“Would you like something to eat?” Jade smiles kindly at him before taking a seat beside him. Close by he can hear the faint sound of rustling and thuds on the ground.
“No, thank you. I’m good,” Tyler replies with a smile. “How have you been?”
“Tired.” The answer is punctuated by the sound of sudden crying. Jade sighs, already moving to the makeshift crib. “This little one has really been keeping us on our toes tely.”
Tyler hums. “Tori did mention she’d begun teething.”
“She has,” Jade says, sitting down once again, rocking the fussy baby in her arms. “It’s been something of a nightmare, if I’m being honest.” The way she looks down at her doesn’t fit the words, not when it’s so obviously fond.
“I bet,”he says for ck of anything better. “Have you had any time for yourself at all?”
“Here and there,” she admits, “but it’s hard for me to be away from her when she’s so little.”
Again, Tyler hums. He really doesn’t know much at all about babies, but the dark circles under her eyes tell him plenty. Nearby another crash resounds and he wonders whether he should go check on her.
“She’ll be fine,” Jade says with a smile. “Honestly, I don’t think it would help even if you did go in there. Trust me. She’ll be out in a minute.”
He smothers a smile. “Speaking from experience?”
Jade leans in with a conspiratorial grin, “Let’s just say that raising a teenager is just as difficult as raising a baby.” The grin softens into a smile, as she throws a gnce backwards. “They both have their own challenges.”
“You don’t sound too bothered by them,” Tyler notes. In fact, if he had to pin the tone, he’d say it has more wonder than that.
“I’m not.” She smiles, pressing a kiss to Raine’s head, soothing her as she starts to drift into sleep. Guess the little tyke was all cried out. “There was time where I thought I’d never get the chance to experience any of it, so it’s hard to take anything for granted.”
“Even when you have a baby crying at all hours of the day because her teeth are growing in?” Tyler leans in, idly noting that the sound in the other room has quietened just a bit. Guess Tori found what she was looking for.
“Even then,” she smiles. “I won’t lie and say it hasn’t been a struggle, but it’s one step closer to her being able to talk.” The smile turns wondering, “and a step closer to her calling me mum.”
Tyler returns the smile, a gentle warmth spreading through him. “She’ll be lucky to have you,” he says. To have someone who so clearly loves being a mother is a gift in and of itself, he thinks. Jade is so nice, she deserves to have the things she yearns for.
“I hope so,” Jade says softly. “But enough of that. Where are you kids going for your date?”
The smile on his face spreads into a grin as he leans in to whisper. “A really cute cafe we found downtown. I’m trying to keep it a surprise for Tori, but they have this game room in the back that I think she’ll like.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Jade replies. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“I hope so.”
It had been all he could think of the past week. Well, not on the weekend, since that was the party and sleepover. But as soon as he’d had a chance to get home, he’d spent a rge portion of his time looking for pces they could go. He wanted it to be perfect.
And he thinks he might have found it in the family run Fritz cafe. It was a niche with the way it had a whole room with pool tables, air hockey, and other such games out the back. He wasn’t sure if there was anything else like it
Apparently the owner had created the games to attract new customers, but then decided to keep them because they generated more traffic. He wasn’t compining. Just disappointed he’d never heard of it before his search. It sounded like a really fun pce to go. Although having the first time be withToriwas sure to make it even more so.
If only she wasn’t so busy doing whatever it was in there. They’d been sitting for the better part of an hour now. Not that he minded too much, since he was early. Bu still. Tyler was still not sure whether he should just go in there after all.
On cue another crash came through and then the sound of cursing. This time Jade seemed to share his concern, a frown on her face as she looked towards the door. Tyler watched as her lips thinned, eyes wandering from the door and back to him.
“I think I might go in there after all,” Jade says, standing up. “Tyler dear, could you hold Raine for a moment?”
“I…um…Sure?” He’s really not sure whether this is a good idea.
However, Jade looks unconcerned and promptly deposits the infant into his arms. “Thank you. I promise I won’t be gone too long.”
Tyler’s not sure he’s breathing, but he still manages to smile for Jade’s sake. “Okay.” A pause. “I’ll be here.”
There’s a weight in his arms now. One that has nothing to do with the surprisingly very light baby (he’d honestly expected her to be heavier). No. It’s the sudden crushing weight of responsibility he feels with her there.
Sleeping soundly in his arms, with small breaths and tiny hands. She looks so fragile. Very, very vulnerable to anything and everything. She was almost four months old. Were babies supposed to be this small?
He wished Jade would get back already. Or Tori. Anyone really. He was honestly afraid he’d accidentally drop her or hold her too tight. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to hold her before. He didn’t know what to do with a baby!
As if sensing his mounting panic, the baby’s face scrunches up, eyes crinkling like she might wake up. Oh no. Oh no no no. Nice baby. Don’t wake up. Please don’t wake up. Shit. He has no clue what the hell he’ll do if she starts crying.
Tyler forces himself to push the panic back, remembering reading somewhere that would make things worse. Deep breaths. Yes, he decides, he can do this. It helps to focus on the faint murmur of conversation behind Tori’s door. His heart beat calming as he releases a slow whoosh of breath.
Everything’s fine. He wills himself to believe it and is relieved to find himself holding a still asleep baby. The wrinkles lines smoothing out as she absently sucks on her pacifier. As he looks at her, the panic gives way to a building sense of wonder.
Now that she no longer looks like a little potato and has a full head of hair, it hits him anew that this is a little person. Of course, he’d always known that, but it was different. Tyler smiles as he little hand move out of the bnket and reach for his shirt.
Cute. Maybe he can see why Tori is so smitten with her. Not that he has to like it, of course, but he does realise it’s petty to be jealous of a literal baby. He moves the bnket around her and puts a cushion between his legs just in case she shifts too much.
Right. So this is his life then. He thinks he surrenders to his fate remarkably well for someone who had never held a baby in his life.
Were they ever this small? They must have been, but he can’t really believe it. Although he supposes there’s an album somewhere in his house that would prove as much. Or perhaps several.
Being an only child meant his mother didn’t have any other subjects to photograph. Personally, he thinks she might have gone overboard. He won’t tell her that though. It’s one of the few things she enjoys doing, so why ruin her fun?
God. There will probably a whole lot of pictures at the end of this year. He can see it now. They’ll probably have to stand in pce for an hour before she’s satisfied. And a lot of tears as well.
Toriwill most certainly be dragged into it. Both the photos and the tears and it’ll be an all around embarrassing day for him to look back on in the future. Even so. He smiles at the thought. He can’t wait.
The door swings open, with the sound of soft ughter. Tyler’s eyes widen when he takes her in. Her hair is in up in an interesting up do and she’s wearing a fttering red ce top with a pair of bck jeans that fir out at the bottom.
“Wow,” he sighs. “You look…” Hot. Pretty. Absolutely stunning. None of the words seem to fit.
“Thanks,” she smiles. “I’m gd you like it.”
Liking it was an understatement. “Yeah.” He should probably say something a little more intelligible. He blinks, mouth feeling dry as he turns his eyes to the side.
“You know,”Tori says as she walks forward, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you hold her before. You looks so…precious.” A grin. “But you don’t need so many cushions.”
His eyes snap back to her in an instant, narrowing at the amusement on her face. “Ha ha.” Tyler’s a little afraid to move, if he’s being honest. But there’s no way he’s going to tell her that. To Jade he says, “I figured it was better to be safe.”
Jade smiles as she moves forward, amusement dancing in her eyes as she does. But she does take Raine from his arms, so he’s not going to comment on it. “Thank you for looking after her,” she says as she readjusts the baby in her arms.
“It was no problem,” he says with a shrug. He probably shouldn’t tell her he’d almost had a panic attack after she left.
Tori ughs behind her but blissfully doesn’t comment. Seriously, why did he like her so much again? Even more importantly, why didn’t he mind all the teasing he was most certainly going to get on the car ride there?
“Not. A. Word,” he mutters to her as he straightens. Jade far enough not to hear as she pces Raine back in to the cot.
“I didn’t say anything,” she says on a ugh.
“Yeah, but I know you want to.”
Another ugh as she shakes her head. “Come on, let’s head out before it gets too te.” He notices she didn’t deny the words. Which is good or else he’d have to call her a liar.
“Yeah,” he says with a nod, “let’s go.” Brushing over his jeans, he moves to pick up his keys from the kitchen counter. A part of him wants to comment they wouldn’t be so te if she hadn’t taken so long, but Tyler is not that suicidal.
And because he’s seen a comment like that backfire for Zach, but that’s not that relevant. Really.
“You heading out already?” Jade moves back towards them with a slight smile.
“Yeah,” Tori tells her, “I’m still not sure where we’re going but I think it’s better to leave now so we can beat the traffic.”
That’s true. The evening traffic was a nightmare at times like this. Especially since it was a school free day, there were probably more people wandering now. Although he supposes people would have already come home from work by now.
He’d like to say he’d picked today due to it being a day they didn’t have school, but that would be a lie. He’d honestly just picked the first day that came to his mind and they both knew it. Still. It was nice to have things work out.
“Well I suppose, I’ll see you ter then,” Jade replies. “Tyler?”
His head turns towards her in surprise at the change of tone as she says his name. It’s more stern than she normally uses, and she’s not smiling any more. It’s honestly a little scary. He gulps. “Yes?”
“You’re a good kid and I trust you. But on the off chance you hurt her, I need you to remember we have a very big yard.” He feels a chill go down his spine at the tone. Then her face shifts back into softness, giving him a sense of whipsh. “So please look after her, alright?”
“I will,” he replies immediately, “I promise. And I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
Jade makes a fond noise before she smiles at him softly, “I know. But I still feel it had to be said.”
“I know.” He suspects it has a lot to do with the girl burying her face in her hands beside him. Tyler smiles, feeling a fond warmth spread through him as she groans, ears red. Jade notices as well.
“Really?” Tori huffs as she looks up, “you’re giving him the shovel talk!?”
“As I said, it needed to be said.”
She gets a light gre as a response. Tyler feels more amused now that it’s over. Although it is a little funny to see that it’s effecting her more than him. He shares a gnce with Jade, a smile pying on his lips. It’s clear she notices it as well.
“Alright. Alright. I’ll stop embarrassing you now,” Jade ughs.
“Thank you!”Tori begins to rush them out the door immediately. Tyler has to smother a ugh at it, but still lets her half-drag him to the door.
“Have fun on your date,” Jade calls out behind them as they walk out the door. “Don’t stay out too te. I want you home by ten.”
Tori freezes in her steps. Tyler’s watching her, so he sees the indecision on her features before she sighs. He’s not sure what this is about, but she looks determined so he decides to just wait and see.
“We will,” she says as she turns. Half a beat. “And…”
Jade tilts her head questioningly, “And?”
“And,”Tori smiles, “I’ll be home by ten, mum.” Then she turns around and heads to his car quickly.
Tyler feels a grin spread over his lips as he looks back to see Jade frozen in pce. She blinks and a blinding smile lifts her lips. She lifts a hand to cover it, teary green eyes turning to meet his.
“I suppose you didn’t have to wait to be called mum after all,” he says softly, eyes trailing toTori.
“I suppose not,” Jade says, sounding entirely breathless. She grins at him then. “I…” She shakes her head, shooting a look of wonder at the girl in his car. “See you ter.”
“See you ter, Jade.” He’s not entirely sure she hears it with how fast she walks inside.
Halfway to his car, he hears an joyous whoop come from the house. Tyler thinks it’s a really good way to start a date. He also decided to tease Tori for running away ter. Especially since she’ll see Jade again soon anyway.
