Chapter Text
Athena loved her friends. She really did.
But sometimes they could be a lot, especially once they had a little booze in them on New Year’s Eve. What didn’t help was that Athena couldn’t drink this year, Zoe was only a few months old and still nursing around the clock.
They had brought the kids with them, Zuri was asleep upstairs, and the baby became a convenient excuse to slip away from the rambunctious group whenever Zoe started to whine a little through the baby monitor from her travel cot in the living room.
Athena excused herself, accepted a kiss from Bobby on her cheek, and left the noisy diner room. The quietness that fell over her the second she set foot in the living room was like a breath of fresh air, her ears still ringing from the volume of the party.
“Hi baby girl. Are you hungry?” Athena murmured with a gentle smile as she lifted the baby from her travel cot. Zoe blinked sleepily up at her mother, her whining starting to grow louder as tears welled in her big brown eyes.
“It is okay. It is okay.” Athena whispered, trying to soothe her before the whining would turn into full-blown crying. She carried her to the couch, slipped off her shoes and settled down with Zoe in her arms. It didn’t take her long to unclip her tanktop and nursing bra and help Zoe latch.
Athena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The only sounds were the muffled chatter of her friends down the hall and Zoe’s soft suckling. “Mama really needed this break, baby.”
“Daddy too.”
Bobby’s voice made her jump, she hadn’t heard him come in. Instinctively, she held Zoe a little closer.
“Don’t scare me like that, Bobby.” Athena said, a little breathless, her heart racing. She narrowed her eyes at him as he walked around the couch and sat beside her. Zoe was already halfway back to sleep and didn’t react when Bobby gently stroked the back of her head.
“Sorry.” He said softly. “I just wanted to see you both. And you’re in here all alone in the dark.” He leaned over to kiss Athena’s temple, his eyes going back to their baby in her arms whose suckling had slowed to a lazy rhythm, her tiny hand resting against Athena’s collarbone. It was a sight neither of them ever grew tired of, even with their second baby and after what felt like countless feedings together.
“I needed some quiet, and this young lady needed some milk. As if she knew Mama needed a break, didn’t you baby?” Athena whispered. A moment later, Zoe unlatched, and Athena handed her off to Bobby for a burp with practiced ease.
In the background the noise grew louder.
"Ten.”
“Nine.”
“I think it is almost midnight.” Bobby said to Zoe as he settled her against his shoulder with a rag, gently patting her back to get her to burp.
“Five.”
“I am happy to be here with you.” Athena said with a soft smile as she adjusted her clothes and knelt up on the couch so she would be able to kiss him when midnight striked.
"Two.”
“One.”
“Happy New Year, baby.”