This chapter is adorable. Like, almost too much adorableness to handle. Enjoy.
The cries of the baby pierced the early morning silence, immediately causing Jane to crack open one eye. She shut it again and rolled over, groaning and jamming her pillow over her head to block out the noise, even though she knew it was her turn. The pillow was yanked back less than a second later, and Jane opened her eyes to see a very groggy Maura frowning at her.
"It's your turn Jane. I was up with her all night. I need to get some sleep if we are going to your mother's barbecue later." Maura said sleepily. She yawned and rolled over, pulling the covers tightly around her. "Her formula is in the fridge and there are several clean bottles next to the sink."
Jane groaned, trying to muster up the energy to deal with a screaming seven-month-old. As she pulled the covers back, she glanced at the clock. 4:56...It's going to be a long day-Jane thought as she swung her legs out of bed and yanked on a pair of sweatpants. Jane leaned over and kissed Maura on the cheek before heading out of their bedroom and into the office-turned-nursery where the baby was wailing. After confirming with the social worker that they would take the baby for the long weekend, Maura had immediately gone in to preparation mode, buying a crib, several cases of diapers, enough formula to feed several children, and other miscellaneous baby items that Jane didn't have the heart to stop Maura from buying.
Today was day two of their four-day adventure in temporary parenthood. Seven-month-old Leah had been entrusted to them less than forty-eight hours ago, and for the most part, things had been going well. It had been strange for Jane at first, but both she and Maura had settled into the cycle of feedings, diaper changes, and naps pretty well. As Jane flipped on the lights, Leah's cries intensified, as she sensed someone was coming to rescue her. Her little arms waved in the crib and as Jane got closer, she saw a red and tear-stained face peering up at her.
Jane shut off the white noise machine (Maura's idea) and leaned over the crib and picked the baby up. Leah immediately grabbed fistfuls of Jane's t-shirt and curled up against her, already comforted just by being held. Jane grabbed the pacifier out of the crib and settled into the rocking chair in the corner of the room, hoping to calm the little girl down before heading downstairs to feed her.
"What's got you so upset little girl? Maura says you were up most of the night." Jane whispered, rubbing her hands along the baby's back. She held Leah close against her chest as the cries gradually waned, eventually turning into the occasional shudder or whimper. When she had calmed, she started squirming and Jane looked down, finding herself looking into a pair of blue eyes. Jane smiled at the little girl in her arms, and rubbed the fine blonde hair on the top of Leah's head.
"See, it's not so bad. You're gonna be just fine. Now, what do you say we change your diaper and head down for a nice bottle?" She stood up and bounced the baby gently as she made her way to the changing table, earning a sleepy smile from Leah.
A few minutes later, Jane was padding down the stairs with Leah on her hip. She placed the baby on a blanket on the living room floor with a couple of toys, waited to make sure she wasn't going to start wailing, and then went into the kitchen to prepare a bottle and to get some coffee started. Jane could hear Leah's little noises and baby babbling as she heated the water. As she waited, she tiptoed into the living room and checked on the baby, happy to see her contentedly gumming a teething ring as her legs kicked furiously at the air. Jane couldn't help but smile as she watched the baby. She's pretty damn cute-Jane mused, before turning back to the kitchen.
Armed with a warm bottle for Leah and a steaming mug of coffee for herself, Jane moved back into the living room. She placed the bottle and the mug on the coffee table and grabbed a spit-up cloth out of the diaper bag at the end of the couch. As she bent to pick up Leah, she grinned and made a silly face. Leah giggled and held her arms out to Jane. Jane sat cross-legged on the couch, propping the baby up against her legs and tucking the cloth under her chubby chin. Jane picked up the bottle and Leah let out a little shriek, suddenly impatient and wanting to be fed. Her little hands grasped for the bottle as Jane stuck the nipple in her awaiting mouth.
Leah began to eat with gusto, her little grunts and smacking noises causing Jane a good deal of amusement.
"It's a good thing you're cute Leah, because your table manners are atrocious." Jane laughed. "Maura would kick me out if I ate like that." Leah kicked her legs in response.
"Speaking of Maura…what did she dress you in kiddo?" Jane ran her fingers along the bright pink polka-dotted onesie, stopping to rub Leah's belly as she did. "I thought I told her no pink…" She muttered.
It only took Leah a few more minutes to drain the rest of the formula and Jane placed the empty bottle on the coffee table before lifting Leah to her shoulder and patting her back. Leah fussed for a few minutes, but eventually let out a lusty burp.
"Man, that was a good one!" Jane said, bringing her back down to her lap. "Almost as good as Uncle Frankie…" She bent down and blew a raspberry on a warm little tummy, which elicited another series of giggles from Leah. "Look at that Leah, you're up, changed, fed, and happy, and it only took me an hour! I think I'm getting the hang of this, huh?" Leah gurgled and reached for Jane's coffee.
"I don't think so little girl." Jane scooped her up and placed her back on the blanket on the floor. "You had your drink…that one's mine." Jane took a long drink of her coffee and stretched out on the floor on her stomach, mirroring the baby's position. She watched the little girl play for a while, surprised by how happy Leah was. Periodically Jane would make a silly face or tickle her and they would end up giggling together. After a while, Jane noticed Leah yawn adorably, and she picked her back up and settled on the couch once again.
"Looks like someone's ready for a nap." Jane placed the pacifier in Leah's mouth as the baby's eyelids began to droop, and lay back against the pillows with the baby on her chest. She pulled the fleece blanket off the back of the couch and settled it over both of them. Leah squirmed around on her chest for a few seconds, eventually nuzzling her head into Jane's neck and sighing. Jane kissed the top of her head and circled her arms protectively around her back, stroking lightly as the baby drifted off.
When Maura finally stirred, the mid-morning sun was streaming through the window. She stretched and rolled over, hoping to give her wife a good-morning kiss, only to be met by empty space and rumpled sheets. As she sat up, she remembered sending Jane to get the baby, but was surprised Jane hadn't returned to their bed since then. She pulled the covers off and slipped on her robe, first heading into the makeshift nursery to check on their little charge.
After discovering an empty crib, Maura made her way downstairs. She was about halfway down the stairs when the sight of her deeply sleeping wife caused her to freeze. Leah was curled up on Jane's chest, her face tilted to the same side as Jane's. Her little hand was clutching the collar of Jane's t-shirt and her pacifier had fallen out, leaving her little mouth open as she slept. Even though they were under the blanket, Maura could tell that Jane's arms were wrapped protectively around the little girl, just like they wrapped around Maura every night in bed.
The sight was one of the most adorable things Maura had ever seen, and her stomach fluttered as she continued down the stairs toward her wife. Maura crept over to the couch and watched the two of them sleep. Smiling, she bent down and kissed Jane's forehead, brushing back her dark hair as she started to stir. Jane's eyes opened slowly and she smiled sleepily at her wife before pulling one of her hands out from under the blanket and rubbing her eyes.
"Morning Maur." She rumbled, looking down at the peaceful baby on her chest. "What time is it?"
Maura reached out to stroke the downy blonde hair on Leah's head. "9:30." She chuckled as the baby's brow furrowed and she nuzzled deeper into Jane's chest. "It looks like you did alright down here. How long has she been down for?"
"I think she went down around 7. And obviously I followed not too long after." Jane replied. Leah opened her eyes and blinked a few times before whimpering and reaching out a hand to Maura. Maura was all-too-willing to oblige and picked up the little girl, kissing a chubby cheek and rocking her as she stood in place. "She's probably due for a bottle in the next half hour or so."
Maura nodded, starting to walk slowly around the room while bouncing the baby gently. "What time did you tell your mother we would be over Jane?"
Jane rubbed her eyes again as she stood and stretched. "She wants to eat around 2, so I told her we would be there for 1:30. I'm hungry…how does eggs and bacon sound?"
"Sounds perfect Jane. If you don't mind cooking, I can get Leah fed and bathed before we put her down for another nap. I also need to make some potato salad. I promised your mother I would bring some."
"Okay then. You do your thing with the munchkin and I'll get cracking on breakfast. Bacon and eggs it is…" Jane gave Maura a quick kiss on the lips, before heading into the kitchen and pulling the necessary ingredients out of the fridge. As she turned around and placed them on the counter, she couldn't help but grin at Maura pacing around the living room with the baby in her arms.
"I can't get over how good-natured of a baby she is!" Angela remarked, tickling Leah's belly. "You were such a serious baby Janie. You didn't smile until you were two, I swear."
Jane rolled her eyes. "I somehow think that might be a slight exaggeration Ma." She ran her finger down the sole of Leah's foot, watching as Leah squirmed and tried to pull her foot away. "But yeah, this little munchkin has been pretty good. Considering it is way past her bedtime."
They were all seated on a large blanket in a park, awaiting the town of Revere's fireworks. The sky was just about completely dark, and the fireworks were slated to start at any minute. It had been a long, but fun day. Jane and Maura had enjoyed spending time with Jane's family, and Frost had been able to get the day off as well, so they had gotten to catch up with him. The absence of Frank Sr. put a slight damper on the day, but they had made up for it with an abundance of food and a lot of laughs. Luckily, today had been a rare day where Jane's brother Tommy was sober, so that had been reason enough to celebrate. Angela had gotten her fair share of baby time, and had spoiled Leah rotten with every chance she got. It made Jane wonder what it would be like when they actually had children of their own.
Jane turned back to the group, watching as Frost now had Leah and they were both eyeing each other skeptically. "Don't just stare at her Barry. Make faces or something at her, she likes it."
She suddenly felt Maura lean against her, and turned her head to press a kiss to her temple. "Everything okay?" She asked quietly. "I hope Ma didn't drive you nuts all day."
Maura smiled and reached for Jane's hand, linking their fingers together, palm-to-palm. "I'm happy to report she did not." She whispered back. "I had a fabulous time. I never realized how delicious hot dogs were!"
Jane laughed. "I'm willing to bet they didn't serve 'em at your fancy-pants boarding school, right?
"Definitely not." Maura replied.
A few seconds later there was cheering as the first firework shot up into the night sky, exploding with a loud bang and bursting into vibrant color. In Frost's lap, Leah startled at the sound and began to wail. Maura immediately held out her arms as the baby was passed back to her, crying loudly. Another firework exploded and Leah's crying intensified.
"I think that's our cue Maur." Jane tapped her on the arm and Maura nodded. "Hey Ma, we'll meet you back at the house okay?"
They wound their way through the park, through the picnic blankets and crowds of people gathered to watch the fireworks. Maura shifted Leah onto her hip and grabbed Jane's hand with her free hand. Leah's crying started to fade as they made their way out of the park and down the street. After a few more minutes, the baby had fallen fast asleep in Maura's arm.
"She's pretty cute, huh?" Jane remarked. "Even when she's crying or pouting, it's pretty damn cute."
"She is. She's a beautiful little girl." Maura murmured, watching little blonde lashes flutter against flushed cheeks.
"It's been kind of weird, right?"
"What has Jane?"
"How easy this has been. How normal this all feels." Jane reached out to stroke a finger across Leah's cheek. "I didn't think it would be this easy."
"Mhmm." Maura was quiet for a few minutes as they walked another couple blocks toward Angela's house. "I know this is temporary with Leah, but do you see us having kids anytime soon?" She turned her head to look at Jane as a particularly loud firework boomed in the distance causing Leah to startle and whimper.
"I'd like to Maur." Jane smiled as Leah quieted down and settled against Maura with a sigh. "I don't think it's the right time just yet, but I am open to talking about it some more. Having this little munchkin with us for the past couple days has definitely made me want to have a couple of 'em with you." She squeezed Maura's hand, watching as a smile spread across her wife's face.
A few seconds later, Maura's smile was fading. "It's going to be hard saying goodbye to her on Monday night, isn't it?" She looked up at Jane with a furrowed brow.
"It is." Jane said quietly, looking down at her wife affectionately. "But let's cross that bridge when we get to it. We still have two more days with her."
They arrived back at Angela's house and let themselves in. After settling Leah down on a blanket on the floor, Jane and Maura headed back outside and watched the end of the fireworks from the back yard. As they sat in the lawn chairs, Maura turned to watch her wife as she watched the finale of the fireworks. Red, blues, greens, and yellows reflected in Jane's dark eyes with each burst of a new firework, and a smile played on her face as the sky continued to light up. Picking up Jane's hand, Maura turned back to the show, watching contentedly as the fireworks exploded with the Boston skyline in the background.