Making It Up As We Go Along

11. Night Changes

Robbie's POV
I wake up in the middle of the night and pick up my phone to see what time it was. 1 am. It was 1 am and I couldn't sleep. I sat my phone back down and looked over at Elizabeth. Lizzie was still fast asleep and looked peaceful in her sleep.

I couldn't erase from my mind that I was a dad now. It was weird to me that at 29, I had a child, specifically Elizabeth's actual child. While we had wanted to be parents for awhile, the situation at the moment was still weird for me.

My thoughts were running wild as I thought about being a dad to Lizzie's daughter. So, I decided to get up and go splash water in my face. I looked into the mirror at myself when I did that. Was I really getting old?

Of course, I supported Lizzie, I loved her no matter what. I knew that I wasn't mad at her for what happened and that she couldn't change her past. I just felt different about this whole situation. It felt weird to me and I couldn't fathom why. All I knew is that I would love Elizabeth and Nellie, unconditionally, as much as I could.

I walked back to bed and laid down. Curling up to Elizabeth, I closed my eyes. After laying there for about five minutes with my eyes closed, I realized I wouldn't be going back to sleep. Not now.

So, I watched carefully to make sure I didn't wake Elizabeth up and got out of bed. I made my way over to the door and opened it. When Elizabeth didn't make a sound, I sighed and left the room.

I started to walk towards the living room when a door I pass has a light on inside. I look in and see Nellie sitting on her phone on the bed.

"Hey Nellie? What are you doing up?" I ask, looking at the tired girl.

"Oh um. I heard Lizzie crying earlier, I didn't hear the full conversation because it was hard to hear through the walls, but, I just know that she was crying and saying your name. When she cried, I just couldn't sleep. I felt like it was somehow my fault and I've just been up all night binge watching Full House." I sit down next to her and rub her back. "Sweetie, it's not your fault Lizzie was upset, it was mine." She turns to face me.

"What? But you guys are a perfect couple! My OTP." I let out a light laugh. "Yea, sometimes even Lizzie and I have to be upfront with each other. It's okay now though, so, you can go to sleep." She smiled at me. "Yeah-I don't think I can sleep now. Why are you up?" I shrug. "Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep." She nods.

"Robbie? I know it's weird, but, would you sing 1957 for me? I know, I just heard you sing it last night, but, it always makes me calm and I was just-" "Of course Nellie, I'll sing it for you." I smile at her and kneel next to the bed as she lays back down. I smile at the girl and start singing a cappella.

"Your house that sits behind me
Is covered in ivy green
The windows that we watch from
Are old and chipping at the beam
It takes me away
It takes me away
Takes me away
It takes me away
It takes me away
Takes me away
The scent you wear moves in lines
From your apartment into mine
You act like you don't know me
My God, you tempt my anxious mind
It takes me away
It takes me away
Takes me away
It takes me away
It takes me away
Takes me away
Would it be much better if I knew nothing about you?
Would it be much better if I knew nothing about you?
Would it be much better if I knew nothing about you?
Would it be much better if I knew nothing about you?
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I
I'll go,..."

I look up at Nellie and see that she's asleep. I smile, get up off my knee and leave, closing the door behind me.

When I leave, I go back to the guest room Lizzie and I were in and carefully scoot in bed next to Elizabeth. I kiss the top of her head and say softly "night Lizzie."  As I close my eyes, I hear Lizzie mumble "night." I smile and fall asleep.