Generations: The Long Game

Baby Fortune-Knight

Winter woke to the sound of wailing babies. Aut was still sound asleep, so he tried to extract himself from her and the couch without disturbing her. It wouldn't be long until they would be doing this every night, so he figured he would let her get the rest while she could. Meanwhile, Carly and Lynn were already barreling down the stairs having heard them from their respective rooms.

They busied themselves changing the twins' nappies so he headed off to the kitchen to get bottles ready. He put the kettle on as well. He and Carly were used to doing this work during the day, but not half past two in the morning. Once the bottles were ready, he took them to the two girls and assured that Lynn knew what to do before returning to the kitchen for tea for himself and Carly. He returned to the boys happily enjoying their bottles and the girls were chatting away. Carly assured him they were fine, and feeling a bit useless at this point he headed back to Autumn. Reassuring Carly that she could come and get them if she needed. He snuggled back in with his darling and was soon fast asleep again.

He and Autumn both woke looking startled at each other to the babies wailing. He looked at his watch. Half past four. Just like clockwork. No girls came barreling down the stairs this time, so he got the nappies sorted while she got the bottles made. They sat with each other on identical rockers to those in the nursery upstairs. He couldn't help but stare at her while she cradled Aki talking softly to him. It wasn't that long ago that he was the only person to glimpse this Autumn. The softer, loving Autumn. Now with all the younger ones being born and her growing relationship with Lynn and Lucy, she was this person increasingly.

With adults she still stiffened. Her natural deadpan was actually a little comical now when she spoke to the children. You could hear a lilt of adoration behind it. He wondered how much more she would change after their little girl was born. Not that he cared. He had loved every version of Autumn, and he would love every version of her still to come. There had never been anyone like her in Winter's life. He had had other girlfriends, but none that would ever compare to the all-consuming love he felt for her.

"Winter?" She shook him from his thoughts. "Let's put them down in the nursery and sleep in the guest room. That couch is comfortable, but my back is aching."

"Okay, my sweet" He followed her up the stairs, and headed to the nursery. When they got to the guest room, he barely pulled the duvet down before she was tucking herself in and drifting back to sleep. He rubbed her back for awhile before falling back to sleep himself.

Autumn looked at her phone. Half past six. These boys could tell time. She would be willing to bet money. Winter looked so comfortable she couldn't bring herself to wake him. She padded off to the nursery grateful for Charlotte's foresight to make the nursery self sufficient. There was no need to go downstairs for bottles. They had built a bottle station right in the room complete with refrigeration.

Mia and Char were both going to breast feed, but they were wise enough to realize there were going to be times when bottle feeding expressed milk would be necessary.

Mia's supply had been so abundant that they had even offered Reece and Marjorie milk for Emery. Before that Marjorie had struggled with her supply and they had to supplement with formula. If it had been a mother at the nursery, Marjorie would have been the first person to tell them there was nothing wrong with that, but in this case, she blamed herself.

Autumn knew how she could be timid around Reece with completely natural things, and she wondered if her supply would increase if Reece wasn't always hovering over the two of them. She let a half smile cross her face as she thought of how her big brother loved his little family.

With the boys now snuggly back to bed she headed downstairs. She had struggled with back pain and sciatica for most of the second half of her pregnancy, so it seemed wise to take the time while it was quiet to do some of the stretches the doctor had taught her. Although she rarely spoke about it, she had spent most of her pregnancy worried about another miscarriage. She knew other things could happen, but she had resolved to live in the moment with this little life inside of her. If anything, she was afraid to let her out. At least inside she could protect her.