Hope For Us Yet

Chapter Six: Angelo

Crying and wailing soon turns to happy babbles and giggling. We were naturals. Three days with Juliet and everything was going perfectly. Scott and Andrea had flown over and made numerous visits along with my own parents. They cooed and awed in Juliets presence. Indy was on tour and had been incredibly busy the past few months but even she made an effort to visit at least once.

Jerry was constantly stopping by and giving us advice. She took some time to check up on me, making sure that no arguments or problems were arising. And Austin was always on board to go shopping when we were low on something. We never saw Angelo after his visit that one lucky day we brought Juliet home. Concerned doesn't begin to describe how I felt. But I had other things to focus on right now.

"Hair. Already!", Taylors mother gasps. "She's going to have the locks you have, dear", she says, bouncing a curl from my head with her finger.

"Fingers crossed!", Taylor beams.

"Goodness! We've been here for three hours! I think we'll head off, hon?", Andrea says to Scott who is petting a very happy Meredith. "It was nice seeing you. For the third time today", he says.

"I love your visits", Taylor laughs. They stand up and share hugs before stepping out the door. Taylor closes it with a sigh. "I'm sorry they're so clingy. They've been waiting for this day for...ever. Of course, I'm sure they never pictured it with you!", she smiles. "But god, they adore you"

"Really?", I ask.

"Sure they do! They say you were the best decision I ever made"

I'm speechless. I make a little 'aw' sort of noise in response.

Juliet sleeps peacefully in a little rocking bed, another gift from Christmas. Taylor takes her polaroid camera and snaps probably the hundredth picture of her serene face.

"Scrapbook", she says as it develops. She sets the items down on the coffee table and then comes to sit next to me. She crawls on top of me and leans me back along the sofa and sits herself at my pelvis.

"What are you doing?", I giggle.

"I haven't been able to cuddle you in a while", she says and bends down to kiss me. Sunlight shines down on one side of her face, light bouncing off of her golden hair and giving her an angelic appearance.

"I love you so much", I breathe.

Taylor responds with another kiss. Slower. Deeper. A hand curls around my neck, fingers running through my hair, her other hand on my hip.

"Really? In front of the baby?", a voice says. We pull apart and look up.

"Jerry?!", Taylor says, embarrassed to be caught in such an intimate act.

"Don't worry, I'm not complaining. So do you want to get it on now or-"

"Jerr, how do you keep getting in here?"

"I learned how to pick locks after that time you trapped me in that weird tower back in The Bubble. Came in handy ever since"

The Bubble. What was that again?

I make a puzzled face as I try to recollect the lost memory.

"Anyway, I just came back to get my phone. Catch you later"

"Wait, Jerr", I say.

"What?"

"...Is the area around...the tennis court back home...still off limits?"

"Always has been. But you've never been there for years"

"...Taylor, get the stroller"

We wrap up Juliet and start our drive deeper into Auckland. It isn't too long away from where we are.