Clementine walked into her house after a long day of work, greeted by Luke's delighted screams, "Oh my boy! My sweet boy! Mama will never leave you again!" Clementine squealed as she picked him up, holding him close and smothering his face in kisses.
"Don't lie to the kid." Violet said from the couch with a roll of her eyes. Clementine glared, pushing Violet's feet off the couch so she could sit down. Clementine bounced Luke on her knees, holding onto his hands. Violet pouted, "How was work?"
"As good as it can be, being away from Luke has been so much harder than I thought it would be." Clementine nuzzled her face into the boys belly, making him giggle. "Can I stay home with him forever?"
Violet sat up on the couch so she could look at Clementine better. "We talked about this before Clem. I'm okay with you quitting your job if you want. I just got that promotion, it came with a really good raise, we can make it work."
Clementine frowned, "But we're about to start the in vitro fertilization process soon. We need the extra money. Besides, Brody doesn't charge much to watch Luke, so it's not like we need to offset daycare expenses..."
"If you're not happy then it isn't worth it, we'll be okay. Just think about it... I'll support you no matter what." Violet said, she reached forward pulling Clementine into her chest as she resituated on the couch.
Clementine turned her head to kiss Violet, "I love you."
"I love you too. What time is your family coming over tomorrow?" Violet asked as she reached around and stroked Luke's soft cheek.
"Lee said they'd be here around 5. Do we have any other plans this weekend?" Clementine asked, closing her eyes as she allowed herself to sink into Violet.
"No other plans." Violet reached around Clementine and pulled Luke out of her hands, laying him down on the floor near his toys, "You're going to drop him, you're falling asleep."
"I'm not falling asleep..." Clementine sounded offended as she rotated around, resting her head on Violet's stomach, hugging her around the waist. Violet smiled as she adjusted the pillows behind her and leaned back into them comfortably. She grabbed the remote, looking for a show to binge while stroking Clementine's hair.
"I'm going to start 'the Umbrella Academy'. Is that okay? I've been wanting to watch it for a while." Violet asked.
"Mmhmmm." Clementine responded, snuggling into Violet's stomach. Violet tightened her muscles at the tickling sensation but tried not to let it show. Clementine not so innocently ran her fingers under Violet's shirt and up her sides, rewarded with a laugh escaping Violet's lips.
"Please Clem!" Violet begged, "You know how much I hate being tickled!"
"What? I can't caress my wife's stomach?" Clementine nudged Violet's shirt up with her nose and dug her chin into Violet's abs.
"StooOOoop!" Violet shrieked, laughing against her will as tears leaked out of her eyes. Luke looked worriedly up at the two of them, his bottom lip started quivering. "Clem... stop... Luke...!" she managed between gasps for air but Clementine was relentless.
A cry rang out, Clementine immediately stopped her attack and picked Luke off the ground as he wailed, lip trembling. "It's okay Luke, mommy's okay."
"Speak for yourself!" Violet pouted, taking Luke from Clementine, "Your mama is a bully. A bully." She rubbed her nose against his and he calmed down. "He thought you were hurting me, you big bully."
Clementine frowned, seeing his watery green eyes, "Mama's sorry Lukey," she kissed his squishy cheek. "I'm going to grab Luke his dinner and order us some pizza. I'll get your favorite to make it up to you."
Violet's face lit up, "Barbecue chicken? Yeeees." Clementine rolled her eyes as she grabbed a jar of sweet potatoes, a spoon and a bib, then clicked on the Papa John's app on her phone to order the pizza. Violet stood up and slipped Luke into his high chair and buckled him in.
"Let me feed him," Violet took the stuff from Clementine, and attached the bib around Luke's neck. "I know you like to shower after work, go ahead, hopefully the pizza will be here when you get back."
Clementine kissed Violet's cheek gratefully and headed to the bathroom. As Violet finished feeding Luke, a knock came at the door. She threw down the bib she had just used to wipe up his face and ran to the door to get the pizza.
When Clementine came back into the living room, rubbing her damp hair with a towel, wearing her pj pants and nursing tank top, Violet was changing Luke into his pajamas. She was squeezing his toes as she went, causing Luke to squeal in delight when Violet squeezed his pinkie toe and said, "And this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home!" as she tickled him from his leg all the way up to his double chin. Clementine's heart swelled at the sight, she didn't think she could love two people any more if she tried.
Clementine rubbed Violet's back as she approached the two. "I need to breast feed him, before I put him down for bed." She picked him up and sat on the couch, reaching up to unhook her tank top as Violet stared. "Aren't you going to eat? While it's still warm?" Clementine asked quizzically.
"In a minute." Violet assured, not taking her eyes away as Clementine unhooked the snap.
"Really?" Clementine laughed, "this is nothing you haven't seen before..."
"And I want to see it again." Violet raised her eyebrows, Clementine rolled her eyes as she continued to undress, earning a cat call from Violet that made Clementine's cheeks heat up. Once she was feeding Luke, Violet got up and pulled a couple of plates out of the cabinet, setting them on the counter.
Luke's eyelids fluttered as he ate, finally succumbing to sleep when he was done. Clementine attempted to situate her clothing one armed when Violet scooped him up and put him on her shoulder, rubbing her hand in circles on his back, waiting for him to burp. Once he did Violet carried him to his room and laid him down in the crib.
Violet walked back into the living room, Clementine was on the couch enveloped in a giant blanket with a plate of pizza on her lap. Violet grinned as she grabbed her own plate, taking a second helping, and snuggling beside the brunette, pulling some of the blanket onto herself. She grabbed the remote and started the show.
After watching a few episodes, Violet reached for the remote to find Clementine sleeping soundly beside her. Violet nudged her wife on the shoulder, "Clem. Cleeeeeeem." she stirred but didn't awaken. All the late night feedings were catching up with her hard. Violet stuck her arms underneath her back and knees and lifted Clementine with some difficulty and carried her to the bedroom, which she was thankful wasn't too far away.
Violet laid her gently on her side of the bed, pulled the covers up over her and kissed her goodnight. Violet changed into a baggy t-shirt, peeked in at Luke to make sure he was still breathing and went to bed as well.
Violet's eyes fluttered open, she had been sleeping for a while but it was still dark out. She looked at her phone, it was 3am, she rolled over intending to wrap her arm around Clementine but stopped when she bumped into another presence in the bed.
Their six month old baby boy was laying between them, arms above his head and face looking about as content as a face could look. Violet groaned. He looked like he was in heaven, moonlight shining on his blonde hair like a halo, she had to tear her eyes away or she would give in, "Clementine..."
"Hm?" She actually responded, eyes still closed, arms above her head, looking very similar to Luke.
"We agreed that Luke shouldn't sleep in the bed anymore, he needs to be in his crib." Violet whispered, trying not to wake the baby.
"Mmhm" Clementine responded, not really understanding what she was saying. Violet stared at her wife for a few more seconds before growling to herself and picking up her son, careful to not wake him she carried him back to his crib and went back to bed feeling a little miffed.
"Clementine. Why was Luke in our bed?" Violet asked, too frustrated to just drop it, she scooted close to her wife, looking into her angelic face, trying not to let her resolve crack.
"Luke was in our bed?" Clementine asked, voice groggy.
"Yes, why did you bring him in the bed?" Violet asked again, starting to smile at Clementine who was still not opening her eyes.
"I'm too tired to feed him in the rocking chair, I'm just going to feed him in bed and then I'll lay him back down." Clementine answered, oblivious to the fact that she was not feeding the baby and that he was in fact no longer even in the bed.
"I put him back for you." Violet said, moving in even closer, eyeing her exposed collar bone.
"I love you." Clementine mumbled.
Violet leaned in, kissing the crook of her neck. "I'm sleeping..." Clementine muttered. Violet sucked lightly, sticking her fingers into the band of her pajama pants, Clementine squirmed at her touch. "I-I'm sleeping..." Clementine repeated.
"Okay, fine." Violet sighed as she moved her hand away slowly, only to have Clementine grab it to keep it in place.
"Maybe... maybe just a quickie." Clementine said shakily, Violet looked up into Clementine's now open eyes and grinned.
Violet was woken up by Luke's cries amplified through the baby monitor. She carefully reached over Clementine to turn off the monitor that was sitting on her nightstand, glad that it hadn't woken her up. Violet stretched and got up from the bed, looking at her phone, it was 6am. Violet dragged her feet into Luke's room and picked him up. She attempted to rock him back to sleep but he only screamed louder when Violet had no milk to offer. Sighing she stood and went into the kitchen to warm up a bottle so that Clementine could sleep in.
Several hours later Clementine awoke, noticing the empty spot beside her. Eager to spend the Saturday with her family she got out of bed and found the two of them lying on the living room floor. Violet was laying on her back, Luke was half on her stomach, half on the floor and a blanket was haphazardly draped over the two of them. They were both asleep, cartoons playing on the tv and Clementine smiled.
She didn't want to bother them so she went into the kitchen to make breakfast. Clementine's goal was to let Violet keep sleeping, as the aroma of bacon filled the house, she realized she had made a mistake. It wasn't long before Violet was wrapping her arms around her from behind, "Mmmmm..." she mumbled into Clementine's neck.
"Me or the bacon?" Clementine laughed.
"Both." Violet smiled, kissing her softly.
"I'm making pancakes too, do you want chocolate chips."
"Yeeeees, with whipped cream!" Violet said excitedly.
"I think we have some left, check the fridge, we go through it pretty quickly." Clementine said, "As soon as we finish breakfast, I need to pump. I didn't feed Luke this morning and I'm... full. Then we need to clean up the house since Lee and Carley are coming over."
"You got it boss." Violet went to check the fridge, smiling when she found the whipped cream hiding in the back.
After breakfast was cooked Clementine peeked at Luke, still snoozing on the floor. When she went back into the kitchen Violet was licking her lips, staring at her stack of chocolate chip pancakes and side of bacon. "Thanks Clem, it looks amazing!"
Clementine laughed at the amount of syrup and whipped cream topping her pancake stack.
"What?" Violet asked, shoving a heaping forkful into her mouth.
"You're adorable and I love you." Clementine grinned lovingly at her wife. Violet raised her eyebrow and shook her head confused, cheeks bulging with pancake. Clementine only smiled brighter.
At five o'clock on the dot, the doorbell rang. Clementine was rushing around, folding a stray blanket last minute before running to the door. As she opened it, AJ nearly tackled Clementine to the ground.
"Hey there goofball!" Clementine grinned, ruffling his hair.
AJ frowned momentarily before smiling again. "Where's the baby?"
"Violet's bathing him, they should be out any minute buddy." Clementine turned to embrace Lee.
"How're you doing sweet pea?" Lee asked, giving her a squeeze.
"So good Lee." Clementine pressed her face into his chest, enjoying the comfort she always felt in his arms. Lee released her and she moved on to hug Carley.
"Hey Carley, thanks for coming over." Clementine stepped away and led them all into the living room. Carley and Clem sat on the couch, Lee sat in the recliner and AJ sat on the floor, ready to play with Luke. As they all settled in Violet walked out holding a fresh clean Luke in footy pajamas, the group collectively 'awww'd' as they saw him. Carley jumped from her seat, cutting off AJ's approach and grabbing him from Violet. AJ slumped back on the ground, crossing his arms angrily.
"Come to Cici!" Carley cried, hugging the boy and smelling his sweet head.
"Cici?" Clementine giggled.
Lee smiled, "Carley's trying out Grandma names."
"You don't like it?" Carley frowned, "It took me a long time to come up with that..."
"Nonono, it's cute." Clementine tried to reassure her, "What's your Grandpa name going to be Lee?"
"I was thinking he could just call me Grandpa." Lee shrugged.
"It's perfect." Clementine smiled.
Violet nodded, "I can see you as a Grandpa, simple, classic, strong." Violet sat next to Clementine on the couch, taking her hand in both of hers.
"Sure... his is perfect... he didn't even try." Carley said in a high pitched baby voice, as she bounced Luke on her hip and tickled his neck.
"They're just trying to flatter me, hun. They must need money or something." Lee laughed.
"Can you put Luke down so I can play with him now pleeeeeease?" AJ begged. Carley sighed and sat down on the floor, setting Luke down between them. AJ grabbed a disco broccoli toy laying on the ground and squeaked it above Luke's head. Luke followed it with his eyes, cooing and giggling. Every time Luke giggled AJ giggled, everyone in the room watched and smiled at them for a minute.
Clementine broke her eyes away from the adorable distraction, "No, we don't need any money Lee but we do have something we wanted to tell you. We don't know how long it could take, and we don't want our kids too far apart in age so... we're about to start trying for another baby."
Carley and Lee looked away from AJ and Luke, staring at Clementine with serious eyes, "Clem, honey, do you think that's a good idea? Especially this soon and after your... complications?" Carley asked concerned.
"I'm with Carley sweet pea, I don't know if that's a good idea." Lee sounded worried.
"You don't have to worry." Violet spoke up before anyone got too upset, she loved Lee and Carley like her own parents but they still intimidated the heck out of her. "I'm not letting Clem go through that again, I'm doing it this time." They were quiet for a moment, only the sound of AJ and Luke's giggles breaking the silence.
Carley stood up, sitting next to Violet on the couch, wrapping her arms around her in a hug, "I hope it all works out sweetheart."
"Thank you!" Violet returned the hug.
"When do you start trying?" Carley asked.
"They are extracting Clem's eggs on Monday and implanting them in me on Friday if all goes well," saying it out loud made it feel so real, Violet leaned back in her seat, starting to feel nervous. Clementine saw the look on her face and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
"Dinner's ready if everyone's hungry?" Clementine said, changing the conversation.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a leg!" Lee said, standing from his chair, rubbing his hands together hungrily. "It smells so good Clem, can't wait to dig in."
"I'd like to take the credit," Clementine stood, pulling Violet up with her, "but Violet did it all. She's a great cook." Clementine nudged her smiling.
Violet rubbed the back of her neck embarrassed. "My friend Omar taught me a few recipes, I'm not that great."
Clementine hugged her wife, "Don't be so modest. She's amazing."
Lee, Carley and AJ hugged everyone after dessert, thanking them for inviting them over before leaving for the night. Carley had put Luke down to bed before they left, leaving the couple alone as soon as they closed the door behind their family.
"Dinner was amazing Vi. Thank you for spending time with my family." Clementine said, locking her hands behind Violets head, pulling her in for a kiss.
"They're my family too Clem, I like spending time with them." Violet smiled.
"Great, so I don't need to thank you then." Clementine patted Violet on the cheek and walked back towards the bedroom.
"I- but- I made dinner!" Violet whined, following behind her.