8

Catherine fidgeted as the car pulled up in front of the hospital. Gil parked the car and glanced at her.

"Cath?"

"Mhm?"

"Is everything okay?"

"Sure."

"Catherine."

She sighed, turning to her husband. "What if he doesn't like me?"

Gil undid his seatbelt and turned his body so that he was facing her. "What do you mean?"

"You know," she said, giving him a meaningful look.

Gil smiled softly, his hands reaching out and tracing the outline of her breasts. "Well, I like them. And so far, Max has seemed to like them too."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "You're a sex maniac."

He grinned. "Yes, well we have enough to children to be evidence of that."

"I'm just nervous."

Gil took her hand and kissed it. "You have nothing to be nervous about. It's all going to be fine." He tugged her hand. "Ready to go feed our hungry little man?"

She nodded. "Ready."

--

"Morning, Gil, Catherine." The nurse smiled at them, welcoming them into the room. "Max is awake, and by the sound of his scream earlier, he's definitely hungry."

"Where is he?" Gil asked, eager to grab a hold of his son.

A different nurse carried the fussing baby out. She handed him over to Gil. "Gil, Catherine, I'm Jenni. I'm going to be helping you this morning with feeding him."

"Hi, handsome," Gil grinned to his son. "You want your mommy, don't you?"

Jenni had Catherine sitting down on a comfortable chair. "Don't be upset or worried if he's not ready to breastfeed yet." She watched as Gil hugged his son. "Although, knowing this little guy, we might be surprised."

Gil smiled at his wife as she unbuttoned her shirt. When she was ready, he handed their son to her.

Catherine cradled Max in her arms, a soft smile on her face as she looked down at him. "Well then," she murmured to him, "let's see if all the practice we've had pays off, little guy."

A few false starts later, and Max was greedily tucking into his breakfast. Catherine's hand caressed the back of his head as he fed, her face a mixture of happiness and relaxation.

Gil watched with a broad grin as his wife breastfed their son, and he reached down, brushing a tear from the corner of her eye with his thumb.

"I knew you could do it," he whispered.

Catherine looked up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears and her smile wide. "Do you mean me or Max?"

Gil kissed the top of her head. "Both of you."

--

Two weeks later, three hyperactive children and a stressed out teenager awaited the arrival of a new addition to their family.

"BABY TODAY!" Lizzie screeched.

"Baby found," Jamie said, tugging on Lindsey's hand.

"Guys, let's cool our jets, huh?" Lindsey suggested. "It's a baby coming home, not a visit from Maroon 5."

"Who's Maroon 5?" Matt asked. "Is it a color?"

"It's a band," Lindsey explained. "And that's not the important thing here. The important thing here is that Mom and Dad are bringing Max home."

"So why talk about Maroon 5?" Matt said.

Lindsey rolled her eyes. "Okay, forget I said Maroon 5. I actually said The Wiggles."

"WIGGLES!" Lizzie cried.

"But you didn't say The Wiggles," Matt said, looking confused.

Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the call pull up. "Now remember guys, Max is very tiny, so we have to be really quiet and careful, okay?"

"Shh," Jamie said.

"Exactly."

--

Outside, Gil came around to Catherine's side of the car and opened the door. Both of them helping the other, they got Max out of his baby seat and into Catherine's arms. He yawned and snuggled closer into Catherine's embrace.

"Mommy!" Lizzie whispered as Gil and Catherine came inside.

"Baby!" Jamie whispered as well.

"Hi, guys," Gil said, hugging each and every one of them. "Mommy and I brought Max home."

The kids all followed Catherine into the lounge room, and she sat down on the sofa, cradling Max in her arms.

Jamie settled himself beside her. "Baby."

"That's right honey, Catherine smiled. "This is your little brother."

"Can we keep him now?" Matt asked. "We don't have to send him back?"

Gil grinned, kissing his wife gently as he tickled Max's stomach. "We're keeping him."

FINIS