(Emily POV)
Ali and I were sitting in a small cafe with out 6 month old babies in the stroller next to us. They're so cute, I'm happy that they're not the age to where they are trying to jump out of the stroller yet.
"Em? Ali?"
I turn around and my face breaks into a smile when I see Spencer, Hanna and Aria enter the cafe.
"Hey you guys! Ugh it's so good to see you, it feels like it's been forever!" I say as Ali and I get up to hug our friends.
"It's been too long." Aria says in our hug.
"Enough hugging I need to see my niece and nephew!!" Hanna exclaims.
"Shhh Hanna! Lily is sleeping!" Alison scolds in a whisper/yell.
"I'm going to hold Asher then." She says.
"Go nuts." I say.
Hanna grabs Asher from the stroller.
"Hi buddy." She says in a baby voice and tickles his chubby little feet.
"Jeez em, what are you feeding these kids? He's so heavy." Hanna says jokingly while everyone laughs.
"Just the usual, milk, and puréed food." I say laughing.
We all catch up, for a little while.
Ali and I walk home, we walk towards the cemetery. I see Ali's eyes water, I know she's still sad about Charlotte. It's been a little over a year since Charlotte died.
"Do you wanna go say hi so Charlotte?" I ask Ali.
"Can we?" She asks.
"Of course, my love." I say back and we walk towards the cemetery as I push the stroller.
"Hey Cece, I know it's been a minute. I haven't been here since you were buried. It was too painful. I miss you so much. I wish you could've met Asher and Lily. They're so amazing, you would've loved them. Them and Emily light up my whole world. I miss you. Love you." She says as we walk away from the grave while tears cascade down her cheeks. I stop and while her tears.
"Alison, she loves you. She's in a better place now. That's all you have to remember. She's watching over us. She knows Lily and Asher. She loves them. I love you." I say softly and peck her lips.
"I love you too." She says and smiles softly.
Then we go home. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I went to the pool and practiced my swimming for a little bit but that's it.
(Alison POV)
I woke up to little coughs in the monitor. It's 4:00am.
I get out of bed and walk down the hall and into the nursery where Lily is laying flat on her back, in her crib.
I picked her and and she continues coughing and her nose is stuffed up. She's sick. Great.
I grab my phone and text my boss and Emilys Mom telling them that I'm going to be staying home today so they'll see it when they wake up.
My mom once told me that the best way to help relieve a congested baby is to run a hot shower and let the steam help clear the baby's chest.
I return to my room, holding a sick and super cuddly at the moment baby Lily. Her head is snuggles into my neck as her hand rests slightly above my breast.
"Em, I'm going to stay home from work today and take care of Lily. She's really sick." I say as I rub her arm.
"Okay, do you need help with anything?" She asks, still asleep.
"No, I'm going to run the shower to loosen the flem." I say.
"Okay." She says and goes back to sleep.
I hold onto Lily with one hand and brink her rock n play into the bathroom so she can lay in there while I turn the shower for ten minutes and put a small amount of baby vapor rub on her chest.
She starts to stir as I pick her up from her spot on my chest.
"It's going to be okay baby. Mommy's here." I say softly.
I realize that I shouldn't put her in her rock n play. Actually, not on her back at all. I just hold her close to me and softly pat her back in attempt to help her cough up a little bit of fluid.
She starts to cry.
"I know baby, I know." I say and rub soothing circles on her back.
After 10 minutes in the bathroom, I bring her into mine and Emilys room so she doesn't get Asher sick. Two sick babies would be a nightmare. She is still a little congested but it worked. I fell asleep with Lily still on my chest. She's luck I'm not like Emily. I barely move when I sleep and she tosses and turns. It's amazing she even gets any sleep.
I woke up the next morning. Emily is gone at work so I have the babies the rest of the day.
I get up with Lily still snuggled into me.
"Good morning baby girl, let's go get your brother and get breakfast." I say to Lily.
I make my way to the nursery and grab Asher in my other arm. 'Damn I'm good at this Mom thing' I think.
I get downstairs and put Asher in his swing and Lily into hers. I put blankets over them and propped bottles up on the blankets and the baby's eat their breakfast. I'm trying to get Lily to get as many fluids into her as I can at the moment.
I made breakfast and then I got the babies some baby food and tried to feed Lily and then Asher. Asher ate a lot, Lily didn't eat too much though. I'll take her to the doctors tonight if I have to.
Awhile later, I take Lily's temperature.
101°F.
Great.
Just fabulous.
For the rest of the day, I just cuddle with my babies on the couch.
I'm so lucky to have them.
And Emily. I'm forever grateful for her. She's my world.
