June 11th 2020
Taylor's POV
Currently it's around 2am and it's the morning before the funeral for Ro and Auggie's birth mom. I've been restless and couldn't really sleep, so when August started to fuss for his bottle I was quick to scoop him up, just glad to have something else to think about. The pain and suffering that had to happen for us to end up here breaks my heart. I wish Ro had never experienced the abuse and neglect that she was subjected to for so long, no child ever deserves that, but I'm grateful to have been the one to be able to take her away from that and keep her safe. Similarly with August, I'm so grateful that he never has to grow up knowing the same pain as his sister. I just know for sure that they'll never ever have to experience that again.
"Alright, time for you to go back to sleep, little man," I lay the baby down in his bassinet once he's reswaddled and he grunts and grizzles a little so I rock him until he's content and he's quickly sleeping again but I don't move, I just keep watching my sleeping son.
Life is different now, it's harder, but it's also packed with so much love and happiness. I resent the things that got us here but I wouldn't change the outcome. Rosie and August get a home, a family and more love than they'll know what to do with - I just hate that they didn't have to suffer to make it here.
"Baby, come back to bed, you're going to be exhausted tomorrow," I hear Karlie's soft voice behind me and sigh as I watch August, "I can't sleep." I look back to her as the model pushes herself into sitting position, "well come and cuddle with me anyway," she pulls the covers back beside her and I sigh but get back into bed anyway, cuddling into her side as she opens her arms to me. "What's going through your head, Teff?" Karlie's voice is a whisper so that she doesn't wake the baby and I just sigh as I settle into her embrace. "I'm just stressed about tomorrow and taking Rosie to the funeral, Auggie won't remember but she will and she deserves to say goodbye to her mom but at what cost?"
I know the funeral was my idea, we could've just left her with the state and let them deal with it, but I think I needed this as much as the kids might one day. I need them to know that she did her best for them and that we don't diminish that, all she did was try to protect them but she had her own battles too.
"Rosie understands what tomorrow is in the best way that she can at her age. She knows her mom loved her and protected her and that's how she got to us, and we'll keep reminding her and explaining as she gets older." I nod in agreement as I listen to her heartbeat, we won't let them forget her but I pray Rosie never has to remember her father.
"Maybe we should take a break - just take the kids and go somewhere away from everything," I hum as I slip my hand under her shirt, tracing shapes on her midriff as Karlie rubs my back, "where would we go?" I don't know if she's serious or if she's just entertaining me but I shrug, "Rosie would love Disneyland but August is too little, so maybe we could go back to Turks and Caicos or Paris, I don't think she's ever seen a beach." I look up to her and the model is smiling, "that sounds perfect, baby."
I sigh as I cuddle back into her side, I want everything to be perfect, we don't need anymore pain in our lives.
Karlie's POV
Taylor fell asleep after a while but she was unsettled all night. She's really stressed about the funeral this afternoon and I know she will be until it's over, but I know she just wants to make this easy for Rosie.
"I want Mama to do it!" Selena offered to help with Rosie so that Taylor could get a shower but the little one is being incredibly fussy today. "Alright, monkey, I'm here," I walk into the kids' bathroom from August's nursery and Selena gives me an apologetic smile. "Are you going to cuddle with Auntie Selly for a bit, sweet boy? Here we go," I coo as I hand him off to the brunette and stand behind Rosie in the mirror, "are you being fussy today, little miss?" I wrap my arms around her and press a kiss to her cheek as she pouts, "do you want braids or buns?" I should've known that anyone other than Taylor or I trying to do Rosie's hair would be an issue.
