"I'm not sure how to do this." Michaela sighed, and Sully gently patted her arm.
"Just do what feels right, 'Chaela."
They were on the couch in their house, and Joseph –or Joey as they preferred calling him was eyeing his mother expectantly.
Michaela took a deep breath and undid the buttons in her blouse. At her movement Joey began grunting and soon he let out an impatient wail.
"Sssh… she's ready soon", Sully caressed the infant's head, and met his wife's gaze.
The moment Joey had started wailing her breasts had gone all tense and bringing him to her breast was a relief.
"You're so beautiful" Sully kissed her forehead seeing the insecurity on her face.
A soft knock sounded on the door, and they both looked up.
"I'll get it.." Sully motioned to move, but the door opened, and Charlotte peaked in.
"I hope you don't mind me letting myself in. I know what it's like when you're tied to the sofa with the baby" she smiled, and Sully gave her a light hug.
"Come on in, Charlotte. I'll get you a coffee." He lowered his voice a little
"Will you speak some confidence into her?"
Charlotte smiled at him seeing his worried look and nodded.
"What is this I hear?" Charlotte joined Michaela on the sofa.
Michaela gave her a small smile, and caressed Joseph.
"He is feeding well" Charlotte stated, and Michaela nodded feeling all emotional.
"I know, but I worry about him all the time."
"That's normal –especially with your first. You're learning –getting to know Joseph and your new role as a mother,
but you're very lucky to have Sully here to help you out."
Charlotte leaned closer lowering her voice a litte "-and from what I hear he happens to think you're the best."
They laughed a little together, and Charlotte exclaimed "but tell me what brought around this change in you?
When I saw you only last week you were so confident.
Michaela sighed a little gently moving Joseph to her other breast to feed.
Her eyes were on the baby when she answered as if she was afraid to meet Charlotte's gaze.
"I guess…. I guess my mother happened…"
"Oh.." Charlotte sipped her coffee contemplating what to say, but Michaela beat her to it.
"She just makes me feel so insecure sometimes, like I don't know what I'm doing".
"But you do know… I can tell just by looking at you. Trust me Michaela." Charlotte smiled, and Michaela nodded.
"Yes, I know it's silly."
Joseph had stopped feeding, and she brought him up to burb while talking, and Charlotte could not help smiling even more.
"Just look at you. You're doing all the right things without even thinking about it. Just trust yourself some more.
You're doing wonderfully. Now let me hold my godson."
Michaela handed Charlotte Joseph, and that moment Sully came in the door with Wolf at his heels.
His eyes smiled at her, and he joined her on the sofa.
"Are you feeling better?" he kissed her temple, and she simply nodded leaning into his shoulder and his steady arm.
"Did I tell you how much I love you?" Sully caressed her cheek, and she blushed a little suddenly acutely aware of Charlotte's presence.
That evening Michaela sat on the porch enjoying the sunset while Sully tucked in Joseph.
She had thought a lot about the way her life had turned out lately.
Maybe it was part of becoming a mother, but she was just more sentimental than usual.
"What are you thinking about?" Sully joined her on the porch handing her a hot coffee.
She went silent for a little, and he gave her a questioning look.
"Hmm?"
She sighed deeply and leaned into him.
"I'm thinking about how blessed I am…. Where I…. no where we are now…." She felt him nod his head.
"I know what you mean –we've been through a lot to get to this point." He sipped his coffee, and she looked down at the warm liquid in her mug.
"I was thinking about Charles…" she mumbled feeling a little teary all of a sudden.
Sully sensed how her mood changed. "Why is that?" he queried, and she shrugged her shoulders.
"I was just thinking how much he missed out on – in his decision not to have children."
Sully could not help but feel a little torn…
"Are you sorry you did not have children together?" he finally asked not knowing if he wanted to know the answer.
"I guess… had I stayed with him and had he still been alive… I would have been sorry.
But you know something amazing happened that brought you back into my life."
She met his gaze and saw the doubt there.
"I was not meant to have children with Charles. Then it would have happened.
I truly believe that we … " she put her hand on his heart.
"We were meant to be together from that very first time we met , through our separation and the trials we went to until now.
It has been a long journey toward happiness andnow it finally makes sense.
You and I, Sully… somehow it was always you" She leaned close and kissed him softly.
"We were meant to create this wonderful boy who's sleeping right now, and we were chosen to take care of him and to teach him about life."
Sully smiled at her answer – she had always been so good with words.
"I couldn't agree more. But I hope more will come along than just Joseph."
He had that twinkle in his eyes that she loved so much.
"So do I…" she smiled, and they kissed softly, silently sealing the pact between them.
- The End -
Author's note: To all of my readers thank you so much for sticking with the story. Thanks for giving it a go even if it is different than most MS stories.