New Addition

"Daddy!"

Danny grinned as he scooped his son into his arms, just getting home from a night out with his wife. "Hey, Buddy." He headed off down the hall leaving Lindsay to pay the teenage girl from the floor above. After locking up, she followed the path they'd taken, leaning against Braden's doorframe as Danny tucked their son into bed.

Danny caught Lindsay's gaze. "Braden, Mommy and I have somethin' we wanna talk to you about."

Braden looked up at his father with curious innocence.

Danny smoothed his hand over Braden's head, taking a seat on the edge of the small bed. He wasn't even sure how to go about telling his only child the news he and Lindsay had discussed over dinner. He glanced at his wife, hoping she would step in.

"Remember the talk you and I had when you found out Kyle was going to have a new sister?" she asked softly, her voice gentle. "About how his Mommy and Daddy were really going to need his help?"

Braden nodded, his face knitting in a frown. "His Mommy and Daddy don't play with him anymore."

Lindsay chuckled at Danny's alarmed face. She was the oldest of four siblings and she could still remember her mother regaling her and Danny with stories of the numerous ways she'd tried to get rid of her siblings because she was so scared her parents wouldn't love her anymore. "His Mommy and Daddy are pretty busy with Anna, sweetheart. Babies take a lot of work."

Danny saw this as his chance to jump in. "And when your little brother or sister we're really going to need your help, Buddy."

Braden's eyes went wide as they darted between her parents. He pouted. "No. I don't wanna be a big brother."

Lindsay sighed heavily, looking down at where her hands lay in her lap.

Danny reached over, squeezing her hand to get her attention. He cocked his head towards the door, a silent request passing between them. He watched carefully as she took the hint and stepped out of the room closing the door softly behind her.

"Braden," Danny started.

Braden shook his head, flipping away from his father and attempting to pull his blankets over his head.

Danny caught the covers. "I need you to hear me out, Buddy," Danny said softly.

Braden stayed curled away.

"I'll make you a deal," Danny proposed. "Mommy and I are going to be busy when the baby gets here, but if you can help us a little bit, I'll make sure we put some time aside for just you and me, okay?"

Braden peeked out from the pillow. "You'll play catch?" he asked in a small voice.

Danny grinned. "Of course I'll play catch with you," he answered. "You're my buddy."

Braden giggled. "Mommy will still watch movies with me right? And read me stories before bed?"

"And let you lick the last of the cookie dough out of the bowl, and make your favourite sandwich for lunch," Danny agreed, tucking Braden in again. "And if it's a baby sister, I'm really gonna need your help to keep her safe and protected. That's the job of a big brother, you know." He watched closely as Braden drifted off, content and reassured for the time being.

Danny sighed as he stood. He'd have to talk with Braden about being extra good for Lindsay over the next nine months. Sure that Braden was asleep he left the room and headed down the hall to the bed he shared with his wife.

Lindsay had been horrible for the nine months she was pregnant with Braden. She could be incredibly happy one minute and bawling her eyes out the next. She'd pummelled his chest with her fists a week after she'd started her maternity leave because she couldn't see her feet, her back hurt and he was the reason she was that way, then apologized an hour later and blamed it on cabin fever. Still, Danny was sure he'd put up with whatever she threw at him if it meant watching her stomach swell with their child, if it meant holding another small bundle of blankets like Braden had been.

His wife was already in her pyjamas curled so her back was to him. He took in the shaking o fher shoulders, understanding Braden had unconsciously and unintentionally hurting her with his blatant rejection of the new addition to their family.

"Montana," he said softly, stripping himself down to his boxers and tank top.

Lindsay didn't move. She sniffled, allowing him to wrap his arms around her and pull her back into his body. She tried to hold in the tears.

"I talked to Braden," he said softly. "We made a deal."

Lindsay made a non-committed sound in the back of her throat.

"He's scared, Linds. We all are. He didn't mean anything by it." Danny's hand stroked her stomach where the new baby was growing.

"Are we ready for another one, Danny?" Lindsay finally asked once her tears had dried.

Danny smiled softly, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. "We've got each other, Linds, and we've got Braden. What else to do we need?"

As she drifted into dreams of new babies and happy families, Lindsay knew he was right.