Makeup remover wipes S.M.

Chapter 8

December 25 the next year

"Happy birthday princess," I smile taking her into my arms. It's about five thirty in the morning which is when our days usually start. I change her diaper every morning and give her a bath every other day. "You ready for your bath?" I smile kissing her cheek. She's still pretty much completely asleep, she doesn't like it when I wake her up early.

"Tired," she mumbles into my shoulder. I nod giving her a light squeeze. "Sleepy." She whines still in the awkward way she speaks, it's as if her tongue is too big for her mouth.

"I know sweetie," I hush running my hands over her back. "I know, I'm sorry I have to wake you up so early." She just gives a nod a tired weak nod. "Ready for your bath?" I get up an hour earlier than her every morning, I go to the gym they have in our building and work out for forty five minutes then I get back and shower and then I'm off to get her.

"Tired," she whines and I nod pulling her clothes off to prepare her for her bath.

"I know sweets I know," I lay her in the hot bath but she shivers. "Are you cold?" She shakes her head curling in a ball and sliding down in the tub. I pull her up again so she doesn't drown.

"In with me?" She pouts, I shake my head running my hands over her head. She pouts giving me the puppy dog eyes. "Please?" She whines and I sigh.

"Princess I just need to get you cleaned up, we can go back to bed and cuddle after." I reassure and she nods shutting her eyes. She can't see very well without her glasses so I'm sure she can't see anything anyways so her eyes being closed does nothing.  "Look you're all done." I smile at her.

"Done," she nods lazily. I dry her off and get her dressed in something more comfortable. She wraps her arms around me almost completely which is one of the biggest milestones she's made in a while. "I," she pauses to yawn. "I love you teddy bear," she whispers.

"I love you too sweets." She hasn't been able to speak in full sentences since the incident. She's making so much progress and I'm so proud. She gave up her violin and guitar, she can't do it anymore and it brakes my heart to watch. She really loved her violin and to watch her give it up rips my heart in two.

"Cuddles," she giggles against my shoulder still practically asleep.

"Cuddles," I nod taking her to our room where our four babies await. I was looking into adoption with Brooke but she says if I planned on adopting I'd have to get Reese a nurse. She's been afraid of that since the interview we did last May. The interviewer asked if I'd ever thought about giving her up or putting her care and life in someone else's hands. I just couldn't do that to her.

-

I kiss her forehead repeatedly while she lay in the hospital bed. The hospital wants to take her out of my care, they say it's not because they think I'm not doing well just that they fear for her while she's out of the hospital. Like today when her ex boyfriend arrived and pushed the door open onto her head. "Hi," Nathan walks in.

"Hi," I don't turn away from her though, I'm only allowed to be here so long as she's asleep. She can't know I was ever around. "Sleepy princess?" I whisper in her ear. "Sleepy," I repeat. I only have until she wakes up so I'm milking every second I have with her. My poor princess is gonna have to face her worst fear, and in all honesty it's mine too. I'm no longer allowed to see her, not until the day I get to come back and pick her up. They promised me I'd be allowed to and I'm really holding them up to that.

I fear for the moment that she does wake up. I only have limited time left with her on her special day, they tell me if I stay she'll be upset when I leave and they don't want her to have to deal with anxiety and depression on top of everything else. "Don't wake up yet?" I sigh at her stirring but I know I can't stay. I give Nathan a look of apology and regret and I get a simple nod in response, a nod assuring me he'll take care of her. They won't let me visit her because she believes that I'm home and she wants to be where I am but she can't be.

"Christmas!" She smiles cheerfully. I just watch her from the door, the doctors don't wanna give her any anxiety when I had to leave so they made me swear that if they let me stay I'd leave before she was awake. "Nathan," her speech is worse as is her condition, but I've been told she'll at some point be able to come home.

"Mr. Mendes," her nurse taps her foot and shakes her head at me.

"I'm just not supposed to let her see me," I stand from where I'd been crouched on the ground. "You said nothing about me seeing her." I watch Nathan play with her hair and hug and kiss her, I sit here braking all of the promises I've made.

"You should really go," she points at the exit.

"I know I should but she means everything to me." I look in at her giggles and laughter. They said if she didn't see me she wouldn't remember me. "You have to promise you'll take good care of her." I stare at her, I look like an idiot. I'm making hospital staff promise me to do their job while I watch my disabled girlfriend laugh with her brother.

"We take good care of all of our patients." She rolls her eyes at me.

"Alright," I nod while she walks into the room. "I'll come back to get you baby girl," I stare in hoping to catch her eye for at least a second. "I promise."