They set a routine really quickly, they were both at home together for two months that would have been the worst ones actually so she was glad Crown gave Cal those two months off so he could help her. Alison turned out to be one of those babies who actually slept during night and woke up just one or two times so they were lucky, but it actually took a lot to make her sleep again. They had set shifts, Emily would wake up the first time and Cal the second, then the following day Cal would wake up first and let Emily take care of it the second time. It wasn't that exhausting for now, Cal had overcame his fear to drop Alison and now he walked around the house with her in his arms even for hours.
Cal's parents came to visit again the following month, Emily's dad and Jack too, but they still had to check a few things to make it possible for Nick and Flynn to come. Cal's parents had bought Alison a lamp that projected stars on the ceiling, obviously they had to use it when she would be a little older but she seemed to like the colors when they turned it on. There also was a moment when she took the opportunity to take a shower and Cal took the opportunity to talk to his parents in private, she didn't know what he told them but the conversation stopped as soon as she got into the room, which made her think it was something private and no one of her business.
It was a normal week day when their doorbell rang. They weren't expecting anyone so Emily got up from the couch to see who it was. When she opened the door a pair of arms wrapped around her waist as she saw Nick standing in front of her.
"I missed you mum" Flynn said, hugging her tight.
"I missed you too baby" she laid her head on his shoulder, breathing him in.
She had missed him so much during the last months and even though she had heard from him on the phone, she was just so glad he was fine and finally there with her. She kissed the top of his head as a few tears escaped her eyes.
"Please come in" she said sniffing and allowing them to enter the house.
She gave a hug to Nick too, she was glad to know they were both ok.
"Hey guys" said Cal heading into their direction.
"Hey Cal, how are you guys doing" Nick greeted him.
"We're fine" he said, looking at Emily and then down at Alison in his arms.
"She is beautiful" Nick said looking at her.
"Can ai hold her?" Flynn asked.
"Uhm sure, here" Cal said as he showed Flynn how to hold Alison at the best.
They talked for a while as Flynn became more and more comfortable around Alison. Emily was actually scared of how Flynn would have reacted to the news of having a little sister, since he experienced Alice's miscarriage, but it looked like he was ok with it. More than ok actually, he only started panicking when Alison suddenly started crying. Emily assumed she was hungry so she excused herself from the conversation and proceeded to feed her.
Nick and Flynn stayed for dinner, they ate all together and before she could even realize it, they were leaving. She had to prevent her tears from falling, she had missed his son so much, saying goodbye to him after just a few hours together broke her heart. Alison fall asleep and gave no sign of waking up soon so they decided to settle her in her crib to be more comfortable.
"We'll be back soon Emily" Nick reassured her, getting a nod as an answer.
"Be safe guys" she kissed Flynn's head and she stroked his cheek softly, he looked so grown from the last time she saw him.
"We will mum. And talk about me with Alison, so when I'll come back she can recognize me" Flynn said.
"I always talk to her about you" Emily answered, it was true, she had always told her about her big brother who lived far away.
She smiled, it was a fake one, to prevent her from crying but it was working for now, although she knew Flynn understood she was sad.
Flynn smiled back, saying goodbye to them and leaving the house with Nick. Once the door closed her smile faded and Cal opened his arms to her like it was the most natural thing ever. She threw herself in his embrace, hiding her face in the crook of his neck as his arms wrapped around her.
"I really don't know how you can do this. I didn't know before and now more than ever I think you are so strong Em. I couldn't imagine staying away from Alison for that much without getting crazy" he gently rubbed his arms around her as she snuggled more into his chest.
"The only think that keeps me from breaking down constantly is knowing we're doing this for his safety. He is safe now and that's all that matters for me. I can't imagine living in a world where I know he is not safe. When we took down Meridian and I saw that photo hanging on my window glass I was so scared, it was one of the scariest moments of my life and I've been tortured for six years... I just want my son to be safe and if that means seeing him once in a while I will deal with it. Even if it's breaking me into pieces" she sniffed into his shoulder, she hated breaking down in front of people but it was Cal, he had always been there for her.
"I bet it is. Since Alison is born I have this pure love that I have never felt for anyone before and just the thought of her not being safe makes my heart shatter" he admitted.
"It always will, and they will always be your baby, no matter the age" she stated, looking up at him with glossy eyes.
"He is so proud of you Emily, it legit looks like you're a superhero at his eyes" he stroked her cheeks softly, swiping away her tears.
She knew Flynn looked up at her but that didn't stop her from not thinking he didn't like this situation and maybe that he blamed her for everything they went through, also because he didn't know the truth about Alice.
Emily looked up at Cal, smiling softly at him that, once again, was there for her. She loved him more than she had ever loved anyone, he understood her completely and even thought that scared the hell out of her, it also made her realize how pure were her feelings for him. She raised on her tiptoes to kiss his lips softly, her arms immediately wrapping around his neck like they were used to. Their lips parted, allowing their tongues to share a long and slow kiss, wrapped in a tight hug.
"I love you" she breathed on his lips before kissing him again.
"I love you too, so much" he pecked her lips, swiping some hair from her face and staring into her eyes.
A sudden cry interrupted their moment and they both chuckled. Cal went straight to Alison's room and picked her up, bringing her back to the living room.
"Someone's up and I think she is hungry" Cal stated.
"Let me take her" Emily said, taking Alison in her arms and sitting on the couch to feed her.
"You know I can do that too if you want" he said sitting next to her.
"You wanna breastfeed our daughter? I think you don't have a fundamental thing to do it" she chuckled.
"I know, but what about baby bottle? Do you think we can do that?" he asked, he wanted to be as usefully as he could.
He knew he couldn't breastfeed her, but maybe he could give her a bottle so Emily wouldn't do it every time. There were some days where Emily was just exhausted and sleeping on the couch in the afternoon and he had to wake her up so Alison could eat.
"It's ok, I'm gonna keep doing this as much as I can. It kinda hurts, I can't deny it. But it like our moment, so I like it" she looked down at the baby in her arms, she wanted to enjoy everything fully, she will miss those moments in the future.
"It's ok. You have this and I'll have our moment when she'll ask me to go to the tattoo shop with her... or to teach her to ride a bike" he pointed out.
"Ok first of all IF she will want a tattoo, and like we said she's gonna be at least 18. Second, I'll be the one teaching her to ride a bike because I'm the one who rides between us" she raised an eyebrow at him, teasingly.
"Well I can't deny this" he said looking back at her.
They spent the rest of the day on the couch, watching a movie and enjoying cuddling with their daughter. It was actually pretty usual for them to just cuddle with her when she was awake, otherwise they used to put her in the crib once she fell asleep just not to bother her with the tv sound or sudden movements.
Alison fall asleep just before the end of the movie so Cal stopped to allow Emily to take her to her crib and settle her down for the night before coming back to him. He extended his arm to her to let her cuddle against him in their, now normal, position. Emily had her head on his chest and her hands were drained random patterns on it, his arms were shooting up and down her arms, caressing them and spreading some warmth on her body.
Once the movie was over Cal felt Emily's breath slowing down, a sign that she either was falling asleep or she already was.
"Emily" he whispered turning off the tv, no answer.
"Em we need to go to bed" he called her again, running a hand through her hair, she let out a disappointing sound, getting away from his chest and just letting her head fall on the back of the couch.
Cal got up, waiting for her to get up and follow him but he didn't.
"Are you gonna sleep there?" he chuckled, making her chuckle too, but she just was too tired to get up, she didn't even opened her eyes.
"You know the bed is way more comfortable, you just have to stand up" he laughed again.
"Don't wanna. 'M tired" she said sleepy.
"So what's your plan?" he asked and she extended her arms to him, smiling and slightly opening one eye to look at him.
"Are you serious?" he chuckled and she nodded.
"Alright" he said getting closer to her and picking her up.
She wrapped her legs around his torso and laid her head on his shoulder as she carried her to their bedroom.
"At least lay down by yourself" he chuckled, he knew she wasn't asleep and she had been struggling with back pain sometimes so he didn't want to make any movement that might hurt her.
She freed herself from his embrace and curled up on the bed waiting for him. As he laid down he wrapped his arms around her body, spooning her and leaving a kiss on her neck. She cuddled against his chest in one of their normal sleeping positions as she tried to warm herself up under the covers, the weather was slowly starting to get colder and colder and suddenly she couldn't stop thinking about how their first Christmas together would have been.
She let her eyes close and slowly start to fall asleep hearing his steady heartbeat. Unfortunately her sleep wouldn't last long because Alison woke uparound 1amand since it was her turn to take care of her she had to get up. Positioning herself in the rocking chair near the window, she tried to calm her baby down while she stared at the city lights.