Summary: Striker bonds with his newborn son for the first time
"Sh-sh-sh. Don't cry, kiddo... Daddy's here, daddy's got you."
Two days. Jake has been crying for two fucking days. Try as he might, Striker couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. He'd tried everything, from diaper changing, to bottle-feeding, even his tail, but nothing would soothe the impling down. And this left Striker without his own hours of sleep.
"...You want yer mama, don't you?"
It made sense. Newborn implings often cling to their mothers for their first days of life, learning their scent and how to recognize their voice. Jane was gone, but Jake didn't understand that. He just wants his mama.
Striker removed his shirt, exposing his bare, scarred chest. Carefully, he undressed Jake and cradled him against his body in an upright position. Jane's maternity books described something known as 'kangaroo care', consisting of holding a newborn baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. Supposedly, this brought lots of benefits both for the baby and the mother.
"Shhh. I know ya miss yer momma, pup. I miss her too." Striker whispered tenderly, stroking his son's head. "Ye look a bit like her, ya know. Yer a little piece of both mommy and daddy, after all."
It wasn't long before Jake's cries subsided into whimpers, eventually quieting down. The impling snuggled into the warm, protective arms of his father before letting out a sneeze. Striker laughed a bit... at least until he realized that Jake was nuzzling against his chest with his toothless mouth wide open as if looking for... Shit.