Chapter 3

9 weeks after giving birth

"I don't think that looks right, Captain." Candy was sitting on the parlor floor with Captain Gregg, who was giving his best effort into changing baby's nappy.

"I think that it will be just fine, Candy. Ouch! Blasted diaper pin!"

He held the baby up in front of them. A little wiggling from baby and the diaper slipped down and landed on the floor. It was soon followed by a stream of urine. The two scrambled to control the mess and baby just gave a toothless smile.

"Blast! There must be a trick to this."

"Let's try this way, Captain."

Candy brought over a clean diaper cloth. Between the two of them, they managed to get the contraption on baby along with the rubber pants. She also found some layette clothes for baby. Then Candy left to go spend time with some of her friends to play volleyball.

Daniel held the infant in his arms. It was a feeling like no other that he had experienced. She was a part of him. He had given up the idea of having his own children once he had passed into the afterlife, but here she was. He brought the infant close to his face and whispered to her. She cooed and reached out her hand to touch his face. The little fingers found his beard and closed around the hairs. She kicked and pulled his beard.

"Ouch!" Daniel attempted to loosen the strong little grip. Carolyn came through the front door with shopping bags in hand.

"I'm home!"

Baby heard Mom and let go of Daniel. She tried to follow the sound of her mother's voice. Daniel walked over to his wife.

"Let's go upstairs, Daniel. I need to nurse."

The Captain followed his wife to their master cabin. Carolyn took off her coat to reveal two large wet places on her top where milk had leaked through.

"Oh, my dear." Daniel was sympathetic at the sight.

She removed the soiled garment and reached for their baby, who began to nurse.

A mother nursing her infant was a magical time. Captain Gregg could recognize this, but he still had some difficulty watching. He kept having to remind himself that she would not be nursing forever. Instead, he sorted through one the shopping bags and came across three identical small items.

"What are these, my love?"

Carolyn chuckled "Little miracles. You'll see. We need to wash them up."

In the bag were more baby items. Changing pads, mild baby soap, powder, additional bottles with nipples, and more clothes.

"More clothes?"

"Babies grow fast, Daniel." Carolyn was burping baby, then switched sides. Baby was still hungry.

After baby was done nursing, Carolyn handed the infant off to her husband.

"Go ahead and burp her for me. I need to get cleaned up." She took a clean nursing bra from the drawer and headed to the bathroom.

Captain Gregg placed a towel over his shoulder and began patting the baby's back. It was not long before a satisfying belch arose from her tummy. He smiled and cradled the infant in his arms, not even aware that he was rocking her. The baby's face and body started to scrunch up and turn red. The squishing sounds commenced.

"Oh, no!" He peeked into the back of the rubber pants and made a terrible face. Not knowing what else to do, Captain Gregg ran into the bathroom, removed the rubber pants and held baby at arms length over the commode. The liquid poo was overflowing and the diaper fell off.

"Daniel! What's going on?" A partially clothed Carolyn rushed over to him.

"My dear. It just keeps coming!"

Carolyn made a terrible face, too.

"I'll take the baby, Daniel. Go get a clean diaper, and rubber pants."

By the time he returned, it appeared that baby was finished and Carolyn was washing her off in the tub.

Now the Captain was becoming very distracted by his wife's bare breasts. It had been too long since they had been intimate. He did not want to burden his already busy and tired wife.

'She just nursed the child. Surely, there cannot be much milk left.' He thought to himself.

Carolyn was drying baby off and easily put the clean diaper and rubber pants on.

Her husband came from behind and helped himself to her partially nude torso. Then he proceeded to lay kisses to the back of her neck and shoulders.

She was caught off guard. "Right now, Daniel?" she asked with a soft giggle.

He whispered into her ear, "yes, now" and pointed a finger to the bathroom door which locked on its own.

Carolyn could feel his overwhelming need for her and wrapped the baby in a towel. She laid the sleeping infant in the empty bathtub.

The ghostly captain and his wife stayed in the bathroom for a while.

Captain's log entry

If your wife asks you if need some time of intimacy with her, disregard all thoughts of nobility and tell her 'yes'.

Captain's wife's log entry

When you ask your husband if he needs sex with you and he says 'no', don't believe him. He really means yes.

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