Time Never Stops

Chapter Fifteen: At Home Paradise

Word Count: 1874

As I finish recording for the day, I let out a soft yawn. I take the time to upload and send my recording over to Alexis before turning my computer off and heading down the hall. I walk past the open door to our little girl's newly furnished nursery, smiling as I see snow beginning to fall in the early December air through the large bay window on the far wall.

I walk over to the crib, white wood with soft plush blankets thrown over the edge, and all the plushies that I had bought were placed in the top right hand corner of the crib. I turn and smile at the room that I had been in almost everyday for the past few weeks, taking tags off of clothes, washing them, packing diapers into the changing table, and organizing everything inside the room. I hum as I walk over to the glider in the corner, curling up in the chair and tugging my phone out of my pocket and scrolling through social media.

The past few months had been easier than the first trimester. Between doctors appointments, going out and decorating the nursery, getting our pictures taken by Harry, and working; the pregnancy had been pretty decent. The only problems that I was having at the moment were intense cravings and my emotions running high. Mood swings galore. Tom had been a champ on helping me left and right, leaving the house at anytime of the night for food runs, popping into my studio to make sure I had everything I needed, and pulling me out of any funk by getting me out of the house for a few hours. Tom had made sure everything was absolutely perfect, being the best boyfriend ever.

"Love, I am home!" Tom's voice carries up the staircase, Tessa's claws clicking against the hardwood until she pokes her head inside the nursery to climb up on the chair and join me. "It seems like I don't even need to ask where you are because Tess has a baby tracker." Tom laughs as he enters the room, backpack over his shoulder.

"She loves her." I state as she lays her head on my bump.

"She does. Now, how are my girls?" Tom asks, sitting on the footstool in front of me.

"We are good, I'm tired, but good." I whisper, moving my hand to cup his cheek. He tilts his head into my hand and smiles at me. "How was the interview?"

"Good, they asked about the baby and how the pregnancy was going. Then they asked about usual stuff for the movie." He hums, placing his hand over mine. "Hey, why don't we cook dinner then watch a movie tonight? A lazy evening with my favorite girls?"

"That would be amazing, I'm craving steak," I giggle.

Tom leans down toward my stomach, smiling as he slides the shirt over my bump. "Why do you make your Mum crave stuff we don't have in the house-" I swat at his head, making him mutter an 'ow.' "And why do you make her so mad at me, I mean really." He looks at me playfully and I roll my eyes at him.

"Lucky for you I went shopping with your Mum and got steaks and some fresh string beans so I think we will be good."

"And we have potatoes in the pantry." He laughs, patting my knee. "Are they in the fridge?"

I nod, slowly unwinding myself from the chair, Tess jumping off the chair as I stand. "I'll come with you-"

"All I want you to do is to sit and look pretty in the kitchen while I cook, okay?" He states, grabbing my hand as we walk out of the room, him turning the light off on the way out.

"Why can't I help?" I laugh as we settle in the kitchen, me sitting at the table while he moves around the room getting everything he needs to cook. "I'm not helpless, Tom."

"I know you aren't, love. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you, just want to care for you."

"You do, you literally leave in the middle of the night and get me ice cream when I am craving it and rub my feet when they swell. You're the absolute best." I smile at him, fluttering my eyes at him and giving him my best pouty-face that I know he can't say no to.