Forget Me Not

Momma's coming home

A whole year. One whole year has passed since Taylor was able to hold Karlie in her arms. She supported her wife through everything, and when Karlie found out that she was being sent to Afghanistan, Taylor supported her through that too. They didn't know how long Karlie would be gone, and Taylor was terrified that she would never come back, so they decided that they wouldn't put their life on pause until Karlie came home. They had been together for five years, and that whole time, Karlie had been stationed in the US, so wherever she went, Taylor followed. They were happy, and had just settled on a house together when Karlie got the news, so instead of waiting any longer, they got married in the three months before she left. It was rushed, but their wedding was beautiful and intimate, with few close friends and family.

They talked about everyone before Karlie left, one of those things being children. They both wanted a family, and again, they decided not to wait. They met with doctors and arranged the treatments, so Taylor went through the process of getting pregnant and just a month after Karlie left, they found out she was pregnant.

Eleven months later, and Taylor stands on the tarmac at the military base, her newborn daughter asleep in her arms. She went through the pregnancy terrified and alone, with only weekly Skype calls from Karlie for almost a year. When she went into labour, the only person she wanted to hold her hand was her wife, but Taylor had to suffice with her best friend and her mom to help her through. Karlie called as soon as she found out that Taylor was in labour, but by that point their little girl had already made her entrance into the world.

"Where's Taylor? Is she okay?" Andrea answers the call to a panicked Karlie, having just received word that her wife was in labour. "She's perfect, Karlie. She was so strong, she did so well." Andrea walks back into the hospital room, finding Taylor lying in bed with the baby in her arms. "Someone wants to talk to you." Andrea smiles and Taylor grins as she reaches for the phone. "Hey you." Karlie's features soften when she spots Taylor's tired face on the screen. "Hi." Taylor's exhausted as she replies, cradling their baby in the crook of her arm. "How are you feeling?" Karlie coos gently at her wife, wishing so desperately that she could be there beside her.

"I'm okay, tired and sore, but totally in love." She looks down at the baby who isn't in the frame of the camera and Karlie bites her lip. "We have a baby girl, Kar. We have a daughter." Karlie's eyes fill with tears as Taylor readjusts her against her chest, showing her wife their baby girl for the first time. "She's so beautiful, Taylor." Karlie can't stop herself from crying as she stares at their little one. "Hallie Skye?" Karlie asks and Taylor nods, "just like we talked about." Taylor wishes that her wife could be there to share in the experience, but she knows that what she's doing is important and she could never hold that against her.

"I love you both, so much." Karlie whispers, shaking her head as she watches her wife snuggle their newborn. "Give her a kiss from me, and stay strong, I love you." Karlie's time was cut short, since the unscheduled call was technically against regulations anyway, but her superior understood. "We love you too." Taylor whispers back, watching as Karlie disappears from the screen.

The first few weeks were hard for both of them; Taylor trying to figure out how to be a mom and Karlie distraught that she couldn't be with her wife and daughter. But when Hallie was only two weeks old, Karlie got word that she was being sent back home, her deployment was over.

So, now as Taylor stands on the tarmac on that sunny July afternoon, she has butterflies in her stomach as she waits to lay eyes on her wife for the first time in months. "Hey, pretty girl, it's okay. Momma's coming home." Hallie starts to cry but Taylor readjusts her as she lays her against her shoulder, swaying in the afternoon heat as she waits nervously for her wife to come home.

"Taylor!" The blonde is caught off guard by a voice behind her and she smiles gently as she spots Cara behind her. "Hey guys!" She grins at little Riley as he clings to his mum's hand, "you're so big now, little guy." She laughs, kneeling to hug her nephew as she balances the newborn. "That's just because she's so tiny." Cara coos at Hallie and Taylor smiles. "How're you feeling?" She asks her friend, a nervous smile on her face. "I'm just glad Jourdan's coming home safe, we hate her being gone, don't we buddy?" Riley nods in agreement with his mum, and Cara picks up on the nervous energy around Taylor. "Are you excited? This'll be the first time Karlie meets her daughter." Taylor nods, kissing Hallie's temple as she pulls down her little dress in the back. "I can't wait, but I'm so nervous." She gives and exasperated laugh and Taylor smiles as Cara reaches over to squeeze her hand.

Not moments later, a plane starts to land and Taylor comforts the baby as the loud noise scares her, but inside she's freaking out. Cara squeezes her hand tighter as the soldiers start to pile out of the plane, lining up one by one. She scans the crowd for Karlie as they're given a speech, thanking them for their service. She can't see her, but as the soldiers are dismissed and they go off to find their families, she notices Jourdan coming over to Cara and Riley, and her best friend let's go of her hand.

She waves to Jourdan as the brunette spots her, but Jourdan points behind her, and Taylor turns to look. Ten metres in front of her is Karlie, and the second she lays eyes on her wife, she immediately bursts into tears. Karlie runs straight towards her, dropping her bag and wrapping her wife in her arms, careful of the baby.

"Someone has waited her entire life to meet you." Taylor smiles through her tears as she pulls away from Karlie, readjusting their daughter. "Hi baby." Karlie gasps, immediately taking the little one in her arms. "Oh my god, you're so perfect." Karlie stares at her features and kisses her little fingers, still in awe that this is her little girl. "I'm your momma, Hallie Skye." She bursts into tears as she holds her baby close and Taylor captures the moment on camera before comforting her wife, wrapping her in her arms as she kisses her, a feeling that she's missed so much. "She's so gorgeous." Karlie laughs as she strokes her little chubby cheek and Taylor grins, that's because she's a part of you, she's her momma's double."

When they decided to have a baby, they decided that it would be Karlie's egg, but Taylor would carry the baby, that way their baby would be a part of them both.

"I love you." Karlie kisses her wife through her tears, this moment being everything she's hoped for in the last year. "I love you too." Taylor rests her head against Karlie's and they both stare down at their little girl; their little family, safe and perfect.