I do not own Warm Bodies. It's just awesome.

R and Julie: The Simple Life

Chapter 10: Precious Three

The weary family rested together. Julie unbuttoned part of her soiled clothing and R removed his damp t-shirt. They unwrapped the newborn and nestled together under Julie's blanket. As the boy lay skin to skin with his parents, his crying quieted. He lay still and serene. After a few minutes, he began moving a little, grasping their offered fingers and moving his eyes, looking around.

After the afterbirth expelled, Marie tended to Julie and verified that she was safe to move. R and Julie reluctantly allowed Nora to take the baby while they cleaned up in the bathroom. Nora carried the newborn downstairs and introduced him to his Colonel Pop-Pop and Uncle Marcus. Both men instantly fell in love with the child. Marie cleaned up the bedroom and prepared it for the family's rest.

Julie was too weak to do much but soak in the warm tub. She asked R get in with her and help her. He did. He tenderly washed his exhausted wife as she lay back against him with her eyes closed. Then he washed himself. He helped her dress in comfortable, loose clothing. She brushed her teeth and he brushed out her hair gently.

R's every motion said, I love you, Julie. You're so amazing. You're so beautiful. You're so strong. I love you.

R's every breath said, Thank You for this miracle. Thank You for letting her be okay. Thank You for my healthy son. Thank You.

When they came out of the bathroom, R helped Julie into bed. Nora gave the wakeful child to her. When Julie held her son, he started mouthing. Marie guided Julie in beginning the nursing process. R and Nora stood close together, witnesses to new life.

When the baby was done nursing a little, he was given to his father to cuddle again. R carefully held the child to his chest, marveling at the sensation of the tiny human he had helped create.

Colonel John Grigio came in to visit with the new mother and father. He knelt almost reverently by his daughter's bed and took one of her fragile hands in both his rough ones. Tears stood in his eyes. He tenderly kissed her forehead and whispered quietly to her.

"I'm so proud of you, Julie. Your mother would be proud of you, too. You've been so brave and strong. I love you, daughter."

Julie murmured back, "I love you too, Dad. Thank you for being here."

John Grigio stood and turned to R. R was too exhausted to feel his usual faint anxiety so he just stood there with his son in his arms. Nora gently took the baby for another cuddle. Suddenly, John Grigio smiled and embraced R in a strong, sincere hug.

"You've loved my daughter and taken such good care of her every step of the way. I'm proud of you, R. You're a good husband and you're going to be a fine father."

R's tired brain was too stunned to say anything but "Thank you, sir."

He did manage to hug him back. It was a tremendous moment between them.

John Grigio hugged and thanked Marie and Nora. He cuddled the baby for a moment before giving him back. He appeared to be rapidly filling his hug quota for the foreseeable future. He even clapped Marcus on the shoulder in a gesture of thanks as they passed in the hall.

Marcus was their last visitor of the evening.

He walked in quietly and smiled at Julie.

"How are you feeling?"

"I just shoved a watermelon out of my lady parts. How do you think I feel?"

Marcus winked at R, who was standing nearby, once again holding his son.

"Huh. I still like her."

R smiled, despite his fatigue.

"Yeah, me too."

Marcus turned to Nora and held out his hand invitingly.

"Ready to marry me and pop one out?"

Nora rolled her eyes at him, smiling in spite of herself.

"Not quite yet."

Marcus shrugged and nodded in acceptance.

"Okay. I'll ask you again tomorrow."

Marcus stroked the baby's nose lightly, thanked Marie for taking care of his people, and went home.

Marie assured them she would be in the next room if they needed her and then she bid them goodnight.

Nora was the last to leave. She kissed her best friend's forehead and carefully hugged her. She nuzzled the child's nose with hers. She hugged R and kissed his cheek affectionately. Casting the little family a loving smile, Nora left the room quietly and closed the door behind her.

R carefully sat down on the bed and laid their son between him and Julie. Sighing happily, he kissed his wife's lips and then kissed his child's head. He laid his weary body down, gazing at both of them. They were beautiful. It was only then that R allowed himself to feel the full extent of his muscle fatigue. Every part of his body ached. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Julie felt.

"I love you, Julie."

"I love you, R."

"We love you, Baby."

They snuggled up and fell asleep together, their precious family of three.

"What should we name him? He really needs a name, don't you think? I mean, it's been a few days now."

Julie considered R's reasonable question for a few moments. She carefully shifted her position on the soft couch in the common room.

Julie gazed adoringly at her son squirming and cooing on the blanket next to R. She wanted to get down on the floor with them but, upon more shifting of tender parts, thought better of it.

"Hmm . . . what are you? "

Is that question going to echo forever? R absently wondered. Probably. Oh well.

Nora, leaning her back against the foot of the couch, came to the rescue with her usual inventiveness.

"Well, while you're thinking about it, just call him 'RJ'."

R stroked the dark, downy hair on his son's head.

"RJ?"

Nora grinned, replacing a blue sock that had slipped off one tiny foot.

"Yeah, son of 'R and Julie'."

The baby suddenly hiccupped and appeared to smile.

The three of them completely melted at the sight of that little round face and those bright blue eyes. Julie thought they belonged to R and R thought they belonged to Julie. Nora believed the boy was a perfect combination of both of them. She was right.

Julie looked to R who gave her an accepting shrug.

She nodded in agreement.

"RJ works."

Baby RJ hiccupped again and spit up a little on himself. He looked surprised, then annoyed, then started to cry. R reached for his wailing son.

"Well, for now anyway."

"So, you've decided to forgo clothing now, I see."

John Grigio casually commented behind R.

R, wearing only grey pajama bottoms, turned in the direction of the words. The small child snuggled to his bare chest wore naught but a cloth diaper. A large burp cloth swung lazily from the waistband of R's bottoms.

R grinned cheekily, completely confident in his parenting technique.

"What can I say? He likes my skin."

He cradled his son easily in the crook of one arm while holding some food to nibble on with his other hand.

"Then it's a good thing you have a warm body so he doesn't get cold," Colonel Pop-Pop observed, a smile playing about his face as he looked at his grandson.

R nodded, very much at ease with the Colonel at that moment. He felt evolved, together, human. He felt good.

"Yep, that's me. Warm body."

Yeah.

"Well, I like him shirtless," Julie lightly joined the conversation, fresh from a healing bath. She hugged her father affectionately, exchanging winks with her husband.

Julie happily drank in the sight of her precious son and handsome husband for a moment, then reached for the baby. R acquiesced, a little reluctant to give up his bonding time. Julie placed the burp cloth over the baby's head so she could nurse while still holding a conversation with her father.

R discovered Julie in their bedroom, dancing around while changing Baby RJ's diaper and cleaning him up a bit. Really shaking it to the IPod music. R stood in the doorway momentarily unseen as she shimmied and made goofy faces to her burbling child.

It was an adorable scene to be sure. There was just one problem for R.

'Cause it feels so empty without me. I said this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me'

Julie suddenly realized he was watching her. She threw back her head in laughter and playfully shook her rump at him.

He couldn't help grinning at her antics but there was something else he felt he had to voice.

"Um, Julie? I don't think this is appropriate for the baby to hear."

Julie scrunched up her face at him and then at Baby RJ.

"Oh, he doesn't care. Do you? Do you, RJ? Say 'no, Mommy, I don't.' Say 'I'm just glad you're feeling better.' Yep, that's what he said."

Julie smirked happily at R and rubbed her nose to her son's. The baby boy cooed at her and flailed her arms up at her. Julie giggled and R couldn't help smiling.

"What is it anyway?" he questioned over the pounding beat.

Julie smirked.

"Rap. I usually don't like it, but this one's fun. It's Eminem."

"Really?"

R looked doubtful.

Isn't that a chocolate candy she told me about once?

Julie nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, well, you gotta give it a few listens. It gets better."

She resumed her shaking and shimming, while finishing up the cleaning of the child. R shook his head, resigned to his wife's peculiar musical selections. For now.

Okay, so Eminem "Without Me" is definitely inappropriate for babies, of course, but can't you just see Julie dancing to it?