Scream at the drunken moon

Chapter 54

Myself and the guys are on a mission. We need to get a nursery fit for a princess done today. My girls are coming home tomorrow and due to Elizabeth being a somewhat unexpected arrival, we have nothing ready.
The guys pull up in their cars and we head to the mall to buy everything. My plan is if we are each in separate cars, we can get it all back to mine straight away. First stop - somewhere to sleep. We head into the baby shop and I look at the different cots, picking out a pale pink one with flowers carved into the back of it. A stroller suitable for a newborn follows. - again pink, but hot pink this time. I grab bedding in the right size, one of those little baby baths and a Moses basket for downstairs with all the stuff that comes with it and pay. We take it out and load up my car.
Pale pink paint follows along with some wall decorations and Vic takes that, heading with Jaime back to mine to start painting for us.
I go to buy diapers, baby shampoo - all the other things that are on the list Charlie made. Then clothes. I've been instructed by my beautiful wife to get tiny baby stuff for now - as long as she has something to wear for now, the rest can come later.
Ok, I'm not sure who's the worst at the moment. Mike is buying for Corey, even though he already has a ton of stuff. But that tiny biker jacket is cute. I grab those baby all in ones, lots of them - a tiny rainbow of them. Little socks, knitted stuff, baby vests (that's what Charlie put on the list) and a couple of jackets. And bibs for catching dribble. The essential stuff first. Then to the fancier stuff. I see a tiny pink ballet dress and grab that, followed by a few more cute little dresses. I can't hold much more so I head over to where Mike is and spot a Star Wars t shirt in a tiny size. I'm sorry Charlie, I have to get it. So I do.
We head to the counter and the women behind it are smiling at our efforts.
"Unexpected arrivals, guys?"
"His was. Mine is just spoiled" says Mike, laughing.
As the stuff is scanned, I check the list off Charlie to see if I've got everything. It looks as if I have so after its all bagged up - and believe me, it's a lot of bags - we head out to the cars. Mine is full so we put this lot into Mike's and head back to mine.
By the time we get there, Vic and Jaime are in full swing with the painting. Two walls done already and music blasting. Mike and I get the cot set up before putting the tiny sheets on it, then we tackle the Disney princess wardrobe I also got. The walls are drying nicely so we break for lunch, sending Jaime to McDonald's while we move the furniture in and I put up the pink curtains that match everything else.
Jaime comes back and we have our meals before I start hanging up all the tiny outfits I got. Mike and Jaime put together the baby changing unit and fill it with nappies and all the other stuff and Vic puts the wall decorations on. It's getting close to visiting time at the hospital so I go for a quick shower after thanking the guys for their amazing efforts today. I'm meeting Mike there in a few minutes.
We walk up to the maternity ward together, our proud dad faces grinning away.
I smile as I see Charlie holding Elizabeth in her arms as I enter the room. The two most beautiful and perfect girls I've ever seen.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that going to college all those years ago would lead to this. A beautiful wife and daughter, 3 of the best guys in the world as my band mates and best friends and a job doing what I love.
I take Elizabeth out of Charlie's arms and give them both a tender kiss.
"We got everything on the list and her nursery is all ready" I tell Charlie as I rock Elizabeth in my arms.
Charlie smiles up at me.
"Thank you. The doctors have said she can definitely go home tomorrow. They've booked us in with the doctor for next week for a check up and they said if there's any problems to ring here."
There's a knock at the door and my mom peeps around the corner.
"Can we come in?"
"Of course" says Charlie in her sing song voice. My mom and sister walk over to the bed and when my mom glances her granddaughter, her eyes fill up with tears.
"She's beautiful" she whispers. I hand Elizabeth to her and she goes into proud grandma mode, kissing her
head and talking nonsense. Charlie smiles but I see a hint of sadness there.
I wrap my arms around her.
"They're here with us, in our memories. I wish things could be different too but at least she has us."
There's another knock on the door and a huge turtle soft toy enters the room, followed by Jaime and Vic.
"Proud uncle alert" I hear Charlie whisper as she giggles. My mom looks up at the new arrivals and smiles as she offers Elizabeth to Vic for a cuddle. Jaime still has his hands full of turtle toy. Not even 5 minutes later, Mike and Alysha come in with Corey and my mom has a cuddle with him too. We put the two infants together on the bed and watch as they lie side by side. Photos are taken and when Corey cries, Elizabeth turns her head towards him. It's so funny.
My family, extended included, are all here with us and as I hug Charlie to me, I feel like the happiest man alive.
Always and forever.