Normal
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It was four days after Robin and Ben had come home from the hospital. Don had taken two weeks of paternity leave to help with the baby and adjust to this new way of life. Both he and Robin were exhausted, they had been up with Ben two times each last night and had not managed much time to take a nap during the day, Robin had a check up earlier today and Don had made an attempt to take care of the rather large amount of laundry and housework that had piled up over the last few days.
Don had just taken the last load of laundry out of the dryer. He stared at the clothes basket debating on if he should fold the laundry tonight or just go to bed. He opted for bed.
Don slowly trekked up the stairs to his bedroom. He stopped at the nursery to check on his son before heading to the bedroom. Robin was just getting into her night gown when he entered their bedroom. Don stripped down to his boxers and pulled on a pair of sweat pants before crawling in next to Robin. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss before sliding under the covers. Robin rested her head on her husband's shoulder as she closed her eyes.
"Do you think things will ever get back to normal?" Robin asked with a yawn.
"I think this is the new normal." Don replied as his eyes drifted shut.
Two hours later Don was awoken by the sounds of his son crying. He rolled out of bed, grabbed his bathrobe and padded down the hall to the nursery. He picked up Ben and attempted to calm the baby as he made his way downstairs to prepare a bottle.
Don sat down in the rocking chair cradling Ben against his chest as Ben sucked hungrily on the bottle. Ben stared up at Don as he drank his bottle. Don marveled at his big grayish-blue eyes and the thick dark curls that covered his head. He couldn't believe how much Ben looked like him. Alan had compared pictures of Don as a baby to his grandson and was astounded by how much they look alike.
Don sang softly as Ben finished the bottle. He moved Ben to his shoulder and gently patted his back until the baby let out a burp. Over the past few days Don learned that it usually took about half an hour to forty-five minutes for Ben to fall back asleep so Don would talk or sing softly until then. Don varied between singing Coldplay and the Beatles as he gently rocked Ben.
Ben blinked sleepily at his father as Don finished singing All You Need is Love. "Your mama and I love you so much." Don said softly as the baby's eyes closed and he slipped into a slumber. He stood and laid Ben down in the crib. Don watched his son sleep for a minute; he knew he would probably be up again in a couple more hours. I think I could definitely get used to this new normal, Don thought with a smile as he headed back to bed.
