Chapter 55

A dull pain shot across the back of my eyes, annoying and unpleasant. I could feel a migraine coming on.

Rubbing my temples, I sat up in bed and squinted my eyes against the morning light that was filtering in through the window. "Damn Earth rotation," I mumbled quietly.

"You alright?" I jumped. Aaron had just come out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his short brown hair. "You don't look so good."

"Why thank you," I grumbled, getting to my feet and nearly tripping over a stuffed block. "I just have a headache, that's all. It should go away in a while." I rubbed my nose. "Is Hayden up yet?"

"I fed her about an hour ago, and then she fell back asleep. She's really sleepy today." I scooched over to Aaron and wrapped my arms around his waist. "You sure you're okay?" I closed my eyes and lay my head against his chest. His lips were soft against the top of my head.

"Yeah. I just don't feel good.. Tired." He rubbed circles in the middle of my back. I sighed deeply.

"Caitlin.." His voice held a hint of warning, like he knew I wasn't telling him something.

"Aaron, really, I promise you. I'm fine. And if I'm not—" I felt him tense "—I will be, okay? It's just an early morning thing today. I'll be fine." I kissed his breastbone. "I promise you."

"You better promise me, dammit." He kissed my head again. I raised up from his chest and pressed my lips against his. They were warm. His hands cupped my face, and his thumb stroked my cheek. I slid one hand down to his waist and led the other one up to his neck and draped it over his shoulder.

Before anything else could happen, Hayden gave a cry, and we parted so that I could get my daughter out of her crib and Aaron could finish getting dressed.

Hayden cried into my ear, not making the headache situation any better as I rubbed her back and headed downstairs to warm up a small bottle and start our day.

"Shhh, baby girl, it's okay. Mommy's getting your food. Calm down," I told her, despite the fact that she really didn't give a damn.

I filled the bottle with formula and shook it as fast as I could without sending it flying across my kitchen, and then put it on the bottle warmer I splurged for.

Bouncing Hayden up and down for about a minute was quite hard, seeing as she was about 9 pounds now, which was great since she started out at about 5. But it's kind of hard to bounce 9 pounds up and down on your hip for a minute straight while it screams in your ear for a bottle of goop.

"Do you need help?" Aaron asked from behind me, and I jumped.

"Yes," I said, handing him his daughter and grabbing the bottle, shaking it and making sure it wasn't too hot. "Will you please feed her?"

"Of course."

As Aaron set off into the living room with a now quiet baby who was gladly sucking on the bottle, I began to make breakfast for Aaron and I. Eggs and pancakes, here we come.

Aaron pulled me close to him and I relaxed against his warm body, keeping my eye on the bouncer next to me that Hayden was sleeping in.

The sun was slowly setting, and there was a nice, warm breeze fluttering through the trees in the backyard. I laced my fingers through Aaron's and squeezed his hand.

"I love you, Aaron."

"I love you too, Caitlin."

"Did you ever think that we'd come this far, you and I? From hating each other to having a beautiful baby girl and being engaged.. Through everything?"

"Since the day you called me an asshole," he replied, and kissed my head."

I closed my eyes and let the warm breeze carry me away.