Baby Fever [Jacob & Edward]

16

a/n: I may or may not have proofread this.

Jacob's expecting some kind of pushback from Edward, maybe a little bickering just so he can get it through to Jacob how annoyed he was with the entire idea. Though, when he mentions staying at his place for a little while, Edward just sluggishly reaches for Bear's dresser and tugs open one of the drawers to show the tiny clothes folded up and placed neatly inside. 

Jacob should want to help his team scour the rest of the house to figure out who broke in. He should, but he doesn't plan on taking his eyes off of Edward until they're back safely in Jacob's house. Jessica must feel it too. With every little pajama set and onesie Edward hands him to pack into Bear's little travel bag, she looks at the door and then to Jacob. If he doesn't take Edward directly home, she's going to start yelling at him and she's not going to stop until he's backing out of the driveway. He can't blame her, Edward's a pitiful sight to see. His arm is now in a sling, his forehead has a bandage on it, and he's standing like he's going to collapse at any second. Jacob hovers over him, quietly watching him when he wasn't reaching out to grab for whatever Edward was so determined to carry. He lugs Edward's suitcase and Bear's little, pink duffel bag out to the truck.

They almost make it out of the driveway before Edward's eyes close.

Jacob practically has to carry him inside. His movements are languid and his eyelids are heavy and Jacob thinks it'd be so easy to just scoop him up bridal style and carry him into the house. However, he'd gotten lucky enough to have Edward cooperating so far, he didn't need the drowsy man deciding that maybe he'd made a mistake. So, he throws Edward's good arm over his shoulder and helps him into the house where they're met with a very disgruntled Bear. Leah's rocking her in the kitchen, clearly trying to get her to calm down, but she's not having it. 

For the first time since this morning, Edward perks up as if he's got all of the energy in the world, gaze immediately landing on a red-faced Bear. He makes his way over, mouth not saying anything, but his eyes are clearly pleading. Leah hands her over without a word, but her eyes follow him as he presses her up against his chest. Bear's wails die down into whines as he bounces her with one arm. She sounds like she's trying to hold a grudge but loses that fight immediately when he starts quietly talking to her. Her eyes droop even as she stares up at him as if he's got all of the answers. 

Jacob places their bags down and, by the time he's crossed the kitchen, she's asleep. He doesn't want to break up the moment, take her away from him, but Edward's leaning against the kitchen counter for support at this point. So, Jacob steps in front of him, arms reaching out for her and Edward begrudgingly hands her over. He tries not to rush the journey upstairs, not wanting to jostle Bear, but he needed to get back downstairs before the man collapsed. He places her into the bassinet and takes two stairs at a time on his way back down.

Edward's got his eyes closed again, head tilted towards the floor, with his back still pressed up against the island. Leah's watching him just with a look just as wary as when she'd been holding Bear. He leans over, despite the fact that Leah can definitely hear him, and whispers into Edward's ear. 

"If I don't pick you up, you're going to fall down those stairs," Jacob informs him, "that's gonna be really embarrassing."

"If you pick me up, I'm going to throw us both down those stairs." Edward whispers back without even bothering to open his eyes.

"Fine, but if you break your other arm, what are you going to hold Bear with?" Jacob asks and has to bite back a smile at the way Edward's nose scrunches and his forehead crinkles as if he hadn't thought of that. 

He hums before letting out a sigh.

"Whatever." 

So, Jacob gets an arm under his knees and the other under his back and lifts him from the floor with ease.