This is my entry to the prompt challenge... It was posted to tumblr but I quite like having it stored with all my other prompt responses.

37. "Always so fucking tight for me."

It was finally silent in the messy apartment. The only clues to the struggles that had previously played out within these walls were displayed in the most spectacular of ways. Clothes hung over the back of the sofa, discarded without thought to where they would land. Dishes were still untouched on the kitchen side, the long forgotten food cemented onto the crockery. The kitchen bin, overflowing, little white parcels haphazardly stuck in and around the bin.

A soft thump led to a clatter as Henry stumbled out of the bedroom, knocking into the hall table sending some of the contents flying to the floor by tripping over his own feet. They felt cumbersome like two heavy weights that didn't belong on his tired legs. Head spinning he made it and fell to the couch, letting the soft fabric hold his tired body. Feeling slightly uncomfortable he reached under himself and pulled out a soft toy elephant. This irritated Henry and he promptly threw it across the room, the elephant landing on top of the changing mat that was set up on the dining table.

It was day 6 of little Stephanie's young life and Henry's eyes stung like he never had known in the past. He was dog tired but so in love. It was as though he had never really been alive until Elizabeth safely delivered their daughter into this world 6 days ago. 6 long days and nights, where time seemed to have stopped but simultaneously sped up.

Every surface in their small apartment was slowly being taken over by various items. New baby cards, flowers, coffee mugs, water bottles, diapers…. It seemed to be never ending and it felt claustrophobic. However, Henry allowed himself a little rest, he had been up all night attempting to burp their baby after Elizabeth fed her, he let his eyes and mind shut down for a moment and he slipped into sleep easily.

Exactly 18 minutes later Stephanie McCord woke from her slumber and announced herself with the shrillest cry she had ever managed. Everyday as her stomach and appetite grew so did her lungs. Henry had found that this little bundle that he could easily swaddle and hold so close could also make such a noise and it seemed to get louder and louder as every new day came. Knowing how exhausted Elizabeth was he shot up and ran towards little Stephanie in her little crib and gathered her up into his arms.

"Henry?" of course Elizabeth woke with the cry of her newborn. "She can't need feeding again I just fed her" her voice partly muffled by the pillow.

"It's OK babe, I'll take her"

"Come get me if you need me" a huge yawn took a hold of Elizabeth and Henry could hardly understand what she said but he understood the premise.

Taking the balling little baby out of their room and into the lounge he sighed when he took in the mess once again. Concentrating on Stephanie he tried to move her in his arms to a more comfortable position, hopeful it would calm her enough. It was still alien to him how to handle his daughter, Henry still felt like he could break her so easily and although he was becoming more confident every day, right in this moment his heart was beating hard and fast in his chest as he manipulated her tiny body onto his chest.

Thinking through all the steps to a happy baby he tried to formulate a plan of action. If he was looking in from the outside he would have smiled as he found himself harnessing the same level of concentration he used when he was piloting his hornet. His tired mind went through the steps to a happy baby... clean diaper, fed, winded. As she had just been fed he could tick that off his mental list and hastily journeyed to the changing table dodging the various obstacles that littered the floor.

Once she was in a clean diaper and a fresh romper he gathered her up once again in his arms and began to burp her. As he paced the apartment patting his newborn daughter on her back he attempted to sing a soothing lullaby to her. But he found himself unsure of the words and the melodies that accompanied them, so he chose to sing about their surroundings and their shared love, Elizabeth.

Your mommy loves you very much

We love mommy just as…. Much

Henry rolled his eyes at his lack of creativity but Stephanie seemed to respond to his voice and her crying quietened. So he continued

She loves to cuddle you

Except when you've done a… poo.

Henry laughed at his rhyme and at the absurdity of the situation, the fact this tiny baby had created such a whirlwind and left a trail of chaos in her wake. Laughter soon took a hold of him, his body shook with each chuckle and the movement of his body managed to aid Stephanie enough to release a stubborn bit of wind. A small burp sounded which, in turn stopped her crying and his laughter. Henry pressed his lips to the top of her soft wispy hair and gave her a gentle kiss inhaling her own unique baby smell.

"I've got this and I've got you Stephanie, we make a good team. Daddy's rhymes must work, hey?" As he spoke softly to her he spied the baby carrier slung over the back of the chair and formulated a plan. Filled with confidence with his parenting ability he suddenly thought about putting Stevie in the carrier and tidying at the same time. How pleased Elizabeth would be when she woke up to find a quiet baby and a clean apartment. He moved cautiously to the bassinet that was in the corner of the room and laid a quiet Stephanie down slowly. However, as soon as he withdrew his warm hands from her body he saw her eyes flicker open and then shut before she started whimpering again at the loss of contact.

"Sssssshhhhhh baby girl. Daddy will get you in one minute. Shhh, It's okay" He lamented over and over hopeful that she wouldn't get too upset as he attempted to get the carrier on over his shoulders. "Baby girl, I love you so much. I won't be long, daddy is just trying to get this on." As his words of love floated around the room to soothe the baby, Henry was getting more and more frustrated with the carrier. He found the endless straps and buckles confusing, Stephanie's cries were beginning to get louder and louder. As he located the right strap for his other arm and slipped it up, Stephanie's crying had reached fever pitch again.

"Hey baby girl I'm nearly ready for you. It's okay" at this point he wasn't sure who he was reassuring, the crying was cutting through him and the stress of getting the carrier on was getting too much. "I'm sorry Daddy is taking so long but this carrier is always so fucking tight for me. Oh, god, I shouldn't have sworn. Daddy's sorry." Henry was leaning over the bassinet now and reached in for Stephanie. Automatically kissing her forehead again, he cradled her to his chest and whispered "Don't tell Mommy I swore in front of you ok?"

Finally getting her settled into the carrier and doing the last strap up, Henry felt as though he achieved something. Her cries had now turned into soft whimpers as the baby snuggled into her daddy, his warmth comforting her and the loud thrum of his heart against her reminded her of her mommy. She settled in and swiftly let sleep claim her once again.

Henry walked around the apartment as Stephanie fell asleep against him, his hands constantly brushing the carrier, always touching his first born. Once she was snoring softly he stopped moving and sat down in the armchair. It was a little awkward because the carrier was still so tight but Henry was glad he could rest. Looking over at the clock, he noticed that only 30 minutes had passed, yet it felt as though it had been at least a few hours. The amount of emotions that his body had felt in that 30 minutes didn't compare to a week pre Stephanie but he wouldn't change it for the world. The mess can stay he thought, Henry wanted to stay wrapped up with his baby sleeping soundly on him and that wasn't a bad place to be at all.