Author's Note: Ashleigh is finally gonna meet the baby in this chapter!!
When I come back luckily Cappie has Noelle settled down. He's holding her across his body, still rocking her back and forth in a rhythm, but at least she's not crying. The pink pacifier is keeping her a little bit quiet I think, soothing her.
"Yay she stopped crying", I walk in, still holding my IV pole with me as I smile at the sight of the two of them.
"Yeah, this pacifier thing is amazing", Cappie grins up at me. "It kinda reminds me of a similar thing I do when Beaver's really drunk and fussy and-"
"Don't wanna know", I giggle at his craziness.
I get back into my bed then, Tanisha still standing by in case I need help, but I'm actually pretty with it today.
"Alright, so Miss Casey, what would you rather have for lunch? The menu options today are chicken noodle soup or grilled cheese. Or I could bring both?", She gives me a smile.
"Really?", I laugh. "They'd let you give me both?"
"Well for my favorite patient, I'd put in a request myself", She gives me a sweet smile.
"Aw that's so sweet!", I pout. "Thanks Tanisha".
"You're welcome hun. Dr. Goldsmith is doing her rounds so I'm assuming she'll probably be in soon to check you", She lets me know.
"Oh okay great", I nod. "Then… maybe I could get out of here".
I look over to Cap with an excited smile at the prospect of going home.
"Yeah, we'll have to see what she says, but I think you're recovering great!", Tanisha smiles. "I'll be back soon with your food".
"Thanks!", I give her a grin as she leaves.
"Well I heard the roads are apparently a bit better so I think it'd be easier to drive home than it was to get here", Rusty says with a laugh.
"Awesome", I smile.
"The person who texted me that was…", Rusty gives me an excited, and slightly maniacal, grin then. "Ash! Because…"
"Oh my god!", I perk up, practically screeching.
Cappie covers Noelle's ears.
"Yeah your mom and your Aunt Ashleigh have a tendency to scream when they see each other. So… brace for that baby", Cappie says to her jokingly and I give him a look, crossing my arms at him.
"Well it's a better habit than me having to explain to her why her daddy is so good at throwing a ball into a red cup", I quip back to him.
"Hey!", he smirks. "I'll have you know beer pong is starting to be recognized as a national sport! Isn't that right Rus?"
"Actually he's right", Rusty laughs at us.
"Well… if they ever start Olympic trials, I'll support you all the way Cap. But until then it's just throwing a ball into a cup of liquid", I giggle and Cappie gives me a look, grinning.
"So Ashleigh's really coming then?", Cappie smiles, changing the subject.
"Yeah she's on her way. She… actually didn't want me to tell you Case. Because it was going to be a surprise, so make sure to act surprised", He instructs us carefully.
"Okay will do", I laugh. "This is so awesome!"
"Yeah I know, I'm gonna see my girlfriend way earlier than I had planned", Rusty looks off in a love haze.
"Yeah I think her meeting her goddaughter trumps you guys seeing each other like… 3 days before you were supposed to", I give him a look.
"C'mon Case, it's young love, don't you remember what that was like?", Cappie looks to me jokingly.
"You're talking like we're old people now Cap", I scoff.
"Sorry, I just kind of feel like an old man now…", He fakes a scared look then, joking around like usual. "I'm not gonna go grey now that I'm a dad am I?"
I giggle at him and roll my eyes.
"You're quite the baby whisperer right now Cap", I comment with a giggle, gesturing to how Noelle just sucks on her pacifier quietly in his arms.
"I know right?", He grins, dimples showing, as he looks down at her. "I'm afraid to move a muscle though, it took a while for her to stop yelling after you left".
"I can attest to that", Rusty groans. "She woke me up from my nap".
We hear a knock on the door then and it's Tanisha back with a tray of food for me.
"Here you go Casey!", She puts it down carefully on the table that slides out in front of me. "Looks like you can enjoy your food in peace. Your baby is being great over there".
She laughs then, looking at Noelle.
"I know right", I agree with a giggle. "We have to savor this because she'll probably be crying soon".
"Exactly", Tanisha laughs. "Well I'll see you later!"
"Thanks for the food", I give her a wave and Cappie joins in, taking his one hand off the baby for a moment as she leaves again.
"Well Cap… what do you say we venture down to the cafeteria? I heard Tuesday is meatball sub day", Rusty smiles.
"You go Rus, I don't want to move", Cap laughs. "And also the doctor might come in so I should be here".
"Cool, I'll bring you back one. I'll leave in few minutes, I'm just texting Ashleigh", Rusty smiles down at his phone.
"Ugh I wish I could eat something… a little more exciting", I moan.
"Well soon, they just wanna be careful because of your surgery and your meds", Cap shrugs. "But in a few days I promise, I'll get or make you anything you want".
"Aw thanks Cap", I grin happily.
"You know…", Cappie laughs. "When you were in labor you kept saying you wanted a hot dog and french fries".
"What? Really?", I laugh, not really remembering.
"Yeah, which I thought was crazy because you hate hot dogs", Cap scoffs.
"You know, scientifically speaking", Rusty starts and both me and Cap know we're going to be in for a lecture. "It's been proven that women are hardwired to forget what giving birth was like. That way the population doesn't suffer. It's like having amnesia, not remembering how bad it really was so that women will do it again".
"Well…", I laugh and think about it. "I don't feel that out of it to not remember how bad the whole thing sucked".
I give Rusty a look and Cappie laughs too.
"But…", I sigh. "I can also see why women want to do it again. She's just so damn sweet! And squishy and soft and like the cutest possible thing ever! It does kind of make you briefly want to create another one if you forget the hell the 9 months can be and all the other annoying baby things".
I laugh and then look over to see Cappie raising his eyebrow at me.
"Huh…", He looks mischievous. "So you would have another baby!"
I roll my eyes at him seeing the way he grins at this.
"High five, you did it Noelle", Cappie grins down at her and grabs her little hand as I giggle at them. "You officially changed your moms mind with your cuteness. Something you and I have in common".
Cappie looks up to me then with a devilish grin.
"Something you and her have in common?", I question with a giggle.
"Yeah we both changed your mind about us", he shrugs with a smile. "Granted… it only took her like, an hour. For me it took two whole years, at least".
I laugh, blushing a bit at him.
"But we got her under our spell didn't we?", Cap speaks to Noelle again, playing with her foot now.
He looks up at me a few moments later to see me trying to stifle in a sheepish grin. Because, of course, he was right. He had gotten under my skin enough to make me unable to successfully date any other guy, ever. Had made me love him no matter his frat guy like traits.
"I'm gonna go get us those sandwiches before I have to watch you guys makeout again", Rusty gets up them with a laugh, breaking the moment we're having right now.
"Good idea Spitter", Cappie gives him a sly look.
Cap gets up coming over to me then, Noelle still in his arms, to kiss me. I'm sitting up in my hospital bed, sitting with my legs crossed, so he doesn't have to bend over that far.
"Hey", I think to myself when we part. "When I'm done eating I'm gonna try feeding her again, my boobs feel kinda weird".
I touch them then, making a bit of a pained face.
"Oh they're probably engorged", Cappie speaks matter of fact, giving me a grin, and then can't help look down at my chest. "They're like… huge".
"You really do know all the terms don't you?", I giggle. "Yeah they're like hard and swollen".
"Well I'm still game to be your personal masseuse any time you need", He raises his eyebrow at me with a smirk.
"Okay Cap", I laugh.
I eat my own lunch and Rusty comes back with sandwiches my him and Cap.
As soon as Cappie puts Noelle down in her bassinet to try to eat she starts to cry again.
"Here, I'm pretty much done, give her to me", I offer to him so he can eat.
"Yeah, you see everyone else eating and you're jealous aren't you?", I coo down to her once Cappie's passed her into my arms as I give her a laugh. "Rusty… you're gonna have to not look okay?"
"Oh god, you're gonna feed her in front of me?", He groans.
"Well not directly in front of you!", I roll my eyes. "You won't see anything much, I have my gown over me a bit, and the baby needs to eat".
"They're just boobs Spitter", Cappie gives him a look as he laughs, him and Rusty both eating.
"Not when they're your sisters!", Rusty gives a grossed out look. "Then they're gross".
"I would never use the word 'gross' to describe anything about your sister", Cappie points a finger at him jokingly. "Especially not her boobs".
"Yeah c'mon Rusty! You should be taking this all in, I thought you loved science and your biology elective", I make fun of him, giving him a teasing look as I try to get Noelle latched on me, my boobs huge right now and kind of hurting.
"This whole past 3 day baby thing has definitely opened my eyes", Rusty nods, looking off. "And made me really thankful for condoms".
We laugh then.
There's a knock on the door and Dr. Goldsmith comes in. I perk up when I see her, although it's a little awkward, my boob out. But still, I was happy to see her.
"Hi guys! Looks like we have some new parents here!", She comes in cheerily and looks at Noelle in my arms. "Oh my gosh, there she is".
Me and Cappie smile at her, her having seen this whole pregnancy from my second trimester on.
"Yeah this is her", I laugh. "Sorry… I'm in the middle of feeding her".
"No problem at all, I'm just happy to be able to check on you", She smiles and then looks from me to Cappie. "How's it going mom and dad? I heard you had a bit of an unexpected time on Christmas".
"Well unexpected seems to be the running theme with her", I laugh, gesturing down to Noelle. "But it ended up being fine, I'm okay and she's okay. I just can't move around as well as I wish I could".
"Well that'll come", She assures me. "Just make sure you focus on your recovery too. I've been told you're doing well though. No complications after the surgery".
"Yeah I'm not feeling too bad", I nod.
"That's great to hear. And your baby girl looks really healthy, it's great to see you breastfeeding, sometimes it's hard to get that going", She nods. "Does this little lady have a name?"
"Oh yeah!", I realize I haven't even told her. "Noelle, it's Noelle Elizabeth Jones. We filled out all the paperwork and her birth certificate earlier".
"Aw! A beautiful name for a beautiful baby", She gleams. "And perfect for a Christmas baby".
"Right?", I laugh with a nod.
She stops feeding then and I move her up on me a bit, pulling my bra back to cover me.
Dr. Goldsmith leans in more to see her.
"Looks like she's got dad's eyes and mom's nose and lips", She smiles and looks from me to Cappie.
"And she's blonde", Cap adds with a laugh.
"Well I'm so happy for you two! You guys make a beautiful family", She nods and me and Cappie look to each other softly, happy to hear that.
Dr. Goldsmith would never know that we'd actually only been a real couple for like, a day and a half now.
"Thank you", I blush at her.
"Of course. Well, I think I'm probably going to be delivering some good news to you", She looks at us excitedly. "Just one more hospital night and if everything is still on track, you're good to go home tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great, you have no idea!", I grin.
"Perfect. And then I'm going to have my admin book you in for 6 weeks from now so you can come in for your postpartum appointment. I'll check your stitches and make sure you're healing well at that appointment", She explains.
"Okay great", I nod. "Thanks for helping us out so much through this whole thing".
"Of course! I wish I could've been there when she was born, it sounded a little stressful, but I'm so happy to see you doing well now", She smiles sincerely. "I'm also going to have the nurse take your IV out tomorrow and we'll just prescribe you pain medication you can get filled at our pharmacy on the main floor. They'll give you all the instructions".
"Okay sounds good", I nod.
"Yeah thanks doctor", Cap chimes in.
"Of course! Well, have a good rest of your day you guys. Enjoy the new baby bliss", She laughs.
"We are. Thank you!", I giggle and we wave goodbye to her as she leaves.
"Yay! Did you hear that? We're gonna take you home tomorrow! And you're gonna have your very own room now!", I speak excitedly to her.
"She is? What? Did you guys upgrade to a three bedroom?", Rusty questions with a scoff.
"No, we're… we're gonna turn Cappie's room into her nursery", I explain with a bit of a sheepish look.
"I'm gonna be sleeping underneath a floral duvet and pink pillows Spitter", Cappie jokes. "It may be a tad emasculating but… anything for these two girls".
He gestures to me and Noelle with a laugh.
Rusty snickers at Cap's comment.
"Wow… you really are a retired frat guy now, aren't you?", Rusty laughs. "What about your bong collection? And the playboys? And your rock band posters?"
"Ew, you still have those?!", I look to Cappie with a laugh.
I remembered him having those belongings freshman year in his dorm. I hadn't seen them senior year though, his room at KT got a tad less gross frat boy by that point. Just a tad though.
"Thanks a lot Spitter", Cappie throws a part of his sandwich wrapper at him as Rusty laughs. "But no, I got rid of the playboys by the end of Junior year. Gave them to Wade before he got expelled. The bong collection however…."
He trails off and then gives me an awkward look.
"Cap! No weed around the baby!", I whisper the word weed and cover her ears.
"Pretty sure weed isn't a swear word Case", Cappie laughs. "For all anyone knows you're talking about gardening".
He shrugs as I roll my eyes at him.
"But don't worry, they're hidden away in my closet strictly for memorabilia purposes. I haven't even gotten high since…", He thinks to himself. "Since the first day back on campus this year".
"Oh right, the tradition", Rusty nods like this is common knowledge.
"What tradition?", I question.
"Well the KT's take a different approach to the first day of classes than most… in which we don't go and spend the day getting high instead. It's like our very own KT version of 420", Cappie explains.
"Okay well at least you haven't since", I shake my head with a laugh and then look down at Noelle. "Your dad is insane Noelle!"
"As soon as I found out about her, I gave my stash to Beaver", Cappie says.
"He's right, I witnessed it. It was… a more special moment than it probably should've been. Tears were shed", Rusty laughs. "Beaver takes his pot brownies very seriously, even if he can't bake them… he'll get a pledge to".
"You guys are crazy", I laugh. "Seriously, if we bring the baby there, there has to be ground rules".
I look to Cappie seriously.
"At least at ZBZ we only have to worry about her getting squished to death by sorority girls with baby fever", I laugh.
"Don't worry", Cappie waves it off, dragging out the words. "I won't let anything happen to her at KT. I am a former president, those guys have to listen to me".
He grins then and looks to Rusty.
"Which reminds me Spitter… how are you gearing up to take over as president? Are you feeling the transfer of power from me to you?", Cappie jokes.
"Well I am kind of feeling something after that meatball sub", Rusty clutches onto his stomach as we laugh.
"Right, I know about your sensitive stomach… the KT diet did not agree with you when you become an active", Cappie kids awkwardly and I giggle at them.
"Oh hey Rusty! I know I'm supposed to be surprised, but I'm just too excited! Do you know whereabouts Ash is?", I probe, grinning. "Me and Noelle need some more estrogen in here".
Cap and Rusty laugh.
"Last time she texted was about an hour ago and she was around Columbus", Rusty smiles. "So I'm thinking she should be here by dinner time".
"Oh my gosh yay! I'm so excited", I dance around in my seated position a little bit with Noelle, whose expression stays monotone, her big eyes looking confused. "Man I hope she'll smile soon".
I giggle as I look to Cappie.
"I know right. She always has that look on her face… a look oddly similar to when Rusty tries to explain Polymer Science to me", Cap jokes and we laugh.
"I love her though", I smile down at her and try to tickle her stomach over the pink newborn onesie she was wearing. "Oh also guys, we should put the outfit Ash got her on before she gets here".
"I feel like it's gonna be way too big Case, when I was dressing her earlier, I put the smallest one we have on, because she's not the same size as a 40 week old newborn", Cappie says. "But…. we could put that cute headband that came with the outfit on her?"
Cappie smiles then and gets up to look through the hospital bag, getting it and bringing it over to us. Ash's outfit she'd bought her was everything that Ash was, stylish and a little over the top. The headband that came with the outfit was baby pink and had a bow on it.
Cappie gently puts it on her to fit on her head.
"Hey it actually fits!", Cappie looks back at her in awe. "Oh my god Case she's so cute".
Cap looks like he's going to melt by the way he's looking at her right now.
"I know right!", I pucker my lip and then bop her on the nose. "Yeah mommy and daddy just want to eat you up!"
"Man you're even more obsessed with this baby than you were with your 'baby alive' doll when you were a kid Case", Rusty remarks with a laugh.
"Well you kinda ruined that baby for me", I give him a look.
"What's a baby alive doll?", Cap laughs, amused.
"It's this doll that I wanted so badly. And finally my mom and dad got it for me for Christmas. It's this doll that you fill with water and she pees, and she makes these crying noises… and she comes with diapers you can change".
"Why would anyone want to clean up fake baby pee?", Cap looks confused as he lets out a laugh.
"You've obviously never been an 8 year old girl before Cap", I give him a look. "But it didn't matter anyways, because literally two days after getting it, Rusty ruined her!"
"Oh c'mon! I was just trying to see what happened! I was a curious kid", Rusty defends himself.
"He put cranberry juice in the baby so she peed red for days and then if that wasn't enough, he took her apart because he wanted to see if he'd be able to put her back together", I give him a narrowed look of my eyes. "Which, spoiler alert, you couldn't! Which is why… I'm gonna watch you like a hawk around this baby…"
I gesture down to Noelle.
"Because mom and dad can't just go buy me a new one like they did with Delilah!", I say.
"Well... technically we could make a new one... but it would take awhile", Cappie can't help but laugh as he looks at me with a suggestive smirk.
I roll my eyes at him.
"Also... Delilah?", Cap questions.
"It was a cute name!", I argue.
"C'mon case, you begged mom and dad for months and then got tired of the doll within like… two weeks?", Rusty gives me a look, crossing his arms. "Plus I was 6 then, I've already proven I can hold your real baby Case".
I grin at him then with a laugh.
"Okay you're right", I nod. "Plus.. this baby I'm not going to be able to get over in two weeks".
We laugh then.
"Yeah after your obsession with Delilah the doll was over, you moved on to Tamagotchis", Rusty remembers.
"Oh man I loved Tamagotchis!", Cap smiles. "That unlocked a major childhood memory for me… my uncle got me one I kept in secret because my mom and dad didn't want me to have anything electronic".
"Hey that reminds me… I never really asked, but are you parents okay about the whole baby thing Cap?", Rusty asks, curious.
"Eh…", Cappie shrugs, looking iffy. "They were okay with it I think. Last time I talked to them they were mostly just surprised that I was graduating, they told me to stay in college for a few more years".
Cap laughs like that suggestion is crazy to him.
"But they… don't know all that much about parenting anyways so they're not the best people to listen to", He laughs. "I'm gonna try to contact them soon, maybe they'll come see her".
He shrugs but I can tell he doesn't look super hopeful.
"Any news on mom and dad Rus?", I ask him, not having really talked to them since I had called them.
"Well the snow is still bad, and especially bad in Illinois. So they're hoping to get here soon but who knows", He shrugs.
"Good", I sigh out. "Probably bad that I'm relieved by that but… anyways".
We laugh then.
"Hey wanna see what's on TV?", Rusty suggests.
"Yeah sure, let's do it", I grin, still holding the baby.
"Oh Reba's on!", Cappie looks excited at the TV when we turn it on, this channel playing sitcoms for like all hours of the day and night. "Love that woman".
"A single mom who works two jobs!", Rusty starts to sing the theme song.
"Who loves her kids and never stops!", Cappie joins in as the two of them sing together.
I watch them with a shake of my head as I can't help but giggle, my stitches hurting but it's too hard to keep from laughing.
"Reba night at the Kappa Tau house was always a fun time", Cap looks over to me, explaining. "And to be honest... after spending that first night alone with the baby... I totally get her struggle now".
He sighs jokingly, that glint in his eye he gets when he's in the midst of being his usual joking self.
"Yeah okay Cap", I giggle, unable to stop smiling, here with my three favorite people in the world. Now I just needed Ash to make things complete.
"Guys!", I hear a familiar voice then, waking me up.
"Ash?", I let out raspily.
"Aw dammit! I woke you up", I hear her whine.
I must've fallen asleep while watching TV, I truly didn't even remember. It looks darker in my room and I know it must be evening now.
"Oh my god!", I perk up right away. "Ash you're here!"
"I made it", She jumps up and down and comes over to my bedside to hug me.
I look around the room when we part to see Rusty standing up, beaming, probably happy as ever that Ashleigh was here now. And I see Cappie in the corner, sleeping himself, holding the baby on top of him.
I start to laugh, looking at how the baby is laying down Cappie's chest, the two of them sleeping.
"I walked Ashleigh in, met her in the lobby to bring her up here. I didn't want to wake the two of you guys, sorry three of you guys...", Rusty corrects himself with a laugh. "I didn't want to wake you guys up but I think this is a worthy cause right?"
Him and Ash smile at each other.
"Yes!", I squeal. "Of course it is, I'm so happy to see you, you have no idea!"
"Well I've gotta see this baby! Where is she?", Ash looks around, looking in her empty bassinet.
"This is like a game of 'Where's Waldo'", Rusty remarks with a laugh.
"She's on her dad's chest", I laugh to Ashleigh, gesturing over to Cappie in the corner on the fold out cot.
"Dad… that's a very very strange word that I can't seem to yet associate with Cappie", Ash scoffs, joking around and then walking further into my room to see the two of them. "Oh my gosh! Case she's so tiny".
Ashleigh looks back over to me with a pout.
"I know", I nod with a laugh.
"And she's wearing the headband I got her!", Ash looks to me happily. "It looks so cute on her!"
"I know right", I giggle, nodding as I smile. "The outfit you got that matches is a little too big right now though, so we'll have to save it for when she grows a bit".
"Well no kidding! She's way tinier than I thought. I guess because she was born early, right?"
"They said that was probably the main factor, yeah", I nod. "Also genetics, my age, and just luck of the draw I think. She was always in the smaller percentile even when they measured her on the ultrasounds. But… she's eating good! So they're not worried".
"That's awesome", She smiles. "I'm so proud of you Case!"
"Aww thanks Ash", I blush, happy my best friend is finally here now.
"I don't want to wake the two of them up…", Ash giggles, walking closer over to Cappie and the baby. "But should I?"
"Eh, go for it", I wave it off, laughing, and then starting to call out Cap's name. "Cappie! Cap!"
That doesn't seem to work, of course, because it's Cappie. So instead Rusty decides to take charge and shakes Cappie a little bit.
"Whoa!", Cappie's startled out of his slumber then, as he jumps slightly. "God Spitter! You know how I feel about being woken up from naps! Especially… when you're also waking up the baby".
Cappie groans as Noelle starts to cry a bit, her having woken up too.
"Cap, Ashleigh's here!", I give him an excited look and he wakes up fully, registering that Ash is in the room.
"Ashleigh!", He smiles, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Well hello! Welcome to our new home".
Cappie gestures around the hospital room, joking around.
"It's nice, a little… sterile and not quite enough pink or florals for my liking but not bad", Ash plays along, shrugging, and I giggle. "You… have something on your shirt Cap…"
Ash looks down at him, pointing.
Cappie then pulls his flannel shirt away from his body for a second to look at it.
"Oh yeah, that's nothing", He waves it off. "Just some baby vomit. Case when you were asleep I burped her… big mistake. That milk she had earlier kinda came up a bit".
We all can't help but laugh then.
"Well… this is Noelle", Cappie holds her up, showing her to Ash. "AKA me and Casey's biological science experiment, per-say. Accidental biological science experiment, that is".
Cappie smirks at all of us as we laugh, Cap being as Cappie as ever. He holds her across his body, her quieting down a bit now as he gets her pacifier for her.
I couldn't help but find this really really attractive. Maybe it was the hormones still rushing through my postpartum self at a rapid rate. Or maybe it was just that I appreciated different things now that I was a mom… but him being so good with her like this made my heart feel like it was going to burst out of my chest, made me wish I wasn't still hooked up to this IV and that we could have some alone time.
"She is so cute! Oh my gosh!", Ashleigh gushes, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Case she looks like you".
Ash looks over to me, her lip puckered, and I see her start to get teary eyed.
"Aw Ash! Are you crying?", I half laugh, half sound sympathetic.
"Yes!", She whines and starts to cry more. "My best friend is a mom now! And her baby is beyond cute… this is just crazy!"
"I know, it's insane for us too", I laugh. "Especially since she totally surprised us early on Christmas Day! Which is why we named her Noelle".
"Noelle Elizabeth is so pretty, I love it", Ashleigh nods and then looks back down at her. We'd told Ash her name when she'd called on the phone earlier. "She has your eyes though Cappie, you guys are right about that".
Cap looks at me with a smile then.
"Well she's definitely your guys' baby, she reminds me of both of you already", Ash grins.
"Really?", I scoff. "I feel like… she's kind of just a tiny chunky thing, like any other baby. Doesn't have distinguished enough features yet to remind me much of either one of us".
"Nuh uh", Ash shakes her head. "She looks graceful, pink lips, long lashes, wispy blonde hair… that's totally you. And she likes to throw up on people… that's Cappie!"
"Hey!", Cap laughs then, giving her a look as he can't help but smile.
Me and Rusty join in with a giggle.
"Wait, you're totally right!", Rusty laughs.
"Spitter! I'm still your big brother!", Cappie looks to him, joking still.
"Yeah sorry Cap… girlfriend is always going to win over big brother…", Rusty smiles and then leans in to kiss Ash.
"I know, I know", Ash speaks when they part from each other. "Our PDA is probably grossing you guys out. But we haven't seen each other in a week!"
She laughs then.
"Well, they can't complain since I've had to watch the two of them basically suck each others faces for the last two days", Rusty jokes.
"Wait… what?!", Ash looks at me and then to Cappie in shock. "Were these strictly just 'we just had a really cute baby as a result of mixing our DNA together when we were dating but we're still just friends with benefits' kisses?"
I laugh then at her oddly specific interpretation of me and Cappie's situation.
"Ash", I laugh then with a shake of my head, finding her insane right now. "Well I was going to tell you in a sec but Rusty kind of ruined it…"
I give Rusty a look.
"But… I have a boyfriend now Ash!", I grin happily, giving her a suggestive look.
"Oh my god! So its true about finding your Mcdreamy in a hospital?! Was he scrubbing in on your surgery? That would be so totally romantic", she sighs dreamily then. "I never thought hospitals would be like Greys Anatomy in real life, but-"
"Ash!", I cut her off with a roll of my eyes. "No! I'm talking about me and Cappie".
I use my hand to gesture between me and Cap.
"Wait!", She immediately looks excited then. "You guys finally went for it?! Finally! This is amazing! Now we can double date".
She jumps up and down excitedly.
"Yeah we were happy about it too", I giggle at her response.
"Although… maybe not even this happy. Neither one of us jumped around like this", Cappie mutters, but I hear him still and give him a look. "Kidding".
"Well it's about time guys! Now you can be parents to her and be an actual couple. Not just do everything couples do but without the label", She puts her hands on her hips with a laugh. "Now tell me! How did it all go down? I need all the details!"
She sits down in the chair beside my bed then, leaning over, always one for gossip.
I laugh at the way she's so excited about this. But I honestly don't even know where to start the story.
So instead Cap jumps in to explain it.
"Well… Casey just couldn't stand it anymore, she basically told me I'm the best boyfriend she's ever had, the only guy that has ever satisfied her, the most attractive guy she's ever met, that I'm almost too much man for her but she's going to try to cope with it…", Cap jokes.
I give him a joking glare as I narrow my eyes at him.
"That is so not how it happened!", I laugh. "Yes, I was the one to initiate it…."
"After I tried to initiate telling you I loved you for months and every time you just about had a panic attack", Cappie adds with a smirk.
"Yes, fine", I shake my head with a roll of my eyes. "But… it just took having the baby to put things into… focus. I didn't want to wait anymore, I didn't want to be scared to take the risk".
"Well good, since it's been forever! I mean you told me you loved Cappie way back…", She thinks to herself. "Around Homecoming right?"
"Ash!", I give her a look, trying to tell her to shut up.
"Oh sorry… was that not… public knowledge now?", She gives me an awkward purse of her lips.
"Wait… you knew back in October?", Cappie questions, looking at me, surprised.
"Um yes…", I nod awkwardly, immediately feeling that angst we typically had between us all these years bubbling up.
"I had no idea", He shakes his head in awe, unable to help the grin he sports, looking sheepish. "I thought you didn't want to get back together".
"I always wanted to get back together Cap, I was just scared and… didn't want to mess things up for the baby because of our off and on relationship", I explain.
"Well look at me! Helping people uncover new things about their relationships!", Ash grins, proud of herself. "I'm like Dr. Phil but with a much better haircut!"
We laugh at Ash.
"Well I'm happy I know that now", Cappie smiles sweetly. "Now I know all the times that we… you know… you weren't just doing it because you were pregnant, you actually had feelings for me?"
"Yes Cap", I give in, sighing slightly. "Of course I love you. I just kind of… never stopped. I just pushed it away in my first trimester because I was mad at you and… scared of being 22, alone, and pregnant".
"Also… sorry Cap but I kind of urged her to not go back to you at first there… in May", Ash gives him an awkward grimace. "Sorry".
"It's okay", Cappie laughs with a shake of his head.
"You were just such an ass there for awhile. At Cinco De Mayo...", Ash thinks to herself. "Then again at graduation…. Basically every time she tried to tell you she was pregnant, you did something douchey. That's why I told Casey that she'd probably just have to accept her fate of being a single mom once she decided to keep the baby. But look now! You're literally holding your daughter Cap! Everything worked out".
Ash smiles at Cappie, who's still holding Noelle, not often wanting to let her go. She was only three days old but I could tell already that she majorly had him wrapped around her little finger.
"Yeah everything worked out", Cappie smiles and looks down at Noelle, speaking to her. "Isn't that right Noelly Belly?"
He tickles her across her belly then and we laugh, watching as she just looks up at him with her big blue eyes, not knowing what the heck is going on.
"New nickname Cap?", I ask him with a giggle.
"Yeah it came to me when you were asleep", He grins at me, licking his lips and giving me that glint in his eye. And I knew for a fact that when things settled down later and we had a second alone we'd both be relishing in the fact that he knew how long I'd loved him. I knew he wanted to kiss me right now.
"Hey guys, do you think I could hold her?", Ash looks from Cappie to me excitedly.
"Yeah for sure Ash! Rusty knows how to hold her, he can show you, it's easiest if you're sitting down and then you hold her across your body", I explain.
"Here, go ahead and take the bed here", Cap gets up then, letting the two of them sit down.
"This is what you're calling a bed these days?", Ash looks from me to Cap, giving us a look, her nose up.
"Hey I'm so tired I would literally sleep on a rock at this point", Cappie says with a laugh.
"Also Ash… you gotta take into account that Cappie has adapted over the years to be able to sleep anywhere. After a party my freshman year I remember finding you on the front porch steps, using 3 empty beer cans as a pillow", Rusty points out with a laugh, entertaining me and Ash.
Cappie gives us an awkward look and nods up and down like he's slightly embarrassed.
"Well… I'll take you word for it Spitter. Unfortunately that… does sound like me", Cap says with a snicker. "Me in junior year at least".
"I can't believe that same person is responsible for a baby now", Rusty laughs.
"Yeah... the irony is not lost on me either Spitter", Cappie smirks and we laugh.
"But you're doing a great job at it Cap", Rusty smiles at him sincerely, patting him on the back. "Now let Uncle Rusty and Aunt Ashleigh takeover, you take a break".
"Thanks Spittles", Cap grins his usual mischief filled grin at him and then comes over to me, sitting in the chair beside my bed, giving me a smile.
"Aw! Uncle Rusty and Aunt Ashleigh!", Ash whines, looking like she can't handle the sweetness of it. "I'm gonna cry again!"
"Don't, you need to be able to see to hold the baby Ash", Rusty chuckles.
"Right, right", Ash nods, composing herself as Rusty passes the baby over to her gently.
"Okay so just try to really support her head...,and if you hold her across your body like this, you can hold her in close, supporting her neck and under her legs", Rusty explains, as Ashleigh gets the hang of it.
Me and Cap watch the two of them as Ashleigh looks down at Noelle in awe. I look to Cappie to share a smile.
"Case look! I'm holding your baby!", Ash beams excitedly. "This is so cool! Hi baby. I remember when you were just a bunch of tests on the bathroom floor, and now you're here in real life!"
We laugh then.
"But I want you to know that I was the very first person to find out about you", She smiles, speaking to Noelle. "Other than your mom of course… Isn't that cool?! We have a bond for life now".
I look over again to see Cappie smiling, amused by hearing about that day I found out I was pregnant.
My cheeks hurt from grinning so much, I'm just feeling so happy right now, with my absolute favorite people.
I'm watching them so intently that I get startled for a moment, feeling something on my hand. But I look down to see Cappie's hand resting on my own, smiling over at me.
I smile softly at him, sure my dimples are showing.
I think there was just this common thing between us now. Obviously we'd always been close and connected enough to be able to converse just through looks to each other. But now, with our baby here, it was like there was this whole other layer of feelings when I looked at him. Knowing we shared this common source of love.
We had this sweet little person that was both parts me and him and I didn't discount how special that was. Especially because it was with him. And like Ash had said, he was here. Holding her, changing her, dressing her, feeding her when I couldn't.
And last May that was something I didn't know if I would ever get to see. And man do I feel lucky that I can. Because it was my favorite version of Cappie yet.