One Year Later
"Let's go baby." I say and put out my hand for Nick to hold.
"Mommy we see Nana?" He asks.
"That's right we're going to see Nana." I say. It's Christmas time and we are going to visit my Mom. The only down side about this is Ella is going to be there. I've talked to her, but she still doesn't believe me when I say Finnick is alright. She's just waiting for him to get drunk and fall down.
"Daddy?" He asks.
"Daddy's coming later." I say.
Finnick got his job back, well actually he got a better job, he's now a department head. Finnick's been doing really well. I'm so proud of him. It's been almost a year of him not drinking. He's had a few slip ups, but he seems to have gotten better. The fridge says 350 days it's going to be a year soon.
Finnick needs to get a later flight because he has some meeting he needs to do for his job. Finnick said we should go early because I don't see my Mom as much as I would like. I agreed with some convincing because I don't like flying much and flying with Nick... well let's just say that's a job on it's own, but it's only a few hours so I can suck it up.
The flight wasn't so bad Nick surprisingly slept through most of it making me happy that I didn't get judgy stares.
I call my Mom to tell her someone can pick me up.
"I'm at the airport." I say.
"Carter left around ten minutes ago he should be there soon." She says.
"Thank you." I say. I'm glad it's Carter and not Ella because because she doesn't approve of Finnick anymore. We still talk just not as much and there is always tension in the conversation.
"See you soon sweetie." She says.
"See you soon Mom." I say.
Around ten minutes later I get a text from Carter.
I get into the car and Nick starts moaning when I put him in his car seat. He was still fast asleep.
"Hello Annie." He says.
"Hi Carter. I say and get in the car.
"How was the flight?" He asks.
"Alright, Nick slept through most of it so that made it easier." I say.
He smiles.
"I know what you mean, I love when Madeline sleeps through a plane ride. Although since she's older it's probably not as bad." He says.
I smile.
"Is Finnick coming in tomorrow?" Carter asks.
"He should make it tonight." I say.
"Mmh." I hear from the backseat.
"He's fussy." Carter notes.
"We'll be home soon so I can give him something to eat." I say.
"Do you think about having another?" He asks.
"Finnick and I have discussed it briefly. The answer is yes, we just haven't discussed the when." I say.
He nods.
"Well, Nick's only two." Carter says. "Tony and I want Madeline to have a sibling."
"Really?" I say surprised.
"Really, we're just waiting." He says.
"How long have you been waiting?" I ask.
"Not that long." He says and I nod.
"How's Finnick?" He asks. I know he wanted to ask this as soon as I got in the car.
"He's really great. He got a better job." I say.
"I know you told me." He says.
I nod.
"You're going to see him tonight then you can make your own decision." I say knowing why he is really asking.
"Annie I wasn't implying-"
I raise my eyebrows.
"Okay maybe I was a little, but Ella tells stories." He says.
"Exactly stories we aren't as close Carter, even though she lives twenty minutes from my house." I say.
"I think if you and Ella just sat down in a room everything would be fine between the two of you, you did make up with Dad after all." He says.
"I know, but this is different." I say.
"I guess." He says as we pull into my Mom's drive way.
We get out of the car and Carter helps me collect my things.
We get inside and I don't see anyone. I take Nick out of his carrier and rub his back, he's still sleeping, but not very deeply.
"Where is everyone?" I ask Carter softly.
"Probably upstairs, Mom painted." He says.
"Okay." I say and in a few minutes they come down.
"Annie." Ella says louder than I would've liked causing Nick to wake up.
"Mommy?" He says confused.
"That's right sweetie." I say.
He sits up on my lap and smiles and points at my Mom.
"Nana." He says.
My Mom smiles.
"Come here sweetie." She says and takes him from me. She kisses his cheek and he giggles and hugs her. "Nana." He says again.
"Annie." Ella says and smiles. "Finnick not coming?" She asks a little too happily.
"He'll be here later." I say.
"Oh." She says.
I nod.
"Aunt Annie!" Madeline says as she sees me.
"Hi cutie." I say.
Madeline cuddles up next to me while my Mom plays with Nick who seems very excited to see her. I'm surprised he's not angry because he just woke up. He's being a good boy which I am fond of. Although his new favorite word is no.
Mom starts making dinner and I help her.
"What are you making?" Ella asks.
"That stir fry you like." She says and Ella nods. "I set aside plain noodles for Nick." She says.
"Thank you." I say.
"No problem sweetie." She says.
"Is Finnick going to be here for dinner?" Ella asks.
"He should be." I say.
Ella nods
"Should we have alcohol out because Finnick is here?" Ella asks.
Mom looks at me then back to Ella.
"Annie said he would be fine." She says. Mom did call to ask this which I thought was nice. Finnick was okay when he went to his Mom's for thanksgiving and for his family thanksgiving most of the family gets drunk. Finnick was alright although he did step outside at one point, but he was fine and I know he didn't drink anything because I was with him.
"He's fine Ella." I say.
She rolls her eyes and goes to the family room.
"He really is fine Mom." I say.
"I know, I believe you." She says and hugs me.
"Then why doesn't Ella?" I ask.
"I don't know it's not like she's ever had this happen to her." She says. "Annie-"
"It's fine Mom." I say knowing she thought she just offended me.
She nods.
"When did you say Finnick's flight would get in?" She asks.
"He should be calling me any minute." I say.
She nods.
"You know they have alcohol on planes." Ella says coming back into the kitchen.
"Ella what is wrong with you?" Carter asks.
"I'm just worried that's all."
I get a phone call thirty minutes later from Finnick.
"Can I take your car to pick him up Mom?" I ask.
"Of course sweetie and don't worry I've got Nick." She says.
I smile.
"I know you do." I say.
"Mommy." Nick says as I'm about to leave.
"I'll be right back baby. I'm going to get Daddy." I say.
"Okay." He says. I kiss him
"Bye baby." I say and leave.
The drive to the airport seems longer than usual, maybe it's because it's almost Christmas and everyone is going to pick up their family.
I call him.
"I'm here Finnick." I say.
"Okay, I'm coming." He says and within five minutes he spots the car and gets in. He leans in and kisses me. "Hey." He says.
"Hi." I say and start the car.
"Nick with your Mom?" He asks.
"He's with the whole gang actually." I say and he smiles.
"Good." He says.
"So how was the meeting thingy?" I ask.
"The thing went well, very well things after the new year are going to be excellent." He says.
"Okay." I say.
"How were you on the flight?" He asks.
"Good, Nick slept most of the way." I say.
"I bet you liked that." Finnick smiles.
"As a matter of fact I did." I say.
We drive in silence for a bit.
"How's Ella?" He asks.
I keep my eyes on the road to avoid the question.
"That bad?" Finnick asks.
I sigh.
"I don't care Annie, but I would like to know what I'm walking into." He says.
"She's probably going to be making comments and studying you." I say.
He nods.
"Are we seeing your Dad when we're here?" He asks.
"Maybe." I say.
We make back to my Mom's just in time for dinner. Finnick greets everyone and it seems like Ella is glaring at Finnick all throughout dinner. I think she sat across from him just for that purpose.
"How's the zoo Finnick?" Ella asks.
"It's fine. I actually have something for you Madeline." Finnick says with a smile.
"Do you think he got me a pet monkey Papa." She asks. Finnick always offers them a private tour if they ever visit us, but they never have and I don't blame them they live in Colorado which isn't the closest to New York. It's on the opposite side of the country, but the offer always stands.
"I really doubt that Madeline." Tony says and she pouts.
Finnick got her a stuffed animal monkey though which she loves.
"There's more for Christmas." Finnick says.
"Thank you Uncle Finnick." She says.
"You're welcome cutie." He says.
Ella smiles and I can tell it's genuine.
A few hours later Carter, Tony, and Madeline leave for their hotel.
"I'm going to put Nick to sleep." Finnick says and kisses me. "I might go with him." He says and I nod.
"Goodnight then." I say and he picks Nick up and takes him upstairs for bed.
It's just Ella and my Mother then.
Ella smiles at me.
"He seemed nice." Ella says.
"Nice?" I say confused.
"Yeah... nice. Do you not like that choice of word?" She says.
"Ella." My Mom says. "Finnick has always been kind and nice." She says which makes me smile.
"Not always." She says.
I sigh.
My Mom leaves to go to bed or more likely to get away from us.
"Why do you hate Finnick so much?" I ask.
"I don't hate him I just don't trust him." She says.
"Why don't you trust him?" I ask.
"Because he betrayed you." She says.
"It's not like he cheated on me Ella." I say. "Unless you know something I don't." I tease.
"I would tell you right away if that happened. I just wouldn't trust Finnick around alcohol." She says.
"If he says he's alright then I trust him Ella. Why can't you? He's not even your husband." I say.
"Because I don't want him to hurt you." She says.
"Ella. He isn't going to hurt me, just forget about everything that has happened and think about all the good Finnick has done for us or just me."
She sighs.
"When you put it like that I might just believe you, but Finnick is going to have to prove himself to me. You may be convinced, but I'm not." She says.
"Well, it's a good thing he doesn't need to convince you." I say and walk upstairs.
I lay down next to Finnick and wrap his arm around my waist.
He kisses the back of my head.
"I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too." I say. "Did Nick go down okay?" I ask and hold his hand.
"Yes. Although I think we were wrong about his new favorite word." He says.
"What it's not no?" I say with a smile.
"No, I think it's 'again'."
"How many times did you read the story to him?" I ask with a smile.
"Only once, but that didn't stop the 'again Daddy again!' the best part was that after I said no he had the Annie pout."
"What is the Annie pout?" I say but I know what he means. When Nick scrunches his eyebrows and sticks out his bottom lip it does resemble a fake Annie pout.
"You know what it is." He says and kisses the back of my head again.
"I guess I do." I say.
"You guess?" He says with a chuckle.
"Alright I'm familiar with it." I say.
"Much better." He says.
"I'm sorry about Ella." I whisper.
"Don't be. You and I can't control what she does, I just have to accept that." He says.
"They tell you that in thearpy?" I ask.
"Possibly." He says. I turn over so I can see his face. I kiss his lips.
"That's good." I say.
He nods.
"Finnick did you get me a Christmas present?" I ask.
"Yes." He says slightly confused.
I nod.
"Why did you not get me one?" He asks with a smile and I roll my eyes.
"I did, but I didn't really buy anything." I say.
"That's okay I love those DIY things." He says and I roll my eyes. "I didn't buy you anything fancy if that is why you're worried." He says.
"No, I just didn't want you to feel cheated." I say although I think Finnick will like this 'present' very much. I think it's rather lucky that it happened around this time of year.
"Don't worry Ann I won't." He says and kisses me and I close my eyes and find sleep.
"It's never going to be like before." I say to Carter referring to Ella. She spent the night at our Dads she always does when she is in town.
Carter starts mixing the cookie batter. It's Christmas Eve so Carter is mixing the cookie batter that Madeline will be decorating for Santa. She won't be the only one, but that is the main reason we are doing this.
"What?" He asks confused.
"Ella and I." I say. "Even if we do makeup it won't be the same." I say. I thought it wouldn't be the same after what happened with John, but that didn't effect our relationship at all. Her harping on Finnick and suggesting he isn't a good Father is bothersome though. Finnick's a great Dad and a great husband. He's the best and I know if I was in Finnick's situation he wouldn't leave me.
"You don't know that, look at you and Dad now." He says.
"That relationship is different as well." I say. "And that might be for the better." I say.
"I get that, I do, but Ella is different from Dad." He says.
"I know, but something won't be right, the closeness." I say as he hands me the spatula to lick I'm about to, but stop.
"What?" He asks.
"I shouldn't, raw egg." I say and put it back in the bowl.
"Since when has that stopped you." He says with a smirk.
"I just don't want Nick to do it." I say.
"He's not even here Nick and Finnick went to the park with Tony and Madeline." He says.
"I know, but I should practice just like when you need to stop saying bad words in front of them." I say.
"You don't even swear that much, nor does Finnick" He says and licks the spatula.
"Still I don't want to do it in front of my two year old." I say.
"This is true. Did you get presents for Madeline?" He asks.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because we didn't buy anything for Nick." He says.
I roll my eyes.
"He's two he's not going to care as long as he gets something." I say. "And if you're so concerned just label ours from Santa." I say.
"Tony could-"
"Carter." I say.
"Alright jeez." He says and I smile. "We did get you and Finnick gifts though." He says.
"We got you stuff for you as well." I say.
"Now here comes the real question-"
"I got stuff for Dad." I say.
"I was going to ask if you got something for Ella." He says.
"I did." I say. "I got her an an antique sewing box." I say.
"She'll like that." Carter says surprised.
"I know, that's why I got it for her." I say.
"What if she didn't get anything for you?" He asks.
"Christmas isn't about the gifts, remember." I say.
He rolls his eyes.
"But, it will look bad and I can guarantee she didn't get anything for Finnick." He says.
"She could've just gotten a cook book or something and say to Annie and Finnick." I say and we hear the door open.
"No. No. No. No." I hear Nick say.
"You're right that is his favorite word." Carter says.
I roll my eyes. Even though Nick sometimes says no he doesn't always mean no.
"Here's Mommy." Finnick says and lets him walk towards me.
"Hi baby." I say and pick him up.
"Mommy I cold." He says
"I know, but Mommy can warm you up." I say and take off his jacket and little boots. "Here we go sweetie." I say and get him a blanket to snuggle under.
"Mommy." He says and leans against me. He hugs my waist and starts to doze off.
"Mommy?" Nick holds out his cookie.
"It's beautiful sweetie." I ask knowing that is what he was asking. "But, you're making a mess." I say and clean up the sprinkles that are getting everywhere.
"No." He says.
I kiss the top of his head
"Make more cookies for Santa." I say and he nods.
Madeline is more careful but Nick seems to just like throwing sprinkles everywhere. He's only two and Finnick and I are helping him, but he is very... abstract.
"I think that's enough Nicky." I say and Finnick picks him up and helps Nick wash his hands.
Ella comes in and is holding boxes.
"What are those?! What are those?!" Madeline asks excited and hops off her chair.
"Presents for tomorrow." She says.
Madeline claps her hands and smiles.
"These two are for you." She says and puts the rest under the tree.
Madeline goes to investigate the presents Ella just brought over.
"One from Dad and one from me." She explains before Carter can object to her for buying Madeline two gifts.
He nods.
"I got something for Nick too." She says and I nod.
"He'll like that." I say. "I got stuff for you." I say.
"I got stuff for you too." She says.
Ella presses her lips together.
"I got something for Finnick too." She says hurriedly as if she just blurted out some big secret.
"It's not something inappropriate?" I ask thinking of all the things she could get that are horrible.
She shakes her head.
"I care about you and I love my little nephew." She smiles. "And I still like Finnick, but excuse me if I don't have as much faith as you do." She says and walks away.
"She's trying." I hear Carter whisper.
"I guess." I whisper. "I'll make that decision when I see what she got for him." I say and he nods.
"Finnick." I whisper on Christmas morning and kiss his cheek.
He smiles. He's still sleepy, but I think we both know Nick will be up soon.
"Merry Christmas." He says.
"Merry Christmas." I say back and kiss him. "Finnick I got you a present that I want you to open up in private." I whisper. I know once we all wake up present time will begin and it will get crazy.
"Is it inappropriate then?" He smirks.
"Just open it will you." I say and kiss him.
He smiles.
"If you insist." He says. It seems like he it is taking forever to open it, but I know that's only because of what his reaction will be.
He looks up at me with a mixture of excitement and confusion.
"Is this what I think it is?" He asks.
I nod.
"I'm pregnant." I say. I wrapped up one of the pregnancy tests I took. I took more than one to make sure it was positive. Finnick and I weren't trying we were just having sex. I was surprised because it seemed to take forever to get pregnant with Nick, a little over a year, but with Olivia it was only a few months. I guess it doesn't things happen at their own time.
Finnick hugs me and kisses me. "We weren't even trying." He says. "Are you okay though?" He asks worried.
"Yes, why?" I ask confused. I was worried about his reaction.
"Because you said you didn't want another baby yet because-"
"I'm not worried about you so much anymore." I say. Which is true I'm not as worried because he's been sober almost a whole year and doesn't seem to be struggling as much.
"Okay." He says and kisses me. "Do you know how far along you are?" He asks.
"Couple weeks." I say.
Finnick kisses me again.
"Nicky's going to be a big brother." Finnick says.
"Yeah." I say with a smile. "He is."