About two months later and Addison was on maternity leave and completely fed up and tired. Tara was home with her while Pete had to stay at work longer. Addison led back on the couch, her hands on her bump. Tara got some ice cream and a spoon from the kitchen before she walked back into the living room to Addison. Addison gave Tara a tired smiled and looked back at the TV. Tara smiled back and sat down, eating her ice cream.
"You can put something else on if you want." Addison handed the remote to Tara.
"Okay." Tara took the remote and switched through the channels. Addison watched as Tara flicked through the channels and rubbed her bump. "Do you need anything?" Tara looked at Addison.
"No." Addison shook her head. "Only to give birth." She let out a sigh.
"Can't be that long anymore." Tara smiled slightly.
"I just wish she'd hurry up."
"She seems to like it in there."
"I know." Addison sighed and Tara smiled at her before she looked back at the TV and ate some more ice cream. "Did your dad say what time he'd be back?"
"No." Tara shook her head. "He just said that he has this patient and it would take a little longer."
"Okay." Addison nodded and shifted her position. Tara watched her before she looked back at the screen. They sat in a comfortable silence watching the TV for a while. Tara got up and carried the rest of the ice cream back into the kitchen.
"Tara." Addison called. "Tara."
"What's wrong?" Tara walked back into the living room quickly.
"Call your dad, my waters have just broken." Addison looked at Tara, a hand on her bump. Tara looked at her shocked and walked over to the phone quickly. Addison gripped the back of the couch, watching Tara. She dialled her dad's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Dad, you need to come home, Addison's waters have broken."
"Oh god, I'll be there as quick as I can."
"Be quick, dad."
"Maybe you should call 911, just in case there's traffic."
"Erm, okay…"
"Call if you're on the way to the hospital."
"Okay." Tara nodded.
"Okay, I'll be quick." Pete said before he hung up.
"Is he coming?" Addison looked at Tara.
"Yeah, but he said we should call 911."
"Okay. Owwwwww." Addison gripped the back of the couch as a contraction hit her. Tara walked closer and looked at her helplessly. Addison squeezed her eyes shut, willing the contraction to pass.
"Is...there anything I can do?" Tara bit her lip and looked at her. Addison just shook her head as the contraction passed. "Okay..."
"I'll be fine." Addison gave Tara a smile. Tara just nodded and looked at her. "It only hurts for a little while."
"Okay."
Addison nodded as she looked at Tara. "I guess she's finally fed up of being in there."
"Yeah." Tara gave a smile.
"Are you excited?"
"Erm, yeah." She smiled and nodded.
"Good." Addison smiled and ran a hand over her bump. Tara gave a smile and sat down, hoping that her dad would be here soon.
-
When Pete finally arrived home the first thing he heard was Addison crying out in pain as a contraction hit her. He shut the door close behind him and quickly made his way into the living room. Tara looked up at her father helplessly from where she sat holding Addison's hand.
"I'm sorry, I came as quick as I can." Pete rushed to Addison's side.
"I hate you so much right now, Pete." Addison moaned.
"Did you call 911? We need to get you to the hospital."
"I need to push."
"Addi..." He looked at her.
"I need to push!" Addison looked at him.
"Okay, okay." He nodded and walked to the end of the couch. "Tara, please call Naomi."
Tara picked up the phone and quickly called Naomi. "She's with a patient."
Pete sighed. "She has to come as soon as she can."
"Pete, this baby is coming now!" Addison gripped the back of the couch.
"Okay." Pete stood at the end of the couch and looked at Addison. "Push when you feel the next contraction." Addison nodded and pushed as she felt the next contraction. . Tara stood at Addison's side and watched them. Addison pushed as hard as she could, wanting to be able to hold her daughter. "Okay, keep pushing." Pete looked at her.
"Is there anything I can do?" Tara looked at Pete.
"We need something to cut the cord and you can get some blankets please."
"What should I get?"
"I don't know, scissors."
Tara nodded and got up, getting what Pete had asked for. Pete stayed with Addison and looked at her as another contraction hit her and she pushed again. Her hands gripped the back of the couch and the side as she pushed.
"You're doing good, keep pushing."
Addison continued to push as hard as she could, beginning to feel tired.
"Good." Pete nodded and took hold of her hand. Addison gripped his hand tightly as she pushed their daughter out of her body. "I can see her head." Pete smiled. Addison groaned and just pushed. Pete watched her and kept hold of her hand. Addison stopped pushing, falling back against the cushions, trying to get her breath back. "You're doing great." Pete looked at her.
"I'm tired." She whispered.
"One last push, Addi."
Addison looked at Pete before preparing herself to give another push. He watched her and she squeezed his hand tightly as she started to push again. Addison pushed as hard as she could. Just then Tara came back into the living room with a blanket and scissors. She stopped frozen as she could see her sister's head.
"Thanks, Tara." Pete reached for the blanket and the scissors.
"I…I can see a head…" She trailed off.
"Yeah." Pete looked at her and Tara just blinked at him shocked. "Your sister's going to be here soon."
"Like really soon?"
"Yes, really soon." Pete nodded and looked back at Addison. Addison squeezed his hand tightly and gave a hard push. Tara stood and watched and it wasn't long before a loud cry filled the room.
Addison stopped pushing and fell back against the cushions tiredly. "Is she okay?"
"She's perfect." Pete nodded and smiled as he cut the cord. Addison instantly held her arms out for her daughter. Pete took the blanket from Tara and wrapped it around Ashlynn before he walked to Addison's side and placed her in her arms. Addison gently cradled her daughter close to her chest and felt her tears start as she looked at Ashlynn. Ashlynn looked up at the faces above her with wide eyes.
"Hey Ashlynn." Addison whispered and ran her finger over Ashlynn's cheek. Tara still stood at the end of the couch and watched them silently. "She has your eyes." Addison smiled, seeing that Ashlynn had the same blue eyes as Pete and Tara unlike her own green ones.
"Yeah." Pete smiled and looked down at their daughter.
"I can see Tara in her." Addison whispered.
"Really?" Tara asked quietly.
"Really." Addison smiled and looked up at Tara. Tara looked at her and walked closer. "She's got you in her." Addison looked back down at Ashlynn who was gazing up at them. Tara stood next to her dad and just looked down at her baby sister. Addison ran her finger over her daughter's cheek and took in all her features. Pete watched as Tara gazed down at Ashlynn and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "What do you think of your sister?" Addison looked up at Tara.
"She's small." Tara smiled.
"She'll grow fast though." Addison smiled back. Tara smiled and just looked at her sister.
---
An hour later and they were at the practice, both Addison and Ashlynn checked over and both completely healthy. Naomi smiled as she dressed Ashlynn after her check up and placed her into Addison's arms once again. Addison smiled and kissed her daughter's soft skin.
"Now she's finally here." Naomi smiled as she looked down at Ashlynn.
"I know, I didn't think she was ever going to get here."
"She just took her time."
"I know." Addison smiled and swayed Ashlynn who was now asleep.
"Are you going to stay with Pete or are he and Tara staying with you, or not?"
"I don't know." Addison looked up at her friend.
"It's going to be exhausting the first few months when you have to get up several times every night and you are all alone."
"I can't expect him and Tara to live with me for that long, and it'll be easier if I'm at home."
"Yeah..." Naomi looked at her. "You can call me whenever you need me."
"Thanks, Nae." Addison smiled at her friend.
"No problem." Naomi smiled and looked back down at Ashlynn.
"I should get her home."
"Okay." Naomi nodded.
"Where are Pete and Tara?" Addison stood up from the bed.
"Waiting outside."
"Okay." Addison nodded and softly swayed Ashlynn before walking out to them. Pete smiled as she walked towards them. "We're completely healthy." Addison smiled at them.
"Good." Pete smiled.
"So we're ready to go home."
"Okay, let's go then."
Addison smiled and they left the practice. They got into Pete's car and he took them back to Addison's. Addison let Pete carry Ashlynn into her house as her and Tara followed. They walked in and closed the front door behind them.
"I don't want to put her in the nursery yet." Addison looked at Ashlynn sleeping soundly in Pete's arms.
"Okay." Pete nodded and gazed down at his daughter.
"Do you want to hold her, Tara?" Addison looked at Tara, knowing she hadn't held her sister yet.
"Erm, yeah." She nodded slowly.
"Okay. Do you want to sit on the couch?"
"Okay." She nodded and sat down. Addison carefully took Ashlynn from Pete's arm and carried her into the living room and placed her in Tara's arms. Tara leaned back against the couch and held her sister carefully.
"Keep her head supported." Addison sat down next to Tara and watched her. Tara nodded and did as Addison said. "What do you think then?"
"She's cute."
"She's going to resemble you."
"You think?"
"I do." Addison smiled. "I can see you in her now."
"But she's only a few hours old."
"I know but I still can."
Tara smiled and watched her little sister sleeping. Addison smiled as well and looked up at Pete. He stood next to the couch and watched Tara. "She's really small and light." Tara whispered.
"Yeah." Pete smiled at her. Tara just watched her baby sister sleep, taking in what she looked like. Pete smiled and sat down on the couch as well.
Addison turned to look at him and smiled. "Thank you."
"For what?" He smiled.
"For giving me a family."
"Thank you ." He smiled at her.
"You don't have to thank me. I should thank you. You gave me Ashlynn and Tara, and you." She smiled at him.
"So you don't hate me anymore?"
"No." She shook her head at him.
"Good." He smiled. Addison smiled as well and leaned forward, kissing him softly. Pete took one of her hands in his and kissed her back.
"Thank you." She whispered again.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I do."
"No, I have to thank you, for being you."
"I wouldn't have any of this if it wasn't for you."
"I love you." He kissed her again. "So, so much."
"I love all of you, so, so much." Addison kissed him back tenderly. Tara swayed Ashlynn slightly and glanced up at Addison as she heard what she said. Did she really just say that she loved them all? Tara looked at her, wondering if she really meant what she just said before she looked back down at her baby sister. Addison smiled and slowly pulled back from the kiss and looked into Pete's eyes. He smiled at her and ran his thumb gently over her hand.
"I couldn't wish for anything more." She whispered.
"Nor me." He looked at her. Addison grinned before looking at Tara and Ashlynn. Tara held Ashlynn securely in her arms and gazed down at her.
"Are you staying here tonight?" Addison looked back at Pete.
"I don't know, Tara has school tomorrow, she needs her stuff."
"Okay." Addison nodded and looked back down at Tara.
"But we could get up early and go to mine."
"It's up to you."
"Do you want to stay, Tara?" Pete looked at her.
"Sure." She nodded.
"Okay then." Pete nodded as well. Addison smiled, glad they were staying.
---
That night Addison groaned and rolled over in bed as Ashlynn's cries came over the baby monitor.
"I can go if you want." Pete murmured, his eyes still closed.
"She's probably hungry." Addison mumbled.
"Shall I get her here?"
"Okay." Addison snuggled down into her bed.
"Okay." Pete got up slowly before he sleepily made his way into the nursery. Ashlynn led in her crib crying loudly, her blanket nearly off of her tiny body. "Shhh baby." Pete leaned down and carefully picked her up before cradled her against his chest. She calmed down slightly but still continued to cry. "Shh." He whispered and ran his hand soothingly up and down her back. Ashlynn turned her head towards his chest, crying. He placed a kiss on her head and walked back into the bedroom.
"Is she hungry?" Addison asked sleepily and sat up in bed, holding her arms out for Ashlynn.
"Yeah, I think so." Pete placed her in her arms before he got back into bed. Addison leaned back against the headboard and pulled her pyjama up so Ashlynn could suckle which she instantly did. Pete lay down and looked up at her sleepily. Addison smiled down at him and pecked his lips softly. He smiled and kissed her back gently.
"Go back to sleep." Addison whispered.
"Hmm it's okay." He smiled sleepily.
"You've got to take Tara to school go and go back home early, you sleep."
He just looked up at her and yawned.
"Sleep." Addison looked back at him.
"Yeah, fine."
"Good." Addison smiled and watched as he drifted off to sleep again. Ashlynn was lying in her arms contently. "You hungry, baby?" Addison softly ran her finger over Ashlynn's cheek as she suckled. She looked up at her with wide eyes, sucking hungrily. Addison smiled as she watched her daughter nurse. After a while Ashlynn closed her eyes and Addison could feel her sucking getting lighter. Addison softly swayed her daughter until she fell asleep and she carefully carried her back into the nursery where she laid her down in the crib and placed her blanket over her. Addison then made her way to the spare room to check on Tara. She was curled up under her blanket in the middle of the bed. Addison smiled softly and just watched her sleep. She didn't move, just slept peacefully, her breathing slow and deep. Addison quietly walked back to her bedroom where she crawled in next to Pete, snuggling up to him before drifting off to sleep again.