Fate || BENNIFER

Chaos

Jennifer's P.O.V

I had just finally fallen asleep when I heard a faint cry in the distance. It was a sound I knew all too well, the sharp cry of a newborn. I didn't even open my eyes at first, hoping that Ben would hear the cry and take care this time. But after a few moments of silence, I had to kick him.

"Your turn." I said in a sleepy voice.

Ben made a sound in response, but it was clear he wasn't going to get up. I sighed and said his name, a little more forcefully this time.

"Ben, wake up." I said.

Finally, he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"I'll go check on her." He mumbled.

He stumbled out of bed and made his way to the nursery. But just as I was starting to drift off, Ben came back to the bedroom.

"Jen, she's hungry." He whispered.

I groaned inwardly, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling over me. Reluctantly, I got out of bed and made my way through the dark to the nursery. Ben followed me. Despite his own exhaustion, he stayed by my side as I breastfed Grace. I felt grateful for his presence, even as I struggled to stay awake.

The moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale glow over the room. My eyes were half-closed. Suddenly, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked up to see Ben standing with a blanket in his hands. He draped it over me and the baby with care.

"Thanks." I whispered, smiling up at him.

He sat down next to me, gazing lovingly at both of us.

"How are you doing?" His voice low and shooting.

"I'm doing great." I said.

He smiled, but leaned his head back, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

"I wish there was more I could do." He said.

I knew he longed to do more to ease my burden, to take care of both of us. I smiled at him and shook my head.

"You're doing so much already." I said. "Just being here with us, taking care of us, that's more than enough."

"I love you." He whispered.

"I'm happy, Ben. In this very moment, sleep deprived and all. You've given me such a special gift." I said looking down at Grace nursing.

He leaned in close, pressing his lips to my temple before his gaze shifted down to our baby.

When I finished breastfeeding, we had a new task at hand. Ben quickly grabbed a burp cloth and placed it over his shoulder, while I passed her to him. As he began to pat her back softly, I watched eagerly, hoping to see some progress.

At first, she just stared up at Ben with wide eyes, seemingly unimpressed by his efforts. She just seemed content to snuggle against his chest. But as he began to pace around the room, she started to squirm and wriggle.

Suddenly, a little burp erupted from her mouth, causing Ben to gently celebrate with excitement.

"Good job, baby." I said in a baby voice.

Each time she let out a little burp, we laughed and cheered her on. It was a silly, lighthearted moment in the midst of the chaos of parenthood.

Finally, after some rocking and soothing, she drifted off in Ben's arms. But as he made his way to the crib, I felt a twinge of nervousness. The last thing we wanted was to risk waking her up. I watched him closely. Slowly, he lowered her into the crib, his movements slow and deliberate. He held his breath, hoping against hope that she wouldn't stir.

Eventually, she was settled. He turned to me, a look of exhaustion and happiness on his face. I couldn't help but let out a tear of relief. I had been holding my breath for what felt like hours, waiting for the moment when she would finally fall asleep. Ben saw my silly tears and pulled me into a tight embrace.

The clock struck past midnight as we tiptoed out of the nursery, closing the door behind us as gently as possible. Just as we turned around, ready to head to our own bedroom and finally get some much-needed rest, a small figure appeared in the dimly lit hallway, startling us both. It was Max, rubbing his eyes and looking a little lost. He shifted uncomfortably, his hand resting on his stomach.

"Mommy, my tummy hurts." He whispered, his voice quivering with a mix of fear and discomfort.

"Should I make some coffee?" Ben suggested.

"Please." I replied.

I took him in my arms and we walked downstairs. I settled on the couch, cradling Max in my lap, his head resting against my chest. Ben busied himself in the kitchen, and returned with two steaming mugs, he handed one to me, our fingers briefly grazing. We exchanged a tired smile, acknowledging the shared feeling and the strength we found in each other.

Max's tummy gradually settled, his discomfort easing with each passing moment. Finally, his eyelids grew heavy and his breathing deepened as he fell asleep. I rose carefully, so as not to wake him up. Ben followed suit, our steps light as we made our way to his bedroom. We tucked him into bed, his face relaxed and peaceful. We exchanged a tender smile.

As we lay in bed, now under the effects of caffeine, we reflected on our journey as a blended family. Six children, ranging from ages zero to seven, had filled our lives with laughter, tears, and countless moments of chaos. I nestled my head on his shoulder, and we lay in silence, lost in our thoughts. Our journey was far from perfect, but it was filled with moments of growth and connection.