Us Against The World

the final countdown

"Hey, baby." Ed smiles as he walks out of their office to join Lorraine in the kitchen and living room area." Hi hon." She sighs as she rinses her final dish. She doesn't miss his adoring smile as she waddles her way to him.

"How's my little girl doing today?" His thumb rubs over the swell of her belly." She didn't agree that I was ignoring my cravings so she kicked my ribs and then made me nauseous until I got her what she wanted; spinach dip." She chuckles as the baby moves around impatiently inside her.

"You calm down in there, you'll be out of there soon." Ed says, kissing then holding lot. "Listen, I'll help with the you with whatever else you need, but you gotta let me. I don't want you doing a lot with the baby being due any day now. Save your energy for our baby because she's gonna need you." His lips press gently against Lorraine's cheek until she gives in. She knew that if she kept trying to do things herself Ed just hover and agitate her.

"Are you ready?" He asks. "Yeah. The diaper bag is prepared, and I have a birth plan ready." She answers. "No, I mean are you ready?" He asks again, earning an oh and a moment of clarity from her.

" I am for the most part. Things are gonna be so different with two daughters. It's been you, me, and Judy for so long. I hope Judy can adjust, I want them to have a good relationship." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "I bet they will, Judy's already so excited." Last week, Judy came into their bedroom crying. She was upset because she kept mispronouncing "Edith",the name temporarily picked out for her sister. They were able to calm her down by reminding her that she had time to learn it, and it most likely wasn't going to be her name.

" I know she'll be good at it, it's just... Times have changed so much since Judy was born and we haven't had a newborn in the house in almost a decade. I just worry with me being older and all." She sighs. "I know. But baby, you are such an amazing mom already. There's no need for you to worry." Lorraine melts against Ed's arms, listening to his breaths and smelling the lingering scent of his cologne.

"You know, this reminds me of how you were before Judy was born. You second guessed yourself just to become an amazing mother." She chuckles as she remembers herself eight years ago, overstocking and overthinking. "You don't have to doubt yourself, you're amazing." Ed smiles, and Lorraine can feel her hormones deteriorating.

"Okay, get out of here before I start crying." She giggles, pushing him away. "Im gonna go get some more of this sorted out before bed, love you hon." She kisses him sweetly, then sighs at all of the baby items scattered around the table.

"You're so spoiled, and you're not even here yet!" She chuckles, grazing her knuckles against her stomach. "Let's get this all sorted for you, hm?"She jolts in admiration as the baby happily kicks.

                          •   •   •  •   •   •

"Baby..." Ed sings quietly, gently shaking Lorraine. "Hm?" She hums, slightly stirring in her sleep. "You fell asleep at the table, hon. I think it may be time for you to go to bed." He chuckles, tucking one of her Carmel strands behind her ear. She tried to rebuttal, but her yawns got in the way and soon enough she was tucked into her bed.

               ____________________

2 days later

"Braxton hicks are miserable." Lorraine frowns, submerging herself in the foamy water. Her mild contractions started a couple weeks ago and they got progressively worse. 

"This bath was supposed to distract you." Ed teased. "The problem is I'm not letting it distract me." Lorraine sighs dramatically, biting her face in Ed's neck. "You need to let it. Who knows when we'll have time to just be with each other like this when the baby comes?" Ed's smiles as he watches Lorraine's body slight relax.