He Who Conquers Others Is Strong, He Who Conquers Himself Is Mighty

This Time Next Week...

JULIAN'S POV

"you okay babe?" I whispered as we made it into the house. "yeah" Pen sighed as I held the front door open for her. I followed her in, carrying Leo in his car seat. "it feels like it's been a lifetime since we've been here" she said, immediately flopping down onto the couch. But she was right. I left 2 weeks ago for the Super bowl, that was a hectic time on its own, never mind the fun that happened after that...I looked down at my son fast asleep in his carrier. My son. It still didn't feel real. Even now, after a week. I don't think it was ever gonna feel real. But I was so down for getting home and starting this thing. 

We'd been told that we weren't allowed to fly straight after Penny had given birth, so after a couple of days staying in a hotel in Minnesota, we were in the clear to leave. And hell I was excited.

"Winnie!!" Penny squeaked excitably as our girl came tottering in cautiously. She knew something was different. She looked up at Pen, and then at me, but straight away she moved over to the carrier I was holding. I knelt down beside Pen on the rug and set Leo's carrier in front of us. "you wanna meet your little bro Win?" I asked her as her tail wagged liked crazy. I couldn't hold back the grin on my face at how God damn cute this was. 

"nice and gentle Win" Penny encouraged her, allowing the dog to edge over to Leo. She stepped slowly closer to him, sniffing a little at his blanket. He shifted slightly and Win paused. Penny shot an amused glance my way and I winked at her. "it's okay sweetheart" Pen encouraged her again, so Winnie sniffed again, her snuffles along his blanket started to get a little more vigorous and I couldn't help feeling my heart swelling with pride right now. "Has he got your approval Winnie?" Penny whispered, and she looked back at my wife and yapped. Taking us all by surprise. Including Leo- who woke with a start and began wailing his little handsome head off. But no one was as shocked as Winnie, who leapt all four paws off the carpet in surprise and darted behind Penny. 

"it's okay Win" She giggled, "you're gonna have to get used to that noise, he's gonna do that a lot" Penny told her as I leaned over to unclip Leo from his seat. "he's been doing so much of it already....this he's gonna be a little whinger like Daddy" she added, making me dart my eyes over in her direction. She sent me an angelic smile and I couldn't help but smile and shake my head at her. "you're gonna be in trouble later" I mumbled at her, "I better not be, that's what got us into this situation in the first place...." she giggled making me laugh. 

.........

A FEW DAYS LATER

The lack of sleep was kicking in. The realization that this was going to be our life for several years was hitting us. Penny was extra cranky cause the little man was struggling to feed and he was screaming the house down cause he could sense her stress. We didn't see much of Win when Leo was awake- we figured she was struggling with this new transition too. I was getting a little concerned with Pen though, she was run down- like every new mom- but she needed some help. She didn't want to give up trying to feed Leo herself, but I needed to look after my family, and that meant a trip to the store to get formula. He needed feeding, Pen needed rest and I needed everyone happier. 

But when I pulled up at the house I noticed a car parked behind Penny's and I actually sighed with relief. I grabbed the boxes of formula and headed inside.

......

I leaned against the kitchen counter with a sigh of relief after switching on the coffee machine. The sense of calm in the house now was heavenly. 

"how you doing Jules?" Gisele's voice interrupted the silence. I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder as she entered the space. I sent her a weary smile and she grinned. "I recognise that look" she said, rubbing my shoulder. "it will get easier I promise" she said softly. "I just want Penny to relax" I sighed. "She's a mama, she'll never relax" she chuckled. But I looked back at her nervously. "it's a fraught time for the pair of you. Bringing a little baby into the family is huge. It's a hard, testing time. But you guys have to work together. Always be a team, cause there will be many times you butt heads over him, but you always have to stick together" she advised. I nodded at her and rubbed my sore tired eyes. "why don't you go and get some sleep? Tom is trying to get Penny to have a nap too" she said, and I smiled "I will in a little while" I nodded, "thank you guys for being here" I said, seeing her taking to making some drinks, since my sleep deprived brain forgot what I was actually doing in the kitchen. "of course" she smiled. "we were dying to come and see you all, and we knew you'd need a little help...I know we're all here for you, but your family is out of town- hell Penny's is out of the country. You guys need a little help. And please take it when it's offered. You'll go crazy without it" 

I knew she was right, I mean, she'd been through this three times already. She knew what she was talking about. "thank you" I nodded. "don't thank me Jules, that's what we're here for" she said, pulling me in for a hug. "now, go see if Pen wants a lie down, and go have some time to rest." she said, rubbing my back. "you got it ma'am" I nodded, before turning and heading into the living room where Tom was successfully convincing Penny to go for a lie down. 

"you going for a lay down babe?" I asked Penny gently as she turned away from Tom cradling our son. She nodded and brushed her hair from her face. "good job baby. I'll come join you in a little bit okay?" I told her and she sent me a sleepy smile. "love you short stack" I said pressing a kiss to her head before she padded off to our bedroom.

"he'll be in safe hands, don't worry Jules" Tom said gently, looking from me down to Leo. "Oh I know man, I'm just- we're grateful for you both being here" I told him. "we're here to help. As long as you need us" he said little more than a whisper. "I'm always gonna need ya bubs" I said, tears stinging my eyes coming from nowhere. "I love you man" I said, pulling him into a hug, aware that Leo was swaddled up fast asleep in his arms. 

"love you too." he said, moving away to look down at Leo. I swear no one ever made eye contact with us anymore, everyone was just staring at him. "now go and take some time out with your wife." he told me. I smiled widely and nodded before turning to follow her footsteps up to the second floor of the house. 

"oh Jules, I mean to ask whilst she's not here..." he whispered. I stopped and turned back to him and Leo. "how's the plans coming along?" he asked even quieter. I smiled to him and retraced my steps over to them. "this time next week we're gonna be neighbours bro" I beamed a huge grin at him.

**** Only one more chapter to go until the end...