Work Text:
July 1st (3 days before Sophie is born)
“Mama,” A tiny voice says. Lucy looks up and sees Emma standing in her doorway, she has bed head and her pajamas are still on. She’s carrying one of her teddy bears. “Hi.”
“Hi Bug.” Lucy says and Emma walks over and climbs up on the bed. Lucy shifts a little uncomfortably in the bed but lets Emma curl up next to her. “Why aren’t you ready for the day Bug?”
“I want you.” Emma says. Lucy shifts again, she was mostly in bed these days because everything hurt and it hurt for her to get out of bed. And not only that but she didn’t have anything to wear except Tim’s clothes and she couldn’t wear his clothes all the time.
(Although she loves doing it).
She remembers feeling like this in her last few days when she was pregnant with Emma.
Except—
She couldn’t stay in bed all day because of Chris. He would yell at her, call her lazy and then threaten to hurt the baby.
She was scared, and lonely and did everything she could to avoid him. It was obviously different this time because of her amazing husband.
But she still felt guilty that all she did (and could do) was lay in bed. She felt bad for Tim, even though he never complained. She felt bad for Emma who just wanted Lucy but lucy felt like she couldn’t be there for her daughter as much.
“Bug,” Lucy says calmly. “You have to go get ready for the day.” Emma shakes her head and clings to Lucy.
“Emma.” Another voice says and Lucy looks up to see Tim. He’s breathless and holding a outfit. “Why did you run away?”
“I want mama.” Emma says pouring a little. She doesn’t look at Tim, but at Lucy who just gives her a kiss.
“Baby,” Lucy says softly. “Let daddy get you dressed.” She looks at her husband who looks both confused and worried. It wasn’t normal for Emma to not let Tim help her. Sometimes she only wanted Tim helping her, especially if Tim had to work late and Emma hadn’t seen him the night before.
“No! Want mama!” She says. She clings more to Lucy and then buries her head into Lucy’s chest.
“It’s okay Tim.” Lucy says. “I got it.” Tim comes over and hands her the clothes but he stays near the bed.
“Come on Emma.” Lucy says lifting her up. “Let me get you dressed and then daddy—”
“No!” Emma says but she doesn’t protest Lucy taking her shirt off. “You make breakfast.”
“Bug,” Tim says. “We are making mama breakfast in bed. I need your help.” Emma pouts a little bit but doesn’t say anything. Once she is dressed and ready, Tim picks her up and starts to walk away.
“Mama.” Emma says just as they are at the doorway. “Come on.”
“Mama is staying up here Emma.” Tim says and Lucy sends him a grateful look. Emma shakes her head and reaches for Lucy.
And she has half a mind to get out of bed and go to her daughter but her husband (bless him) gives her a look and she lays back down.
“I’ll be right here Bug.” Lucy says. Tim gives her a soft smile, Emma pouts at her and then they are gone.
***
The entire day is spent with Emma attached to Lucy. She finally gets out of bed to get ready for the day, and her four year old is there. She doesn’t do much in terms of getting ready, but she makes an effort.
Emma is by her side, and cries every time Tim tries to pull her away. “It’s fine Tim,” Lucy says finally. “Just let her be.” Tim sighs but backs away and Emma latches onto Lucy again. She was always a mama’s girl. From the very beginning, and the fact that she attached so quickly to Tim still surprised Lucy.
Emma would go between the both of them, one day it would be Lucy and the next Tim. It would go back and forth it.
But now she was completely attached to Lucy, and Lucy wasn’t sure how to handle this. She isn’t been this attached to her since she was a baby.
“Is she feeling okay?” Tim asks looking at Emma who Lucy is holding. The little girl has her head on Lucy’s shoulder as she cleans the kitchen counters. “She always goes to you when she doesn’t feel well.”
“I think she is okay.” Lucy says. “She just wants her mama.”
“I don’t blame her,”Tim says. “But—” Lucy sets Emma down and the little girl latches onto her leg.
“What?”
“This isn’t normal.” Tim says. “I know she’s a mama’s girl. She always has been, but she is also pretty flexible and lets me help her.”
Lucy leans against the counter, she really can’t stand too long. Everything starts hurting after awhile.
She just has to remind herself that she is 9 months pregnant, and she is about to have a baby.
“Maybe she knows.” Lucy says.
“Knows what?” Tim asks raising his eyebrows.
“That everything is about to change. She is going to have a little sister and there will be a baby in the house needing our attention.” Lucy says. “It’s just been her for the last almost five years.”
“I never thought of that.” Tim says. He looks down at Emma, and then back at Lucy. “We will give her plenty attention.”
“Of course we will.” Lucy says. “But it’s not just that—she might be able to sense that the baby could be here any day.”
Tim nods his head and then bends down pulling Emma off Lucy and putting her on his hip. Emma pouts (and Lucy realizes it looks just like her).
“Come on Emma,” Tim says. “Let’s go watch Bluey.” Emma fights it a bit but Lucy also knows her daughter loves Bluey. She wouldn’t be able to fight it long.
Once Tim has Emma settles, he comes back over and gathers Lucy in his arms. “Thank you.” Lucy says. “Now I can go lay down for a little bit.”
“That was the plan,” Tim says giving her a kiss. “I got Emma. You go rest.” Lucy nods and walks away quietly.
She would be okay. Emma would be okay. Tim would be okay. She’s not sure when Sophie would come. It could be a week or a few days. She knows things are changing and they will change for Emma. She can only hope she can be there for her sweet girl.
She would try her best.
She knows Tim will too.
And that’s all that matters.
***
July 2nd (two days before Sophie is born)
“Mama!” Lucy sits up and once again sees Emma in the doorway. She has bed head like yesterday except this time she is in her clothes for the day. It just seems she escaped before Tim could do her hair.
“Hi Bug,” Lucy says. “Come here. Do you want mama to do your hair?” Emma nods and runs over. Tim appears a few minutes later with the brush and spray bottle.
“She’s fast.” Tim says walking over and lifting Emma up on the bed. He hands the spray bottle and brush to Lucy. “How do we keep up with her?”
“You do that.” Lucy says. “I can’t do much these days.” She starts combing Emma’s hair, and the little girl sits there patiently.
“You are amazing.” Tim says. “You know that right?” Lucy shrugs and continues to brush Emma’s hair. She knows why Emma is so attached to her, and she gets it. It’s not going to be just her anymore. There’s going to be a new baby, and there’s hard for any four year old to grasp.
“Mama I love you.” Emma says. Lucy pauses and looks over at Tim who smiles at her. She presses a kiss to the top of her head. “I can’t wait for sissy to be here.”
Maybe the change would be good at the same time.
Emma was going to be a great big sister, Lucy already knows that. It would be hard, it wouldn’t be perfect.
But it would be good, so so good.
“I love you too Emma.” Lucy says. Emma looks over at Tim and Lucy sees him smile.
(They both love her smile.)
“I love you daddy.” Emma says. Lucy continues to brush her hair and she hears Tim hum softly.
“I love you too Bug.” He says. And it’s not perfect, but it’s their own oh so wonderful life.