crescent [h.s]

32

song to play: slipping through my fingers - mamma mia soundtrack version

Aurora Adler

Harry walking behind me slowly with Dove still in her car seat, Marshy in my arms, has me grinning. Marsh presses his face into my neck and I laugh a little, keeping it controlled due to the lack of bladder control I'm experiencing right now.

Walking into the living room, I send a thankful smile to Anne and Rob when I see it freshly clean, the blanket folded and on the end cushion, the rug freshly vacuumed– the rest of the room just generally clean.

I sit down slowly, keeping hold of him as Harry places the car seat on the floor and unstraps Dove. Talking to Marsh, I smile as I do, "Marshy you remember when you'd lay on my tummy and you'd suddenly be kicked and would have to hold on really tight? Well like me and daddy told you, there was a baby in there!" I smile further as I see Marsh pay his whole attention to my words, and with Harry giving me Dove's pink hat she wore in the first day of being at the hospital, I bring it down to Marshy's face, letting him get used to her scent. Harry rests Dove in his arms as his eyes flicker between the 3 of us, and like what I've learned is going to become typical behaviour, Dove gets the most attention. He just can never stop looking at her.

"Do you like that smell, Marshy?" He's rubbing his fluffy body all over the hat and I smile up at Harry, "I think I'm gonna be right." I refer to the conversation we had earlier in the car.

He chuckles and walks slowly closer to Marsh, talking to him just like I was, "Hey Marsh.." Marshy's head flickers over to Harry, and even from here I can see his big blue eyes widening at not only the sight of his favourite person, but at his baby sister too. Harry smiles at his cat and looks up to me, making sure I'm watching as I see Marsh's reactions, before looking back between his two babies, "You loved her so much when she was in mummy's tummy, but you gotta promise me you'll love her even more now she's earth side up, okay? No jumping and no licking her, and no being too playful when shes this tiny and delicate, okay?"

Marsh's ears flicker up and towards Harry, pricking with attention. He's so good. Scarily like a human. He turns himself round on my lap, sitting with his head high, Harry smiling uncontrollably at his behaviour. He looks behind at me and I immediately nod, knowing Marsh will be careful with her.

Ever so slowly, Harry crouches down, Dove practically fighting sleep as she yawns and clicks her lips together, Marshy extending his head forwards to see her. As Marsh looks at her, he lifts his head to look back at Harry, me gently petting behind his ears as Harry just laughs a small smile and nods, "That's your sister."

Marsh walks very slowly to the end of my knees, peering his head down as he just looks at Dove. Inching forwards with care, me and Harry both analyse his every move, my heart softening as he dips his head and is the most delicate he ever has been when rubbing his head on someone's body.

He purrs loud, and from the sound Dove's eyes slowly blink open again, and unless I'm seeing things, her clenched hand stretches out the fraction of a centimetre, a piece of Marsh's heavily fluffed body making contact with her fingers.

Their eyes stay focused on each other, and with the two shades of blue meeting like the ocean water, they stay looking at the other for a few beats of silence. Their eye contact doesn't break until Dove shuts her eyes again, starting to look really tired, and having been fed around 40 minutes ago– just before we left the hospital, I'm surprised she lasted this long without sleeping again.

Harry brings her up to his chest, rocking her slowly as he looks down to me, bending down to kiss my lips as he asks, "Do you want me to put her down or do you want to come with me?"