Work Text:
“Hold still brat”
Levi fastened the poppers on the onesie as the baby wiggled on the changing mat. Making sure both mittens were securely on his son’s hands, he tenderly picked him up and lay him over his shoulder. He placed a soft kiss on the child’s head, stroking the dark tufts of hair before rooting around the drawer for a hat.
“Hey ready to go you two?”, Petra appeared in the doorway fastening her coat.
The baby cooed upon seeing his mother, tiny arms flailing as Levi passed him over. He donned his own coat and shoes before moving through the hallway to help Petra secure the baby carrier across her torso. The child yawned and snuggled into his mother’s chest, sleepy amber eyes closing as Levi fussed one last time over the baby’s hat, making sure both ears were tucked in.
He turned and took the lead from the coat hook, “Spencer! C’mon, time for a walk”
“Arf Arf!”
The roomba entered the hallway and Levi clipped the lead on. He gave Petra a quick peck on the cheek before opening the front door and stepping out into the snow. Their breaths came out as little clouds as they crunched down the path, Spencer pulling on the leash. Levi couldn’t help but smile at his wife as she held the baby’s tiny hand in her own, her face the very picture of devotion towards the snoozing infant.
____________________
Levi woke with a start, sitting bolt upright in the bed.
He looked over at his still slumbering wife then back at the wall in front of him.
What the fuck was that? Weird ass dream.
He lay back down, his gaze once again settling over Petra’s sleeping form. His mind cast back to the image of her holding a tiny version of themselves, the contentment on her face as she held it close. Teeny fingers holding her own…
He shook the thought from his head and settled back down to sleep.
__________________
“Oh hang on I gotta get cotton buds”.
Petra darted off to the cosmetics aisle leaving Levi with the half full shopping cart. Not wanting a repeat of previous shopping trips in which Petra zoomed off and left her baffled husband behind fruitlessly searching round aisles to locate his tiny wife, Levi called after her, “Tch, hold up brat”.
He pushed the cart towards where he thought he saw his wife disappear and waited as she compared the prices of each brand.
Levi leant on the handle, aimlessly looking at the shelves. He scanned across the items, before his eyes settled on one product in particular. A bottle of baby shampoo situated next to the bubble baths. Levi’s mind wandered to an image of himself holding a wiggling baby as he gently poured water over its damp hair. He held the infant as it stared entranced at the bubbles in the mini tub, chubby hands reaching out in fascination. It’s little arms and legs flailed in protest as he lifted them out and quickly wrapped it in a soft, white towel…
“Got ‘em!”
He was broken harshly out of his reverie by Petra tossing the packet of cotton buds into the cart with a loud clatter.
She looked curiously at his face as he blinked dumbly, “Hey you okay?”.
Levi cleared his throat, “Yeah. Don’t we need cat food?”. He turned abruptly making a beeline for the pet food aisle, leaving a confused Petra in his wake.
___________________
“Dammit, where’d I put it?”
Petra walked purposefully into the kitchen and began sifting through some letters on the table. Levi looked up from the washing up bowl, setting a clean dish on the drying rack, “What you looking for?”
Petra set down the mail, her nose scrunching as she scanned the kitchen quizzically, “The card for Lynne’s baby shower, I could of sworn I left it in the kitchen”.
Levi dried his hands on a tea towel, “Wasn’t that the thing you were writing in the bedroom?”
Petra darted to the bedroom as Levi made his way into the living room. He collected the mugs off the coffee table but stopped as he saw the gift laid out on the sofa.
A pack of tiny baby vests in different shades of pink sat next to some even tinier socks and a pink, cuddly toy rabbit. A pastel gift bag lay out ready next to them, the words ‘Welcome Little One!’ emblazoned above some cartoon zoo animals.
Levi picked up the socks, feeling the soft fabric on his fingertips. They barely filled the palm of his hand. His heart clenched as the familiar feeling washed over him. He imagined Petra folding a little pink blanket and placing it in the wash basket as she began pairing little pink socks out the dryer...
They’d discussed the topic before they got married and both agreed it was something they’d want in the future. But neither had broached the subject since. They could definitely afford it, but would Petra be willing to take the time away from work at this point in her career? She loved her job so much. Maybe Levi could work from home to allow her to -
“Found it! You were right it was on the dresser”, Petra walked briskly into the room, waving the now located card. She paused as she took in the sight of her husband staring at the tiny pink socks in his hand, “Oh yeah I needed to wrap those - hey you alright?”
He snapped his head up and placed the socks back with the other gifts, “Oh. Yeah. Just looking at what you got her”.
The concerned look on Petra’s face eased, “Oh just some essentials; it’s so difficult to buy for baby showers when you know they’ve gone and got a load of stuff already - and they grow so quick!”.
Levi hummed in agreement as Petra smoothed out the tissue paper and re-folded the tiny garments.
“They’re so small”
“Well they are for a very small human”, Petra chuckled, carefully wrapping the items in the paper and placing them in the bag. She grabbed her purse and checked her keys and phone.
“I’ll see you later sweetie”
“Have fun”, he gave her a lingering kiss. She swept out the door and Levi sighed, returning to the kitchen. He brought out the slow cooker and started pulling out ingredients for stew from the cupboard. Onions, a potato, stock cube….hmm maybe they needed to go shopping again. He crouched down to inspect the tins at the back of the cupboard.
He pulled one out from the back.
‘Baby Carrots’
Nigel startled from his spot on the kitchen chair as the cupboard door was shut more forcefully than necessary.
__________________
He dumped his keys in the bowl by the door and loosened his tie. His shoulders relaxed a little at the thought of another work week done. He placed his shoes neatly on the shoe rack.
A sweet aroma filled his senses. A soft, calming fragrance that he couldn’t quite place. Petra poked her head out from the kitchen, “Hi sweetie, how was your day?”
Levi answered her with a deep kiss, Petra letting out a playful yelp as he pulled her in close. “Glad to finally start the weekend with my beautiful wife”. Petra giggled against his lips and wrapped her hands round his waist.
“I was just about to make tea, do you want some?”
“Do you even have to ask?”, he placed another kiss to her forehead. “Perfect fucking woman”, he growled.
They released their hold on one another, and Levi went to get changed. Work shirt and trousers swapped for loose, grey long sleeves and comfy slacks, Levi went to dump the dirty laundry in the wicker basket. It was then that he noticed the scented candle burning on the dresser.
Mumbling about leaving candles unattended, he turned it round to read the label.
‘Baby Powder’
___________________
Petra was busying herself with pouring the water over the tea strainers when she heard a small cough from the doorway. She looked up to find Levi sporting a pensive look on his face as he leaned against the doorframe. She went to pass him his tea, a worried expression creeping into her features. Her husband’s far away looks over the last few weeks hadn’t escaped her notice. Even though she knew he wasn’t the type to be immediately forthcoming with his feelings - her gut told her something was playing on his mind.
They sat down at the kitchen table, tea steaming in the mugs as Levi stared into the dark liquid. Petra reached a hand over to touch his forearm giving it an encouraging squeeze, concern etched into her face.
“Levi, honey. Whatever it is you know you can talk to me”
He set down the cup and took both her hands, gently holding them in his own. His thumb ran over the gold band on her finger. Taking a deep breath he looked into her wide, golden eyes.
“Pet…how would you feel about us trying for a baby?”
END