Hope (JB+AG)

-13-

Ariana

Saturday, April 7

9:28 am

"I think it's a good idea to let the sick child sleep for as long as she wants." I say, rubbing Bella's back.

"I'm in agreement. But I'm also hungry. What's for breakfast?" Justin replies.

"You figure it out. You're the cook." I say.

"Bacon, eggs, and toast sound good to me. You get to watch all the babies, though." Justin smiles, leaving the bedroom.

"I'm transporting all three of you to the living room. Isn't it great to have swings, babies?" I pick Bella up first and take her to the living room.

"All the toys you could ever ask for. Have fun. And mommy will be back, so be good."

I go back to my room and take Alessia from her bassinet since she's the closest to the door.

"Don't worry, Alex, baby. I'm coming back for you."

I put Alessia in her swing and go back to the bedroom to get Alex.

"I told you, baby. Mommy's back."

I pick up my last baby and bring him to the living room, placing him in his swing.

"Mission accomplished. Bella, follow mommy please." I start walking to the kitchen and Bella looks up at me but continues to play with her toys.

"Bella, come with me. I can't leave you alone, especially not with your brother and sister."

I grab Bella's stuffed giraffe so she'll follow me into the kitchen and hopefully stay out of trouble.

"How's it going, sexy?" I ask Justin, smirking.

"Great. I just love making breakfast for my beautiful family." He laughs.

"I know you do."

I pick Bella up and sit her on the counter, pinching her cheeks.

She squeals, trying to crawl away, but I don't let her.

"You can't escape mommy." I laugh, placing her back on the floor.

She starts to walk out of the kitchen but I stand in front of her so she can't.

"No Bella by herself. Bad things happen." I say, turning her around.

She starts walking around the kitchen and I smile, sitting at the island.

"Hey, look who's awake." Justin says.

I turn around and see Aviella slowly walking into the kitchen, wrapped in her favorite blanket and holding Tommy.

"Good morning, baby. Do you feel better?" I ask her.

"I feel a lot better, mama. And I already brushed my teeth again." She smiles, sitting next to me.

"That's great. I'm proud of you." I kiss her head and Justin brings her container of vitamins.

"I want a red and orange one." Aviella beams.

"You got it, cutie. I'm glad you're feeling better." Justin grabs the two vitamins and gives them to her before returning the container to the cabinet.

"You shouldn't have to miss any school. How exciting." I say.

"That's okay. I like school." Aviella smiles.

"Good. That's great. Speaking of school, did you have any homework?"

"I finished it yesterday with Alexa and Lukas."

"That's my girl. You're so smart." I give Aviella a high five.

"Ari, if Bella's just having eggs, they're ready." Justin says.

"Alright, thanks baby." I pick Bella up and put her in her high chair.

"You hungry, B?" I ask her.

She starts banging on her tray, repeating what I think is the word food.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Justin gives Bella her eggs and she immediately starts feeding herself. I get her some yogurt and pour some water in a sippy cup to complete her delicious breakfast.

"Here's your plate, my princess. If you start feeling sick again, let me know." Justin says, placing Aviella's plate in front of her.

"Thank you, daddy." She says.

"No problem. You're next, babe." Justin says, winking at me.

I laugh, pouring Aviella a cup of apple juice.

"Thanks, mama."

Aviella starts eating her breakfast and I grab my favorite mug to put coffee in.

"Coffee is great. I love coffee. I would marry coffee if I didn't already have an amazing husband." I say.

"Mommy, can I have some?" Aviella asks.

"No, you may not. You have enough energy as it is." I put the mug on the island and go to the living room to check on the twins.

Alex is asleep and Alessia is staring at the wall.

"I hope you two aren't hungry. You shouldn't be, anyways." I return to the kitchen and sit next to Bella's high chair at the island.

She's making pretty good progress with her breakfast, but there comes a time when she gets bored/full and just starts playing with her food.

"Bella, please try to keep the food off of the floor." I say.

"My ladybug can do whatever she wants. Don't tell her what to do." Justin says.

"Okay, well I'm sure you'll have fun cleaning up her mess." I pick Bella's sippy cup up off of the floor and give it back to her, and she just throws it down again.

"I'm not getting that for you." I tell her.

She frowns, then starts banging on her tray, causing her eggs to bounce up and down and a lot of them end up on the floor.

"Look, daddy, she made you a mess. Good job, B."

Bella starts to cry because her sippy cup is sill on the ground, but I refuse to retrieve it, so Aviella hops off of her chair and grabs it for her.

"You are so damn spoiled." I sigh.

Bella just squeals, throwing her sippy cup halfway across the kitchen.

"For fucks sake. Why does that make you so happy?" I ask.

"Mommy! You said a bad word!" Aviella says.

"Sorry, babe."

Justin goes to get Bella's sippy cup and places it on the island instead of her tray.

"No more doing whatever you want." He says, continuing to eat his food.

Aviella finishes her food, but stays in the kitchen instead of going to see the twins.

"Mommy, I can't see the twins until tomorrow because it has to be 24 hours."

"You're very right, babe. Thank you for thinking of that and being a very responsible little girl."

Bella starts to cry because she's tired of being in her high chair, so I take her out and sit her in my lap.

"Are you happy now, brat?" I ask.

"Don't call my ladybug a brat. What's wrong with you?" Justin says.

"But she is." I shrug, finishing my breakfast.