A New Chapter

twenty-four

Eighteen weeks pregnant and she's certainly been feeling a lot more tired and achier than usual. There have been plenty of mid-day naps taken with Charley whenever she gets the chance. The week started out with her feeling what they believed was the first flutters of baby movements but as the days have passed, the flutters have gotten stronger leaving her with no doubt that she's feeling their babies move now.

'Are you thinking any preference for colour, bubs? Obviously with the girls we did really tend to stick with the pinks and purples, didn't we? But we can't really do that this time round.' Courtney asks and Leah nods her head as she glances at the various paint colours on display.

'I quite like the idea of maybe a soft yellow? We could do yellow and whites?' Leah suggests causing Courtney to smile.

'Mm-hmm... I like the idea of yellows as well. Keeping it all quite neutral and then we can add in little pops of pink and blue with accessories and their blankets and stuff like that.' Courtney replies.

'Yeah, that's what I was thinking.' Leah says.

'I was thinking if we put both the cots on the back wall, like side by side. Then we could have the rocking chair in the corner with the little table and lamp.' Leah begins to explain causing Courtney to smile.

'What? Why are you looking at me like that, Court?' Leah asks.

'Nothing I just- I love finally getting to watch you be excited about this.' Courtney admits.

'Mm... It's nice to be able to feel something other than nauseous.' Leah replies smiling.

'It's so fun getting to watch this part of you now that we've got all your meds sorted and you're feeling better.' Courtney says.

'Mm... It's been fun. I feel like I'm finally getting to enjoy this pregnancy now.' Leah replies softly.

****

'I can help out, you know...' Leah says making her way towards the brunette who immediately shakes her head.

'No, not a chance. You can either go downstairs or you can sit your pretty little ass down on the rocking chair.' Courtney replies causing Leah to sigh. Making her way over to the rocking chair, Leah sits down and rests her hand on her stomach as she gently rocks while Courtney begins to paint what will become the nursery.

'I'm only pregnant, not an invalid, you know.' Leah says, a small smile on her face as Courtney glances over her shoulder.

'Stop acting like you didn't do this exact thing when I was pregnant with the girls. I didn't once decorate a nursery... You have had a rough pregnancy so far. Let me do this for you.' Courtney replies. They've settled on a soft yellow for the walls with white furniture.

'It's weird feeling them move...' Leah admits, her hand resting on her stomach as she feels the movement.

'Mm-hmm... It's a funny feeling, isn't it?' Courtney says and Leah nods her head.

'I love it though.' Leah replies smiling. She sits quietly on the rocking chair, music playing softly in the background as Courtney continues to paint the walls.

'I really like this colour. Very good choice, bubs.' Courtney says and Leah nods her head.

'It's perfect... Everything I envisioned and more.' Leah replies grinning as she continues to gently rock in the chair.

'What you thinking about?' Courtney asks softly as she watches Leah staring out the window.

'Mm... Just thinking it's crazy to think that in eighteen weeks, or sooner, we could have two more little ones.' Leah replies smiling.

'I know. Crazy to think that on average twins come at 36 weeks, isn't it? You could already be halfway through at this stage.' Courtney says and Leah nods her head.

'Hopefully they'll stay put for a while though... We'll just need to be prepared earlier this time round.' Leah replies.

****

'Bubs, that's- Oh...' Courtney says softly as she makes her way into the bedroom to find both Leah and Charley fast asleep curled up in the middle of the bed. The toddler's little hand is gripping tightly to Leah's t-shirt as her little head rests against the blonde's chest. Glancing down at her watch, she sighs as she sees the time clear on the screen, 5:12pm. She's in two minds over whether or not to wake them, ideally she'd wake the toddler to have dinner and to give her a small chance of sleeping tonight but she also knows that any attempt to move Charley will result in Leah waking up and the blonde desperately needs a good sleep.

'Sleep tight...' Courtney almost whispers as she opts to leave them both sleeping. She quietly makes her way out of the bedroom and downstairs to where Bunny and Tilly are eating their dinner.

'Mama and Charley are sleeping so we'll have dinner just the three of us.' Courtney says taking a seat at the table. They eat dinner together while chatting about their day at school and nursery; Bunny enthusiastically telling Courtney and Tilly all about a goal she scored during break before Tilly describes how they made rice crispy cakes at nursery and then got to eat them for snack.

'Well mama and I started decorating the babies room.' Courtney says smiling.

'You did? Can we see?' Bunny asks and Courtney nods her head.

'I've only painted it and set up the rocking chair but after dinner we can go have a look and I'll tell you where everything is going to go.' Courtney replies smiling.

'How long until the babies are here, mumma?' Tilly asks.

'Oh quite a while yet, bubba. Until mama's due date it's still twenty-two weeks but twins are more likely to come early so we don't really know when they're going to make their appearance.' Courtney replies.

'Charley came early...' Bunny says quietly and Courtney nods her head.

'That's right, Charley did come early and if the babies come early then they might need to spend some time in the hospital like she did but I'm sure it'll all be okay.' Courtney replies smiling.

'I can't wait to have a baby brother.' Bunny says grinning.

'Yeah? It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?' Courtney replies and Bunny nods her head.

****

'Shh... Go back to sleep, bubs.' Courtney says softly, her fingers brushing against Leah's head as the blonde groans slightly and pulls Charley closer to her chest.

'What time is it?' Leah asks quietly.

'A little after 10. The girls are all in bed, except Charley obviously.' Courtney replies.

'I didn't mean to fall asleep.' Leah mumbles and Courtney nods her head.

'I know you didn't but you obviously needed it and so did Charley by the looks of it. You still look absolutely shattered, bubs. Go back to sleep.' Courtney says as Charley suddenly whines and rolls onto her back.

'Oh baby girl...' Courtney says softly smiling down at the little girl who throws her hands over her face and gently rubs her eyes. Letting out a small sigh, Leah pushes herself into a sitting position.

'I've got her, bubs... Go back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning okay, if you're hungry there is some food in the fridge for you to heat up.' Courtney says.

'I love you.' Leah mumbles sleepily as she rolls onto her side and wraps her body around the large pregnancy pillow.

'I love you too, bubs.' Courtney replies smiling as she lifts Charley into her arms.

'Come on, little lady... Let's get you some food and head to bed.' Courtney says softly as she leaves the bedroom with the little girl on her hip.