Free (Sequel to Trapped)

Ch. 74

Ariana

Thursday, 3:43 am

"Bella, mommy is tired. What is your problem?"

I had already fed her but every time I tried to put her down, she would cry.

"Her problem is she's spoiled. Somebody is always holding her so she doesn't like not being held." Justin says.

I didn't even know he was awake.

"Well, I'm going to sleep. She can stay on my chest." (I am aware that you're not supposed to sleep with a newborn but it's fiction so deal with it)

6:15 am

Bella's crying is what wake me up, of course. She was in the swing next to the bed, because after I fell asleep, she did too and Justin put her in the swing.

"It is time to eat, isn't it?" I sigh.

"I guess I'm up for the day." Justin says.

I laugh and sit up in the bed.

"Since Aviella doesn't have school, I'm taking her with me to work today."

"She doesn't have school?"

"No. Professional development for the teachers."

"Sucks for them."

6:40 am

"Did I fall asleep again?" Justin asks, sitting up.

"You did."

"Oh well." Justin sits up and stretches.

I look down at Bella who was laying across my legs, asleep. Her mouth was wide open, and she was drooling on her blanket. I smile at her cuteness before picking her up and placing her in the swing. I turn it on so she would stay asleep for a while and lay down.

I drift in and out of sleep for the next 20 minutes, watching Justin come out of the bathroom and get dressed. At one point, Aviella came and laid in our bed, with Tommy, of course.

Justin

7:13 am

I looked at the bed where Ariana and Aviella were laying, then at Bella in her swing. They were all asleep, but I had to wake one of them up and get her ready.

"Aviella, come on princess." I pick her up and she lays her head on my shoulder.

I walk upstairs and into her room and lay her on the bed.

"What are you doing, daddy?" Aviella mumbles.

"It's time to get ready to leave. You're coming to work with me."

"Okay. Give me five more minutes."

"You're too young to need five more minutes. But I'm gonna go make some breakfast and I hope you're brushing your teeth by then."

"I'm not too young. I don't feel good."

"Oh. What's wrong?"

"I'm okay. I just feel cough-y."

"Cough-y?"

"Yes."

"What does that mean?"

"It means my throat is itchy. But I still wanna go to work with you. Your job is fun."

"Okay. I'll make sure to get you some orange juice. And take your tempature. Just to make sure."

Aviella nods and she covers her mouth with Tommy to cough.

"That is gross. That bear needs to be washed."

"You can't wash Tommy."

"I can and I will." I stand up and leave Aviella in her bed, reminding her to brush her teeth.

I walk downstairs and start making eggs, bacon, and toast. I make sure to pour Aviella a cup of orange juice, the go back upstairs with a thermometer.

"I don't like that thing." Aviella says.

She was getting dressed in an outfit that she picked herself. I had to make sure it was appropriate for the cold weather. It was. A white long sleeve shirt, red leggings and white converse, with a jean jacket. I had absolutely nothing to do with it.

"Too bad. I need to make sure you don't have a fever."

"What if I do?"

"Then you need to stay away from Bella."

"Why?"

"Because she's a baby and her immune system isn't developed fully. She can get sick really easily."

"Oh." Aviella sits on her bed and put the thermometer in her mouth.

We wait for it to beep before taking it out and looking at her tempature.

"98.6. Perfect."

"Is breakfast ready?"

"It is." I nod and Aviella runs downstairs.

I follow her and make sure she didn't fall on her face from running down the stairs. She didn't, so I go in the kitchen and see her already eating.

"Orange juice is the best drink ever." Aviella says.

"Good. Drink it all."

7:46 am

"Are you ready to go?" I ask Aviella.

"Yeah. But can we say bye to mommy first?"

"Of course." I pick her up and walk to our room.

Bella is still asleep but Ariana is not.

"We're about to leave." I say.

"Okay. I'm gonna miss you both."

"We'll be back, mommy. It's okay." After I put her down, Aviella goes to give Ariana a hug.

"I love you, mama."

"Love you too, babe. Have fun."

"I will. I'll have enough fun for you, too."

"Thanks, babe." Ariana kisses Aviella's head and I walk over to the bed.

"Is there enough love for me?"

"Of course." Ariana smiles and I lean down to kiss her.

"Get a room!" Aviella says.

"We're in our room, thank you very much." Ariana replies.

"My wife has a point." I nod, picking Aviella up again.

"Bye." Ariana says.

"Bye, babe. We both love you." I reply.