A/N: Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed! It means a lot! :)

Chapter 6 – Home

In your eyes

I know I'm home

Every tear, every fear

Gone with the thought of you

Changing what I thought I knew

I'll be yours for a thousand lives

"For You" – Liam Payne & Rita Ora, from Shifty Shades Freed

Hope was a small baby because of her anticipated arrival, but she already had the spirit of a fighter, growing quickly enough to convince the doctors that she could go home in a week's time. Both parents were delighted beyond measure. They could not wait to take care of the little one in the privacy of their own home, at their own pace.

It was the second night that Hope was away from the hospital, and Linka blinked her eyes open to take in the numbers on the alarm clock. It was 3:20am. She stretched her arms over her head and threw the covers off her body. Hope's next feed was in about ten minutes, and given that the little one was already punctual as heck, Linka yawned while getting up, before throwing a thin robe over her nightgown. The Russian girl had synchronized her sleeping patterns with her daughter's, plus her brain was never really fully asleep anymore. Her ears were perked, attentive even in sleep for the slightest sound of distress coming from the nursery. Plus, her breasts were sore, ready to burst with motherly goodness. Linka groaned as she massaged them delicately, hoping that the baby was hungry. She hated those stupid breast pumps and much preferred that Hope emptied them the natural way. Wheeler sure as hell had no complaints about her breasts and how voluptuous they were, but she missed her inconspicuous, complying mounds from the past! Ah, yes, the good old days, when her breasts didn't leak milk or were rock hard at any given moment. Sigh!

Linka smiled a little to herself before turning on the lamp by the bedside, knowing that she really did not mind any of these things. Hope erased all those things when she was in her arms, and the rest became irrelevant. Plus, the important thing was that Linka had finally ceased being overly emotional about everything, and this secretly made the blonde girl feel more in control of herself. She had never been too comfortable around intense feelings on display for all too see.

Wheeler was not in bed, and Linka ran a hand through her disheveled hair before exiting the bedroom. The faint glow of the night light was coming forth from the nursery, and Linka stopped at the door to take in what was happening inside. Wheeler was leaning over the crib, head resting on his folded forearms, watching Hope as she slept serenely. He was very focused on the task at hand. Linka could feel the affection radiating off his intent glance, and her heart beat with approval.

She advanced leisurely, moving to place an arm around his waist. Wheeler's attention shifted as if she had awakened him from a deep dream.

"Hey," was his quiet greeting as his eyes left his daughter for a few seconds.

Linka yawned and placed her head on his shoulder, and together they quietly watched Hope safe and warm in her crib. Her arms were thrown over her head, and the slightest movement came from her chest rising and falling with each breath.

"Feeding time?" asked Wheeler before kissing Linka's forehead lightly.

Linka nodded sleepily, and he rubbed her back with slow, circular motions, communicating his quiet comfort to her.

"I like watching her sleep," Wheeler admitted with a little smile, turning back to their daughter. "It's just… amazing. The definition of peace. She sleeps with her mouth open, like her mom. And she's beautiful, like her mom."

Linka giggled pleased and wrapped both her arms more tightly about him.

"She has your strong spirit."

"Yeah, we're in trouble."

They laughed lightly together, and Wheeler straightened so that he could hold Linka against him. The blonde girl let herself be lulled by his warmth, and she closed her eyes against his chest.

Wheeler took to rubbing her back, before his hands moved to caress her shapely breasts. A chuckle escaped him. "Damn, these babies are gonna blow!"

Linka shooed his hands away with fake annoyance and smiled, looking up at him through jade eyes. "I knew there was a price to pay to have them looking this good."

Wheeler laughed before tightening his hold around her waist. Linka's eyes moved to his mouth and she unconsciously leaned in closer to him. A twinge of desire crept over her, bringing a warm shiver down her spine.

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any more gorgeous, you go and prove me wrong, babe."

Linka smiled at his tone of voice and closed her eyes against the sweet assault Wheeler's lips were performing on her neck. She let out a satisfied sigh as she ran a hand through his hair. The intimate contact felt good after days of fretting over Hope, and she rubbed up more against her sweet Yankee boy.

Her breath hitched when Wheeler captured her mouth for his passion was contagious, and Linka readily molded herself against him. Wheeler was holding her firmly by the hips, his tongue tracing the inside of her mouth, until a soft moan escaped her lips. God, she was so ready for him to…

Obviously, Hope chose that exact instant to wake up, her little desperate cries echoing through the room, calling attention to herself. The young couple was thus forced to separate, with understandable reluctance on both parts. Nothing they couldn't continue later, anyway, reflected Linka confidently, letting a little smile shine through. She moved to pick up the baby, cradling her close to her chest. Hope immediately stopped fussing once she sensed her mother's warmth, and Linka would never feel less amazed by that.

"Come on, little princess," she smiled fondly, kissing the back of her head. Linka took the few steps that separated the crib from the rocking chair, and she sat down on it, settling Hope in her arms so that she could offer the infant her breast. Thankfully, Hope had never had any problems with feeding since birth, and Linka watched her lovingly. Hope seemed happy as she steadily suckled the breast milk, eyes closed. She would fall asleep in that position as well, so comforting it was to her.

Wheeler had sat himself down on the carpeted floor, taking them in silently, as if afraid he would disturb the magic of the moment. The look in his eyes was awe-filled and tender.

Linka rested her head back against the chair, taking to rocking gently. Her fingers drew delicate patterns on Hope's head, and she started humming an old lullaby from her childhood. Her eyes traveled to Wheeler, and she smiled. They were still kids themselves, sure, but somehow, they had found the perfect recipe for happiness. The Russian girl had never hoped to feel so fulfilled in her life, and everything she had previously thought of becoming could hardly compare to this.

"You're incredible, babe," Wheeler distracted her from her thoughts, and his sincere tone of voice caused her to instantly smile. Their eyes met, and Linka could barely believe that there seemed to be no limit to their fantastically strong connection. Somehow, she knew it would always be like this between them.

"Why, thank you, Yankee. You are not so bad yourself," she teased with a little chuckle, greatly delighting in the ready smile Wheeler was offering her.

Linka's heart was bubbling over with love. Gooey, magical, happily-ever-after love. She nearly laughed when she realized that Gi's collection of romance novels had nothing on her own tale of deep love and complete happiness.

THE END