Author's Note: I had the idea to do a one-shot made up of little one-shots about the first week of Johnny Bates' life with his parents. I have just finished writing the fourth one and it is already at over 5,000 words and I thought that cramming all of that onto one page would be a bit too much/a little too overwhelming for some. I have decided, due to this, to post one one-shot a week for the next seven weeks instead of posting them all at once and so my updating schedule will be every Monday. The whole thing is very nearly finished too, so there should be no delays as long as everything in my personal life remains the way it is until then. I really hope you like this little collection of one-shots and I'll see you all next Monday x
31 December 1925
Sinking into the armchair near the bed, John props his cane up against it before he makes himself a little more comfortable and cradles his son closer to his chest. He watches him for a while then, marvelling at the little things he does, and he chuckles at the look on his face when he rests a tiny hand on the thatch of hair that covers his chest. This is a completely new texture he's discovered and his face is telling him that he isn't too sure what to make of it yet. Nevertheless, after several minutes of touching and staring at it the newborn decides that it's not that bad and curls his hand into the hair he found while nestling further into the cradle of his arms. He's so small, John thinks, so fragile and innocent and he already has this strong, overwhelming need to shield him from the world and the evil in it.
Tears blur his vision and his heart swells when the baby blinks up at him while sucking on the dummy his mother had given him, his deep blue eyes practically looking into his soul as he studies him just as much as he is him. In his opinion, he couldn't resemble Anna more if he tried. He has wisps of hair so fair that he looks almost bald, a button nose that points slightly at the tip, he has her lips and he has her eyes. His eyes still have time to change colour, he knows that, but he hopes they remain blue. If there was one thing he had hoped for throughout her pregnancy, then it had been that the baby would come out the spitting image of her and his wish has clearly been granted. Every time he looks at his little boy, he's going to be reminded of the amazing woman he's married to and that pleases him.
The rustle of the bedsheets catches his attention after a while and he looks over at the bed to see that his wife has begun to stir a little. He watches her in silence, not sure if she's truly waking or if she'll just roll over and go back to sleep, but her eyes eventually flit open and she pushes her hair out of her face and he smiles. "What are you doing all the way over there?" She asks him as she props herself up on her elbow, her voice still delightfully rough with slumber as she removes the sleep from the corner of her eye before running her hand across the vacant space on the bed. "Come back to bed, he can lie between us for a little while seeing as though we're awake. He hasn't got too long to wait until his next feed either, so there's not much point in you putting him back in his basket until he's eaten."
He nods in agreement before taking hold of his cane and standing from the armchair, the hold he has on their little boy tightening as he carries him over to the bed. Once he's climbed back in beside her, he settles the baby between them and watches her move closer to him beneath the covers. She rests a hand on his belly through the little nightshirt Lady Mary had found for them and kisses the end of his nose, pure happiness written across her face when she pulls back as she strokes his belly with her thumb and looks into his eyes. "I would be flattered by how you're looking at me right now, my sweet boy, but I know you've gone and thought about that little belly of yours again and all you're seeing is milk." She tells him in a soft voice before looking up at her husband when he chuckles next to her.
"You just wait. He's going to love you so much as he grows up." John whispers.
"I hope so," She smiles. "But, for the moment, I suppose I'm just where his food comes from as far as he's concerned."
Her gaze falls to their son a second time when he starts to fuss and his dummy falls from his mouth and she smirks at his impatience. "You really are a Bates," She laughs as she sits up and pushes a hand through her hair before reaching for him and lifting him into her arms, the thumb of one hand stroking his hip while she frees her arm from the sleeve of her nightgown and pulls the fabric away from her chest. It takes her a minute to help him get latched on, remembering the advice Doctor Clarkson had given her before he left, but he starts suckling as soon as he's settled and she kisses him on the temple before John wraps an arm loosely around her shoulders. "He has your impatience when it comes to his mealtimes. I am definitely going to have my work cut out for me, cooking for you boys."
"You shouldn't be so good at it then, should you? You could give Mrs. Patmore a run for her money." He kisses her on the neck.
"Unless you want her to beat you senseless with that rolling pin of hers, I wouldn't say that around her." She says, glancing up at him.
He takes the opportunity to press three soft kisses onto her lips, the gentle hum she lets out when he lingers for a moment longer than necessary causing warmth to pool in his chest when he pulls back. They fall into a comfortable silence when she settles in his embrace again, their attention fixed on their beautiful baby boy as he suckles and tries his best to keep from falling asleep. He's not succeeding in the slightest though, his eyes are growing heavier by the minute and they both know there's no chance of him finishing his feed off. "I can't believe we made him," She lifts her free hand to the back of his head and brushes her thumb against the downy fair hair there, the sound of appreciation their son makes deepening her love for him. "He's absolutely perfect and I couldn't love him more if I tried."
"Me either," John mumbles as he kisses the side of her head through her hair. "Have I mentioned how proud of you I am?"
"Only about six times," She teases, turning her head in his direction. "But I love to hear you say it, so say it as much as you like."
"You made me so proud tonight. You made the whole thing seem like a complete breeze." He confesses.
She scoffs a little at that. "I must be quite a brilliant actress then because that was the hardest, most agonizing thing I have ever done."
"You got through it though," He reminds her. "You are the strongest woman I have ever known, I mean that."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
She leans in to brush her lips against his before she tucks her head into his neck and goes back to listening to the soft noises their son makes while he nurses, her thumb tracing the curve of his ear which causes him to shiver in her arms. She's beyond tired and the pain and discomfort is beginning to kick in now the adrenaline has worn off, but she's the happiest she's ever been. She has a lovely, healthy baby boy and a wonderful, supportive husband and she knows that the two of them are everything she'll ever need and so much more.
She's never doubted it.
Author's Note: Thank you all for taking the time to read the first chapter. I really hoped you all liked it and would be so grateful if you would drop me a review to let me know what you thought. The next chapter will be the family's first moments at home and I am so excited for you all to read it because I have to admit I'm a little in love. Until next time, friends!
