I do not own Bates Motel.
But, in some ways, I do own a Dylan. And I love him so much.
Yeah, Whatever
Katie's Mommy and Daddy
He loved everything about his daughter.
He loved her wisps of blond hair and her bright eyes.
The way she almost smiled at him.
The way she just lay in his arms, content as a cucumber.
He loved it when she cried because that meant she needed something and he just had to figure out what that something was.
He even loved her diapers.
Okay, he didn't love what was in her diapers.
But rather the fact that she was simply there.
And he could take care of her.
After the initial freak out . . .
"Uh, Emma, uh, are you sure it's okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Uh, well, I mean, she's a girl and I'm a boy and I don't want to mess her up or anything-"
A gentle chuckle. A reassuring smooch on the cheek.
"Dylan, you're her dad and you're cleaning her body so she can be clean and not get an infection. You're not going to mess her up."
Then she grinned and smacked his rump teasingly.
"Plus, you're not getting off that easy. I'm not changing all these diapers by myself."
He took a deep, shaky breath, nodding.
"O-okay. Show me what to do."
. . . that was.
He loved that she was an incredible combination of both him and Emma.
He loved that she fell asleep on his chest and clenched her tiny hand around his finger.
He loved that she was alive and here and that he and Emma were going to raise her in a loving, stable, supportive family.
And he loved that he was her dad.
"I love you, Katie. I love you so much."
And that she was his daughter.
Emma took care of him when he needed it.
And didn't judge.
Just like he took care of her when she needed it.
That was what they did for each other.
Took care of each through everything, good and bad.
And parents.
"I talked to my dad today."
"Oh yeah?"
"He's going on a date tonight."
"Wow."
A pause.
"Yeah, he met her in the hot beverage section of the market and 'ooohed' and 'ahhhhed' the most over Katie photos."
A pause.
And Dylan carefully ventured.
"How do you feel about that?"
Slight shrug, half smile.
"I'm happy for him. He pretty much gave up his life to take care of me so I'm glad that he can go out and have a life now."
Distant-eyed consideration even as she played with the chubby fingers of her baby daughter's moist left hand.
"I just hope she's better to him than my mom was."
They were quiet for a moment.
Emma never really much talked about her mom.
Dylan thought she might think about her alot, especially now with Katie in their lives.
But if she was, she didn't seem to be turning it inward.
But was using it to give herself strength and perspective for Kate.
She was the strongest person he had ever known.
And he loved her.
I don't deserve you, Emma.
But I want to.
I love you.
"Dylan, would you get me the . . ."
"Receiving blanket?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Hey, Emma, where's the . . ."
"Diaper cream?"
"Yeah, thanks."
Crying babies and sleep deprivation have the capability of turning even the most intelligent of humans into . . .
"Where's the, um . . ."
"Nose plunger?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, gosh, uhhh, I don't know."
. . . barely verbal idiots.
But they were still doing a pretty good job nevertheless.
"Dylan? I love you."
Who loved their daughter.
"I love you too."
And each other.
Fluffy, fluffy, fluff.
I hope you liked it.
Thanks to Lana Brown for reading!