A/N: So another week without canon Stydia, and that makes me rather sad. Also I've noticed that my chapters have been somewhat short lately and I'm so sorry but sometimes it's really hard to write a lot of fluff and have it still be interesting. This one is actually pretty long for once lol. I hope you guys are still enjoying this story, it feels like maybe not as many people are still reading so if you could leave a review that would make me very happy and encouraged! I appreciate all of you and hope you still like reading this even if it is pretty lame and cheesy. I also get really frustrated with my writing when it doesn't turn out how I envisioned so if the chapter sucks more than normal than I probably know it too and I'm so sorry. I hope you guys like my writing more than I do. Also I do still plan on getting a separate Stydia one shot out there soon so I guess keep an eye out for that still.
Scott, Isaac, and Stiles were all out on the deck of the cabin they were renting for the Fourth of July weekend grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbeque chicken while Allison, Cora, and Lydia were all inside cutting fruit and getting the day's side dishes and desserts prepared. Well that is until they heard a whimper from one of the upstairs bedrooms in the cabin and Lydia knew immediately and without a doubt that it was her little one who had woken up from her nap.
"Food's ready." Isaac said poking his head in through the sliding glass door and promptly removed it and closed the door behind him.
"I'm going to go get Cass up, I'll be down in a little bit, you can start without me." Lydia said as she washed and dried her hands in the kitchen sink.
"Remember to put her bathing suit on so we can take them in the pool after we eat." Cora told Lydia as she walked up the stairs to the bedrooms. Cora absolutely adored Cassidy and Scott and Allison's little boy, Asher. She doted on the two of them every time she came to visit and would no doubt be a good mother someday soon. Her and Isaac were currently engaged and with only a few months to go until they were married.
As soon as Lydia opened the door to the bedroom that she, Stiles, and Cassidy were staying in, the whimpering immediately stopped. "Mama." The little girl sighed with relief to see her mother's face in an unfamiliar room. She was quite adorable, holding on to the edge of the crib and she had Lydia's old stuffed giraffe that she had become quite attached to, tucked under her shoulder. "Mama!" She said again, this time with a bit of excitement. Being twelve and a half months old, her vocabulary was very limited but she could clearly say 'mama', 'dada', 'no', 'uh-oh', 'milk', and 'papa' which was her way of saying grandpa. Other words were jumbled and hard to understand but she knew sign language for 'more', 'please', and 'thank you' which were helpful too. She still couldn't walk by herself yet but she was good at moving around, grabbing onto furniture to steady herself.
"Hi baby, did you have a good nap?" Lydia asked bending over the portable crib Cassidy was standing in. Cassidy's small fingers immediately grabbed onto Lydia's long hair as she gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead before lifting her out of the crib. She was constantly clutching her mother's hair when it was down; it was never hard or rough or for very long. Lydia imagined that she did it for reassurance and comfort and Lydia was okay with that if it made Cassidy happy. The little girl buried her face in her mother's shoulder giggling with comfort and excitement. "Are you happy to see me or something?" Lydia laughed kissing the top of her daughter's strawberry blonde head.
"Mama!" She sighed with content, making Lydia's heart ache with love.
"Let's get you changed and into your pretty swim suit. Does that sound good?" Lydia asked laying young girl on the large bed and proceeded to change her diaper and dress her in her festive stars and stripes baby bikini. "You are the cutest thing I've ever seen, oh my goodness." Lydia cooed unable to look away from the girl's captivating brown eyes that matched her father's. She couldn't help but lean down to kiss Cassidy all over, making her squeal with laughter. "Okay cutie. How about we go see daddy and get something to eat." Lydia told her daughter, grabbing a towel and sunscreen with her free hands.
"Dada dada dada!" The little one babbled aloud as the descended the steps and made their way through the kitchen and out onto the back deck where everyone was enjoying a festive lunch. Stiles had already inhaled a majority of his food and had an empty spot next to him saved for Lydia.
"Look who's up from their nap." Lydia said, announcing their arrival, everyone turned their heads and smiled at the still sleepy little girl, she had all members of the pack wrapped around her little finger.
"Here, let me take her so you can eat." Stiles said as Lydia set the towel and sunscreen on the edge of the wooden deck. When it came to holding Cassidy, Stiles was up for it. He was part of the reason she didn't know how to walk yet, he was constantly picking her up and carrying her around, not that she minded. Lydia knew he was just a bit protective and he loved playing with her, he was so good with kids, but sometimes she had to force him to let her play on the ground or let someone else hold her for a few minutes. It had been this way since they brought the little one home from the hospital.
"Want to go sit with Daddy?" Lydia said before handing over Cassidy to her husband.
"Dada!"
"Can Daddy have a kiss?" He asked and she obliged, puckering her lips and kissing him. "Aw thank you Cassidy." He smiled, happy that she was learning and listening so well. He was so proud of how smart she was, but then again how couldn't she be with a certified genius for a mother. "You're so smart." He turned her around so she was sitting properly on his lap, looking at her surroundings and after few moments of peace and contentment she started shifting and whining slightly. "Oh no what's wrong?"
"Stiles sweetie, she's hungry. You have to feed her." Lydia said reaching across the table to put fruit and hot dog on a plate.
"If you want, I can feed her." Cora volunteered from her spot at the end of the table, the seat next to Stiles, as she tried to distract Cassidy for a few moments while Lydia cut up the food.
"No, no that's quite alright. Just because I forgot I needed to give her food doesn't mean I can't feed her. And she's actually already pretty good at feeding herself." He bragged and Cora pouted slightly, she knew Stiles would never let the cutie out of his sight but it was worth a try on her part.
"You're so mean." Cora sulked as Lydia pushed the plate of food towards Stiles and reached out to give Cassidy a halved grape.
"Good thing I don't care." Stiles responded as he pushed the plate closer to the edge of the table to Cassidy could feed herself.
"Don't worry I'll let you feed Asher when he wakes up." Allison winked at Cora, knowing it was easier for her to hand off her little one than it was for Stiles. Everyone knew Stiles spent as much time as he possibly could with Cassidy because he loved her so much and because he lost his mother at a young age. He would be there for her as much as he could because with all of the crazy stuff they dealt with, anything could happen without any warning.
After everyone finished their meals and Asher had woken up and eaten too everyone made their way down off the deck and to the backyard which had a decent size swimming pool with various lounge chairs scattered about.
"Lydia, why have you dressed our daughter in a bikini? I totally do not approve of this." Stiles said as he applied sunscreen to Cassidy's inherited pale skin.
"Stiles, she is barley one year old. It's not sexual in any way, it very patriotic and cute." She informed him as she placed a towel on the chair adjacent to Stiles'.
"I just don't want her to grow up too fast." He pouted slightly as he finished smothering the baby in sunscreen.
"I promise, it won't cause premature aging. It really is just meant to be super cute. I think the goal was accomplished." Lydia said walking over to Stiles. "Alright, shirt off and hand me the sunscreen." She helped him lift his shirt up and over his head and grabbed the tube of sunscreen, squirted some onto her hand before lathering it all over his back and shoulders.
"Oh my god! That's so freaking cold!" He jumped when the lotion made contact with his pale skin.
"Would you stop being such a big baby?" Lydia teased as he began to melt into the feeling of her soft touches on his back. When she was finished with his back he applied some to his chest while she made sure to get his face and behind the ears. She then proceeded to remove her skirt and top, revealing her navy floral bikini. This was the first time since the baby was born that she wore a two piece bathing suit and Stiles must have been pretty caught off guard but also quite pleased.
"Eyes up here Stilinski." She said, pulling his attention away from her body and to her face.
"Sorry." He stammered. "You look really fantastic in that by the way." He said standing up, handing the baby to Lydia, and reaching for the sunscreen.
"Thanks." She said, blushing slightly, and pressing her lips together. It was totally insane that he could still give her this many butterflies. Chills ran down her body as he doused her back in suntan lotion with his searing touch. The things she would be doing if her friends weren't around and the baby wasn't in her arms.
Once everyone was lathered up and in their pool gear it was time to hop in the pool. And more importantly, document the Cassidy and Asher's first time in an adult size swimming pool. Lydia had handed the video camera to a perfectly capable and willing Cora when she saw Stiles started to bound down the swimming pool steps as he held an uncertain Cassidy in front of him.
"Wait, Stiles wait! Not so fast, or you'll end up scaring her." She said, and he did what she asked, stopping immediately. He waited until she got down past them and was standing on the floor of the pool, unfazed by the temperature. "Here just take one slow step at a time, and just lightly splash a little water on her so she can get used to it."
"Alright, alright. I got it, you worry too much." He said with a soft smile as he did as he was instructed and it earned a soft giggle and a smile from Cassidy. He did it two more times on the next two steps until the little one was almost fully emerged in the water with a big smile on her face. "I think she likes it." Stiles smiled, observing the one on his daughter's face.
"Oh my gosh, I know. Look at her! Awww I'm so glad she likes it." Lydia said with a laugh as she observed Cassidy kicking her little legs up and down.
Scott and Allison brought Asher into the pool with Stiles' original tactic of immediate immersion but it was a total failure. He cried or whined for six of the seven minutes that he was in the cool water. It all worked out though because after the moment was captured on video Cora was happy to sit on the edge of the pool with him as her feet dangled in the water.
Cassidy however, was totally in utter bliss in the water. Once she discovered kicking, splashing, and the reactions both activities got her she kept at it, giggling almost uncontrollably. Of course she liked the pool best when she was in the comfort of Stiles or Lydia's arms but she still enjoyed it when the adults passed her around, her laughter very infectious. She liked it so much that she even pouted when Stiles handed her to Lydia who was welcoming her with a warm towel.
"Time to go upstairs and get you dressed." Lydia cooed as she wrapped the baby in a bright pink beach towel.
"No. Dada." She demanded with a slight frown and an arm reaching towards the pool where Stiles still was.
"Nope Cassidy needs to be all dry and dressed for fireworks at the park soon." Lydia informed her daughter, kissing her head and heading up the steps towards the cabin. "Daddy will be up in a few minutes."
"Dada." She whined a few times more, doing her best to make it sounds as pitiful as possible. Lydia rolled her eyes at the dramatics of a girl of such a young age and her daddy's girl personality already showing. Once they were back to the room Lydia changed the little one out of her wet clothes swim diaper and into a fresh, dry, and clean outfit, a plaid red, white, and blue dress. Stiles would approve, no doubt. Stiles came up to the room a few minutes later with all of their stuff that had been left on the lounge chair by the pool. He went into the bathroom and changed quickly into dry clothes before returning to the room.
"Can you watch her? I want to take a quick shower." Lydia asked.
"Of course, don't worry. Take your time." He said, giving her a peck on the lips before sitting on the bed and put Cassidy on his lap and proceeded to entertain her.
Lydia took a nice, hot, relaxing shower before stepping out to get dressed, dry and style her hair, and to do her make up. Usually this process was pretty rushed and she rarely got through every step because babies are very needy and time consuming. She was lucky if she got a full shower on particularly busy days. But having Stiles watching Cassidy was worry free and she knew he enjoyed spending the time with her so she knew if he said things like 'take your time' he meant it. She never abused his kindness but it was nice to spend a few extra to herself every once in a while.
Lydia stepped out of the bathroom to find Stiles, Cassidy, and the stuffed giraffe cuddled together under the comforter watching a rerun of Sesame Street on the room's TV. Cassidy was a bit zoned out, staring at the TV but Stiles was totally attentive to her, just staring at her and kissing the top of her strawberry blonde haired head. It was so sweet that it almost caused Lydia's heart to explode.
"You two, are so sickeningly adorable right now." Lydia said, signaling her reentrance into the room and perched herself on the empty side of the bed, a glowing smile etched on her face.
"Well, you're pretty cute yourself though." Stiles replied looking up at her with a goofy smile that conveyed sincerity. She smiled even wider in a shy response as she ran her hand over Cassidy's head softly and enjoyed the brief moment.
"I think we should probably head downstairs, we have to leave soon." Lydia said, gesturing to the time on the digital clock that sat on the nightstand. The group of eight was planning on going to a local park where there was going to be a fireworks display. Lydia was already worried about how the loud noises would affect the babies.
"Okay Cassidy, it's time to go." Stiles told the little one as he shut off the TV and she made a displeased whimper. "We're going to go see some fireworks, doesn't that sounds like so much fun?" He got off the bed and lifted Cassidy into his arms as Lydia grabbed the diaper bag that had anything she could ever possibly need.
"No." She responded before laying her head on his shoulder and clutched her giraffe closer to her; obviously he was coming along for the fun too.
When everyone was downstairs and ready the sun was a half an hour from setting and they piled into two of the three vehicles that were at the cabin and went to the park. After they had picked a nice spot the group laid out two large blankets and settled in. The babies played together with some of the toys Allison had thought to bring with her while Allison, Cora, and Lydia went to buy some ice cream from one of the park vendors. Cassidy was very interested in the ice cream, as to be expected, and ended up eating at least half of her mother's portion due to the perfected pout face and how cute she looked when she signed the words 'more' and 'please.'
Everything was going very well after that, Cassidy and Asher had been cleaned up from the ice cream and were back to playing and everyone else was cuddled up with their significant other and wrapped under a blanket or a sweatshirt of some sort, it had gotten a bit chilly when the sun had finally set. Then the first firework went off.
Cassidy immediately turned to her parents with fear written on her chubby little face, wide eyes and everything. She was about ready to crawl the two feet to her parents when more fireworks began to burst but her small hands flew to her ears and she began to cry. Hard. And so did Asher. Yeah this was totally the worst idea they ever had.
"Oh no. Come here baby." Lydia said reaching for the baby and pulling her into her arms. "It's okay." She chanted as she tried to rub soothing circles on her daughter's back as Cassidy latched onto Stiles' sweatshirt that Lydia was currently wearing.
"Hey look here's Mr. Giraffe!" Stiles said reaching for the stuffed animal and handing it to his daughter, she took it from him but her crying didn't cease until the fireworks did.
"Okay this was totally a horrible idea." Allison admitted for all of them as she patted her son's back affectionately.
"Most definitely." Isaac said, nodding in agreement, he was not the biggest fan of crying kids.
"I think now would be a good a time as any to pack up and go." Scott said, slightly embarrassed, but there was really nothing to worry about because there were plenty of other tired and unhappy children scattered about.
"Yes that sounds perfect I think." Lydia responded as she and everyone else stood up to gather up the items they had brought with them. Lydia wrapped a now sniffling Cassidy in a soft blanket from the diaper bag.
"Mama." She whispered in between sniffs, like she was acknowledging she was safe in her mother's arms. Her body was still shaking from the adrenaline.
"See you're okay now. That was pretty scary, huh?" Lydia asked and was answered with a slight head nod which pretty much broke Lydia's heart. Even if she wasn't trying to communicate a 'yes' it was still pretty pitiful. "Oh its okay, it's all over now. All over." She whispered as she swayed back in forth, trying to be as soothing as possible.
"Alright time to go. I can carry her back to the car." Stiles offered, knowing that she wasn't completely baby sized any longer and she could be heavy for Lydia to hold for long periods of time.
"Cass, can Daddy carry you back to the car?" Lydia asked quietly.
"Dada." She whimpered as she was handed over to Stiles and Lydia made sure the blanket was wrapped securely around her. She recovered quite well from the shock of the fireworks but didn't let her parent's out of her sight. She clutched onto Stiles shirt the whole walk to the car and the only reason she was okay in the car was because Lydia sat next to her in the back the whole way to the cabin.
By the time they got back everyone was super tired, so they all went to their respective rooms for the night. Lydia and Cassidy were already in their sleepwear when Stiles came out of the bathroom in his and climbed into the bed and under the covers, the baby in the middle. Sleep was close to overtaking her but Lydia was making her laugh, which was great because after her borderline banshee wail during the fireworks he was pretty sure she'd never be happy again. But she was clutching her stuffed giraffe and comfortable in her pajamas all was well again.
"Should we put her in the crib?" Stiles asked as the little girl's eyes were beginning to close for presumably the last time before she fell asleep.
"No, let her sleep here. I want her close tonight. Besides, she'll sleep longer in the morning if she's up here." Lydia was staring at Cassidy with such adoration that Stiles wanted to melt. He never expected Lydia to be so into the whole motherhood thing but when she looked at their daughter he don't know why he ever doubted she would love her so unconditionally, probably more than him even. But he didn't mind.
"Hmmm, okay that sounds good." He said agreeing. "I love you." He told her and she looked up to find him looking at her like he did after their very first kiss. She'd never be used to that look.
"I love you too." She carefully leaned over Cassidy and captured his soft pink lips with her own and they both sighed into the kiss it was soft because they were way too tired to elevate it. "Night." She said, pulling back. She hated saying good night, she wished there was something more profound and she wished she didn't have to say goodbye in any way shape or form, even if it was only for a few short hours.
"Goodnight Lydia." He said as she slid down facing towards him and the sleeping baby in between them. He turned off the bedside lamp and promptly laid down in the bed as well. He kissed his daughter's forehead and he reached his hand and placed it on her hip and she sighed contently before the both drifted off.