Harry

I think there had been a drop of boundaries and mystery between Alex and me. It might have to do with the fact that I had seen her have a baby. It didn't feel as weird as I thought it would be, I guess when you love someone a lot, you don't mind them using the restroom in front of you anymore.

I was in the shower when I heard her come into the bathroom and call out for me. I opened the door and looked to find her doing the bathroom dance that she does when she has to pee. Emery was crying and was wrapped up in a towel from her bath earlier. “I was feeding her to calm her but I have to pee.” She handed her to me and quickly ran to the toilet, taking a seat and going.

“Why didn't you leave her on the bed?” she sighed and shrugged.

“I don't want to hear my mom complain that I'm not watching her.” I raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Emery in my arms.

She was crying again, already a month and a half old and still crying her eyes out. “Emery, daddy’s head hurts.” I tried to give her the pacifier attached to her towel but she refused it. There was something about the way she cried that sounded odd, almost like she couldn't quite catch her breath. “Oh darling, does something hurt?” I cooed. I placed my hand on her stomach and I instantly remembered what this could be.

After my shower, I went into the kitchen and filled up a water bottle with hot water. I ran back upstairs and came in to find Alex looking a bit stressed out. “What are you doing?”

“She might have colic and I read once that you can put something warm on their tummy to calm it.” I placed a sock over the water bottle and held it to my face. It was just warm enough to place on her stomach. She seemed to like it and Alex gasped. She laid there, with no problems and seemed to have felt the calmness.

“It worked,” Alex whispered.

I agreed, but still couldn't help but feel like her breathing was a bit off. It was normal for babies to sound a little weird, but this was different. “Yeah, maybe we should take her to the doctor for that weird way she catches her breath.”

“You think? It can't be serious right?” I shrugged.

“I'm sure she's fine, but we should still check.” she nodded pulling her shirt down and exposing her boobs to me. I gulped as she attached Emery to her and covered her from the light in the bedroom. “Your boobs look...nice.”

She let out a small laugh and looked up to me. “What?”

“No, I'm just saying, they look beautiful, you look beautiful.” she smiled.

“I look gross but thank you.” I rolled my eyes.

“I think you look gorgeous.” I shrugged. “Can I braid your hair?”

“Do you know how?” I shook my head.

“No, but I have a daughter so I think I should learn.” she stood up and turned so I could do her hair.

“You're a good dad Harry, I feel like I'm constantly fucking up.” I hated that she felt like that when in reality no one was teaching her anything. She truly only had the internet and natural instinct to learn.

“I think you're doing great baby, I promise.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek and instantly felt her relax.

Orientation for my nursing program was two weeks away, and with work and a baby, I knew it was going to be a pain in the ass to also be in school. I had gone back to work and began taking the morning shifts so in the afternoon I could spend the time with my girls. Alex was looking into programs for childcare when I woke up. She was feeding the baby and reading something since my school required the kids to be potty trained for their daycare. This was just in case she found work.

I woke up early to have breakfast and coffee. I stood in the kitchen when Alex's mum came in with her bag. “Good morning.” I smiled at her.

“Morning, off to work?” I nodded.

“Yes, I made coffee and set the tea as well.” she always took a thermal of tea to work, yet she looked surprised I did something to her, but it was literally the least I could do.

“Well, I'm glad I caught you here, I wanted to talk to you.” I nodded. “Since Alex isn't going to college, I need you to tell her to start looking for work. Can't have her keep being lazy in this house. “ I stared at her, baffled at her words. I didn't want to do this, I promised my mum and Alex that I would stay quiet, but I couldn't.

“Mrs. Isla, with all due respect, you're being very insensitive right now. Alex just had a baby, and honestly, she has been feeling as if she is the worst mother on the face of this earth because you keep judging her. How can you say she's being lazy when all she does is try and maintain this house clean and take care of a newborn baby.”

She seemed stunned at my outburst but quickly recovered. “That's life Harry, and if she's too sensitive, how are you going to survive in the real world?” I stayed quiet and watched her as she grabbed her things and left.

I was way too frustrated now that she was gone and I couldn't say what I really wanted to say. So I went to work and tried to have a decent day.

Later that night, up in our room, I told Alex what I had said and about my small conversation with her mum. “She's right, I need to find work, especially since you start school soon.”

I scoffed, “Alex, she's not right, love, you just had a baby, okay. I don't want you working right now. Especially since all you can actually get is some job at a fast food place.” she shook her head.

“No, I sent over my resume to where I worked as an assistant and I have a good chance to get a job there. It's not fair that you work and go to school while I sit here and do nothing.”

I could hear small coughing from the baby's bassinet and stood up to pick her up. “But you don't just sit here and be lazy, not with the list of shit your mum makes you do on a daily basis. I mean she never runs out of chores for you to do.” I patted the baby's back and gently left by hand there, feeling her jagged breathing against my palm.

“Harry.” I turned to Alex. “Do you want to move back in with your mom?”

I wanted to answer right away but I stopped and thought about it. “I don't want to leave you. I want us to be together. If you want to stay here with your mum, then I stay here as long as you want me here.” Emery's breathing was still very harsh, and it was honestly scaring me. “Love, I think we should take Emery to the hospital.”

“What? Why?” she stood, walking over to look down at her.

“Her breathing is all weird.” she began telling me that she just thought she had a small cough. “It's alright, let's get her in some clothes and take her to the emergency room.” she nodded, clearly freaking out.

The drive was quick to the hospital, Alex grabbing the bag while I carried Emery inside. Because she was a newborn with breathing problems, they immediately let us in and checked her out to make sure her breathing wasn't causing her to lose oxygen. The doctor immediately ordered a bunch of tests, Alex following the nurse while I trailed closely behind.

Medicine was given to Emery, along with a breathing mask. We had to wait to see if the medicine would work, giving Alex and me a few minutes to talk. “I don't want to live with your mum, she is pushing you too much. I know you feel bad whenever she judges you about the way you take care of Emery. But I love you and I don't want you to leave for me.”

She sniffled, laying her head against my arm. “I don't want to live there either. I knew she wasn't actually happy. I just don't understand why she would have us move in if she didn't want me there.” I didn't have an answer either so I just tried to comfort her the best I could.

When the doctor came in, she checked Emery's lungs and smiled. “Well, the good news is, her breathing seems to have calmed down drastically. She looks better already, which means the medicine worked. Your daughter seems to have asthma, it's very common for babies to get it and then grow out of it.” it seemed as if both Alex and I had let go of a deep breath at the same time, relieved that we brought Emery in time and she was going to be okay.

They prescribed her more medicine and sent us home after a few more hours of observation. By the time we came home, it was past dinner time so I bought Alex some food and came home to have emery rest for the night. She sat on the bed while she fed her and looked down with a small frown. “Thank God you listened to her, see I suck at this.” her voice cracked.

“You don't, look you know when she's hungry and needs a change. When she's fussy, you know she's sleepy. You're doing great.” I told her once again.

“I think we should move out.” she looked up at me. “Can you ask your mom if it's okay?”

I already knew what my mum would say, but I was positive that Alex’s mum would be angry.

Thanks for reading. Xx

-k