Fate || BENNIFER

Longing

Jennifer's P.O.V

It was a peaceful morning, but for me, it was anything but peaceful. I walked out of the door, my high heels clicking against the pavement. My hair was neatly styled, my makeup was perfect, and my outfit was on point. I looked like always, except for the still slightly visible pregnancy belly. I was patient with my body, as it was a reminder of the life I had carried inside. I knew that it would eventually return to its pre-pregnancy state, but for now, I embraced it.

As I made my way to the car, my heart began to race. It had only been two weeks since I had given birth to my daughter, and leaving her for the first time was a daunting task. I felt guilty for leaving my newborn behind, but I knew that I had to go back to work.

My security man was waiting for me, holding the door open. I climbed into the back seat. The car started moving, and I looked out the window, watching as the houses passed by. I couldn't help but think of my baby girl, wondering how Ben would be handling being alone with her and five other children. Was she sleeping? What she crying? Was she missing her mother?

I felt a lump form in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to push down my emotions. I couldn't afford to be emotional before a meeting.

As the car pulled up to the office building, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I knew that it was going to be a difficult day, but I had to push through it.

As I stepped out of the car and walked towards the building, I felt a sense of purpose, knowing that I had made the right choice. But at the same time, I felt a sense of longing, a desire to be back with my baby girl.

I walked into the office, my head held high. I was determined to make it through the morning. I was a mother, but I was also a working woman.

As I entered the meeting room, I was greeted by the eager faces of my team, all of whom were excited to talk about the plans for the new album.

"Hey, guys." I said flashing a smile as I took a seat at the table. "I'm so excited to talk about this new project."

But before I could dive into the details of the album, my team couldn't help but ask about Grace.

"Can we see a picture?" Elaine asked grinning from ear to ear.

"Of course!" I said reaching for my phone. "Here's my new wallpaper."

I turned the phone around to show the picture of my two-week-old, swaddled in a soft blanket and sleeping soundly in the hospital bassinet. The room erupted in "awws" and "ohs" as everyone gazed at photo.

"She's so cute." Benny said, leaning in for a closer look.

As the meeting continued, I couldn't help but steal glances at my phone, not only to admire my background, but also to check for any missed calls or messages from Ben. Despite my best efforts to focus on the task at hand, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest.

"Is everything okay?" Shawn asked, noticing the distracted look on my face.

"Yeah, everything's fine." My voice sounded a little too forced.

I struggled to keep my mind focused on the conversation. Every time my phone buzzed, I jumped, my heart racing as I checked to see if it was Ben. After a few more minutes, I was the one to type out a text for him. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with a response. I eagerly opened the message, relieved to see a picture of my baby sleeping peacefully in her crib.

"She's doing great." He replied. "Just sleeping like a champ."

I smiled, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. I quickly typed out a reply, thanking him for the update and telling him how much I loved them.

I arrived home after a few hours. When I made my way upstairs, a soft voice came from Grace's room. I stopped outside the door, Ben was reading a story. I pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. There, I saw Ben sitting in the rocking chair. Grace was fast asleep, but he continued to read, his voice gentle as he turned the pages of the book. I smiled and watched for a few moments, taking in the sight before quietly leaving to go see the rest of our children.