Karev Baby? Again?

Chapter 21

Jo woke to the sound of wails coming from Katie's room, again. She hadn't heard them the last few times Paisley woke up, but she heard them this time, and they weren't stopping. Katie insisted on taking her all night. Personally, Jo thought it was a horrible idea.

She walked into Katie's room, peeking the door open. "Hey-" She stopped herself, seeing Katie fast asleep, but Paisley was still crying. She walked over to Paisley's bassinet, picking her up and patting her back. She was able to calm her down, at least slightly. It looked like she just lost her pacifier in her sleep. Luckily, it was lying in the bassinet- an easy fix.

She put her hand on Katie's arm, rubbing it. "Kate.." She whispered. It took her a few tries to actually get her up.

Katie rubbed her eyes, gasping when she saw Paisley in her arm. "She was crying, wasn't she?? I-I could've gotten it. You didn't have to. She just ate, I don't know wh-"

Jo interrupted her. "You need rest. Now." She demanded. "I'll take her. I promise, I've got her. You can't pull all nighters like this. It's so unhealthy, especially post-partum. She just lost her pacifier for a second and it's all fixed now. I swear she'll be okay to go a few hours with me."

Katie frowned, nodding. "She hates the yellow pacifier.. so try to stick with the purple one. You can't take her socks off either, she'll throw a fit." She said, thinking of all the things Jo needed to know.

"Sleep." She said, standing up and walking to the door. "I'll bring her back at 7am to eat." She walked back to her room, laying down in bed and laying Paisley on her chest. "Night night, Pais." She whispered, gently grazing her fingers over her back.

Paisley was awake at 7:20am to eat. She squirmed on Jo's chest, bursting into wails.

Jo put her hand on her back, sitting up. "Good morning to you too, Pais." She yawned, walking into Katie's room. She felt so bad for waking her, but she knew she would have a fit if she didn't.

Katie took her from her arms, and Jo left to go fix breakfast for her. Katie tried to get her to latch on, but Paisley refused. "Come on, bug, we did this all last night..." She sighed, trying over and over again.

Jo came back upstairs to an even more upset Paisley, and a frustrated Katie. She sat her plate on the nightstand. "Can I help?" She asked.

Katie nodded. "Please. She won't latch on. I've been trying for twenty minutes."

Jo took Paisley's hand, laying it on Katie's chest. Like magic, she latched on. She smiled, chuckling. "You two could be twins, you know, if she was born 17 years ago. This was the only way you'd eat too. She just wants to make sure you're still there."

Katie smiled, putting her hand over Paisley's. The butterflies in her stomach were going crazy. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Of course." She said. "If that happens to not work, you can always just take off your shirt. Babies love skin to skin." She pointed to her plate. "Bacon and eggs. You have to eat, otherwise you won't have enough energy to feed her. I'll be in bed. It's way too damn early."

Katie chuckled, tearing up when she left. She was so emotional from all of her hormones. She loved her baby so much. She loved her mom so much. "Paisley Mae, I never even dreamed of loving a person so much. You've won that title. Easily." She whispered.

Katie laid her in front of her when she finished eating. She still wasn't eating for too long, but she was still adjusting. "Be patient with me, P, I'm still learning." It was hard enough to change a diaper, but when she heard those cries and her little legs kicking everywhere; it was practically impossible.

Paisley was laid back on Katie's chest afterwards. Her face was red from crying, but she clenched onto Katie's pajama shirt, making the quietest baby noises.

Katie took the quiet time to eat, staring at Paisley as she 'spoke.' "Oh, really?" She whispered. "I think so too." She giggled, cuddling her even closer.

She'd done it. Katie survived her first night, and morning as a single teen parent. It wasn't easy, at all, and she still had a lot to learn, but she'd made it through one night. She'd take that victory for now.