Will You Love Me?

Chapter 48

"Nathan, do you have your lunch? Emma, don't forget your backpack!" You were running around ragged this morning trying to get the kids ready for their first day of school. Ben didn't have anything going on today (or for the next couple months for that matter), so he was helping you as best he could.

You rushed around the house, putting the kid's lunches together, making sure their backpacks were ready, checking to see if Em had a full tank, and finally making sure that Ben was in check. He was getting emotional when you first woke up and you've been trying to comfort him ever since. 

Right now, he was helping the kids get their coats on and talking to them about how important it was to have fun and enjoy their time at school. After you gave Nate his lunch, Em her backpack, and grabbed Conner from his cot, you huffed out a sigh of relief. Ben smiled at you and stood up from where he was kneeling in front of the kids. 

He came around to you and put his hand over your stomach. "When we get home, I'm ordering you on bedrest, mummy." He pressed a kiss to your cheek, then another to Conner's head. You one arm hugged him around his waist and breathed him in. You were so happy he was yours for two months. Once Hamlet starts, he's going to be gone almost every night for rehearsals, and then again once the play starts. After that, he's filming Doctor Strange. 

"Come on, darling," he said. "Don't want these kiddos to be late on their first day." He turned to the kids and looked at them; Em dressed in her orange coat and jeans and Nate in his black coat and black pants, looking like a little heart-breaker.

Ben sniffled a few times, then cleared his throat. "Let's go, you two," he said. The kids bounced with excitement and rushed out the door as soon as he opened it. You both laughed and followed behind them.

He got them strapped into their car seats, as you did with Conner, then got into the car and headed off. When you got to the school, the parking was already brutal. Ben opted not to deal with that and just parked along the curb, despite what the "NO PARKING" sign said. 

"Alright, you two," you said as you carefully knelt down in front of your kids with Conner in one arm. Ben joined you. "Have a good first day, okay? And daddy and I will meet you right here at two o'clock." They nodded at you, then Nate started bouncing in excitement. Emma was starting to look a little nervous. 

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Ben softly asked. She looked at him and said, "I'm scared, Daddy." He tsk'd and cooed, "Oh, baby, it'll be alright. I know all of this is a bit scary, but you'll have fun. I promise. You'll make new friends and learn lots of cool things. Alight?"

She timidly nodded, then flung her arms around his neck, hugging as tight as her little arms could. Ben wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back. After a moment, the five minute warning bell rang. 

Ben pulled back from the hug, then went in and hugged Nate. You were hugging Emma and wiping her tears, telling her to just have fun and to make some friends. You double checked her oxygen tank to make sure it would last her the day. 

Once you and Ben had said enough of your goodbyes, you tearfully shooed them off. "Have fun guys," you called as they started walking in with the crowd of kids. "We love you," Ben called. They both turned to you and waved, then disappeared into the school. 

Ben put his arm around your shoulder and hugged you close to his side. He looked over to Conner and sighed. "Time to get you to school, too, little man," he said. You grunted and wiped away your tears. "This is too much for one day," you said. 

Just to be cautious, Ben took Conner from you and splayed his hand over your stomach. "I also think hormones have a play in this, my darling. Come on, let's drop him off and get you home." You three loaded into the car and headed off down the road to the nursery school that Nate and Em went to.