable).
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
It took two days for Olivia to be cleared to go home, but she didn't mind the extra time spent in the hospital. While she was obviously more comfortable in her own bed next to her husband, she also appreciated the time she was able to spend getting to know her daughter with medical professionals around. While she knew that Jake was more experienced in keeping people alive than anyone else she had ever met, she was also a new mother, which meant that she panicked when Eliana made a face that she hadn't seen before, even if it was just an expression preceding a sneeze, cough, or yawn. Still, she certainly wasn't unhappy when Dr. Reilly walked in and informed her that they could leave that afternoon.
It turned out that caesarean sections took a lot out of women. Olivia had anticipated the pain and the lethargy, but the inability to walk without Jake nearby to steady her if the movement became too much was not something she was prepared for. The day that they prepared to leave the hospital, however, she took her first shower since the birth while Philippa and Jake watched after the baby. Well, while Philippa watched after the baby and Jake hovered near the bathroom door with his eyes never leaving Eliana but his ears focused on the running water behind the wooden blockade. Olivia had originally been slightly put out by his overprotectiveness, but she was extremely thankful when she needed help to wash her hair and realized that calling in a stranger while she was naked was not something high on her bucket list. By the time that Olivia had finished showering, media outlets had begun to gather outside the hospital, and she began the process of dressing in a striped navy sweater and loose navy slacks with a slightly heavier heart than she had had when she woke that morning. By the time that her hair and makeup was done and she was slipping into navy flats, she was equal parts excited and dreadful about walking out of the hospital doors.
Eliana had apparently picked up on her mother's anxiety, because she was being a complete angel. Jake had changed her diaper after Olivia had climbed into the shower, so she was all clean and ready to be dressed. The baby didn't even let out a whimper as her mother dressed her in a navy blue dress with a white pea coat atop it, nor did she flinch when Olivia slipped on navy blue tights and white shoes. She just blinked up at her mother as a tiny white bow was placed in her dark locks. As Olivia's mood brightened, she came to the unsurprising realization that their daughter was already taking after Jake when it came to her ability to make Olivia's day better by simply being there without complaint.
It didn't take long for the doctors to officially discharge Olivia and Eliana from the hospital, but that wasn't where the difficulties began. No, those started right around the time that it became obvious that neither Olivia nor Jake had any idea how to strap a newborn into a car seat. In hindsight, they probably should have practiced.
"Okay, I think you just… okay, that seems right," Jake commented as Olivia carefully placed the baby into the car seat as it rested on the bed. "No red flags yet." He paused for a moment, staring at the straps as though they were daunting him. "Do we buckle this one or this one first?"
"I think we pull this up and then put her arms through here, and then that buckles into that," Olivia replied, gesturing to explain what she was saying. "That's how it looked in the pictures at the store, anyway."
"We really should have practiced this beforehand," Jake muttered as he did as she had told him. "Well, that seems safe," he commented, stepping back to look at the sleeping baby. "Mommy and Daddy aren't always this clueless, pumpkin, I promise," he whispered to his sleeping daughter. "Do you think she needs a blanket?"
"Yes," Olivia replied immediately. "I packed one in the diaper bag. It's right on top."
Jake went over to the diaper bag and removed the white blanket made of fleece from atop the other items Olivia had packed. "Yeah, I'd say this is plenty warm," he commented as he tucked it around the baby in the car seat. He then pulled the cover up to guard her from the wind and the paparazzi when they stepped outside. "Okay, I'd say she's ready. Are you?" he asked Olivia, glancing over at her as she leaned down to check on their daughter and brush a kiss against her cheek.
"Sure. Remember, my love, no punching anyone with a camera. Unless it's TMZ," she added as an afterthought, smiling as he helped her shrug into her navy blue pea coat and button it before pressing a kiss to her temple and retrieving their daughter's car seat from the bed. "Philippa, you want to walk out with us?" she questioned, knowing her mother-in-law's answer before the other woman even spoke.
"No, I'll leave this one to you two," the woman replied with a fond smile. She brushed a kiss to her son's cheek and then to Olivia's. "I love you both." She then bent down to Eliana's level. "I love you too, sweetness. Grandma will see you soon, okay?"
Olivia and Jake watched Philippa leave with smiles on their faces before returning their attention to the baby. Jake shifted slightly before smiling lovingly at Olivia. "Let's do this thing," he offered, leading Olivia to nod as she took hold of one of his hands. He led them towards the door. Neither of them looked back.
Olivia was allowed to walk out of the hospital instead of being wheeled out after having a heated conversation with the leadership, which meant that it didn't take them long to make their way into the lobby. And as soon as they were in front of the front doors, it became obvious that there would be no quiet exit for their new family. The cameras were everywhere, and the reporters wanted their story. Olivia suddenly regretted her decision not to be wheeled out the backdoor after having a surgery two days before as she was faced with the prospect of greeting the world with a smile not even seventy-two hours after bringing a small person into the world.
Thankfully, Abby had offered to drive their car around to the front and handle the media when they were gone, so she was waiting directly outside of the front doors. Jake glanced at Olivia with a raised eyebrow, and she nodded and squeezed his hand. He returned the nod and squeeze before stepping closer to the front doors to open them and then leading her slowly out of the building. The questions that were shouted at them were almost deafening.
"All right," Jake muttered as they made their way towards the waiting vehicle. He let go of Olivia's hand to pull open the backdoor and made quick work of strapping the baby in, breathing out a sigh of relief when doing so proved to be simpler than strapping her into the car seat itself. Then again, Jake had always done his best while under pressure.
Olivia climbed into the backseat on one side of the baby and smiled at Jake as he closed her door behind her. Jake thanked Abby quietly as he opened the car door. She climbed out with a smile and waved to Olivia before going out to face the circus. Jake slid behind the wheel and put the car in drive before placing his foot on the gas and carefully pulling out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
Thankfully, there was no media circus outside of their home. Olivia breathed a sigh of relief as Jake pulled into their driveway and killed the engine. He smiled back at her before unbuckling his seatbelt and opening his door to climb out of the vehicle. He was at her side within moments to pull open the door and help her out before leaning inside the vehicle to unbuckle the baby's car seat and lift it carefully from its base. They then headed for their front door. Olivia unlocked the door to save Jake the trouble of doing so while juggling the baby and most of their belongings from the hospital. When they walked into their living room, everything felt right. They were home for a family of three for the very first time, and that was an amazing feeling.
It didn't take long for Jake to bring in all their luggage from the hospital. Olivia took the time to change Eliana's diaper and trade her outfit for a sleeper. She was almost done dressing her when Jake returned from unpacking their things and dropped a kiss to the back of her head. "You're going to steal her as soon as she's dressed, aren't you?" Olivia asked as she finished closing the snaps on the tiny pink outfit.
"No, I'll be nice and share," Jake replied teasingly, settling onto the sofa next to his wife and daughter and smiling down at the baby. "She looks so happy," he commented as Olivia began to swaddle her. "And you really shouldn't be doing all of this, babe. I can handle it."
"You lift her and hand her to me every time," Olivia countered. "It's not like I'm straining my stitches or anything." She smiled when Eliana blinked up at her. "Isn't that right, baby girl? You tell Daddy to stop worrying about me, okay?"
"That hasn't happened in the past, and it's not going to happen now," Jake stated, picking up the baby so that Olivia could settle next to him on the sofa. He carefully transferred Eliana back into her mother's arm before pulling Olivia close and pressing a kiss to her temple. "I'm really glad to be home with you. This makes it all feel real." He glanced at the baby. "We're parents, Liv."
"I know," she replied softly. "It's pretty awesome."
This was their future. And she was already positive that it was going to be better than anything in their past.