Upstead comfort fics

Becoming a Family (technically pt 2): the Longest Journey

(So basically y'all are about to get several one shots of the Upstead family becoming the Upstead family. If you want to get technical, part 1 is really "First Born" when Oakley was born, or it could even be "Sick???" When Hailey and Jay find out she's pregnant. So this is part 2 or 3, but is still connected to the other oneshots of the family. Before I do more oneshots about the kids, I wanted to get them introduced to the world with their birth stories/how they got there. Part 2 (as I'm calling this) is going to deal a lot with negative tests and fertility issues, just a heads up.)
(Following her miscarriage, Hailey and Jay start trying again for another baby. Each negative test feels like a knife to the heart for Hailey, but Jay doesn't know until he finds negative tests. TW for mentions of miscarriage and struggles with fertility/conception.)
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Hailey threw the negative pregnancy tests against the wall with a scream, breaking down into tears as she dropped to the floor. It had been 7 months since she'd lost the baby she hadn't known she was carrying and 3 months since they'd started trying again. Well, not technically trying hard, but Hailey wasn't taking birth control and they weren't using any protection. They'd talked about that, but Hailey hadn't let on how bad she wanted to get pregnant again.

Jay was at the store with Oakley, so here Hailey was, crying in their bathroom, looking at negative tests 6, 7, and 8. She'd been so hopeful, her period was late, and she'd been nauseous for a few days.

Eventually, Hailey calmed down and threw the tests away, covering them. She went into the kitchen and started making lunch for them to have when Jay got home with Oakley so she could go down for her nap.

Jay walked in with their 22 month old following him as she finished making lunch. Oakley ran straight to her, squealing around the pacifier in her mouth.

"Hi, Oakley Mae. Did you have fun with daddy?" Hailey asked as she lifted her daughter up.

"Es!" Oakley beamed, paci falling into Hailey's hand. Hailey put it out of sight and kissed her. She couldn't believe Oakley would be 2 in under 2 months.

Jay started putting groceries away as he watched the two most important girls in his life. He could tell something was bothering Hailey, he just didn't know what. She'd been off for a few days and he wasn't entirely sure what to do because she was adamant that she was fine. Her puffy eyes said otherwise, but he'd wait until Oakley was down for her nap to talk to Hailey.

He watched with a smile as his wife talked ("talked") to with their toddler as the little girl ate her lunch, making a huge mess of herself in the process. "Oakley Mae, you're a mess," He laughed and she busted into a laugh as well, which got Hailey to laugh.

"Let's clean you up, little girl," Hailey took her from the high chair and cleaned her off then went to change her diaper and got her put down for her nap.

Jay cleaned up and pulled Hailey into a hug as soon as she came over to him. Hailey tried desperately to hold her tears in, but a few slipped out and she brushed them away as fast as she could.

"Hail, babe, what's going on?" He asked, cupping her cheeks.

"Nothing, I'm just really tired," Hailey lied, feeling her stomach twist with guilt.

"Babe, please talk to me," Jay urged but she shook her head and went to the couch, curling up.

"Can we take a nap?" She asked, chewing on her lip.

"Of course. Couch or bed?" Hailey's only response was to grab the blanket off the top of the couch, so he went and sat down, getting comfortable before his wife came over and cuddled into his chest.

"I love you," she said quietly, placing her hand over his heart.

"I love you, too. Whatever's going on, I'm here. You can tell me when you're ready," Jay pressed a kiss to her hair and she tilted her head up to kiss him before closing her eyes.