Another day another update but this may be the last until Thursday because I have a mountain of uni work to do for my dissertation's ethical approval which is due on Thursday (wish me luck haha). Anyway someone asked for things to speed up a bit so just wondering how the pace of the story is for everyone? I'm happy to speed things up after this chapter if you guys want. And to the reviewer called 'Pickle Gickle' who has dreams about this fic please share them with me in a review I'd love to hear them! Haha. And to the other reviewer who said they are jealous of Emily's life it's okay so am I and it's me who writes it :'). Anyway new chapter! Please follow/fave and review.
Emily swipes her finger across her phone when the alarm rings at six in the morning and she scrunches her eyes closed because she knows today is going to be a long day. She can already feel it and she hasn't even gotten out of bed yet.
The last time she looked at her phone it was just leaving three in the morning. But when she hears a slight murmur coming from her right hand side her annoyance fades because the source of the murmur is the exact reason she has gotten up thirty minutes earlier than she usually would for her work.
Swinging her legs quietly out of bed Emily places a kiss on Ali's shoulder before she makes her way over to the bassinet and Isla as predicted is wide awake her large blue eyes shimmering in the darkness of the room.
"Good morning Isla," Emily whispers as she picks Isla up with her blanket before clutching her daughter close to her chest, enjoying the feeling of Isla against her. "How about we go downstairs so I can get coffee and you can get your milk?" Emily asks as she looks down and she listens as Isla murmurs quietly again. "I'm definitely taking that as a yes."
Alison isn't entirely sure what wakes her but nonetheless she stirs as she blinks her eyes open and immediately she notices the lack of Emily in their bed. Usually the brunette has an arm or a leg thrown over her, sometimes both and the thought makes her smile despite her sleepy state.
She reaches over with her hand and she's slightly surprised to find the bassinet empty and all of a sudden the whole room feels empty because Isla and Emily aren't there and when she hears a noise coming from the kitchen she knows where she wants to be.
Sitting up, she runs her hand through her blonde hair that's tousled with sleep before she stretches and her body begins to wake properly. "This being a Mom thing isn't so bad," she mutters to herself as she picks up Emily's blue plaid button down shirt that's sitting on their laundry pile and when she buttons it up it's slightly baggy on her, not like it used to be but she's getting there, getting back into her pre baby shape.
She decides to leave the last two buttons on the shirt undone because she knows Emily will appreciate the extra cleavage view this morning considering what day it is.
She's sitting on the couch with her legs up on the coffee table and Isla resting against her thighs when she hears the tell tale signs of footsteps on their bedroom floor. "I think your Mommy is awake now too," Emily says as she holds the bottle to Isla's mouth and as always her daughter takes it gratefully.
"I go back to work today but luckily I have managed to get a half day because of your uncle Toby, so when I go to work you have to be a good girl for your Mommy, can you do that for me?" the brunette asks as she looks down and Isla is completely oblivious to anything apart from the bottle that she's currently feeding from. "Okay well we will work on this conversation later baby," she adds as she runs her finger through the soft curls of Isla's hair.
"Good morning," Alison states as she pops her head around the door frame, "do you want your coffee? The machine has just beeped," Alison adds as she looks down at Isla whose eyes are glued to Emily. And Emily nods her head vigorously as the blonde disappears out of view.
"This is why I married your Mommy Isla she can make a mean cup of coffee," Emily whispers as she puts the empty bottle onto the coffee table.
"I heard that Em and that best not be the only reason you married me," Alison calls back playfully and Emily rolls her eyes at being caught before she settles Isla back onto her thighs.
"Here you go," Alison states as she sits Emily's coffee filled mug on a coaster on the coffee table.
"I guess we are swapping?" Emily asks as she leans into Alison who places a good morning kiss on her lips.
"Yes we are swapping," Ali answers when they break apart and the blonde extends her arms as Emily places Isla into them. The brunette reaches for her mug and smiles to herself when she gets her first hit of caffeine and she knows she will need several more mugs to get her through today.
"Your coffee okay?" Alison asks as she shuffles Isla onto her shoulder, slowly rubbing circles on the baby's back before gently patting it.
"Yes it's perfect as always, you always could make me a good cup of coffee" Emily answers as she takes another gulp before she places the half empty mug back onto the coffee table and she watches Alison eyeing it up.
Glad that the blonde is finally beginning to realise that a sip of coffee won't do her or Isla any harm. "You can have the rest of it babe I am going to shower anyway," Emily states as she stands and she leans down to kiss Ali before she heads in the direction of their bedroom.
She's not particularly sure what's causing the tightening sensation in her stomach as the hot water sprays her body but Emily reason's that it's probably just nerves. Wants to believe that it's just nerves.
And she has no idea why she's nervous because she has worked with these people for years, knows most of them really well and she knows she will be welcomed back with open arms but still the odd butterfly sensation in her stomach continues and if it's not nerves it's because she's leaving Alison and Isla alone for the first time and she knows it's silly because just last week she told Alison off for feeling the exact same.
But standing under the shower, thoughts filtering through her head she thinks she gets it, understands why Ali was the way she was last week. Because it's a lot different when you are the one leaving she thinks to herself as she massages shampoo into her hair.
And she knows it's silly because really it's only a half day and she won't be gone for too long but she can't help the tears that spill into her eyes and she hastily blinks them away, watching them get washed down the drain with the flowery scented shampoo water. Pull yourself together Emily.
Placing the now empty mug into the dishwasher Alison manages to pick out four slices of bread to sit in the toaster for her and Emily and how the blonde does it with one hand is beyond her. "It's a good job I can multi task but we love your Mama enough to get her toast ready with mine," Alison comments more to herself than Isla and just as she's about to turn around she feels strong arms wrap around her waist, Emily's head resting on the opposite shoulder from Isla's.
"How lucky are you having both of us doing this?" Emily whispers into her ear and Alison can only smile because she's extremely lucky and she also imagines it looks very adorable.
"Very lucky indeed, I'm kind of sad Aria isn't here to take a photo of this," Alison laughs before she files it away for future reference because this kind of scenario is exactly the kind of situation that she wants memories of.
"Well we can always get Aria to take a few photos of us sometime," Emily answers easily as she places a gentle kiss on Ali's neck and her earlier nerves seem to have settled somewhat, although not completely.
They eat in relative silence, it's only broken when one of them crunches through their toast and Alison can see her wife nervously playing with a loose thread on her work blazer while she looks over at Isla who is asleep in her pushchair after a diaper change.
"Are you okay Em?" Alison asks and she watches with curious blue eyes as she takes another bite of her toast, enjoying the sweet taste of the raspberry jam and she only picked it out this morning because it's Emily's favourite and she knows Emily probably needs some home comforts before she starts her first day back at work.
"What?" the brunette finally answers, her attention finally drifting from Isla when Alison clicks her fingers together. "Oh yeah I'm fine, totally fine," Emily answers quietly and the brunette knows she sounds less than convincing, knows that Alison will be able to see through that transparent lie easily.
"Yeah, remember I know you better than that Em, what's wrong?" the blonde asks as she hops off her stool and makes her way around towards Emily.
Sitting on Emily's lap she wraps her arms around the brunette's neck as she peppers kisses against Emily's cheek before moving lower to the brunette's lips then further down to Emily's neck and she feels the brunette begin relax under her.
"I'm nervous about going back to work it has been like seven weeks," Emily states as Ali pulls away to look at her and she can see the blonde's eyes swimming with reassurance. "And I don't want to leave you two either," Emily admits as she settles her hands on Ali's hips while her eyes drift back over to their daughter.
"Emily, remember the conversation we had last week, only last week it was you telling me that everything would be fine," Alison states as she pecks Emily quickly on the lips.
"You will be fine, all the guys love you down at the station and me and Isla will be fine, why don't we come down and meet you at lunch time and we can go to the Brew or something for a quick bite to eat?" Alison offers and Emily smiles because this is exactly why she loves Alison, the blonde just knows what she needs and when she needs it.
- x -
It's just before nine when Emily sits down at her desk and it almost feels foreign to her, her desk chair doesn't feel the same underneath her either even though she knows it's her own.
She runs her finger over the top of the photo frame that Toby and Spencer had gotten her for the baby shower and as she wipes the sheet of dust off her finger it reminds her that she must get a photo to put in this because seeing a picture of Alison and Isla at her desk will probably make her days at work much more bearable.
Just as she looks around the bullpen her phone vibrates in her pants pocket and as she brings it out she sees Alison's name pop up on her screen. Swiping her finger along the bar she unlocks her phone and clicks on the message tab where she is greeted with a picture of Isla on her stomach on her play mat and Emily can't help but smile at the picture and the message. 'Isla loves her play mat as you know but I think she misses her Mama more, we will see you at lunch time. I love you xxx'
"What you smiling at Fields?" Pete asks as he crosses the room and heads towards his desk. "Surely you can't be that happy to be back here, surely?" he asks and she shakes her head because it's only been five minutes and she's already settling back into her normal routine.
"No it's definitely not that Pete but Ali just sent me a picture of Isla so I'm definitely allowed to smile at that," she calls over the room and before she knows it four or five Detectives are swarmed around her desk looking at her daughter and there's congratulations and shoulder pats all round before they all finally get to work at their own desks and maybe she was wrong this morning, maybe today won't be such a bad day after all.
- x -
Alison rests Isla on her thighs as the six week old lets out a saliva filled gurgle. "I know baby I miss her too," the blonde comments as she gently bounces her feet against the coffee table and it's enough to soothe Isla because Alison has a feeling she is ready to let out a wail for some reason and she really doesn't want that.
"But it's okay it's only an hour until we see her again and we can both get a cuddle from her, I think she will be looking forward to that as much as us," she adds as she smiles down at Isla and she freezes because Isla's features mirror her own for a brief second and Alison swears she has just seen Isla smile for the first time.
"Oh Isla did you smile for the first time?" she asks and her voice is higher pitched than normal as she smiles down again but this time it's only big blue eyes that watch her, there's no sight of a smile.
And Alison begins to wonder if maybe she just thought Isla smiled at her. She gently bounces Isla on her thighs again but there's still no sight of a smile. "Okay then baby how about we get you some lunch and then we will get you changed into a fresh diaper before we go for a walk in the sunshine to meet your Mama?" Alison asks and she smiles when Isla lets out another gurgle. "Of course you agree with that baby, anything for a bottle or my boobs."
- x -
Emily waits impatiently outside Rosewood Police Department as she waits for Alison and Isla and as she checks her watch she makes a point of noticing than Ali is just over five minutes late. Just as she is about to let out a breath she catches a glimpse of blonde hair across the street and as Ali waves in her direction her annoyance at the blonde being late fades into nothing. She leaves the boundaries of the station and heads towards her wife who is now walking towards her.
"I've missed you," Alison states as she brings Emily into a cuddle, her arms settling around the brunette's neck and Emily leans down to kiss her as a reply because she has missed Alison too, more than she thought she would.
"I've missed you too Isla, don't worry," Emily comments as she leans into the pushchair to place a kiss on the soft skin of Isla's cheek and her daughter lets out a soft murmur in reply.
"I think she's missed you too," Alison comments as she lets Emily push the stroller and the brunette walks for several steps before she releases her left hand and links her fingers with Ali's.
Emily's lunch hour passes quickly, too quickly and all too soon she's coming towards the end of her second cup of coffee, leaving half for Alison who she knows will want to have a 'sip.' And sure enough when she places the mug down, Alison's hand quickly shoots across the booth to take the mug into her own hands.
"I love her Em, I really do but she wears me out, I can't wait until I can get back on coffee full time," Alison states as Emily puts her hand into the pushchair and she smiles when Isla takes her finger.
"I know babe, I wish I didn't have to go back to work," Emily replies as she stands and brushes a few crumbs off her works blazer with her free hand.
"Me neither but it's only for a few more hours and then we can all be together again, it's just a matter of getting settled back into a routine" the blonde answers chirpily and Emily nods in agreement but she knows it will be a different story when Alison needs to go back to work, Emily is already predicting tears and lots of them at that.
After kissing her wife goodbye Alison makes her way home through the park, choosing to sit on an empty bench when she notices Isla is asleep and it's nice to be out in the sunshine but she adjusts the hood on the pushchair just to make sure Isla isn't getting any sun directly on her.
She simply observes for a while before Isla's cry disturbs her and she knows that's her cue to go home but she also knows that it's nearly time to see Emily again and that's enough to get her moving in the direction of their home.
- x -
Alison is only in the door for a few minutes when she hears Emily's car pull into the garage. "Your Mama will be in the door in about five seconds baby," Alison states quietly as she looks down into Isla's eyes and as normal Isla's eyes are looking back at her like she understands what Alison is saying.
"I'm home," Emily calls from the front door as she takes her shoes off and she's soon in the middle of the living room with Isla on her shoulder. "I've missed you Isla," she soothes as she gently rubs her daughters back.
"What about me?" Ali pouts as she stands and tickles Isla's cheek with her finger.
"And I've missed you too," Emily replies as she leans down to press a kiss onto Ali's lips, "by the way Toby asked us around to his and Spencer's tonight they are having a barbeque, Hanna and Aria are going too so I said we would be there with this little one," and Alison nods because it means she doesn't have to cook and when you have a six week old baby that is always a positive.
Alison lies on the living room floor with Isla who is on her back in one of the adorable baby grows that Aria and Ezra bought her, and as Ali delicately tickles her stomach Isla's feet end up in the air and Ali can't help but blow another raspberry on them.
Emily's on the couch fast asleep, seemingly her first day back at work has tired her out to no end but Ali's content to let her sleep because at least she is still in the room with them and that's enough for her.
Alison reaches for her phone which is always close to her now in case she decides to take photos of Isla and she's already added over a hundred photos to her album since her daughter was born, reasons there will probably be hundreds more too. She snaps a few photos before she sits her phone back down beside her and she watches as Isla brings her fist to her mouth, attempting and failing to fit it all inside her mouth.
"Isla what are you doing baby?" Alison whispers as she brings her face down to blow a raspberry on Isla's pink cheek and Isla squirms at the contact before she brings her hand up in an attempt to grab Alison's blonde hair. Alison pulls back as she smiles down at her daughter and that's when it happens again and this time Alison has no doubt that her daughter is smiling back at her.
Isla's eyes are big as they look at Ali and her expression mirrors the blonde's with the exclusion of teeth, all Alison can see is gums. But she's smiling and there's no doubt about it.
"Em, Emily wake up!" Alison calls from her position on the floor and Emily, startled by the alarm in Ali's voice, almost rolls off the couch when she quickly opens her eyes.
"What is it?" Emily replies hastily as she sits up and rubs the sleep out of her eyes and her heart is pounding against her chest. Alison continues to smile as she looks down at Isla and Isla continues to smile back, mirroring her Mommy.
"Isla is smiling at me," and it's enough to get Emily moving off the couch and onto the floor where she watches Isla smile in Ali's direction when the blonde smiles down at her. And Alison's hand clumsily searches the floor for her phone and she's soon taking even more pictures of the six week old whose smile is enough to light up a room even with no teeth.
"This is probably the best thing I have ever seen," Emily admits as she looks down at Isla who is still smiling up at them and she nudges Ali out the way so that she can have her moment with their daughter.
"Can you do it for me baby?" Emily asks as she hovers over Isla and when Emily blows a raspberry on her tiny hand she rewards the brunette with another gummy smile.
"She's doing it for me too," Emily states excitedly and Alison is kneeling beside them with her video on because this is definitely a moment she wants to re watch and she has a feeling that both of them will want to watch it time and time again.
"I thought she smiled at me earlier in the day but she didn't do it again so I brushed it off but now she is definitely smiling," Alison states and Emily can't help but tickle Isla's tummy and this time she's rewarded with a smile and an excited sequel.
"Oh man, I could listen to that sound all day, it's just perfect" Emily states as she looks up at Alison and the blonde has her hand covering her mouth, her blue eyes shimmering with tears.
The brunette sits back on her knees before she puts her arms around the blonde's shoulder bringing Ali's head against her own. "It's just perfect Em, she is just perfect," Alison says as she wipes her tears with her thumb and it's not sad tears it's happy tears. "She has your smile Em," and Emily nods in agreement as they both look down at Isla who is smiling innocently back at them with her feet in the air.
"At least now we have a party trick to show Spencer and the others," Emily reasons as she kisses Ali's head and the blonde can only laugh softly.
- x -
After feeding and changing Isla, they make the short walk to Spencer's and there's smoke already billowing from the back garden. Knocking before they go in they make their way through the house until they reach the kitchen and Spencer is the first to see them.
"Hey guys glad you could make it, Toby is finally starting the food and I think Caleb is bringing a few beers over too when he finishes work" the brunette states as she hooks her arms around both of their necks and I'm also glad you could make it you gorgeous little lady," Spencer adds as she peers inside the pushchair at Isla who, with her tummy full, is fast asleep. "Hanna and Aria are on the seats outside I'm sure they will be thrilled to see you guys too."
And they are. Hanna and Aria both stand to give them a hug before looking into the pushchair, their disappointment at Isla sleeping is evident on their faces. Emily smiles as Spencer's garden starts to fill up, Ezra and Caleb arriving with the beers, before Spencer's Mom drops TJ off and the three year old is currently bouncing a basketball around on the grass and she loves that they are all one big family together.
"You will never guess what Isla done tonight?" Alison gushes as she takes a sip of her water. And Hanna and Aria are on the edge of their seats listening intently. "She smiled at us, both of us for the first time," and there's a few aww's and ahh's that float around their group.
"Do you think she will smile when she wakes up?" Hanna asks hopefully and Alison nods because she thinks it will probably be a regular occurrence now that Isla has already done it.
It's an hour before Isla wakes up and Hanna is the first one over to the pushchair, scooping her up into her arms and smiling down at her in an attempt to get the six week old to smile back at her.
"She won't do it for me," Hanna huffs after one try and Emily can only roll her eyes in the blonde's direction.
"Tickle her stomach, she likes that a lot," Alison replies and the other blonde does as she's told, tickling Isla's stomach while she smiles down at her and this time it works.
"Oh my God Han she's doing it for you too," Aria states as she stands behind Hanna, a grin plastered over her face too and soon Isla is smiling back at them just as Spencer joins them and Alison watches with pride as they all gush over her and Emily's daughter.
"I love you Em, she is the best thing we've ever had and now she's always going to make me smile with her smile, well she makes me smile anyway but you know what I mean," Alison states as she looks up at Emily who has her arm draped across her shoulders as usual.
"I love you too and you're right she is the best thing we've ever had. And she always makes me smile too," Emily replies as she presses a kiss onto Ali's temple.
"Can I have a hold of her?" Caleb asks as he sits next to Hanna and he looks at Ali and Emily while he asks the question, asking their permission and Alison tilts her head slightly in his direction before she speaks.
"You can yeah, but Caleb, if you make my daughter cry I will kick your ass," Alison replies sincerely and everyone in their group begins to laugh.
"Be nice," Emily warns, although her tone is playful and Ali knows the brunette is joking with her.
"That is me being nice," the blonde replies as she turns her head and places a kiss on the corner of Emily's mouth.
