Pray For Me

Sick

Two months later

Timothy smiles as he walks into the living room, seeing Jude with Octavia on her hip, dancing along to Elvis on the Victrola with the volume turned high.

"Baby if I made you mad, with something I might have said, please forget my past, the future looks bright ahead," Jude sings sweetly, Octavia blinking up at her mother in a trance. Timothy comes into Jude's line of sight and she smiles at him. The track switches to 'Love Me', and Timothy sets Octavia in her walker. He pulls Jude close to him and they begin to slow dance.

"Crying over you," Timothy sings, hitting the high note terribly. Jude giggles and rests her forehead on his shoulder. Jude hums along, closing her eyes and just enjoying the moment. Octavia giggles at her parents and claps her hands, drawing their attention to her. Timothy picks her up and dances around the couch with her, kissing her forehead. Jude smiles and takes the Polaroid off the shelf to snap a quick picture of the sweet moment.

Octavia giggles when Timothy dips her, making his heart swell.

"Who is that? Is that Mama?" Timothy laughs, asking Octavia and pointing to Jude.

"Mama," Octavia chirps, looking up at her father. Jude nearly screams and jumps up and down.

"You just said your first word, little bird!" Timothy exclaims, hugging Jude tightly with one arm. Octavia says it again, making Jude cry. Timothy laughs at her.

"Jude, come here," he laughs, kissing her temple and then turning and kissing Octavia's cheek.

"You're getting too big, Tav!"

Jude wipes her cheeks and looks at the clock.

"I'm going to start dinner, can you watch her?"

"Of course, rare bird."

Jude heads into the kitchen, and Timothy sets a few toys out for Octavia to play with by the kitchen table. He sits on the counter and helps Jude peel the potatoes. They talk as they work, Timothy periodically looking over his shoulder at the baby. The phone rings, and Timothy sets down his potato. Jude turns to the sink to wash them, and notices something very wrong.

"Uh," She says, looking under the table.

"What is it?" Timothy asks, returning from his call.

"Where's Octavia?"

"What do you mean?" Timothy asks, running into the kitchen.

"She's gone!"

"She can't be gone, Jude. She can't even crawl..." Timothy trails off, looking over Jude's shoulder. Jude follows his gaze and sees Octavia crawling in front of the couch.

"Oh my God."

"Octavia! You're crawling!" Jude exclaims, crouching down near the coffee table. "Come see me."

Octavia giggles at her mother and crass towards her quickly. Jude takes Octavia into her arms and swings her around, kissing her all over her chubby cheeks. Timothy wraps his arms around his fiancé and daughter, kissing them both.

"Octavia, you're too much!"

The baby giggles once again. Jude sets her in her high chair and gives her some toys to play with while they finish up dinner.

After they eat, Jude is over come with a wave of nausea. She pushes it down as she gives Octavia her bath. She can tell Octavia doesn't feel well either, so she decided to let her sleep in the bed with them. Jude takes one look at Timothy and feels an overwhelming urge to cry.