More Than the Music: One Shots

Lexi and Sam - Amelia

Lexi and Sam - Amelia

A/N: I'm really just on a roll with my ideas right now...although, feel free to request your ideas for one shots! I could use some. Thanks:)
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April 2018

Lexi and Sam hadn't been parents to Amelia for even two months, and yet, it was as tiring as it was when Aris was a baby. However, it was also a gift. Lately though, Sam had begun to go back to work, while Lexi was away on mat leave for another few months. Has it been hard? The answer was yes, but somehow she managed to keep her, Amelia, and Aris in one piece. Sam wasn't sure how she did it.

One thing that was difficult, was that lately, Amelia had begun to cry here and there. Sure, she was a baby and she cried like every baby would,  but Amelia would cry for long periods of time. It was different than Aris. She was a little more of a whiny baby. Her crying had only gotten worse the past few days. This was one of those days.

Lexi currently stood in the kitchen cooking dinner, trying to cherish the peacefulness. Whenever she could get a nap or a moment of peace and quiet, she tried to not take it for granted. She feared that lately, she had been.

She smiled over at Aris who sat at the island coloring. The three year old was in preschool a year early, and he was thriving, and making friends. He looked exactly like Sam which would explain his need to be attached to Lexi at all times.

"Look mommy!" He smiled up at her, showing her his artwork.

"That's amazing buddy!" Lexi chuckled, as she picked up the piece of paper. "Mommy's going to hang it right on the fridge alongside daddy's photo he drew with you." She was quick to hang the artwork up, before going back to cooking.

"When's daddy going to be home?" Aris asked after a few minutes.

"Soon, Aris, soon." Lexi smiled softly. "In about twenty minutes, if I'm estimating correctly."

"Okay." Aris shrugged, as he got off the stool, and walked over to Lexi. "I want to be picked up please." He begged, sending her puppy eyes.

"How can I resist those damn puppy eyes?" Lexi asked, laughing, as she picked him up.

"Did you just swear?" Aris asked, as she gasped.

"I did, didn't I?" Lexi asked, feigning surprise.

"Yeah, you did." Aris giggled, as Lexi kissed his head.

"Mommy's sorry." Lexi apologized, as she held him over one hip, while setting the table.

When Lexi heard Amelia's cries and whimpers over the baby monitor, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. She groaned quietly, stopping what she was doing, and quickly making her way up the stairs, Aris in her arms. Approaching her room door, she slowly opened his door, and slipped in the room.

The almost two month year old had little tears streaming down her face as she cried, and let out the cutest, yet stuffy, sniffles.

"Here, buddy, I'm going to put you down." Lexi whispered, placing him on the ground, only to have him pull on her leg, and hold his hands up.

"But, mommy, I want up!" Aris begged, beginning to have a meltdown.

"I want to, but I need to deal with your sister for a few minutes, okay?" Lexi asked, softly, but firmly.

"Mommy..." Aris choked out, as his lip began to quiver, and tears streamed down his face.

"Oh boy..." Lexi sighed, as she gently picked Amelia up, and began to rock her. She walked over to the rocking chair and sat down, trying to calm her daughter down. However, nothing was working. Amelia didn't want to be fed, she was opposed to any of the songs Lexi sang, she didn't even want to be put down for bed. It was past her bedtime which was five forty five.

Finally having enough, and growing frustrated, Lexi pulled out her phone, and dialled Sam's number. To her relief, he picked up right away.

"Hey, Lex, what's up?" Sam asked on the other line.

"Amelia's not going to sleep...and Aris is having a meltdown. I can't watch or comfort both of them, and, uh..." Lexi paused, and Sam could tell she was reaching her breaking point.

"You need me to come home." Sam guessed, already knowing the answer.

"Can you?" Lexi asked, desperation evident in her tone.

"Of course, I'm on my way." Sam assured her. "Just breathe, babe, it's going to be okay."

"I know..." Lexi replied, letting out a few shaky breaths, as she felt a tear fall. She quickly wiped it and hung the call up, before continuing to shush both Amelia and Aris.

"It's going to be okay." Lexi whispered to Amelia, holding her closer to her chest, as she glanced at Aris who was attempting to snuggle into her side, also in tears. Why? She wasn't too sure. All she knew was that she needed Sam's help.

Finally, Sam came in the front door, and quickly made his way up the stairs. He walked into the room, sighing when he saw both their kids in tears, while Lexi looked exhausted.

"Come here, Ames." Sam said, taking Amelia from Lexi, so Lexi could take care of Aris.

"How the hell is she not crying?" Lexi muttered, as she watched Amelia's tears instantly disappear, as the little baby snuggled into Sam's arms.

"I'm going to put Amelia to bed, and you can deal with Aris." Sam said, gently pressing a kiss to Lexi's head, as she let out another shaky breath.

"Okay." Lexi nodded, picking Aris up, and walking out of the bedroom towards his bedroom. She gently sat him on his bed, and pulled out his pj's helping him change.

"I don't want to go to bed..." He pouted.

"Aris, it's way past your bedtime." Lexi pointed out, trying not to lash out, out of her growing aggravation. "Mommy and daddy need their time now, so you and Amelia are going to bed, okay?"

"Fine." Aris sighed. "I'm sorry for crying..."

"It's okay." Lexi assured him, as she proceeded to tuck him into bed.

"It's not though." Aris sniffled. "I feel bad." He admitted.

"Baby." Lexi smiled softly. "It happens. You don't need to apologize." She added, as he lay down, looking up at her. "I love you, okay? Goodnight." She whispered.

"Love you too, mommy." Aris whispered in return. "Goodnight."

Lexi smiled again, and walked out of his room, just as Sam was leaving Amelia's room. He sent her a sympathetic smile, as the parents walked towards their room.

Once they were in their room, Lexi immediately got into bed, and leaned against the headboard, trying to calm down. Sam sighed quietly, and got into bed next to her. She could feel him watching her, as she processed everything, and tried not to break down out of frustration.

"Babe, are you doing okay?" Sam asked, intertwining his hand with hers.

"Did I do something wrong?" Lexi asked rhetorically. "I mean, they both ended up crying. I tried everything the baby website recommended. I tried my own ideas..." She ranted, as Sam sat there, listening to his wife. "I just...I-I just feel like I-I did something terribly wrong, and of course, I don't even think positively, and automatically blame myself. Why wouldn't I though? It's become my trademark as a mom...I'm such a bad mom..." Lexi trailed off, finally breaking down, as she cried into her hands.

"Lex...Hey, hey, hey..." Sam whispered, bringing her into his arms. Lexi accepted the comfort, and cried into his chest as he rubbed her back, and held her close to him.

"You are not a bad mom. You are the opposite. You are kind, caring, patient, loyal, intelligent, funny, loving, respectful, strong, disciplined, and you are receptive. You are nothing short of wonderful. In fact, you're human. You're allowed to fall apart every now and then. It's valid. We wouldn't be humans if we didn't have our low days, right?" He asked, as Lexi sniffled, but nodded. "Just because both Aris and Amelia were having meltdowns today, that doesn't define you as a mother. It's just been one of those bad days."

"Thank you, for saying all of that." Lexi responded after a few moments. "I really needed to hear that." She sent him a grateful nod, as he sent her a small smile in return.

"If it's any consolation, I can take a few weeks of work off to help around the house." Sam offered. "I know you need me more than ever. I'd be happy to."

"You'd do that?" Lexi asked.

"Of course." Sam answered, pressing a kiss to her head. "I want to be here for you, and do everything I can to ensure you're happy, and you're not stressing out every single minute of the day."

"That would be good." Lexi shook her head, after processing his offer.

"Well, then it's sorted." Sam smiled, leaning down, and capturing her lips in his. She smiled into the kiss, as they sat there, diving into each other, while savoring the moment. Once they pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers, allowing their noses to touch.

"I love you so much." Sam whispered.

"I love you too." Lexi replied, pressing another kiss to his lips, before she laid down, squealing when Sam brought her into his arms. She chose to settle, and snuggled into his embrace, laying her head on his chest, while he traced her arm with his fingers. "I love you so much." She whispered, falling asleep in his arms, while he hummed a song aloud. Dinner could wait. What they needed, was each other's presence and sleep.

Lexi had no idea what she would do without Sam. She always asked herself that question, but never found a plausibly concrete answer.

One thing she knew for sure, was that she was grateful to have him by her side. She loved him. She loved being a wife to him, and watching him be a dad to Aris and Amelia. Funnily enough, she found herself falling more and more in love with him everyday. He was that same goofy, loving, understanding, kindhearted, sweet, friendly, accepting, and caring boy she had fallen in love with back in high school.

Only a little more mature and grown up now, but he was still that teenager at heart, and she loved that, and loved the person he was still becoming. There was no doubt that she always would.