A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update; it's totally my —Ellen—fault. I've been in kinda of a funk for a while. I finally got my head out of my ass and hope I'm back on track. Yay! We get to hear from Emmett in this chapter, and I hope you enjoy his take on becoming a father.
Thanks again to our beautiful sister and Beta, Enchanted1
Again, SM owns James and Emmett…all the rest belong to Sheri and me.
Okay, let's go see what's happenin' with our kids.
Chapter 25
CPOV:
We managed to get Emmett together enough to drive Em to the hospital, while I called ahead to let them know she was on the way. I also called Megeen, Janine, and my mom to let them know what was happening before J and I made a mad dash out the door.
As we drove down the freeway, J started chuckling, and then it broke out into a full blown belly laugh.
"Emmett fainted," he finally choked. "And it was only her water breaking. I can just see him in the delivery room..."
We both laughed at the visual of the brawny muscle-man lying sprawled out on the hospital floor. Arriving at the hospital, we hurriedly parked, and quickly found Em and Em in one of the labor rooms. I brushed her hair from her forehead, and tried to be reassuring, before the doctor came in and kicked J and me out. Shortly, Megeen and Dom, and Janine and Everett arrived, anxious for an update. Being left out of the action was not my forte, and I decided to go check things out for myself.
Assuring J I'd be right back, I sneaked into the volunteer's changing room, and found a set of scrubs I could slip into. I had worked as a Candy Striper for the past three years, and knew my way around the hospital enough to pull off getting into the labor and delivery wing. Grabbing a manila folder from the desk, I walked down the hallway as if I belonged there.
Em had been taken to delivery, and was in the full throes of labor when I eased into the room, and stood quietly observing in the corner. I probably could have managed to stay there throughout the entire delivery if Em hadn't yelled, "Emmett, you son of a bitch, this is all your fault! We are never having sex again. Do you hear me? Never!"
I giggled out loud, and made a hasty retreat as the doctor glared in my direction.
"Em's in delivery and the baby will be here any second," I informed everyone, as I joined them again in the waiting room. "And from the sounds of it, this may be the one and only baby she ever has."
"I'll bet Emmett's getting an earful about now," Everett commented. "I liked just waiting in the room with the rest of the expectant fathers. I don't think I could have been in the delivery room with Janine."
"Count me out on that," Dom agreed. "No way could I watch all that pain, and all that mess. Nope, the waiting room was close enough. You could still hear the screaming, even in there."
"Just wait 'til it's your ... " Everett caught himself as he started to address James.
Janine glared at her husband, as she slipped her arm around my shoulder, in an attempt to be comforting. I swallowed back the tears that threatened to leak out of my eyes, while J gave my hand a squeeze.
A moment later, the doctor stuck his head in the room and informed us there was a new baby girl in the McCarty family, and that mother and baby were doing well. He also added that the only casualty had been Emmett, which provided the comic relief we all needed.
Em and Em asked J and me to be the Godparents to Emaline Camille, who was immediately nicknamed Millie. Of course, we accepted the job, complete with all its terms and conditions, even though neither of us were Catholic. I was overwhelmed that Em would give her baby my name as a middle name. I had always believed that I would have a baby long before my used-to-be straight laced best friend did, and had decided to use Emily as the middle name of my first daughter. Now, the tables had turned, and Em had named her daughter after me, even though I would never be able to return the gesture. Life sure does throw a curveball every so often, but Em did say she would share Millie with me, so things were sort of back on track.
J and I had Thanksgiving dinner with my family and Joyce Hightower, J's mom. The General had been deployed to Viet Nam, and Joyce flew out to be with us. We invited her to stay with us through Christmas, but she politely declined on the basis of being in the way. Luckily, my mom was able to convince her to spend at least the week from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day at their house, so she'd be with family during the holiday. John Jr., J's brother, agreed to fly out and spend the week with us at the beach house.
Em and I decided on a "shop-'til-you-drop" day for getting all our Christmas shopping done. Megeen was eager to babysit Millie, and we dropped her off on our way to the shopping center.
"Do you realize it's been totally ages since the two of us had a day together?" I asked as we sat sipping cokes and munching on an over-salted order of fries.
"Not since New York," Em replied. "And that seemed like a lifetime ago. I have to say I prefer shopping with Millie on the outside rather than on the inside of me. There's just something about waddling through Buffums... "
"Oh, Em, you didn't waddle, you just kind of... kind of... "
"Waddled," Em finished my sentence for me, causing us to both break out in the giggles.
"Promise we'll make a way to get at least one day a month just for us," I pleaded. "I miss you, ya know. Yeah, I have classes and J, and there's never a dull moment, but I still need you and our time together. If that's being selfish, then I guess I'm just selfish. So what else is new?"
"I like that idea, Cam. Let's make it the first Saturday of every month, no matter what. It will be our day to do whatever we want - shopping, a movie, going to the beach, whatever we want to do. I'm sure I won't have a problem getting a sitter for Millie, between mom and Janine. Even Emmett doesn't mind watching her for a short while, as long as there's not a poopy diaper involved."
"No guarantee of that," I said with a giggle, imagining how J would react to that scenario. "And speaking of the cute little poop machine, what on earth can I get her for Christmas that she doesn't already have? It was hard enough finding something to get for her baby shower, since your mom and Janine McCarty had bought out the baby section of every department store already."
"She has plenty of everything, thanks to that shower you gave me," Em agreed. "Don't worry about it. She doesn't know its Christmas. Wait until next year, when she's getting into all the presents under the tree, and trying to eat the decorations."
"Even if she doesn't know, her Godparents do," I answered. "I'll think of something original to get my little baby doll. Something really special. I'm gonna make sure she knows who really loves her."
"She knows her Auntie Cam loves her," Em said softly, giving me a hug. "You're going to be very special to her, don't worry."
"I hope so, Em. She's the daughter I'll never have, so I want to make sure she has the best of everything. And J loves her as much as I do. We both take being Godparents very seriously," I assured her. "And we plan on being like a second mommie and daddy to her."
We shared another hug, and then Em glanced at her watch.
"We'd better put these bags in the trunk of your car, and get on with round two, if we're going to get it all done in one day," Em reminded me. "We still have Em and J to buy something for and that always takes time."
It was nearly eight o'clock before we got back to Em's house. Luckily, Monday night football had kept Emmett and J occupied, and they weren't paying any attention to the time. Millie had fallen asleep on the ride home from the Russo's house, and I volunteered to put her to bed, while Em unloaded her packages into the house.
Carefully placing her in her crib, I covered the sleeping baby, and stood admiring her for a moment. She was perfect. Her hair was the exact color of Em's and I was betting on her eyes turning green as well, but you could see Emmett's features in her, too. She had inherited his dimples, for one thing, and had already adapted some of his facial expressions. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, and I was thrilled to be sharing in her life.
I was caught up in imagining what my baby would have looked like. Probably blond, since J and I both had blond hair, and more than likely it would have light eyes. J's were nearly turquoise blue, and mine were dove grey. He or she would be slim, I decided, as J and his family, and me and mine, were all slender.
"Got everything in the guest bedroom," Em said from behind me, jolting me back to reality, and nearly causing me to jump out of my skin. "Let's go join the guys in the den, and have some pizza, if Emmett didn't eat it all."
"Shhh, don't wake the baby," I scolded, gently pushing Em ahead of me out the door. "I turned on the intercom, so we can hear her if she wakes up."
"She'll probably sleep through the night," Em said, in her normal voice. "And we're not quiet while she sleeps. We talk at our normal volume, and have the television or stereo on like we always do. She sleeps through everything. Don't worry about waking her up."
I closed the bedroom door, followed Em into the den, and sat down on the sofa next to J.
"Hey, Sweetheart," he greeted me, and then gave we a welcoming kiss. "Did you get your shopping done? Or did Emily buy out the store by herself. From the looks of all those bags she carried in, I'm surprised it all fit in your car."
"You'd be surprised how much we can stuff in my trunk and the space behind the seats," I responded, and kissed him back. "I think we both did pretty good. We got something for everyone. I even found a really cool sweater and matching watch cap for your brother."
"Right on," J said, nodding in agreement, then immediately returned to watching the game, ending our conversation.
As soon as the game was over, we said our good-byes, and headed for home.
"You're unusually quiet," J remarked, reaching across the console to squeeze my hand in his. "Tired?"
"A little bit," I replied, and then added a yawn as a confirmation. "But not too tired. I'm actually more horney than sleepy."
"In that case," J said his face lighting up, "let's see how fast this XKE is. I've made it from Emmett's house to ours in half an hour in the GTO."
"Not with me in the car, you don't," I warned him. "It takes me at least forty to forty-five, and Em takes nearly an hour to drive it. Just take it easy, okay? I'll still be in the mood when we get home, I promise."
And I was.
The anxiety escalated every mile, and by the time we parked the car, we were tearing each other's clothes off on the way into the house. The packages could wait until tomorrow. As soon as the front door closed behind us, I was wrapped in J's arms, wearing my bikini panties and a smile. He kissed his way down from my lips to my tits, lingering for a moment on my neck. My legs threatened to give out as he sucked each nipple, teasingly flicking his tongue around them before taking them into his hot, wet mouth.
"I don't know how much longer I can stand up," I rasped out, letting my head fall backward, and arching my back toward him.
He slid his hands under my ass, and lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around him, and felt his erection pushing against my sopping panties.
"God, Cam, you're so hot and wet, you're making me crazy. I have to taste you," J breathed the words more than said them, as he carried me into our bedroom, and laid me on the bed.
He gave a yank, and my red lace bikinis were history. His mouth quickly replaced the fabric, and his tongue probed in sex while his magic fingers massaged my folds. I felt my body responding to his touch, and exploding in ecstasy, as an orgasm rocked me from head to toe. As I slowly drifted back to earth, I felt J's cock slide inside me, and fill me to capacity. He began a slow, sensual rhythm, grinding his hips against mine, and sliding in and out of me.
I joined in the horizontal dance, and mirrored his moves until he grabbed me tightly and plunged as far into me as he could. Tightening my inner muscles, I felt his dick pulse, then erupt in hot spurts of cum. We held each other as wave after wave of euphoria splashed over us, leaving us like two rag dolls that had been washed up on the beach.
Just before dawn, I woke up, still wrapped in J's arms, with his morning wood awakening inside me. Within moments, we were back in sync, taking advantage of our favorite way to start the day.
Christmas Eve night we kept our tradition of the Russo's and the Caravelli's celebrating together. Since everyone had gathered at our house last year, we were having our dinner and festivities, along with the McCarty's and Hightowers's, minus the General, at the Russo's.
Em had dressed Millie in a red velvet dress and matching hat, white lace tights, and black patent leather Maryjane shoes. She was the center of attraction throughout the entire evening, happily being passed from one admirer to the next. Em and I giggled at the silent tug-of-war going on between Megeen and Janine for who got to hold her the most.
After dinner and the opening of gifts, Em and Em, and J and I retreated to the pool house and had our own private gift exchange.
"Oh, Cam," Em gushed, "I love, love, love this. Emmett, can you believe it? It's exactly what we'd been thinking of for over the fireplace in the den."
She held up the oil painting I'd had done from a picture I'd taken of Em, Em, and Millie at her christening. It was a perfect likeness, and looked righteous in the heavy gold frame with cream colored matting.
"You guys have everything," J commented. "We had a hard time trying to think of something, but Cam is pretty creative."
"You couldn't have gotten us anything better," Emmett assured us. "Now open yours from us."
He handed us an envelope, as he and Em stood grinning like two Cheshire cats.
"Oh, my God!" I nearly screamed at seeing the contents. "I can't believe it. Oh, you guys are totally too much."
J pounded knuckles with his best friend, as I hugged mine.
"So you can get away without any problems, right?" Em questioned, referring to the two tickets to Hawaii, for a flight leaving on January the second, I was now holding in my hand.
"We thought it would be fun for you to return to where it all happened," Emmett said, winking at us, and adding one of his famous dimpled grins.
"Right on," J responded to the subtle reference of our finally going all the way, as well as to our getting engaged. "That's where it all happened."
"We even booked the same hotel room for you," Em added. "The memories should still be lingering there."
We shared another hug, then I handed Em the gift I'd gotten for Millie. She gasped at the box, and then got all teary-eyed at the contents. I had gone shopping at Tiffany's, and found a sterling silverware set, which included the baby feeding spoon, curled handle spoon, junior set, and full adult size set, sterling cup, which I had engraved with Millie's name and birthdate, and a bone china place setting, in a cream colored background with tiny pink roses around the edge.
"Fit for a princess," Em said, admiring each piece. "Leave it to Auntie Cam to find something like this. I know she'll love it, and I'm gonna start using it now."
Christmas morning, J and I exchanged our gifts to each other. I had gotten him lots of new clothes that would now be perfect for our trip to Hawaii and a full set of SCUBA diving gear, including deep-water wet suit, mask, fins, snorkel, and air tank. We were taking a diving course, and would be taking our certification dive on the twenty-seventh, making it possible to go diving in Hawaii. I had also gotten him a gold bracelet on my shopping trip to Tiffany's, and had it engraved "Cam loves J."
J had gotten me a beautiful full-length, grey leather coat, with a fox collar, some very sexy lingerie from Fredericks of Hollywood, and a full set of diving gear, complete with mask, fins, snorkel, and tank all in pink. Evidently, the guys at the dive shop were on commission. The leather coat would be perfect for New Year's Eve, as we were going to the Rose Parade with the Frat House. The lingerie would be put to immediate use, and included in my suitcase for our Hawaii trip.
After giving each other a proper "thank you" for the gifts we'd each received from the other, we showered, and headed back to BelAir. Joyce and John Jr. had stayed at my folks' house Christmas Eve night, and would be flying out on the twenty-sixth. We would be having a family Christmas dinner, and spend the rest of the day and evening watching family home movies. My dad had made this our Christmas ritual for as far back as I could remember.
During the wait at the airport the following day, Joyce pulled me aside, and whispered, "I'm so very pleased, and extremely happy that you and James are together. At first, we didn't approve of the living together arrangement, but you've been such a positive influence on him. Thank you sincerely, Cam. I couldn't have a more perfect daughter-in-law."
With tears in my eyes, I nodded, and answered, "And you're going to be the absolute perfect mother-in-law. I just wish I could make you the perfect grandmother."
"Oh, honey, please don't have any regrets on my account. James told us a few years ago that he would never have children, and any and all grandchildren would be the contribution of John Jr. We never planned on him becoming a father, although, I'm sure you two would have been wonderful parents. He told us you didn't plan on adopting... is that his idea?"
"No, actually, it's mine," I informed her candidly. "He would go along with anything I decided, but I'm okay with it being just the two of us. Besides, now I have Millie, and I didn't have to go through labor pains or getting fat."
Her smile was warm, though there was a hint of underlying emotion in her eyes. Confusion, maybe? She didn't understand the relationship Em and I had. Anyway, we shared a hug, and before long, they were on their way back home to Maryland.
At ten o'clock on New Year's Eve, the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and their dates, met at the Norton Simon Museum, and set up camp to watch the Rose Parade. We had driven the GTO, since Em and Em rode with us, and had brought sleeping bags and blankets, although we knew the flask of Jack Daniels would do more toward keeping us warm in the wee hours of the morning.
Em laughed as she told us about Megeen and Janine nearly fighting over who got to keep Millie for her first over-nighter with the grandparents. Of course, Megeen won that round; Janine was not even close to Megeen in terms of being aggressive or assertive, a skill she needed to master if she intended to fight fire with fire.
The beer was flowing, and the mood was "party hardy." Radios were blasting dance music, and the street was filled with couples taking advantage of the opportunity at hand. As the hour approached, people began shouting out the countdown numbers. Several groups linked arms in the middle of Colorado Boulevard, and did the countdown together. As the horns and whistles blew at the stroke of midnight, J wrapped me in his arms, and kissed me with everything he had. I never had any doubt about my feelings for him, but that kiss sent the confirmation to every cell in my body. We looked at each other, and without a word beat a hasty retreat back to the car.
No sooner had we got tangled together in the back seat, and nicely fogged up the windows, than we heard a knocking on the front windshield.
"Okay, kids, break it up in there," the Officer called to us loudly. "There's a law against lewd acts in public places here in Pasadena. Wouldn't want to have to arrest you, or call your parents to come get you."
"What the fuck..." J mumbled, stopping his movements abruptly. "We're sleeping in here. And we're already married. Besides, we contribute to the Police Officers Association Fund. Go check on those silly teenagers that are smoking pot, and causing trouble, and leave us old folks to get some rest."
I giggled, and bit my lip. We lay still for a moment, then heard the officer comment to his partner, "First time I ever heard that one. Guess we'll give them an hour for originality before we come back and check to see if they're still here."
His partner laughed, and added, "Excuse the intrusion, but we saw the car rocking and misinterpreted what we saw. You must have been having a nightmare."
I buried my face in J's chest in an attempt to stifle my giggles. He was having a hard time not laughing, himself.
"No problem, officer," he said. "Good to know Pasadena's finest is on duty."
The two policemen walked off, laughing loudly.
The ironic thing was we made love all night in the back of the car, and woke up when Em and Em knocked on the window; we had slept through the entire parade.
EMPOV
The day my baby girl was born was surpassed only by the days I met, and married, my Emily. Of course those days had passed without incident. However, I had wimped out on my Sweetness twice during the birth of our daughter. Em just smiled sweetly at me, and let it go. James and Cam were a different story. There wouldn't bet a day go by that I wasn't razzed by one or the other, or both of them. I was the big strong man that flaked out when the going got tough, and they weren't going to let me forget it. Oh well, that's what friends are for, right?
When James and I had come back into the house on the Strand, I heard Cam say, "Either you just peed all over my bathroom floor, Em, or we better get you to the hospital fast because your water just broke."
The next thing I knew, I was trying to sit up and crawl over to Em, who was sitting on the couch clutching her hugely rounded stomach.
"Babe, is it time?" I croaked, grabbing her hand.
"Yeah, it is, Baby," she replied, cupping my cheek. "We're gonna have 'Peanut' in our arms in a while. We're gonna be a family."
I went into hyper mode, shouted for Cam to call the hospital, and carried Em out to the Jeep. I was shaking from head-to-toe as we headed down the highway toward the hospital. When Em had two hard contractions only a few minutes apart, I groaned and stepped on the gas. Luckily I wasn't stopped for speeding.
We were met at the emergency room doors by a nurse with a wheelchair. I followed them down a hall to an examining room, and then to the elevator and up to the maternity ward. I was going crazy watching Em slump over in pain. I was screaming for the doctor as she was wheeled into a room.
Emily was changed and settled on the bed before I was allowed into the room. Seeing me, she reached her hand out to me, just as another contraction rocked her body. I rushed to her side and took her hand tightly in mine. The strength of her grasp nearly brought me to my knees. She settled back resting her head on the pillow; and I brushed the hair from her sweating brow.
"You're doing a terrific job, Babe," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'm so proud of you."
Her breaths slowly calmed and she raised our clasped hands to her mouth, kissing the back of mine.
"I'm so glad you're here Em," she said hoarsely. "I couldn't do this without you."
There was a knock on the door and Cam and J slipped in to the room. Cam hurried to Em's side and hugged her.
"I've called everyone, and they'll be here shortly," she said. "Are you okay? Can I do anything else for you?"
"You just being here is enough," Em whispered as James settled his arm across my tense shoulders. "Emmett!" She screamed as another contraction hit her.
I felt James shudder and step back, shaking his head, a look of abject horror on his face. Cam reached out and took his hand as Dr. Langly swept into the room. He asked them to leave the room so he could examine Em. He pronounced at ten percent effaced and went for a nurse to take us to the delivery room.
This was it, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks, I was going to be a father. Was I ready for it? Oh, hell no! But what man ever is?
"I'm scared, too, Em," Emily said softly. "Men and women have been doing since the beginning of time, so I think we'll be fine. It'll just take a lot of hands-on practice, I think."
As I reached for her hand, another contraction tore through her, and I groaned with her. The nurses arrived to take her to the delivery room, and I walked beside her, her hand clasped tightly in mine. I was quickly put into a gown and mask, and suddenly we were in the whirlwind of activity that involved a birth; breathing through contractions, wiping her forehead, even enduring her frenzied lashing out at me. I had been told to expect that so, even though it kind of hurt my feelings, all I did was pat her hand and smile at her. I knew she really didn't mean it.
There was a giggle from the corner of the room, and I could have sworn I saw Cam slip out the door. Before I could question it, another contraction ripped through my Sweetness, more intensely than any previous. Then things began to happen fast.
When Dr Langly told Em that the baby's head was crowning, I just had to look. Nothing could have prepared me for the rush that overwhelmed me. This was my son or daughter coming into this world, and I was awestruck. Em cried out again, and I turned back to her. Three more intense contractions and Em finally collapsed back onto the birthing table. I was so proud of her.
There was a long moment of silence, then a slap, and the most beautiful sound ever—our baby's first cry.
"Well, Emily, Emmett," Dr. Langly said with a grin. "Welcome your baby daughter."
He stood and placed her on Em's belly, handing me the scissors to cut the cord. I stepped forward and with shaking hands, snipped the umbilical cord. As I did so, the room began to spin, and the next thing I knew, a chuckling nurse was helping me to my feet. I looked sheepishly up at Em and she just smile sweetly.
Then the nurse brought our daughter back to us—all clean and wrapped in a soft pink blanket. Em cradled her in her arms as I leaned over. She pulled back the blanket swaddling our bundle of joy, and tears filled my eyes. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Em looked up at me, her eyes glistening with her own tears.
"I love you," I whispered as I leaned down to kiss her tenderly. "Thank you for the most perfect gift a man could ever want, a child of his own."
"I love you, too," she whispered, kissing me back softly. 'It took both of us, Baby. I couldn't have done it without you."
Together, we looked down at our girl, and examined her; seeking out perfect fingers and toes. I ran my hand gently over her full head of auburn curls. Her little button nose crinkled a bit, and she yawned through her perfect bow-shaped lips. It was amazing to me that Em and I had created such a perfect being. At closer inspection, I found some of me in her with the subtle creases in her soft cheeks…my dimples.
Here," Em said softly, pulling the blanket back over our baby girl, "take her Em, hold your daughter."
I looked at her wide-eyed; I'd never held a baby before. With a tender smile, she held the baby up for me to take. I was careful to support her head—as I had been instructed previously—and slipped my other hand under her bottom and lifted her up. I lifted my elbow and eased her into the crook of my arm. Suddenly, I was holding her against me and the most wonderful rush flooded my body. This was my flesh and blood. She was part of me and part of my Sweetness and— as Em had said—'a beautiful reflection of our love'. I didn't realize that my tears had started to flow down my cheeks until I bent my head to lay a sweet kiss on her forehead and saw the wetness left behind. I looked over at Em, and was surprised to see her holding her fist to her smiling lips as tears streamed down her face.
"Babe?" I questioned with a lift of my brow. She shook her head, telling me that she was okay.
We decided to wait to officially name the baby— we had finally agreed on a name we both liked— until after the families had met her.
Moments later, we were being led to a private room where Em and the baby were settled in. I sat on a stool next to the bed as we both continued to stare at our baby girl, amazed at what we had produced.
There was a soft knock at the door, and Cam peeked around it
"There are a few people out here that want to meet the newest little McCarty," she said with a grin. "Are you all decent?"
"Hey you," Em said happily. "Of course we're decent. Come on in."
When everyone had come into the room, Em looked up at me and nodded. Clearing my throat, I got their attention.
"Emmett, will you please tell everyone our precious jewel's name?" she asked, reaching for my hand.
"Of course, Sweetness," I replied, leaning down to kiss her. She placed her in my arms, resting her hand on my forearm.
In the quiet that followed, I spoke clearly and proudly.
"Mom, Dad, Mama and Daddy, Cam and James, I would like to introduce you to Emaline Camille McCarty. We are going to call her Millie so there's no confusion with the 'Ems'."
For the next little while, everyone was talking at once. The grandmas and grandpas crowded around the bed, oohing and cooing over Millie. When someone mentioned that she would be a heartbreaker, and we'd have a hard time keeping the boys away, I sort of put my foot in it. I declared that there would be no boys for quite a while, and that Millie would be thirty before she'd be allowed to date. Naturally, all the parents came down on me, albeit in a semi-joking way, saying that if they'd stuck to that premise, Em and I wouldn't be where we were today.
As the Russo's were saying goodbye to their daughter, Mom and Dad walked over to me.
"We're proud of you, boy," Dad said, clapping me on the shoulder. "You've manned up and taken on the role of husband, and now of father. Your life will change even more, and so will your priorities. But we know that you'll do fine. That's quite a family you have there, Emmett."
"Oh, Emmie," Mom cried softly, wrapping her arms around my waist, and looking up into my face. "I love you, son, and I love those two precious girls over there. I know that you'll have a fine life. Just take good care of them."
"Thanks, guys," I said with a lump in my throat. I hugged them both. "I only hope I can be as good a parent as you have been to me. I owe you both a lot."
Soon, everyone was beginning to leave, but Em and I asked Cam and James to stay a moment longer. I think we stunned them by requesting they be Millie's godparents. Of course Cam jumped in and readily agreed. It took James a minute to work it out in his mind before he, too agreed.
A few minutes after they left, a nurse came in to help Em start to breast feed the baby. But first, she showed this nervous father how to change a diaper. I was thankful it was only wet, and I felt I'd done a fine job. It didn't take long for both of my girls to get the hang of the whole feeding procedure. The nurse left them to finish up and, as I watched them, tears formed in my eyes. Em looked up at me, smiling happily.
"Baby, are you okay?" she asked, gently touching my forearm.
My eyes snapped to hers and I grinned widely.
"That is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen," I said, taking her hand and kissing the palm. "The two loves of my life there together in the most intimate way for a mother and child. You remind me of the Madonna and child statue in the foyer of the church, only much more beautiful."
She reached down and pulled a contented Millie from her breast and discreetly covered herself. Taking my hand, we both watched our daughter yawn and settle into sleep against her mother.
When the nurse returned, she gently kicked me out, telling me to go home and get a good night's sleep while I could. It could be a long time before I was able to again. So, kissing my girls, I went home…still in a daze.
Em and Millie were released from the hospital three days later, just in time for Thanksgiving…and, boy did we have a lot to be thankful for.
EPOV
Mama was keeping Millie and, although this was my first time to leave her, I knew she was in good hands. Arriving early, Cam and I hit the mall running. We were determined to get all of our Christmas shopping done that day. By noon, my feet were killing me, and Cam declared that she was starving. There was a small café nearby, and we found ourselves sitting and relaxing while sipping cokes and munching on a huge order of French fries.
It had been ages since we'd had a day to ourselves, and we were thoroughly enjoying it. We even made plans to meet and do something on the first Saturday of each month…just the two of us. By the time we'd finished our shopping, and picked up Millie from Mama's, it was nearly eight o'clock. Monday night football had kept Em and J occupied, and they hadn't realized how late it was.
Cam put a sleeping Millie to bed as I grabbed all my purchases from her car. After checking on Cam in the nursery, we joined the guys in the living room. They didn't pay much attention to us, as their eyes were glued to the TV screen. I leaned across to the pizza boxes sitting on the coffee table, and was surprised to find four pieces inside. Cam and I each grabbed two and munched through to the end of the game. After making small talk for a bit, James and Cam headed home. It had been a really groovy day for Cam and me, and I felt as if things were starting to get back to normal, and hoping there were no more unexpected events for a while.
Christmas Eve was spent at Mama and Daddy's that year. Of course, the Caravelli's joined us, along with the McCarty's, Em's brother Edward and his girlfriend, and Mrs. Hightower and James's brother, John Jr. and his fiancé The General had been deployed to another tour in Viet Nam, and during grace, we said an extra special prayer for him and all our troops over there.
The silent tug-of-war between Mama and Janine for the attention of their granddaughter was hilarious and had Cam and I in stitches. Of course, the grandpa's had to have their time with Millie, too; not to mention the uncles and their dates.
After dinner and the opening of family gifts, Cam helped me put Millie to bed in Mama and Daddy's room. They had purchased a crib just for her occasional overnight visits. Then we joined Em and James in the pool house for our own exchange of gifts. Em and I were flabbergasted by the beautiful oil portrait Cam and James had commissioned from a family photo of Em, Millie, and me, taken at her christening. It was something Em and I had thought about for over the fireplace in our den.
"After much thought and searching," Cam said, handing me a gaily wrapped package, "we decided that this would be perfect for Millie's first Christmas."
I opened it excitedly and gasped when I saw the contents. Inside was a beautiful sterling silverware set, both infant and adult with a cup…all engraved with her name and birthdate. Under that laid a complete place setting of bone china in a cream color with tiny pink roses around the edge.
Oh, Cam," I cried, tears stinging my eyes as I hugged her. "This is far out. Thank you so much. I promise to start using it as soon as she starts eating food."
Em and I had purchased airline tickets and hotel accommodations for a week's stay at the Hilton Waikiki…the same hotel we'd stayed at the year before…booking the same room. They were ecstatic, even when Em teased them about going back to 'where it all started'.
The next morning…Christmas Day…Em, Millie and I had own first Christmas as a family. Of course, Millie wasn't old enough to understand what was happening, but that didn't matter. We were together, just the three of us. Even though she didn't understand, Em and I gave her presents; stuffed toys, and the starting of a college fund. Em gave her a small platinum heart-shaped locket that matched the small bracelet from me.
Em reached under the tree, and pulled out a small turquoise box, handing it to me. I, in turn, pulled a small box for him.
Let's open them together," I suggested.
He agreed, and we opened the lids at the same time. Inside my Tiffany box laid a beautiful platinum locket that matched Millie's. Of course, it was larger and opened. Inside were two pictures, one of Em and I and one of our baby girl. Em's box contained a platinum coin pinky ring, bearing Millie's birth year. We looked at each other for a moment, and then we were in each other's arms. We each had wanted to give the other something that would remind us of our precious girl every time we looked at it.
Before we knew it, New Year's Eve had arrived. We dropped Millie off at Mama and Daddy's for her first over-nighter. It was something to watch Mama and Janine vie for the honor of being the first to keep Millie overnight. Em and I giggled all the way to the GTO, where Cam and James were waiting for us.
At ten o'clock we joined the rest of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and their dates at the Norman Simon Museum to set up camp for watching the Rose Parade the next day. Em laid out our sleeping bags on a secluded grassy area, and set a cooler filled with drinks and snacks next to them. Of course, Em had a flask of Jack Daniels for us to ward off the cold.
It was a real party mood that surrounded us. The music was played loudly and everyone seemed to be having a good time. We were even 'dancing in the street', linking arms with the other revelers around us. Everyone joined in as the countdown began. At the stroke of midnight, Em and I threw our arms around each other, sharing a heated kiss.
"I love you, Babe," he murmured against my lips. "And I will from now until forever."
"I hope so," I tightened my arms around his neck. "Because I will never love anyone but you, Baby, ever."
He took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes as his darkened. His nostrils flared and, with a shuddering breath, fused his lips to mine. With a moan, I pressed as close to him as I could through the layers of clothes we were wearing.
Suddenly we were pulled apart and into the crowd to be kissed by all the nearby frat brothers and their dates. I turned to look for Cam and James, but they were nowhere to be found. The crowd began to break up, and Em and I found our way back to our campsite. There was still no sign of Cam and James.
"Where could they be, Em?" I asked worriedly as I sat down on the sleeping bags.
"I don't know, but I'm sure they'll be fine," Em replied, lying beside me and pulling me down into his arms. "You know how they are, they're probably going at it somewhere private. Come 'ere."
He leaned over me and began to kiss me hungrily. I jumped when I felt his hand slide beneath my coat and sweater to cup my breast.
Em, we can't…" I started, but he cut me off with another kiss.
Soon he had me groaning and begging for more. He pulled away, and stared at me. With a cheeky grin, he stood up and pulled me to my feet. Then he knelt down to unzip the individual sleeping bags and zip them together to make one extra-large one. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me back down, took my heavy coat off of me, and helped me to slide into our makeshift bed. He crawled in after me, and zipped us into a cozy cocoon.
"Now we can do all sorts of things, and no one will be the wiser," he whispered, trailing his lips across my cheek to my ear. I gasped loudly. "We do need to try to keep quiet, though."
I giggled softly, and it turned into a deep moan. Then I whimpered as he slipped his hand up under my sweater again to cup my breast, squeezing and pinching my nipple through my bra.
We knew that doing it completely was out of the question, but we took care of each other with hands and fingers. Finally, we fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, and not waking until we heard the first notes from the first band in the parade.
We jumped up and washed with the wet washcloths I had wrapped in plastic sandwich bags and brought, and rinsed out mouths with Listerine. Running a brush through my hair, I stood and slipped my coat back on. Em was beside me, rolling up the sleeping bags and setting them next to a tree.
We walked down to the street, Colorado Boulevard, and found a place near the curb. Em, being 6'5" had no trouble seeing over the heads of those in front of us. I, however, couldn't see a thing. I looked up at Em with a pout. He let out a booming laugh, and bent down so that I could slip my legs over his shoulders. Holding tightly to my hands, he carefully straightened up. I wrapped my hands around his head, and he grasped my thighs to hold me safely in place. I could see everything.
Cam and James still hadn't returned when the parade was over. So, grabbing our things, we made our way back to the GTO. The doors were locked, but the windows were completely fogged up. Em grinned at me before knocking loudly on the window. There were muffled words and the car shook as we heard them getting dressed. The passenger door unlocked, and James stuck his head out. Em and I burst into laughter. His hair was standing on end, and his shirt was inside out.
"What time is it? James asked, yawning.
"'Bout eleven thirty," Em replied. "You missed the parade."
"No!" I heard Cam cry from inside the car. "I wanted to see it."
James stepped out, followed by a red-faced and disheveled Cam. I reached into my purse, and handed her my brush.
"You might want to fix yourself up a bit before we head to IHOP for breakfast," I said with a giggle.
She grabbed the brush, and smirked at me as she started to run it through her tangled hair. Then she handed it to James.
Fifteen minutes later, after they'd cleaned up a little; we were headed to the nearest IHOP. Over a hearty breakfast, Cam and James excitedly agreed to keep Millie overnight, allowing Em and I to have our own private New Year's celebration. We agreed to pick her up by noon the next day, as Cam and James's flight to Hawaii left in the late afternoon. So it was that, after a traditional family meal at Mama and Daddy's, Em and I found ourselves alone for the first time since Millie had been born.
A/N: Well, we've made it through the holidays without too much fuss. Now Em and Em are going to have a special night, on their own, and Cam and James are off for a holiday in Hawaii. Come back next time and see how our four kids fair.
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