My Silver Lining **Completed**

Chapter 41 - New Life

I rolled over in my bed, not remembering when or how I had gotten here. Dylan must’ve carried me once I fell asleep. I leaned on my elbows, looking at the clock on my nightstand and found that it’s been about an hour. I stretched before my stomach growled telling me to get out of bed and eat. I trudged to the door, swinging it open. My mother was holding Leah while my father and Dylan were eating. 

“Hey,” Dylan said standing up as soon as he had seen me. 

“Hi,” I replied walking over to him. 

“Do you wanna eat now?” he asked and I nodded, he pulled out a chair for me and I looked at him suspiciously. 

“I can get it, finish eating,” I said kissing his cheek but he grabbed my wrist softly. 

“I got it,” he said moving me to sit in the chair. I sat down reluctantly, placing my hands in my lap. He’s acting really strange… I looked over to my father raising my eyebrows at him and he shrugged signifying he didn’t know anything about it. I figured he had threatened him with the “you better keep my daughter happy talk”. 

Before I could think more about his strange attitude he returned placing a plate of food in front of me. 

“Thanks,” I muttered, still slightly confused but he didn’t even notice. He just returned to his seat and he began eating again. I finished dinner quietly as Dylan and my father spoke about some type of sport. 

“I think Leah needs a diaper change,” my mother said as I was rinsing my plate. 

“Coming,” I called out as I placed it in the sing. I dried my hands, before walking to go take her from my mom. 

“Come here, pretty girl,” I said lifting her and cradling her in my arms. I walked passed the dining room but Dylan voice stopped me. 

“Where are you going?” he asked walking over to me.

“To change Leah,” I said turning to go to my room and I felt him trailing behind me. I placed her on her changing table and grabbed a clean diaper from the shelf underneath. She began crying, most likely because she wasn’t in anyone’s arms. 

“Relax, girly. I need to change you, you’re all stinky,” I said unbuckling her purple polka dot onesie. 

“Do you need help?” I heard Dylan ask from behind me. 

“Nah, I’d good,” I said turning to look at him. He stayed quiet as I finished cleaning her. 

“Actually can you get me a pair of her pajamas?” I asked him as I threw the dirty diaper in the trash. I soothing shushed Leah, bouncing her up and down. She kept crying so I held her so that she could lean her head on my shoulder. 

“Here,” Dylan said handing me her teddy bear pajamas. I thanked him and placed Leah back down on the changing board and finished changing her. Dylan was peeking over my shoulder while pursing his lips. 

“Is something wrong?” I asked him grabbing Leah’s blanket. 

“No, why?” 

“I don’t know. You’re just acting strange. Did something happen?” I asked but he shook his head, looking as confused as me. 

“Well, you’ve seem antsy ever since I woke up. I figured my dad laid into you,” I explained and he smiled humorously. 

“No, he didn’t. I just don’t think you should be doing too much, especially because of the surgery,” he said reaching for my free hand and lacing his fingers in mine. I smiled gratefully at him before speaking. 

 “Well then, thank you. I’ll be back, I’m going to go make her bottle,” I said leaning over the baby to kiss him and then handed her to him. 

My parents had already went to be so the kitchen was quiet, I grabbed the formula mixing it with water before returning to the room. Dylan was sitting on the bed, playing with Leah’s curls. 

“Is she sleeping?” I asked and he shook his head. 

“No, she’s staring at me,” he said making faces at her causing me to smile. 

“Is it cool if I take a shower really quick?” I asked him and he nodded continuing with his faces. I left the bottle on the stand next to him and went to the restroom. I slid off my promise ring and jumped into the shower. 

About 20 minutes later I was all changed and ready for bed. It was really uncomfortable having to deal with the stiches along my stomach that grossed me out but I did feel slightly better after. I towel dried my hair and brushed my teeth before opening the door. 

I almost melted at the sight in front of me. Both Leah and Dylan were sleeping, and Leah was on her stomach placed on Dylan’s chest. The bottle I had given to him was empty so I assume that he had fed her. After I snapped a quick picture, I took Leah off of him as quietly and softly as I could trying not to wake either of them up. Leah whimpered slightly but I was able to keep her from crying and when she fell back into deep sleep I put her in her crib.  

I crawled into bed with Dylan and he pulled me into him instinctively, causing me to smile. I fell asleep soon after. 

By the time it was time for Dylan to go to school, I was completely happy with my decision to graduate earlier. Leah had woken up four times last night and I couldn’t even imagine if I had to go to school with only about 2 and a half full hours of sleep. I could tell Dylan was exhausted and no matter how many times I told him I was okay with taking care of her whenever she woke he insisted that we took turns. 

I was feeding Leah as he got ready to leave for school. Her large brown eyes were studying me as she drank from her bottle. 

“You need to say sorry to Daddy for keeping him up last night,” I playfully scolded her and she just blinked at me. He walked out of the restroom dressed in a baseball tee and jeans, his hair was sprawled out around the grey beanie he was wearing. Even with the slight bags under his eyes he managed to look absolutely amazing. He smirked as he saw me checking him out. 

“Don’t listen to her princess, she just doesn’t know the hard life of being a baby. And plus this is our last week of school anyways,” he said leaning over the both of us and moving her curls off of her forehead. She wiggled her little legs spitting the bottle out. I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction and he soon joined me. 

“So it’ll be like hell week for you,” I joked and he stuck his tongue out at me. 

“I gotta go, I’ll be home right after school. I love you,” he said kissing me quick but sweetly, making my heart accelerate. 

“I love you princess,” he said lifting her out of my arms and kissing her on the forehead before returning her. 

“We love you too, have a good day,” I said calling after him and waving Leah’s arm at him. He blew a kiss before closing the door behind him. 

“Okay, what are we going to do today?” I asked Leah laying her down on my bed in front of me. She began crying at the loss of contact so I apologized before lifting her up in my arms. 

This was going to be a long week without having Dylan there the entire day…