Chapter 7: Cuddle Time

The cry coming from the monitor wasn't Melody's usual cry. It sounded more panicked, more gruff. Rachel threw the blankets off of her body and jumped out of the bed, racing out of the bedroom to her 5 month old daughter. She had been a little restless going down for the night, hadn't wanted to nurse for very long and had generally been cranky in the latter part of the afternoon. Now it seemed like Rachel knew why. She flew into the nursery and picked up her little girl as she continued to bawl in her crib. She scooped up the baby and cuddled her in her arms, sinking into the recliner that was in the corner of the room. Melody cried in her arms, snuggling into her Mom and rubbing her fist against her nose.
"Oh baby, are you all stuffed up?" Rachel cooed, rubbing her finger up Melody's arm. She moved her hand to feel Melody's forehead, and felt that it was quite warm. Her heart rate immediately began to speed up.

Melody had yet to have more than a few sniffles in her short life. And the feel of her daughter's forehead starting to burn up scared Rachel immensely.
"Finn!" She called, her voice straining against her need to get her husband awake and in the room with her. Melody jostled in her arms and immediately started to cry against her chest. Rachel slowly rocked a little in the chair as she attempted to comfort her little girl.
"Will you eat a little for mommy?" Rachel asked softly. She smoothed her fingers over Melody's forehead as the little girl looked up at her with big watery eyes. Rachel adjusted the two of them and attempted to get Melody to nurse. She did successfully for a few minutes before turning away and starting to cry, her congestion getting the best of her.
"Oh Melly" Rachel whispered, lifting the baby to her shoulder. Finn stumbled into the doorway and looked at his girls, finally registering her call from earlier.
"What's going on in here?" He asked softly. He walked over to them and crouched beside the chair, placing a sleepy hand on his daughter's back. "Wow, she's getting warm Rach..."
Rachel nodded at him slightly.
"I don't think she feels good." She said, trying not to let the panic fill her voice. "She's all stuffed up and I tried to get her to eat and she did a little but..." She looked down at the baby for a minute. "I think she's too congested." She kissed the baby's head as she whimpered against her chest.
"I'll find the thermometer" Finn said softly, standing up. He kissed Melody's head and then Rachel's before heading to the bathroom to grab the thermometer. He returned in moments and handed it to Rachel. He rubbed Melody's back in soft circles as Rachel placed the instrument in her ear. She whimpered a little bit.
"It's okay princess" Finn whispered getting close to Melody's other ear. "it's okay." The thermometer beeped and Rachel pulled it from her ear. Her eyes bugged and she gasped when she read the number. Finn looked at her expectantly.
"100.9" She said softly. Finn looked at her, his eyes shooting open and showing growing concern. Melody whimpered as she moved her head against Rachel's chest and cried when she settled.
"I'm going to call Dr. Wilson's after hours line." Finn whispered. "See what they recommend."
Rachel nodded, sighing. She watched as he left the room and turned her attention to the whimpering baby in her arms.
"it's okay honey. Mommy and Daddy are going to make it better."
She listened to Finn pacing the hallway and then rummaging in the bathroom. He came back minutes later with a syringe in one hand and the phone in the other.
"Dr. Wilson was on call tonight" He smiled softly. "He said if the fever gets any higher to bring her in, but to make her comfortable." He held up the syringe. "And to try and drain her nose with this so she can breathe easier." Rachel's eyes grew large. Finn moved closer to show her. "I'll do it if you want..." Melody's watery eyes looked up at him.
"Did he say we can give her anything for the fever?"
Finn shook his head. "She's too young. He also suggested raising her mattress a little, so after we do this I'll give that a shot..."
Rachel nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
"Just hold her" he whispered. He ran his hand up and down Melody's back as she looked at him with big watery eyes. "It's okay baby. I know you don't feel good princess." He kissed her head. He gestured for Rachel to recline the baby in her arms and she took over rubbing her fingers up and down Melody's arm this time. Finn moved to suction out her nose and Melody immediately began to scream.
Rachel's eyes watered as she looked at Finn.
"It's okay Melly. I know baby. I know" Finn tried to sooth. He gave her a minute and then continued. Her crying stopped when Finn managed to get most of it out. Rachel gave him a small relieved smile. Finn stood up and bent to place a kiss to Melody's head.
"Why don't you try to feed her again, Dr. Wilson suggested small feedings while she's comfortable. I'll see to her mattress, see what I can do."
Rachel nodded. She got Melody settled and then reached a free arm out to Finn. He walked closer to her and she placed her hand on his cheek and drew him to her.
"I love you."
"Love you too" He smiled. He looked down at Melody who was content for the moment, droopy watery eyes and all and placed a kiss on her head.

When Melody was settled again for the night (well, early morning) Finn and Rachel made their way back to bed. Finn wrapped his arms around Rachel as she leaned against his chest.
"Thanks..." She whispered.
"For what?"
"I was really freaked. I know she's had the sniffles but when I felt her forehead..."
"I know" He whispered. "She's okay though. It is scary. But she's going to be fine." He whispered, pressing a kiss against her head. "Just a cold."
"I know. But it's her first one."
"And not her last" Finn chuckled a little bit. "Lord help us when she gets the chicken pox or something."
Rachel's eyes grew large and Finn chuckled, pulling her more into him as he closed his eyes.

Finn's feet dragged the entire next day at work, he was exhausted from the night before being up with Melody off and on. After the initial wake up, she'd gotten up several times because she was uncomfortable and congested.
He walked slowly up to the apartment door and smiled when he heard the soft sounds of Rachel singing lightly on the other side of the door. He opened the door quietly and stepped into the apartment. He didn't want to disturb whatever was going on so he undressed from his outerwear quietly before going to find where the voice was coming from. He found his girls in the living room, Melody cuddled up in Rachel's arms dressed in a lighter sleeper.
"Hey" He whispered as he sat down beside her on the couch. He instantly noted that Melody was asleep in Rachel's arms. She broke her song and looked over at him.
"Hey. She just fell back to sleep." She smiled and leaned over to kiss him softly.
"How was she?" He asked, as he placed a gentle hand on Melody's head.
"Her fever is starting to go down. When I took it half an hour ago it was 100.1" She said softly looking down at her little girl. "I called your Mom and she suggested putting her in a light sleeper, so I've done that and she seems a little more comfortable for the moment. But she's still really congested and her eyes are watery. I feel so bad for her." She whispered, her lip trembling. Finn kissed her head. "So we've just been having cuddles all day. It's all she wants." Finn nodded.
"Mommy cuddles are the best." He grinned. "The usually make me feel better too." Rachel smiled up at him.
"I'm sure she'd love some Daddy cuddles too though. But I don't want to move her until she wakes up." Finn nodded in agreement. Daddy cuddles could wait.