A week later, Sunday, January 31, 2049

Bayley's P.O.V.

It's been a crazy 2 weeks since Rawlings has been home with us. I've had the help from my parents, siblings, and Taylor's mother too. Of course I'm not looking forward to having Taylor leave for school in four weeks and work. He'll be gone from 7:00AM to 9PM. I should be lucky that I'm not a single mother. Taylor requested to have six weeks off after knowing when she was coming to help me. I'm glad I had him for two weeks so far, and I'm going to miss having him help me at night. I decided by myself I'd have him sleep because God damn it, I'm not the one who will have 8 hours of school and then working 8 hours with his dad.

I can't imagine having that much pressure on his shoulders. Plus, he's trying to do well for his last semester of school before graduating in June. He decided not to go to prom because he thought it would be worthless on money with a baby. By that time though, Rawlings would be five months old. Plus, I know he'd want me to go to prom instead, so I guess it works both ways. He'd still get the experience of being at prom.

Today, we are doing Rawlings newborn photos. I wanted to have a schedule down before getting them done. I've been trying to do my homework as well too. After I'm done with an assignment, I have my brother drop it off with my teachers. If it's a test, I email it to my teacher. I only can get so much work done before I fall asleep with my laptop on my lap on the bed.

Taylor, of course, takes my laptop off my lap when I fall asleep because of my c section scar, which is still healing. I try to do my homework in my dad's office when he's not home, but by the time he is home, I'm exhausted to do anything kind of homework. Taylor, on the other hand, is working his ass off for his chances to graduate with good grades for Rawlings's future, and mine.

My mom is taking Rawlings's newborn photos. With her being two weeks old, I don't trust anyone else to do them with her being so small, and the strong chances of her getting sick with the flu season and RSV is a real thing. Brayden and I both had RSV as babies, and we both almost died. It's scary. I don't want the same thing happen with my baby.

This morning was like a normal one for us. We were awoken up by Rawlings's cries at 5:45AM. After not getting much sleep last night because of Rawlings being fussy, we were both were zombies. I pick up Rawlings, lay her on my shoulder, holding her close to me, and I start breastfeeding her while Taylor walks downstairs to get started on our breakfast.

After I breastfed my daughter, I change her and then carry her downstairs with me. I walk her over to her swing and lay her down in her swing. She was asleep. I sigh out of relief, as I walk over to the coffee machine, grab a Starbucks k cup, take the other one out, grab a coffee cup and start brewing the coffee. I open the fridge, grabs my coffee creamer and grab the sugar. After the coffee was brewed, I poured the coffee creamer and sugar in my cup. After I was done, Taylor made his cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Bay." Taylor leans in and kisses me. I smile in the kiss before pulling away. "Good morning, Tay."

"Are you excited about today?" He asks me. I nod my head. "Yeah, I am. I've been waiting for this day since she's been born."

"Me too, babe. We have some photos, but they're from our phones. Not professional photos, that your mom does as a hobby." He smiles at me. He finishes cooking our breakfast, we eat our breakfast and then watch TV together for a good hour before Rawlings wakes up again.

Sleep is not a thing anymore for us. For the past two weeks, sleep hasn't been a thing. We probably got only four hours of sleep, but it was on and off. Sounds good, right?

After taking care of her, I grab my laptop off of my desk in my room, I began working on some homework with Taylor working on his while Rawlings sleeps. We get most of work done for the morning. By 11:00AM, we finished our work for our teachers. It was always overwhelming majority of how much we'd have to do. I don't know if we'd get all of this done in his four week leave now, and my eight week leave. But, now six more weeks for me.

Ayliana has asked me if she'd babysit for me until April. By that time, Rawlings would be old enough to start daycare. Am I nervous about that? Yeah, I am. I'm thankful for Ayliana. She wants to help with her granddaughter.

After hours of taking care of Rawlings, I hear the garage opening, I hear my mom walking into the house via the garage. I smile at her, with Rawlings in my arms.

"Hi, baby girl." Mom says, kissing Rawlings's head, then hugging me and Taylor. "How was your day you two?"

Taylor laughs. "Tiring. I'm surprised we were able to get homework done. That little girl wanted us all the time."

Mom chuckles. "I've been there." She takes Rawlings from me. "Did she eat? Are you two ready for her newborn photos?"

I nod. "She did. Ten minutes ago. She should be good for the next hour or so."

Mom nods. "Alright. Let's get to work."

Her first photo, I changed her into a lace onesie and placed her in a flower bed. She was asleep peacefully.

The next photo was her in a white onesie with a pink bow and pink socks. She was laying on a flower blanket.

The third photo she was in a lace onesie with a pink bow and she was smiling in her sleep.

Her last photo by herself, she was in a pink outfit with a flower bow. She was a good baby. Before we were able to get some family photos, she began getting hungry, so I feed and changed her again.

Finally, we got some family photos done.

It went well. She was a good baby during that time too. How did we get so lucky to have a good baby who loves photos? I can't wait to frame these.

After the photos were done, Taylor and I got more homework done. I never thought I'd be able to get all my homework with a newborn baby. Mom helped as much as she could since she had my baby sister.

°°°
By 5:O0PM, Taylor and I decided to cook dinner for the family as a thank you for all of the help. Taylor's parents and sister came over for dinner as well.

Dad smiles. "Sweetie, you didn't have to do this. But thank you."

I look at my dad. "You're welcome. We figured the only thing we could do with Rawlings, was cook dinner."

Mom smiles. "Regardless, it's amazing."

Ayliana chuckles. "Thank me. I taught him how to cook at 14. He wanted to learn so I couldn't say no. He insisted."

Mom smiles. "You did a great job. This is so freaking amazing."

Taylor smiles. "Well, I had Bayley's help. She did the vegetables, while I did the hamburgers."

Brooke looks at Taylor. "You can make my lunches from now on."

He chuckles. "Well, I'd love to, but I can't do that."

She frowns. He laughs. "You'll survive."

After dinner, I did the dishes and then decided to take a quick shower before Rawlings woke up. She did wake up when I was in the shower, but just needed to be rocked and changed. I can't tell you how many diapers we went through in the last two weeks.

Taylor had to get more diapers and wipes the other day. With me having a monthly payment, I decided to take care of the diapers and wipes for the next four weeks since Taylor only gets paid every two weeks. He wanted to save up for a few weeks since he's had paid for basically double everything for his place and my parents' house. I couldn't imagine having to pay that much for one baby. One fucking child. Yes, I know I said what I said. But, it's fucking true. I paid for what I could. With how little I make a month, I can't pay for big purchases.

(AN: This true. I only get paid once a month and almost half, maybe a little more of what I make goes to bills. Social security is full of bullshit 100%. People who are on social security are basically under the poverty line. Under...Think about that for a minute before continuing.)

Later that night, Taylor took a shower and I had fallen asleep on my bed for a good hour, while Taylor worked on his exams his teacher sent him. Instead of napping, he did his exams and emailed them to his teacher.

Twenty minutes before I was going to wake up, I heard Rawlings crying, made me jump up and I reached over my bed, where her bassinet was, and I picked her up and layed her on the bed to check her diaper. After realizing she was hungry- again. I fixed my shirt so I could breastfeed her.

She has had a bottle once, and that was because I was too tired to get out of my shirt. She hasn't had an issue with breastfeeding.

After feeding Rawlings, I layed her down once again. I saw Taylor finish his schooling, he turned to me.

"I haven't asked how you've been doing lately. How are you feeling? How are you doing?" He asks me when I layed back on my pillow.

I turn to face him. I gave a smile, but then I realized he wanted the raw and realistic, not a lie that I was going to say. I let out a sigh.

"Well, I'm exhausted. I'm tired. Like, really tired. It feels like she's been here for a month and I haven't gotten much sleep. We both haven't gotten much sleep. I can't complain. It could be worse for me..." I feel tears coming to my eyes, but I fight them away.

"You had a choice to leave, Taylor. I didn't have a choice, expect give my baby up for adoption or raise her with or without you. I knew I had to prepare myself for the worse outcome when I first told you I was pregnant..." This time I didn't fight my tears from streaming down my face.

"I was naive to think you would date me at first. I was the Cerebral Palsy girl. That's all people at school thought of me...until you came into my life..." I look at him with tears falling down my face. I probably look so horrible right now. Not beautiful at all.

No makeup, acne, stretch marks, and fat. Yes, most of the weight gain has gone down since I gave birth, but I still had a few pounds to loose before I could be back in my normal size before Rawlings came into the picture.

Taylor just stared at me in complete shock. He didn't expect me to have that much in my thoughts. He reached for my hand, picked it up and kisses my hand before wiping away my now hot tears that were still falling down my face.

"Bayley..." He mutters, so quiet I almost didn't hear him. "I-I didn't know you were holding all of that in..." He whispers. "You really thought I'd abandon you and my baby?" He asks.

I waited a minute before nodding my head without saying a word.

"I couldn't imagine my life without you. Leaving was the last thing I ever thought about. I know we are young, but I knew what I wanted, and that was you. I didn't give a fuck if you had a disability or not. Cerebral Palsy is apart of who you are, Bayley. I love everything about you. Never, ever think that I'd leave you..."

He lifted my left hand. "You are going to be my wife, and I can't wait to make you my forever partner..." He leans over and kisses me slowly, but with a lot of passion.

Suddenly all my worries went away. I ran my fingers throw his hair, making him groan into my mouth. After a long make out session, we finally pulled away. Breathless, I looked him into his eyes.

"I love you. Thank you, I needed to hear that. I guess I get overwhelmed, knowing you could walk out on me any time and I would be a single mother-" Before I could finish my sentence, he shook his head, shushing me. "Shhh. When I told you I was all in for this, I was serious, Bayley, I'm in this with you 1,000%. You will never be a single mother. Not over my dead body..."

I let out a little laugh. "That sounded wrong because I'd be a single mother if you were dead, Tay."

He laughs too. "I know, but you know what I mean..."

"I do." I nod my head. I yawn soon after, and Taylor looks at his phone.

12:00AM. He shakes his head. "Let's get to bed before Rawlings wakes up." He suggests, and I nod. He pulls me into his arms before shutting off the bedside lamp.

Not even minutes later, we were both passed out. It was probably the best hour of sleep I ever gotten.

And, yes, 1:00AM rolled around and on the dot, Rawlings began crying again.

For the rest of the night, Taylor and I were up every 2 to 3 hours to feed, burp, rock and change our daughter.

Let's just say, it was the longest night of my life. When five in the morning came, I just fucking decided to get up. What was the point? I couldn't go back to sleep, neither could Taylor.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was laying in bed typing the rest of this last night. I'm about to head off to bed. ❤️ Don't forget to follow, comment and favorite! 3 I love you. ❤️