She tiptoed through the foyer, cradling the bundle in her arms as her husband followed close behind with the empty car seat in hand. "So tiny..." she lingered, having not taken her eyes off her baby since the moment she heard the loud, healthy cries in the delivery room a couple days earlier.
She was captivated from the start, just like before.
Lindsey's free hand was resting on her hip, looking over her shoulder at the new addiction to their family. "Your brother and sister are awfully excited to meet you." He mentioned in a soft tone of voice, eyes also scanning over the little features.
The baby was fast asleep, had been ever since they'd left the hospital... So far an easy child- sleeping almost through the night, hardly ever crying and as healthy as can be, which was all they could ask for.
Stevie chuckled, leaning into Lindsey's side as they lingered in the living room doorway. "My babies..." she whispered once she'd caught a glimpse into the morning they'd been having so far.
Their two oldest kids were sitting on the rug- one of them playing with Barbie's, while the other watched morning cartoons.
It was still early, right after breakfast but they had been asking. since they opened their eyes when their mom, dad and new baby were going to get to come back home.
They were so excited- they couldn't wait.
"I think someone's here to see us..." Barbara's voice was quiet as she smiled lightly, eyes locked with her daughters from across the room.
Stevie was just as thrilled to get home as the kids were to have them back... She couldn't remember the last time she'd spent four nights in a row away and she had been missing them terribly.
Lyric and Pierce both glanced up, big smiles rolling across their faces as they hurried to stand.
"Go, slow." Jess reminded them, having been sitting in the chair, looking out the window and waiting for them to get home.
"Mama..." The little girl was the first to speak as she slowly trailed their way.
They had long conversations about how careful and quiet they had to be around the baby, which they both understood.
"Hi, sweet girl." Stevie used one hand to reach out, taking her daughters hand in hers.
"We missed you." Pierce gave his dad a quick hug, not really too interested in the baby... Not as enticed as Lyric, that is.
She had asked Barbara a million questions and even came to terms with the fact that she wasn't the baby anymore, but she was okay with that... After all, she planned to be the very best big sister there ever was and she had told them all that for months leading up to the arrival of the baby.
Standing up on her tiptoes, she tried to see the baby's face. "Can we sit?" Lyric wondered, a little nervous but still so thrilled to have the three of them back home.
Nodding her head, Stevie tangled her free hand in Lyrics as the little girl led the way to the couch.
"There's coffee." Jess announced as he pushed himself out of the chair to stand.
Lindsey chuckled, hardly able to take his eyes off his wife as she carefully took a seat between her mom and Lyric. "Sounds good." He wanted to make sure that she'd sat down alright before he left the room... just in case.
Though she had a smooth delivery and the baby was beyond healthy, Stevie had a couple of complications after, which had left him more on edge than anything else... He couldn't do it without her and he'd reminded her of that a million times.
She was the glue.
"Do you want to hold the baby?" Stevie's voice was so gentle as she stared down at her daughter, who had focused all of her attention on the little bundle in her moms arms.
Nodding her head, Lyric let off a sweet smile. "I would love that." She didn't hesitate to sit back, holding out both of her arms.
With Barbara's help, the baby was carefully passed to Lyric, who had a pillow in her lap to steady her new sibling.
"Mama..." she gasped lightly as soon as her eyes met the baby's face. "He's perfect, mom." Lyric didn't look up- she couldn't look away from new brothers tiny features.
He had chubby cheeks, a little button nose, pouty lips and long eyelashes that fluttered as he slept. He was so calm- so safe and warm, wrapped in the little yellow blanket that Barbara had made special for him.
With tears in her eyes, Stevie could have sworn her heart had skipped a beat in that moment. "He is." She agreed, one arm resting on the back of the couch as she used the other hand to push some of Lyric's curls behind her ear. "So are you." She added, finding it to be very emotional seeing her baby hold her other baby....
Her brown eyes met the older woman's identical ones as she let off another little grin. "What is his name?" She wondered, glancing back down when she realized his eyes were beginning open.
Before Stevie got the chance to answer, Lindsey and Pierce caught her attention from the doorway. They were slowly trailing back in, bringing her a cup of coffee and a dozen red roses...
"Oh..." she creased a brow, eyes melting into Lindsey's as he handed her the mug.
"These are for you, mom." Pierce carefully set the vase down on the stand next to her as he gave her that toothless smile.
Her heart sank, holding out on hand for her son. "Thank you so much." She wasn't able to keep the tears at bay any longer- it had become impossible. "Thank you." She repeated, looking up at her husband, who had to have been behind that.
He leaned down carefully, pressing his lips to her forehead. "We love you so much, Steph." Lindsey told her for the third time that morning... He had been pretty full of love lately.
Her hand met his cheek, eyes closed as she took a second to embrace that moment... All the people that meant the most to her, right there, at an arms length and happy. "I love you." She assured, biting down on her bottom lip softly as she let him go with a soft pat on the cheek. "I love you all." Stevie recounted, ruffling Pierces wild curls as she let out a tear filled giggle.
Chuckling lightly, Lindsey took a seat on the other side of Lyric. "His name is Lane." He told her, which caused another big smile to tug at the corners of her mouth.
"That's a good name." Her voice was quiet as her head softly met his shoulder. "He looks just like you, daddy."
